Eurostar Drag to Glasgow - WCML or ECML?

[Virgin Voyager]

Hello I was wondering if anyone has any footage or photos (or knows for certain which route it took) of the eurostar set making it's way to Glasgow in June 1997. I know it got dragged by 37601 and 37606 however I am trying to work out if the outbound drag was via the WCML. I know the return drag went from Polmadie via Edinburgh and the ECML under the Headcode 5X73 back to North Pole depot.

I've scoured online gen sites and Flickr etc but unfortunately I can't find anything confirming the outbound route from North Pole - Glasgow.

Many thanks

Eurostar at Glasgow Central

A Eurostar on gauging trials at Glasgow Central. Beleived to be 3rd June 1997. This was in preparation for regional Eurostar workings direct from Glasgow and Edinburgh to Paris and Brussels which sadly never happened.

www.flickr.com

19970606-001 37601 37606

37601, 37606 Gauging run for the North of London, Eurostar sets AYA6832, 373307, 373308, AYA6833 5X73 Polmadie DHS - North Pole Depot Friday 06/06/1997 Edinburgh Waverley 1200

www.flickr.com

 

[Peterthegreat]

Hello I was wondering if anyone has any footage or photos (or knows for certain which route it took) of the eurostar set making it's way to Glasgow in June 1997. I know it got dragged by 37601 and 37606 however I am trying to work out if the outbound drag was via the WCML. I know the return drag went from Polmadie via Edinburgh and the ECML under the Headcode 5X73 back to North Pole depot.

I've scoured online gen sites and Flickr etc but unfortunately I can't find anything confirming the outbound route from North Pole - Glasgow.

Many thanks

Eurostar at Glasgow Central

A Eurostar on gauging trials at Glasgow Central. Beleived to be 3rd June 1997. This was in preparation for regional Eurostar workings direct from Glasgow and Edinburgh to Paris and Brussels which sadly never happened.

www.flickr.com

19970606-001 37601 37606

37601, 37606 Gauging run for the North of London, Eurostar sets AYA6832, 373307, 373308, AYA6833 5X73 Polmadie DHS - North Pole Depot Friday 06/06/1997 Edinburgh Waverley 1200

www.flickr.com

The train went via the ECML. I was on it from Peterborough to Doncaster!

 

[Virgin Voyager]

The train went via the ECML. I was on it from Peterborough to Doncaster!

Many thanks Peter

 

[Strathclyder]

When I was a young 'in, I had honestly wondered how on earth these gauging trials were carried out without completely fouling up the timetable (to say nothing of the station throat!), it somehow didn't occur to me that it took place after normal service had largely ceased for the day. Had it in my head the 373 had briefly mingled with the 101s and 303s still in service at the time lol

This event has always fascinated me ever since seeing a pic of a 373 parked alongside a Virgin HST at Polmadie depot in the HST: A Second Millennium book in my early teens (which I still have in a box somewhere). Likely the only time Glasgow (or Edinburgh!) will ever get a visit from a member of the TGV family.

The train went via the ECML. I was on it from Peterborough to Doncaster!

If it did indeed go via the ECML both ways, I have to wonder how Newcastle was navigated, as the tight clearences on the King Edward VII bridge was one reason - or at least one of many frequently touted over the years - the GNER-leased 373s didn't go north of York a few years later. I presume it went via the High Level Bridge both ways, thus avoiding the station entirely?

 

[Peterthegreat]

When I was a young 'in, I had honestly wondered how on earth these gauging trials were carried out without completely fouling up the timetable (to say nothing of the station throat!), it somehow didn't occur to me that it took place after normal service had largely ceased for the day. Had it in my head the 373 had briefly mingled with the 101s and 303s still in service at the time lol

This event has always fascinated me ever since seeing a pic of a 373 parked alongside a Virgin HST at Polmadie depot in the HST: A Second Millennium book in my early teens (which I still have in a box somewhere). Likely the only time Glasgow (or Edinburgh!) will ever get a visit from a member of the TGV family.


If it did indeed go via the ECML both ways, I have to wonder how Newcastle was navigated, as the tight clearences on the King Edward VII bridge was one reason - or at least one of many frequently touted over the years - the GNER-leased 373s didn't go north of York a few years later. I presume it went via the High Level Bridge both ways, thus avoiding the station entirely?

The train went via King Edward Bridge and Newcastle station under special provisions (very slow and with opposite line blocked). For a "one off" this didn't prove to be difficult.

 

[Strathclyder]

The train went via King Edward Bridge and Newcastle station under special provisions (very slow and with opposite line blocked). For a "one off" this didn't prove to be difficult.

Makes sense, especially with it being a one-off. Obviously not something that could be repeated in regular service, hence the GNER sets never venturing up there (and hence to Edinburgh & Glasgow).

 

[Falcon1200]

When I was a young 'in, I had honestly wondered how on earth these gauging trials were carried out without completely fouling up the timetable (to say nothing of the station throat!), it somehow didn't occur to me that it took place after normal service had largely ceased for the day

I was travelling home from Glasgow Central, after a late shift, when the Eurostar ran into the station. It was during traffic hours, and did foul up the timetable! While the move was planned, no-one had realised that the length of the train, plus 2 Class 37s, would block various routes and platforms at Central.

 

[Strathclyder]

I was travelling home from Glasgow Central, after a late shift, when the Eurostar ran into the station. It was during traffic hours, and did foul up the timetable! While the move was planned, no-one had realised that the length of the train, plus 2 Class 37s, would block various routes and platforms at Central.

Yeah, I did think at the back of my mind that it occurred during traffic hours, even if it was rather late in the day. And given the length of even the 'North of London' 373s, how exactly no-one realised that no platform at Central (even 1/2 and 9/10/11) could safely handle one without causing various blockages/delays is a mystery to me. I gather that was the main reason it was done at all, but still.

As I say, this happened when I was but a year old and even now, details/images are a bit scant. Every post in this thread is thus a learning experience. If I ever come off as a know-it-all, this thread should thoroughly disprove that notion!

 

[sprinterguy]

I presume it went via the High Level Bridge both ways, thus avoiding the station entirely?

Note that a route via the High Level Bridge wouldn't avoid the station at all - it would have to run fully into a sufficient length of platform, if there is one, uncouple the locos, run them round a triangle to reverse the locos and coupler wagon, run round and attach to the opposite end of the Eurostar and then continue.

Far more complex than a one off derogation out of hours to run direct via the King Edward Bridge.

 

[Strathclyder]

Note that a route via the High Level Bridge wouldn't avoid the station at all - it would have to run fully into a sufficient length of platform, if there is one, uncouple the locos, run them round a triangle to reverse the locos and coupler wagon, run round and attach to the opposite end of the Eurostar and then continue.

Far more complex than a one off derogation out of hours to run direct via the King Edward Bridge.

Fair enough, thanks for that. Like I say, every day here is a school day; Newcastle isn't my area of railway expertise by any stretch hence my relative ignorance.