10th February 2026 “A Virtual Tour of the M25” by David Cross
An evening of pure Derek Cross gold was the reward for those who braved the rains to join the Cambridge Branch meeting on February 10th 2026. Masterfully narrated by David Cross, the evening comprised an anti-clockwise tour of locations on the principal lines radiating from London, roughly corresponding to crossing points of the present M25, mainly in the 1950s and 60s.
Beginning on the Great Eastern main line at Brentwood we saw a Southend Victoria to Liverpool Street EMU crossing the M25 under construction, followed by a variety of electric units at Ilford, a lovely view of ex-LMS Jinty No. 47467 at Stratford on one of the numerous trip working over the Docks lines, finishing with condemned Southern Class 403 5-BEL Brighton Belle unit No. 3052 at Manningtree in 1972.
Moving round to the East Coast Main Line in the latter days of main line steam brought the majestic Class A3 No. 60102 ‘Sir Frederick Banbury’ heading South from Leeds in 1960, 61409 (the last B1 built) on a Kings Cross to Cleethorpes express via the East Lincs line, BRCW Type 2 (Class 26) No. D5317 on a six-coach suburban working at Potters Bar in July 1959 and a rare view of North British D6102 on an Up Cambridge Buffet Express. No coverage of the East Coast Main Line would be complete without a Deltic, and between the Tunnels at Hadley Wood was brand new, unnamed, D9001 heading South on 1E28 in early 1961, followed by English Electric Type 4 No. D252 on 266 Down, the Scotch Goods from Kings Cross to Niddrie.
A further rotation took us briefly onto the Midland Main Line with Black 5 No. 44984 at Elstree and a priceless 1962 portrait of the last of the twenty Pilot Scheme English Electric Type 1s, No. D8019, at Devons Road depot (1D) in Bow.
The West Coast Main Line then followed, with many classic views including Princess Class 4-6-2 No. 46207 ‘Princess Arthur of Connaught’ on the Down Mid-Day Scot at Willesden and Coronation Class 4-6-2 No. 46256 ‘Sir Willim A. Stanier F.R.S’ on the Down Royal Scot in the Summer of 1960. Dieselisation was experienced in the form of Derby-built D5027 on a Northampton to Euston semi-fast, but order was restored by Black 5 No. 45150 on a Summer Saturday through working from Manchester Piccadilly to Margate, seen at Headstone Lane and formed of Southern Region green liveried stock.
Next was the turn of the Great Western Main Line with a number of views of the charming Iver station, including Castle Class No. 5087 ‘Tintern Abbey’ on the Up Cheltenham Spa Express in June 1960 and 5042 ‘Winchester Castle’ on Down milk empties from Wood Lane depot. After a short interlude with new Class 115 diesel units at West Ruislip and 4074 ‘Caldicot Castle’ on shed at Oxford we were in Sonning Cutting with some wonderful trackside views including 1012 ‘County of Denbigh’ on a Paddington to Pembroke Dock express in June 1960 and King Class No. 6009 ‘King Charles II’ on the Up Fishguard Boat Train. Our Western Region experience finished with something of an interpretation of ‘M25’, with diesel hydraulics in the Westbury area, including the lovely D1048 ‘Western Lady’ at Clink Road Junction on a Yeoman stone working in 1974.
Our evening completed with the Southern Region, in recognition of which David had brought a nameplate from Southern N15 Class No. 30449 ‘Sir Torre’, from the RCTS collection.
The ever-popular Worting Junction and Battledown Flyover were featured, including Battle of Britain Class No. 34090 ‘Sir Eustace Missenden Southern Railway’ on a Weymouth to Waterloo working. The pneumatic signals at Pirbright Junction, with their distinctive sounds, were illustrated with 35015 ‘Rotterdam Lloyd’ on the Atlantic Coast Express and 34094 ‘Mortehoe’ on the US Lines Boat Express from Southampton Western Docks to Waterloo, non-stop.
Turning to South-Eastern lines, David pulled out all the stops with the iconic ‘Golden Arrow’ at St Mary Cray in early 1961 behind 35015 ‘Rotterdam Lloyd’ and 34093 ‘Saunton’, with an L1 pilot locomotive, on a heavily laden ‘Night Ferry’ heading to London early on a Summer 1959 morning. After various Hop-Pickers’ specials we arrived at Folkstone Harbour to see Pannier tanks working hard up to the main line, followed by some delightful views of the White Cliffs and English Electric Class 20 No. 20127 inside the Channel Tunnel! We finished with a Southern H Class on an Eridge to Ashurst auto-train, a Q1 at All Hallows and a lovely selection of N Class, U Class and King Arthur Class locomotives at Bromley South.
Over the course of the evening, David gave us a priceless insight into a very different England – of open spaces, uncluttered scenes, beautifully ballasted trackwork, telegraph poles, tidy, well-kept stations and a staggering variety of locomotives types and train formations. The attendance at the meeting said it all, and we closed at 9.45 pm with a huge round of applause from all present.