St Pancras parcels trains - what was this working?

[nicjoynson]

I shot the following train a few times at St Pancras in 1986/1987. My recollection was this was a typical consist, and it left maybe 2130. Any ideas on headcode, departure time and destination?

Thanks in advance,

Nic
Night time mails under Barlows train shed by Nic Joynson, on Flickr

 

[madannie77]

A search through the WTT collection at Chez Madannie reveals we don't have one for the Midland Main Line in 1986/7. We do have them for 1983/4 and 1989/90, though.

In the 1983/4 timetable there was a 1E90 SO 2135 St Pancras to Leeds Newspapers. I note that Valentine's Day 1987 was a Saturday, so it could be this, assuming it was still operating in 1987.

The Leeds newspaper train does not appear in the 1989/90 WTT.

 

[Cowley]

Nice photo by the way. Lots of atmosphere and amazing to contrast it with how the station looks today.

 

[billh]

There was a Bolton to St Pancras and return working in those days. I can't remember times. It was parcels traffic from several mail order firms based in Bolton. Traction was 45s or 47s IIRC

 

[eastwestdivide]

I've posted a similar photo on a Saturday night in 1982 over on rmweb:
http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/66958-parcel-paper-fleets/?p=915696
showing a train of similar length and composition being loaded from a road van branded for The Times/Sunday Times.
Yours seems to be on the same wide platform, easy to access for road vehicles.

 

[nlogax]

Beautiful shot. As nice as the rebuilt St P is, the old one was a treasure trove of atmosphere.

 

[70014IronDuke]

IIRC, the one-time Glasgow sleeper used to depart at 21.30 (and further yet back in time, the Edinburgh sleeper at 21.15).

I wonder if this parcels train is merely the poor-man's descendant of these trains.

 

[nicjoynson]

Thanks all for the replies.

[QUOTE="In the 1983/4 timetable there was a 1E90 SO 2135 St Pancras to Leeds Newspapers. I note that Valentine's Day 1987 was a Saturday, so it could be this, assuming it was still operating in 1987.

The Leeds newspaper train does not appear in the 1989/90 WTT.[/QUOTE]
That certainly would fit with my timing, although confirmation that it still existed in 1987 would be handy. Given it was newspapers, it probably ceased in the summer of 1988 along with the rest of the network.

Nic

 

[Railops]

Beautiful shot. As nice as the rebuilt St P is, the old one was a treasure trove of atmosphere.

Yes you're right the old SP was full of atmosphere now like everywhere else it's just a boring corporate hole.