East and North London - 17 June 2026
Every successful railway outing begins with optimism. This one began with torrential rain.
For Nigel, the day started long before most sensible people were even considering getting out of bed. Crewe was being thoroughly soaked by biblical amounts of rain as he left home for the 05:45 LNWR service to London. The forecast promised cloud and a rather uninspiring 16°C, so waterproofs were very much the order of the day. A light jacket, loose shirt and rainproof completed the look—less “rail enthusiast” and more “extra from a BBC weather forecast.”
Things didn’t immediately inspire confidence. The 05:45 sat patiently in Platform 7 at Crewe with every door firmly closed and a growing collection of passengers wondering whether anyone intended to operate it. With barely two minutes until departure the train manager came charging onto the platform, leapt aboard, released the doors and, somehow, the train still departed bang on time. British railway miracles do occasionally happen.
Rob joined at Tamworth and the journey south passed quickly as conversation drifted between current events and fond memories of the recent Scotland trip. Meanwhile, Gavin had started even earlier from Sheffield, largely because peak-time rail fares have developed an alarming resemblance to mortgage repayments. His early arrival in London even allowed time for a spot of photography before the capital awoke properly.
Nigel and Rob arrived at Euston just as London’s morning rush hour was in full cry. There was no immediate hurry, so the first essential move of the day was coffee. Fortified with caffeine, they descended into the Underground, squeezed aboard an extremely busy Northern line train, survived the crush to Bank and transferred onto the DLR for the run out to Shadwell.
Emerging at Shadwell, they were greeted not by glorious views of London’s skyline but by heavy drizzle, low cloud and rather murky visibility. Waiting there was Mark, the local guide for the day, whose knowledge of London’s railways would prove invaluable.
After a handful of record shots the trio moved one stop east to Limehouse, where Gavin and Steve joined the party. The full complement of five was now assembled, meaning the day’s committee meeting could begin.
The original plan had always been fairly loose, but as with most 1Z10 outings, Real Time Trains soon became the unofficial sixth member of the group. A Network Rail test train, top-and-tailed by a pair of much-loved Class 37s, was circulating around East London before eventually heading for Clacton. Around this central attraction, various freight workings would be slotted in wherever possible.
Limehouse itself offered some attractive photography. The c2c route towards Essex diverges from the DLR here, while the line still retains much of the infrastructure from its original 1,500-volt DC electrification, long since converted to modern 25kV AC. Old masts and classic railway architecture give the area a distinctive character that’s increasingly rare.
The weather, though, remained stubbornly grey with drizzle and mist. Fortunately, encouraging patches of blue sky were beginning to appear to the west.
The group caught a c2c service to Barking where, by the time they arrived, someone had clearly found the giant weather switch. Blue skies appeared, the sun came out with enthusiasm and waterproofs rapidly disappeared into bags as temperatures climbed far beyond what anyone had expected that morning.
Seeking a different photographic angle, they headed for a footbridge about half a mile from the station. The view wasn’t perfect, but railway photographers are eternal optimists and everyone searched for that elusive masterpiece that probably only exists in the imagination.
A Class 66-hauled intermodal was photographed successfully before events took a slightly more interesting turn. A succession of rather dubious-looking local youths wandered across the bridge, one taking an especially unhealthy interest in the group’s expensive camera equipment. When he reappeared accompanied by a couple of equally unsavoury companions, a tactical discussion lasted approximately half a second before everyone unanimously voted for a strategic withdrawal. Sometimes discretion really is the better part of photography.
Back at Barking station, normal service resumed. A couple of freight trains passed through before the stars of the
morning arrived—the pair of Class 37s growling at speed with the Network Rail test train.
Knowing the train would reverse at Ripple Lane, another quick move followed, this time one stop along to Woodgrange Park. The plan worked perfectly and the Class 37s were successfully photographed for a second time.
As an unexpected bonus, only minutes later another intermodal thundered past hauled by the gleaming new Class 99 No. 99003, still sporting that unmistakable fresh-from-the-factory shine.
Naturally, having photographed the 37s twice, the obvious conclusion was that they should try for a third time.
A short walk connected Woodgrange Park with Manor Park on the Great Eastern Main Line, from where a train took everyone to Romford. Here the pace slowed briefly with welcome refreshments and more importantly on what had become an increasingly hot and humid afternoon, much-needed hydration.
Soon enough the distinctive soundtrack of English Electric power announced the arrival of the test train once again as it thundered through Romford on its way towards the Essex coast.
Attention now shifted back to Real Time Trains. A pair of Class 20s, top-and-tailing a weed-killing and drain-clearing engineers’ train across the North London Line, had finally activated.
A quick ride to Stratford to pick up the North London Line there before heading for Gospel Oak. Unfortunately, the latter proved rather uninspiring. Fortunately, London Overground trains are frequent, so everyone simply boarded the next one to Finchley Road & Frognal, where the photographic opportunities looked considerably more promising.
The decision paid off. The pair of Class 20s arrived right on cue, followed shortly afterwards by a Class 88 hauling a Tesco intermodal from Daventry to Tilbury, adding another welcome bonus to the day’s haul.
By now the heat and humidity bore little resemblance to the gloomy forecast that had dictated everyone’s wardrobe some twelve hours earlier. With daylight still plentiful, someone inevitably uttered the dangerous phrase: “While we’re here…”
The conversation quickly turned towards Chiltern Railways Class 68s around the Wembley area. Another sequence of trains followed: Finchley Road & Frognal to Brondesbury, a short walk up Kilburn High Road, then an Underground train—now effectively running overground—to Willesden Green. From the nearby road bridge several trains were photographed, including a couple of Class 68s.
Mark then suggested one final move to Neasden and the North Circular Road overbridge. On arrival they noticed westbound tube trains were absolutely packed. The mystery was soon solved: Harry Styles’ One Direction reunion concert at Wembley Stadium was drawing enormous crowds.
The bridge itself proved an excellent finishing location. Looking west, Wembley Stadium dominated the skyline while, off to the right, Neasden Depot stretched across the landscape. Chiltern units, another Class 68 and an aggregate train top-and-tailed by Class 66s all obliged before the cameras.
By now it was around six o’clock. After one final review of the day’s successes, the group agreed that enough was enough. Goodbyes were exchanged as everyone dispersed towards their various routes home.
Nigel and Rob returned to Euston, where the traditional end-of-day reward awaited: a well-earned pint, something to eat and a chance to rest tired feet before boarding the 19:46 back to Crewe. Rob left the train at Tamworth while Nigel continued north, arriving back in Crewe on time—and in weather considerably more pleasant than the conditions he’d departed in before dawn.
Five photographers, countless trains, three successful sightings of the same pair of Class 37s, one shiny new Class 99, a pair of Class 20s, several Class 68s, plenty of freight, one sensible tactical retreat and a weather forecast that was spectacularly wrong.
Another memorable 1Z10 adventure was safely under the belt, another healthy contribution had been made to the ever-growing photo-processing backlog and attention was already turning to the next outing.
West Yorkshire awaited in little more than a week.
Rob Walton
Nigel Capelle