King’s Cross station had its 170th anniversary and then both KX/LNER celebrated the Flying Scotsman’s anniversary, then LNER’s 100th anniversary – well sort of as the current LNER hasn’t been in existence for a century. (This thread on Rail Forums discusses the pros and cons of that claim.) But nevertheless there are important milestones that do constitute, combined, a number of centuries century since the original LNER was conceived in 1923. But of course if it hadn’t been for King’s Cross station there would have been no East Coast Main Line, no GNR, no LNER, and no BR (ER.) The A3s, the A4s and the Deltics would probably have never happened.
Because of the history of this particular route out of King’s Cross, through Doncaster, Newcastle, and over the celebrated Royal Border bridge etc its why despite everything becoming British Railways after 1948, a strong continuance of the Big Four has endured, much like the other BR regions too. In other word the post 1948 BR regions were basically the Big Four under a different aegis and that is why each region, the ECML being no exception, had their own specific traction such as the Class 91s.
Its why there’s been all sorts of happenings on the ECML and at King’s Cross. First there was the ECML upgrade, not exactly an anniversary but nevertheless a big thing because it put right some inconsistencies in the previous upgrade that took place during the 1970s, with the most notable move being the restoration of the eastern Gasworks tunnel to rail use. Once again King’s Cross has a full set of tracks leading out of the station into the three celebrated tunnels. Coupled with that was the retirement of the old King’s Cross power box and the relocation of signal control to York.
Indeed the ECML upgrade finished in June 2021, basically leaving the coast clear for the KX/LNER anniversaries (although it hasn’t meant the end of engineering works for example – one notable result of this was the move to mid week engineering works in the third week of May 2023 – the actual LNER anniversary week in fact – although this initiative which was celebrated by LNER soon became a disaster with a freight blocking both the routes down the ECML and the alternative route via Lincoln which meant even those very few trains diagrammed to run via the main or those mostly via Lincoln couldn’t even run.)
Anyway, back to the anniversaries in question which ranged from the 170th anniversary of King’s Cross Station, through to that of the Flying Scotsman the introduction of the first ever HSTs and more recently the Azuma. These anniversaries have all sort of arrived around the same time so evidently it was important for the present LNER to be able to celebrate these events in a way that would honour the East Coast Main Line’s history and that was honoured by having an Azuma named ‘Century.’
The first of these major anniversaries, the King’s Cross 170th, took place in October 2022 and there were several ways the anniversary was commemorated. First it was an exhibition in the main concourse coupled with a large ‘170’ sculpture. Throughout the station elements of its 170 years were celebrated with pictures of rolling stock from the past.
Perhaps the biggest event was 4472 Flying Scotsman being in residence at the station for a whole weekend. Both King’s Cross station and 4472 are almost inseparable and both constitute an important part of Britain’s railway history so it was apt for Sir Nigel Gresley’s sole surviving A3 Pacific to have this honour. Nevertheless the A3 Pacific’s own anniversary was forthcoming thus 170 years of Kings Cross station plus the Flying Scotsman’s made October 2022 a good month at the Cross.
At the time of writing the ‘170’ sculpture is still resident at the station however it was moved from the main concourse to the top end of platforms 8 and nine later in 2022. Most of the platform ends were decorated for the 170th anniversary much lie most other anniversaries that have been held at the Cross.
King’s Cross station’s 170th Anniversary celebrations began in late 2021 and continued throughout 2022.
The ‘170’ seen at King’s Cross station before Xmas 2021. Source: Twitter.
24th February 2023 was 4472 Flying Scotsman’s anniversary – although it is presented throughout 2023 as it was in its 1960s British Railways appearance as 60103 with smoke deflectors as the picture below shows.
A3 Pacific Flying Scotsman seen at the start of its weekend residency at King’s Cross. 14th October 2022. Source: Twitter.
In its very earliest days 4472 was 1472 – and it didn’t even have a name! Flying Scotsman is seen passing Belle Isle during 1923. Source: Twitter.
Where would we be without the Flying Scotsman? Its thanks to Alan Pegler the famous locomotive didn’t end up as scrap. 4472 is seen at Washington Union station in 1969 with George Claytor (President of the Southern) and Alan Pegler who is wearing typical BR attire. Source: Twitter.
Although the Deltics have been part and parcel of the Kings Cross and LNER celebrations (both in pictorial and poster form) there hasn’t actually been any specific Deltic commemorative trips so far. However D9000 was seen at Kings Cross earlier in the year on a special charter to Edinburgh. Its understood D9000 had problems at Grantham but managed to continue on one engine with help from 90001 which was on the rear.
Deltic D9000 Royal Scots Grey at King’s Cross 21st April 2023. Source: Twitter.
Royal Scots Grey ran the final ever BR Deltic service from Edinburgh! Its seen at King’s Cross after that historic trip. January 1982. Source: Twitter.
May 2023 proved to be quite a busy month in terms of anniversaries!
A3 Pacific 4472 Flying Scotsman is in charge of the first non-stop run to Edinburgh. Source: Twitter.
The first HSTs entered service on the ECML in May 1978. Source: Twitter.
The first LNER Azumas entered service four years earlier on 15th May 2019. Source: Twitter.
The 15th May 2023 was celebrated by way of having Azuma 801228 named as ‘Century.’ Special decals adorned to the main driving unit commemorated the various events which have been very much a part of the East Coast Main Line since 1923. The unit was decorated at Doncaster Carr depot. It travelled to York light, where it was named during a special ceremony held at York before it took up its first public working as the 10.02 to King’s Cross.
801228 at King’s Cross after its run from York. Source: Twitter.
This post has NEVER been published. The intent had been to publish following the launching of the ‘CENTURY’ Azuma in May 2023. This would have been the third week of that month. As there’s currently a very quiet period (May 2025) an attempt was to find a post that could be published! I think the reason this post did not get published was because of the need to photograph the various posters and pictures of the Flying Scotsman featured in King’s Cross Square – which is why it was left as a draft.
IDK if this post is of any merit or interest, anyhow there’s no doubt May 2025 is the second anniversary of this post not being published. So its now got published! LOL!