My final overnight stay at the Queens Hotel in Leeds, where I had hoped to stay at sometime in my life was “eventful.” The room was much as I expected, with adequate space and facilities. Christmas celebrations had swamped all the dining areas on offer. I found somewhere in town to eat, enjoyed a designer priced dinner, and returned to my quarters, closing the door on the intrusive sounds of (probably) alcohol fueled jollyfication. The noise carried on as if it was inside my room. Actually, it was! Owing to some peculiar mix – up, a group of fairly easy-on-the-eye women had been issued with a key to my room. You could not make it up! The likelihood of a sleepless night was significant and I wanted to be wide awake for the last HST into Kings Cross. At around half past midnight, after I had informed Reception that I was being kept awake, I was transferred to a room on the 8th floor, much larger and quieter; from 1am I slept for England and today all is well.
Day 4 of this lengthy tour is every bit as good as the previous three days. Yet again, I have been seated among the luminaries, this time next to Rail Magazine’s Co-Editor whose writings I enjoy for his entertaining “honesty.”
We left Platform 9 of Leeds City Station and so far have called at Wakefield, Doncaster, Retford, and Newark.
This is so reminiscent of the End of Steam, with large crowds congregating at stations, and vantage points in between.
The weather has brightened up today and is warm enough to discard my sweater. In less than two hours, as at the moment, we hurtle over the section where steam locomotive, “Mallard” broke the world speed record for steam traction, 126 m.p.h., we shall draw into Kings Cross.
15.02hrs and the last HST leaves Finsbury Park. 7 minutes and it will be all over, apart from the anticipated reception as we draw into “The Cross.” It will be a while before I leg it to Euston for the ride home.
The pictures below are all from today, and are, hopefully self explanatory.
The first image is a classic view of the concourse at Leeds City station, followed by a view from the footbridge. Note the contrast of liveries between the two trains.
The window labels were photographed at Retford, Nottinghamshire, as was the platform view.
I chose to stay in the train at Newark but took seven pictures at the next booked stop, Peterborough. (I was not considered important enough to be interviewed!)
Finsbury Park, now, just seven minutes from Kings Cross is noted with a final “view through the window” shot. At last, sadly, it is “journey’s end.” I may well be wrong, but I think we were just one minute late by the time we came to a final stand. One “through the window” picture, approaching the terminus, three images taken after disembarking the train, and one of Kings Cross station, bring the curtain down on what I consider to be a noteworthy (and that’s an understatement) rail tour.
To all those who followed this blog, I do hope you enjoyed it.
Very best wishes for Christmas and the New Year,
David.
David's Cruise 