Blue Pullman

[delt1c]

Heading into work this monrning at around 09.15 on the usual 317, I was surprised just after leaving Tottenham hale southbound we were stopped just prior to Coopersmill Junction. Whilst it is not unknown it is not that usual , normally the Liverpool St service gets the junction towards Clapton and freights from the Stratford direction wait just before the Chingford bridge for the passenger to clear the junction.
But this morning we were held about a minute then a Royal 67 passed hauling the Blue pullman stock with a silver 67 on the rear.
Question is where was it going and as it would have come from Eastham depot why did it not use the Gospel Oak line. if it was heading North it could have used the spur from South Tottenham to Seven Sisters and gained the main line at tottenhan instead of negotiating the very busy Stratford area in peak time. the train was ECS and I couldnt see any staff even in the catering cars.
Anyone shed anylight on the working.

 

[theblackwatch]

The stock you saw was actually 'The Great Briton' Riviera rake, which is a slightly deeper shade of blue. According to 67-gen it did a charter from Great Chesterford to Torquay, what you was would have been the ECS for this working.

 

[devon_metro]

1Z67 Cambridge - Torquay with "The Great Britain" stock. 67029 was the silver, 67005 black.

 

[delt1c]

if it was running to cambridge that would also explain why we were hel at the junction to allow it to gain the lee valley mainline. It would have been about 4 mins in front of a stanstead Express so would need some smart running to avoid delaying the Stanstead Express. With the amount of traffic using the 2 track section it requires some very fast running to avoid delaying other services.

 

[O L Leigh]

As it wouldn't have stopped at Tottenham Hole and ran non-stop along the Lea Valley it would have had plenty of headway to stay out in front of the following StanEx, especially as I see no reason why it wouldn't have been able to run at the full linespeed. If anything it would have been in greater danger of catching a slower Cambridge or Hertford East service ahead.

O L Leigh

 

[Kneedown]

I was just getting all excited when i saw this thread... I thought you meant the proper Blue Pullman!

 

[DaveNewcastle]

If only!
It was a great innovation in diesel-powered units.
I beleive the true Blue Pullman reached 90mph whereas the "riverera" stock may run at up to 100.
Here's a laugh:- http://d7606.fotopic.net/p25287944.html

 

[chappers]

I also saw that train heading North through Newport. Strange that it was heading to Torquay as thats my hometown. What route would it have taken from Great Chesterford to reach the Riviera then?