King's Cross in the early 1970's

[tom73]

In the early 1970's, certainly 1974, there were departures from King's Cross at 01:15 and 04:00 with beautiful red compartment style carriages. But what would have been on the front around 1974 hauling the train. I assume these were basically newspaper/postal trains with two or three passenger carriages attached.
Long shot I know, but if there is anywhere on the web to see a relevant picture, it would be a big thrill for my dad if anyone can provide a link.

 

[alistairlees]

The 04.00 was to Leeds, arrive about 08.30. It dropped off vans and was only a few coaches long by the time it got to Leeds. There's a picture at Wakefield somewhere...

 

[Ash Bridge]

I'm a little baffled by the red livery mentioned as by 1974 any mk1 locomotive hauled passenger stock compartment or otherwise would surely be in blue/grey livery, even the TPO postal vehicles would have worn the same as the Royal Mail red wasn't introduced until quite a few years later. The only other possible variation to these colours would have been if any overall blue GUV type vans were included in the rake. I could imagine the most likely locomotive on the front would have been a class 47, although a 31, 40 or a class 45/46 could also feature on occasion.

 

[30907]

I'm a little baffled by the red livery mentioned as by 1974 any mk1 locomotive hauled passenger stock compartment or otherwise would surely be in blue/grey livery,

I wonder if the OP or his father has a memory of red moquette (which I am fairly sure was still around), or simply a memory of the Mk 1s in red from a few years earlier which they have conflated with these trains/dates?

 

[Ash Bridge]

I wonder if the OP or his father has a memory of red moquette (which I am fairly sure was still around), or simply a memory of the Mk 1s in red from a few years earlier which they have conflated with these trains/dates?

Ah yes that's a good point, it never crossed my mind that he may have the upholstery in mind, regarding the livery I seem to recall there were still a handful of maroon (& green) Mk1s kicking around during 1970 and maybe perhaps just into 1971 also?

 

[L+Y]

Ah yes that's a good point, it never crossed my mind that he may have the upholstery in mind, regarding the livery I seem to recall there were still a handful of maroon (& green) Mk1s kicking around during 1970 and maybe perhaps just into 1971 also?

Believe the very last maroon Mk1s stayed in service up until 1975 as an excursion rake from Derby- but yes, photos of the period seem to suggest they were already quite thin on the ground by 1971.

 

[delt1c]

Last Maroon rake I saw was around 74 stabled in siding just before the Tay Bridge. Never seen it is service and it stayed there for a while, possibly withdrawn , but never had the white circle and cross on it. As for upholstery, the Mk1's had several variants and remember the red up until late 70's.

 

[randyrippley]

I saw three near-derelict maroon coaches tacked onto the back of a Peak-hauled NE-SW train at Dawlish on a summer saturday in 1974.
Poor paint, cracked windows, peeling roof felt - but carrying passengers. Dunno where it originated from.
But the point is there were still a handful of maroon coaches around then.

 

[Cowley]

I saw three near-derelict maroon coaches tacked onto the back of a Peak-hauled NE-SW train at Dawlish on a summer saturday in 1974.
Poor paint, cracked windows, peeling roof felt - but carrying passengers. Dunno where it originated from.
But the point is there were still a handful of maroon coaches around then.

Definitely. I remember a thread about it on here a couple of years back.