LONDON KING’S CROSS - 21st CENTURY LNER STEAM (2017-19)

This video is a compilation of arrivals and departures of steam hauled trains at London King’s Cross station (KX) during a period from November 2017 to December 2019. The main purpose is to show locomotives in their correct former haunt at the southern end of the East Coast Main Line and give the illusion of frequent steam hauled services. A “Duchess” or “West Country” Pacific may be very impressive at KX but they look decidedly out of place there. I have edited out any modern diesel, electric locomotives and HSTs as far as possible. Whether the video re-creates a true atmosphere of the glory days of steam I very much doubt as this particular London terminus has undergone such radical transition since the last steam hauled train departed in 1964. The structures beneath both canopy ends at the north end of the station were removed in the late 1960s but the layout of the station buildings and station throat had changed little since the days of steam although the easternmost bore of Gasworks Tunnel was closed in 1973. The signal box, although decommissioned in 1971, stood proud as it did for the many past historic achievements and occasions with those legendary locomotives until being demolished in 1976. This was also the time when King’s Cross York Road station closed that served the widened lines for the over ground suburban services. By 1977 the track layout was rationalised and overhead wires had appeared for inner suburban services. In the late 1970s/early 80s work was undertaken on the station canopy which made the station train shed much lighter as it was back in the 1930s. The locomotive servicing/ stabling yard had also closed at this time as High Speed Trains (HSTs) were increasingly replacing the “Deltics” and other diesel locomotives with serving/maintenance being undertaken at Finsbury Park depot. The cast iron footbridge was dismantled in late 2008 and replaced as part of Network Rail’s major upgrade to the station but was subsequently reassembled at Ropley on the Mid-Hants Railway. This bridge’s claim to fame is that it was very much part of a Harry Potter movie. This upgrade has included the station concourse being totally re-modelled and refurbishment of the station buildings on the eastern side. Large buildings, some residential, and offices have now replaced the sight of the old gasholders and stand where the loco yard once existed These buildings now tower over the western side as well as over Gasworks Tunnel and are all part of the regeneration of the King’s Cross district although it has resulted in making the whole station throat area rather claustrophobic. Nevertheless, some of the older buildings along York road which are visible from the platforms at the north end of the station survive today and are depicted in many old railway photographs and even now steam hauled specials pictured beneath the overall station canopy do go some way to recreate the golden age of LNER steam. I do hope you enjoy watching this video. I never managed to visit King's Cross in the steam era as I my childhood trainspotting was mainly confined to local steam trains on the Western and the S&DJR. I left home as early as 4:15 to witness some of these KX departures and returned home in the early hours after seeing certain arrivals. All the locomotives featured in video are from the BR era (1950s to early 1960s) and include: 61306 "MAYFLOWER", 60103 "FLYING SCOTSMAN”, 60163 “TORNADO” and the final visit of 60009 “UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA” to the former Great Northern terminus. I was hoping to include 61264 and 60007 "SIR NIGEL GRESLEY" to complete the video but the COVID-19 situation has put pay to that indefinitely so here it is. ALL MATERIAL CONTAINED IN THIS VIDEO IS COPYRIGHT GRAHAM R SMITH