London King's Cross to Newcastle - East Coast InterCity 225 12/07/14

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We now take a trip along the famous route of the 'Flying Scotsman', the East Coast Mainline that stretches from London King's Cross Station to Edinburgh Waverley via York and Newcastle, a distance of 393 miles.
The full route opened in 1871 and was operated by three initial companies, the North British Railway, the North Eastern Railway and the Great Northern Railway. Eventually all three companies were amalgamated as part of the 1923 grouping to form the London and North Eastern Railway or LNER, famed for introducing such memorable locomotives as the Class A3 and A4 locomotives, which became symbols of the golden age of railway traction due to their finesse and streamlining, as well as being record holders for speed in their own right.
In 1948, the LNER was nationalised as part of the formation of British Rail, and throughout the 1960's the Gresley Pacific's were replaced by the equally iconic Type 5 'Deltic' locomotives, before they too were replaced by the High Speed InterCity 125's in 1982.
In 1989 the route was electrified, and just prior to completion of this project, the Class 91's and MkIV sets that we ride aboard today entered service on the route, bringing about a new sense of speed on the East Coast.
1. We begin our journey at London King's Cross, located within walking distance of both Euston and St Pancras stations, this magnificent terminus opened in 1852 under the Great Northern Railway, and has since garnered major fame as being the departure point for the Hogwarts Express in the highly successful series of Harry Potter books and movies.
2. Departing from King's Cross, we enter Gasworks Tunnel, followed by a short opening over which passes High Speed 1 and the North London Line, before we enter Copenhagen Tunnel, passing a First Hull Trains Class 180 along the way.
3. Heading north, we pass Finsbury Park, former location of a major traction depot known primarily for housing the Class 55 Deltics, this being prior to passing over the lines heading towards Moorgate station in Central London.
4. Next we pass the major trackwork of Harringay, which both houses an EMU Depot for First Capital Connect units as well as a major Network Rail storage yard.
5. Perched atop its mount, Alexandra Palace dominates the horizon, the palace being famous for being the location at which the BBC developed their original Television service back in 1936.
6. Miles later, we pass the new city of Welwyn Garden City, constructed during the 1940's and 1950's as a new urban area to help relieve overpopulation in the city of London. Today it forms a major part of the King's Cross commuter traffic. After passing the station, we cross the valley of the River Mimram on the 1,560ft long Welwyn Viaduct.
7. Later we pass Hitchin, a major junction station where lines to Cambridge and Letchworth Garden City diverge, the Down lines now crossing the East Coast Mainline by way of a flyover which opened in 2013.
8. Next we pass Peterborough, a major junction where lines from London and March to the south cross and diverge into lines for Liecester and Lincoln. It is also home of the preserved Nene Valley Railway.
9. After passing Newark Northgate station, we cross one of only a handful of flat railway crossings left in the UK, this one carrying the Nottingham to Lincoln line. Immediately afterwards we cross the River Trent.
10. Later, we speed through Doncaster, formerly one of the largest railway engineering places in the UK as well as being a major junction for lines from Sheffield, Leeds and Selby. Today, what was formerly Doncaster Works, in which many great steam and diesel locomotives were constructed, is now owned by WABTEC for the refurbishment of trains.
11. Making our first station stop, we arrive at York, once again a major junction and home to the National Railway Museum, outside which is preserved Deltic 55002 'Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry.'
12. Our next stop is Darlington, where the first railway in Britain to use what are now traditional methods opened in 1829.
13. After Darlington, we speed through Durham, with the mighty towers of Durham Cathedral dominating the skyline.
14. We then slow for Newcastle, were south of the city we pass Tyne Yard, once a major marshalling yard for coal traffic in the North East, but now used by only a handful of freight trains.
15. On the approach to Central Station, we're halted on the King Edward V bridge, which allows for splendid views of the magnificent city on the banks of the River Tyne. In the distance, a Class 156 is seen arriving at Newcastle on the High-Level Bridge, whilst in the foreground, a Tyne & Wear Metro train is seen crossing the Queen Elizabeth II bridge, which opened in 1980.
After our stop, the train pulls into the beautiful and ornate station, and after a quick wait for passengers, pulls away for the remaining 120 mile jaunt to Edinburgh.
Enjoy!