Midland Main Line Electrified?

[Max]

An interesting little quote from the description of St Pancras station on the East Midlands Trains Website:

That giant, glass-and-iron canopy above your head might look Victorian, but these days it's made of self-cleaning glass and the dust of all those locomotives and diesel trains has been swept away.

Errr, wait a second, but don't East Midlands Trains operate only diesel trains out of St Pancras??

 

[Craig]

Some people might say that "locomotives" don't operate out of St Pancras these days, but that's a completely different argument

 

[paul1609]

I think all diesel trains should be banned from within the boundaries of the M25. regions that cant afford electric trains should be forced to change train at BEDFORD, Peterborough etc.

 

[W14Fishbourne]

...Errr, wait a second, but don't East Midlands Trains operate only diesel trains out of St Pancras??

Not from under the Barlow train shed, they don't. They've been banished to the modern extension.

 

[Tom]

I think all diesel trains should be banned from within the boundaries of the M25. regions that cant afford electric trains should be forced to change train at BEDFORD, Peterborough etc.

I note you pick destinations north of the M25, what about the long distance commuter belt from Salisbury and in that general direction?

Had Weymouth not been electrified you'd probably be telling us to change at Woking .... which is absurd.

Also, what about the GOBLIN?

 

[Max]

Not from under the Barlow train shed, they don't. They've been banished to the modern extension.

Ahhh yes, that's true. Odd though that they would be almost praising their removal to the little concrete bit on the end.

 

[AlexS]

Electric locos have operated from St Pancras in the past!

 

[robvulpes]

If St Pancras domestic/MML is electrified still, it's to allow FCC Thameslink diversions. May well be necessary during the TL upgrade works over the next few years.

 

[Julian G]

Electric locos have operated from St Pancras in the past!

indeed, there is a photo of 87012 on the MML in Red Cow's Excellent site

 

[class 313]

I think all diesel trains should be banned from within the boundaries of the M25.

More like:-
Radlett/St Albans. Midland Mainline
Hatfield/Welyn Garden City. East Coast Mainline
Watford/St Albans. West Coast Mainline

(Don't know the other mainline M25 boundaries.)

 

[Mojo]

Kings Langley on the WCML is virtually underneath the M25.

 

[ChrisCooper]

indeed, there is a photo of 87012 on the MML in Red Cow's Excellent site

Yes, 86s, 87s and 90s have operated from St Pancras on at least 2 occasions in the past (I've seen pictures of them with hauled sets and also later with DVTs), due to closures on the WCML, with a diesel loco dragging north of Bedford. I've got a feeling the last time was 1992, although the last time electric locos operated into St Pancras was when the NR loadbank 86s were used to test the electrification on the new MML platforms.
The reason for using the electric south of Bedford I presume was pathing, since especially on what is quite a hilly route (long sections of 1in200 and 1in176) the electrics would have dramatically outperformed a dragged set (the former would hold 110mph up the hills easily, the latter would probably struggle to keep 70-80mph).
Useful that the MML electrification was built to withstand loco haulage, not only to allow that, but also incase of any future extension of the electrification, although whether it will need beefing up for TL3000 remains to be seen (would take 12car 319s, but not sure about 12car modern units, although maybe by the time the TL3000 stock is being built designers will have seen sence and be reducing the power draw of units, not increasing it).