Ian Riley's LMS Black Five 44871 was deployed at the end of February to work Railway Touring Company's 'White Rose' from Kings Cross to York. The train would follow the ECML for the northbound run, taking a small diversion over the Hertford Loop, taking on water at Huntingdon and Carlton on Trent Loop. The return would see the diesel drag the train to Gascoigne Wood where the Five would retake control and run back to Peterborough via Lincoln. From Peterborough, 44871 would surrender the train to a diesel for the remaining run back to London.

44871 is seen, and heard, thumping through a misty Cuffley station. Following a good start from Kings Cross, a slack between Crews Hill and Cuffley meant the train would have a stifled run at the climb to Ponsbourne Tunnel. The 2 cylinder beat could be heard over a minute before the train came into view through the mist. Echoing off the surrounding buildings, the thumping exhaust dominates the morning stillness as the train stomps up the last of the climb towards the tunnel. Even with an 11 coach train, Class 47 47802 was doing nothing to assist 44871 from the rear, making an approximate load of 15 coaches behind the tender. No wonder the noise was good!


Timestamps:

00:00 - Cuffley


Filmed on a Panasonic HC-X1500 with an AudioTechnica AT8024 microphone.


Enjoy.