The East Coast Main Line in the 1970s - part one

A journey from Kings Cross to Newcastle using colour slides taken by me between 1974 and 1978. In part one we travel as far a Potters Bar, looking at the transition from Deltics to HSTs on the express services and DMUs to EMUs on the suburban.
I have retired a previous video that used some of the same material. I have a little more skill at recovering the slides and editing them so I think the quality is better.

[@richardmarshall4322]

Good old days in the 70s. Started spotting in 78 when i was 12. These photos bring it all back. Still very much interested in the old scene. Good days of BR blue. The Deltics were increadible locos. Thanks for the great photos. Really enjoyed both parts.

[@jasoncutler4645]

I enjoyed those photos, thanks for sharing.

[@Shadow_x12]

Great video.

[@robertdblack7179]

Beautiful photos. I was just a year or two old at this time. All British built stock too!

[@batman51]

A friend and I frequently spent time on York Road platform as part of a day trainspotting in the early 60s. After that maybe a trip to Finsbury Park and, once, a visit to Clarence Road depot, before returning to Kings X and over to St. Pancras. Then off to West Hampstead/West End Lane and round to Willesden for a quick tour of Willesden and Old Oak sheds before heading back to Euston. Those were the days - no yellow vests, no H&S and loads of diesel fumes!

[@martinmargerrison2300]

The duff on 1D04 would have been a Cleethorpes or Hull service as the D signifies Doncaster division. I can delve a little deeper into the other services if you would like me to. Enjoyed the montage. Brings back happy memories my adolescence ! Thanks for posting.

[@BoogiesTrains]

I always appreciate additional information.

[@martinmargerrison2300]

In simple terms when it was ye olde British Rail, headcodes (still used today btw) were specific to either regional or interregional services. It's fairly easy to understand the hierarchy of the system but changes were made according to each summer/winter timetable. They run in sequence according to point of departure and destination. It's not difficult to understand but unless you have the basic formula it's just a guessing game, hence my reply. Much respect and kind wishes from Slovenia. You might like my self-titled KZbin channel. Keep on rockin'

[@martinmargerrison2300]

@@BoogiesTrains With the greatest of respect, despite the random composition in your photographs, these are still valuable from a historic point of view. In a digital world it also proves that you are human ! The yellow 'cast' in most of your pictures was caused by the chemical processing. We were all subject to this during this era. Kodak were particularly crap as they had a virtual monopoly on the score due to brand image. Eventually Fuji shot them in the bollocks but the early Fuji film was nothing short of an experiment and the initial results were awful. You might be able to reduce the yellow 'cast' by using a software program but I'm no expert. The most important thing is that you have made a unique contribution to our railway history. At the moment I use a Sony A68 which is a complete monster. I swear by Panasonic Lumix as they use their own technology and the results are incredible. I use a G6 mirrorless and it serves me well. The photos of the Hungarian National Railway Museum on my KZbin channel were taken with a LUMIX camera. Take it easy now. :)

[@BoogiesTrains]

I love the phrase 'random composition'. It describes my photography perfectly. I was never clear in my own mind whether I was photographing the train or the scene. Most of the time the result was something between the two.

[@martinmargerrison2300]

@@BoogiesTrains Well it's too late to worry about it now so just look back at the positives. 😅 There are some very simple techniques that you can use to make better photos. Just remember that what you see through the viewfinder is what you will end up with. 😎👍

[@EM-yk1dw]

The good old days before the Buddliea/neglect took over.

[@AndreiTupolev]

I wonder if anyone had stepped back through a wormhole and told them that those two trains at 15:21 would still be in service after, what, 42 years, I wonder what they'd have said.

[@neildahlgaard-sigsworth3819]

AndreiTupolev they wouldn't have batted an eye.

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

the shed is no longer there as of today its been replaced by the new platforms on the outer side

[@User58747]

Funny how, over 40 years on, the trains aren't much faster...

[@BoogiesTrains]

Line speed and signalling rather than trains. Virgin Pendolino and class 91 are both capable of 140 mph. I hear that HSTs have also achieved that as well. The issue is stopping safely within the signal sighting distances. There were proposals for 135 mph running north of Preston based on good visibility of several signals ahead but I wouldn't want to be onboard. As Jeremy Clarkson once said, it isn't speed that kills, it's the sudden stop.