At the time of writing, the world is suffering from the serious, new respiratory disease Covid-19 and the U.K. is currently in 'Lockdown'. Only essential travel is permitted, resulting in train passenger numbers collapsing and revised timetables.
In the post Watching The Trains Go By I outlined how you can remotely monitor train movements in real time and, using the network of cameras operated by Railcam UK, actually see live views at selected locations.
There's another site called Open Train Times which offers similar timetable and signalling diagram information (without the cameras) which I've found excellent. Whereas Railcam UK works well on a 'Smartphone' or a larger display, Open Train Times really needs a decent-sized display. In complex areas, some detail is lost using Railcam UK but the signalling diagrams in Open Train Times make fewer concessions and include 'route set' data, where available from Network Rail, and will appeal to signalling enthusiasts. Open Train Times also allows you to customise the presentation by separately toggling on and off data showing signal numbers, signal symbols and unoccupied train describer berths.
On Thursday evening 16th April 2020, I decided to use Railcam UK 'app' on my 'Smartphone' to see what long-distance expresses were running out of Euston that evening. This was the day the U.K. Government announced that the lockdown would continue for at least another three weeks and television was showing the usual fare of repeats.
At about 8.15 p.m. I made a list of the trains scheduled to leave Euston in the next hour, recording the platform, the train reporting number displayed for the departure, the final destination, the time due to arrive at that destination, a reference to my explanatory note, the ATOC code for the Train Operating Company (TOC) and, finally, the reporting number in the arrival 'berth' (usually indicating the previous journey undertaken by the unit). I didn't include the various local services and the d.c. electrics, except for one typical example of a Northampton service (2N62). I also ignored the various multiple units displaying a train reporting number starting with '5' indicating 'Empty Stock'.
| Plat | Nbr | Dep | Destination | Arr | Note | TOC | In |
| 2 | 1P07 | 20:30 | Crewe | 23:00 | #2 | VT | 1M15 |
| 4 | 9G45 | 20:40 | Wolverhampton | 22.33 | #1 | VT | 1B57 |
| 5 | 1F28 | 21:03 | Liverpool | 23:33 | #3 | VT | 1A60 |
| 11 | 2N63 | 20:45 | Northampton | 22:05 | #4 | LM | - |
| 15 | 1S25 | 21:16 | Inverness | #6 | CS | - | |
| 14 | 1P09 | 21:10 | Preston | 23.59 | #5 | VT | 1A62 |
During the evening, I'd periodically return to the Railcam UK signalling diagram screen to see how well things were going. Every so often, I'd also check the Railcam U.K. camera on the main lines at Camden to confirm there really were trains going by, but it was getting dark so the pictures weren't terribly exciting on the small screen I was using (particularly for a steam enthusiast). Then, I made some notes on each train, in the order of departure which appear below.
#1: 9G45
This Wolverhampton service by an Avanti West Coast Class 390 (with a train reporting number starting with '9') made a right-time departure with booked stops at Watford, Milton Keynes, Rugby, Coventry, Birmingham International, Birmingham New Street, Sandwell & Dudley. At Wolverhampton the empty stock would make the short journey to Oxley Sidings where Alstom, the builders of the Class 390, have a Traincare Depot'. I noted that the ATOC code for Avanti remains 'VT' because, until recently, these trains were operated by Virgin Trains. There's a Wikipedia article on the Class 390 here.
#2: 1P07
This Avanti West Coast Class 390 'Pendolino' should have left at 20:30 but was 14 minutes late departing for an unknown reason. It was booked via the Trent Valley Line calling at Tamworth, Lichfield, Stafford, Crewe, Warrington, Wigan and, finally, Preston.
#3: 1F28
Avanti West Coast Class 390 also serve Liverpool. This train was booked to stop at Watford, Milton Keynes, Nuneaton, Crewe, Runcorn and Liverpool Lime Street. Alstom also have a Traincare Depot at Edge Hill, Liverpool.
#4: 2N63
Northampton is served by a regular stopping service operated by West Midland Trains, ATOC code 'LM' (because the franchise was formerly operated by London Midland). The homely-sounding 'West Midland Trains' is, in fact, a joint venture between Abellio (part of Dutch National Railways), East Japan Railway and Mitsui Group. These services are normally routed on the Slow lines to Roade Junction as they generally stop everywhere and most of the stations only have platform access to the slow lines
#5: 1P09
This Avanti West Coast Class 390 'Pendolino' left on time and was booked via the Trent Valley Line calling at Tamworth, Lichfield, Stafford, Crewe, Warrington, Wigan and, finally, Preston.
#5: 1S25
Almost all movements at Euston are Electric Multiple Units (EMU). The notable exception is the locomotive-hauled Caledonian Sleeper, operated by Serco with traction provided by GB Railfreight (GBRf). The rolling stock for this service, a 16-coach rake, was fairly recently renewed at enormous expense and initially suffered a number of technical problems but seems to have settled down. Due to Covid-19, a temporary timetable is in use. After departure at 21:16, stops were scheduled at Watford Junction, Brinklow on the Trent Valley Line (Brinklow?), Crewe, Preston, Carlisle, Lockerbie and Edinburgh Waverley (where I assume diesel traction replaces electric). The train then continues, with intermediate stops, to Inverness arriving at 08:40 on Friday. The timetable information showed Class 92 'Voltaire' (92038) hauling the train, which is limited to 80 m.p.h.
There's a Wikipedia article on the Class 92 here. I've had an interest in the design which can develop 6,760 horse power since being involved in design work and testing on one of the safety systems some years ago. My short post Crewe International Electric Maintenance Depot has links to detail pictures of the Class 92.
Earlier in the evening, the Empty Stock for the Caledonian Sleeper had been brought from Wembley Carriage Sidings by a locomotive currently 'trapped' at the buffer stop end of platform 15, showing on the Railcam UK signallingdisplay as 0A95 (the '0' signifying Light Engine). The Caledonian Sleeper set of on its long journey and, shortly afterwards, 0A95 followed slowly up Camden bank.
I logged onto the Railcam U.K. camera on the main lines at Camden to watch '1S25' pass. There was certainly a Class 92 on the front, followed by 16-coaches in the distinctive Caledonian Sleeper livery. Then I kept watching for the light engine which eventually appeared on the camera at 21:31 travelling slowly - a diesel-electric (Class 66 perhaps) with the big 'GBRf' logo on the side. I realised that a freight train from Camden Road direction has been 'turned out' onto the down slow. Railcam UK showed that the train was 4M92, operated by Freightliner and being worked by locomotive 66555, which had left Felixstowe at 18:12 and was due to arrive at Lawley Street (Birmingham) at 00:06 on Friday. Its route was via Rugby and Nuneaton, from where it would reach Lawley Street by branching onto the former Midland Railway line to Birmingham.
I continued to use the Railcam UK signalling display to see the Freightliner train making rapid progress on the Down Slow and the light locomotive diverged onto the Down Carriage Line before 'dropping out of sight' as it continued onto uncontrolled lines in Wembley Carriage Sidings.
We may be under 'lockdown' but it's still possible to 'Watch the Trains go by!
My pictures
My pictures taken before we were in 'Lockdown' can be selected, viewed or downloaded, in various sizes, from the albums below:-
London: Euston Station.
London & Birmingham Railway (showing the line approaching Euston).
