LMS Black 5 44871 & LNER A4 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley battle a foray up the ECML to York - 15.11.25

Just one day shy of a year to the day since we were last treated to this sight, LMS Black 5 No. 44871 and LNER A4 Pacific No. 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley would once again make a foray onto the ECML up to York, to haul their respective “Christmas White Rose” railtours. The five would be at the head of an excursion for The Railway Touring Company, travelling out of the capital from Kings Cross, scheduled to head via Peterborough, Saxilby & Doncaster on the outward, and return via Lincoln Central. The A4 would return to her home turf to take part in a Saphos Trains excursion, with diesel haulage from Potters Bar to Peterborough, where the A4, stabled at the Nene Valley Railway for these trips, would attach for the run to York, travelling directly up the ECML via Retford both ways, before being relieved at Peterborough again for diesel traction back to Potters Bar. Staring out with 44871, the video begins at Finsbury Park, as the five hauls the ECS from Southall towards Harringay. Having reversed and been towed to Kings Cross to pickup her first passengers, the next shot sees the tour making the rare sight of passing through the fast line platforms as she heads north towards Peterborough. We would also head north, and travel to Newark Northgate. Here, there should’ve been something of a spectacle, as the Black 5 should’ve been stopped in the Goods Loop taking water, while 60007 was due to pass. However, the five was heavily delayed, so instead we would simply witness the A4 pass, powering through the station at speed with a blast on her chime whistle. Moving onto Doncaster, and the nearby car park, we would take shelter in the drizzle to capture the A4 passing her birthplace, powering back up to line speed having been signal checked. Next would come the Black 5, having made up a lot of her delay by means of going via Retford instead of via Saxilby, keen to make up time as she powers through with the rain having cleared a bit more and a clearer view of the station. On the return, we were due to capture the A4 coming south through the station at Doncaster, then move onto Grantham. Due to her running late, she was put behind the train we were due to catch to Grantham, so we had to bail Doncaster and head straight there. The video therefore ends at Grantham, with the A4 gliding through, filling the station with smoke in the process. The lacklustre performance would soon show its reasoning, as shortly after passing here, the A4 would come to a halt, suffering issues with creating steam due to a blocked spark arrestor, and as a consequence have to limp to Peterborough at a very low speed. The diesel waiting to take over at Peterborough would eventually have to meet the A4 and drag her the rest of the way, with the tour itself eventually getting to Peterborough over 2 hours late. •Facebook:   / themodsterrailwayvideos