Steam hides the rest of the train as A4 Bittern comes across Conington fen on day one of The North Briton in 2008

Day one was Kings Cross to to Edinburgh. The first leg of this train was Kings Cross to York.

A little early morning sun gives just enough light and with lots of steam it was worth getting up for!

This A4 took on water in Westwood Yard at Peterborough be for the rest of its trip to York.

At York BR Class 8P 4-6-2 no 71000 Duke of Gloucester was to take over the York to Edinburgh leg of The North Briton in 2008

Most Main line steam  take on water in the down slow going north between Conington level clossing and Holme.

Water was taken in Westwood Yard at Peterborogh, but the Yard now with far fewer sidings and loops, is now full of freight. Now there are lots of EMUs in the new Thameslink  EMU siddings near Westwood bridge.

 Up Main line steam often takes on water in the going south  between Conington level clossing and Abbots Ripton at Conington Tip siddings.

The Cathedrals Express was from London Kings Cross to York and return on Friday the 27th of November 2009. The day be for it had run to York as well to the same timings. For a photo at Peterborough on the Thursday 26th November Click Here

The low winter sun catches Tornado the 27th of November 2009 on the down slow on the ECML at Conington. Tornado was slowing for a signal check be for getting on to the two track section of the ECML between Holme and Peterborough.

Tornado with the full British Railways on its tender is in its green colours at Conington on the same day just past the level crossing.

This LNER Peppercorn Class A1 number 60163 Tornado is a new build locomotive. It was built by the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust at Darlington and was only completed in 2008.

All the A1s went under the cutters torch be for any could be saved. 60163 is the next number that would have been built.

This train had been booked to water at Holme, but was changed at the last moument to take water at Conington tip siddings. It was running on this trip with just its own tender. It had just left its water stop, but now had a red signal ahead for the exit of the down slow onto the two track part of the ECML though Holme Fen and past Yaxley

LNER A4 4-6-2 number 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley on the 'Tynesider' at Conington level crossing on on Saturday 27th of November in 2010.

Oliver Cromwell was on the Lincoln Imp on Saturday 14th July 2012.This train was from Kings Cross to Lincoln by way of Sleaford out and then by way of Newark on the way back.

On the outward train in the morning I went to Stowgate which is between Peterborough and Spalding for the first shot. it was a little damp and rather dull. Normal weather for this time of the year.

On the return train the weather was a little better and I went to Conington crossing gates. A East Coast HST only just got out of the way in time to see Oliver Cromwell.

I then went to Woodwalton to see it after the water stop in the old Conington tip sidings. This is a long shot of the train starting and then being hidden behind the tress at one point, but later on its gets more open. (The still above was one of 3 auto picked by Youtube, none of them showing Oliver Cromwell !)

On Saturday the 21st April 2012 Bittern took the the first leg of "The Great Britain V" from Kings Cross in London to York. Bittern was for a booked for a water stop at the end of the down slow near to Conington airfield. It was booked as Holme Level crossing on the Uk mainline steam info site but this signal is about mid way between Holme crossing and Conington crossing. This spot is offten used for water stops.

LNER A4 4-6-2 Bittern had been running with the LNER number 4492 and with the name Dominion of New Zealand. in blue but has now in April 2012 changed its name back to Bittern and now has its LNER number of 4464 but still with the covers over the wheels or valance as they are called which were fitted when new in 1938. These have a stainless steel trim.

The weather was not the best very dull with rain in the air. (I blame the Hose Pipe Ban) The video below was taken from the other side of the gates at Connington which did open very quick. so  I did not have time to stop and take a photo of it taking water. I only just got the video set up when it started. Photo above is a still from the video.

The Video below on Saturday the 21st April 2012 is of Bittern on the the first leg of "The Great Britain V"

 

This train was the first Day of the Cathedrals Explorer  (2011) which had started at London Kensington Olympia-Minster station with steam. This was with LMS Class 5MT 4-6-0 number 45305 which took the train  to Bromley South  and on to Canterbury West be for returning to Londons Victoria  station were the Princess Class 4-6-2 number 46201 Princess Elizabeth took over for the London Victoria staion to Stevenage and York section most of which was along the ECML.

This Main line steam train was slowing for its booked water stop at Holme on the ECML.  It makes a nice change to see an LMS Princess Class 4-6-2 on the ECML.

LNER A4 4-6-2 number 4492 Dominion of New Zealand with its twin tenders on The White Rose from London to York and return on the 9th July 2011 stopped at a signal for a booked stop at the end of the down slow near to Conington airfield. It was booked as Holme Level crossing on the  Uk mainline steam info site but this signal is about mid way between Holme crossing and Conington crossing. This spot is often used for water stops but water was not required this time.

The twin tenders on Dominion of New Zealand give the game away; this is in fact the LNER A4 Class 4-6-2 number 60019 Bittern. This has now been repainted from its BR dark green to LNER blue as LNER 4492 Dominion of New Zealand. Note the covers over the wheels or valance as they are called which were fitted when new in 1938. These have a stainless steel trim. The numbers are also stainless steel

The valances were removed from all the A4s during the 2nd World War to help fitters see the motion and get at oiling points be hind them better during the black outs. They were never put back after the War.

Conington is a small village that never had a station in the Huntingdonshire district of Cambridgeshire. The village is a long way from the crossing. This railway crossing is to the south of Holme vilage. Conington Airfield or as it is now called Peterborough Business Airport and is between the crossing and Holme vilage and light aircraft take off and land over the ECML.

Holme village is just to the north of  the Conington crossing and Mainline steam trains stop between Conington and Holme on the down slow and going south (up) in the Conington tip loops.