Cross-country expresses
These expresses had a dedicated chapter in "LNER Passenger Trains & Formations" but there wasn't enough room for everything so is some extra info that adds to or enlarge on the subject.
Glasgow-Southampton
A stunning photograph by Henry Casserley from 31st May 1935 on Durham Viaduct shows the head of the Glasgow-Southampton express and its Newcastle-York leg behind Heaton's ex-NER C7 No 2200. Leading is the GWR quartet (which alternated with an LNER one) with the catering added at Newcastle (which only ran as far as Oxford). The roster called for:
BTK |
3rd brake |
GWR |
RC |
1st/3rd restaurant |
GWR |
CK |
1st/3rd |
GWR |
BTK |
3rd brake |
GWR |
It looks like on this occasion the trailing CK,BTK were substituted by two BCKs. I can only muse that colour film had yet to appear for the scene shows Durham's terraced houses lit by the morning sun while the viaduct carries a clean apple green loco and equally clean chocolate & cream carriages. Photo: H.C.Casserley.
Click on the image for an enlargement
An undated picture at an unrecorded location of the Glasgow-Southampton behind D49 No 253 Oxfordshire. The loco's allocation to York in the early '30s suggests a date between the winters of late 1932 and early 1935. The formation is based on the roster although the CK is missing and the replacement appears to be an ex-NBR 6w 1st. Photo: author's collection.
BTK |
3rd brake |
GWR |
RC |
1st/3rd restaurant |
GWR |
BTK |
3rd brake |
GWR |
F |
1st |
ex-NBR 6w |
Additional information.
The location is Low Fell and the point where the four-track was added that ran half way to Durham. To the left with a goods train approaching were the lines to Blaydon and Low Fell sidings. For some reason, the cross-over from the sidings to the Up slow line was never shown on the OS 25" map.
Click on the image for an enlargement
