The Black Watch departs York on June 18, 1978.

At York, at this time, a rickety metal ladder gave access to an equally rickety wooden walkway on the outside of Holgate Road bridge, which gave an excellent view looking towards the station – I presume both the ladder and walkway have now been removed. In the early evening of June 18, 1978, 55013 The Black Watch of Haymarket departs with the 18.58 York to London King’s Cross ‘semi-fast’, which was something of a misnomer as these ‘York stoppers’ were very tightly timed and enabled a Deltic to be used to its full potential .

This early evening photograph shows York Minster in the distance. Just before the Deltic left, three separate Peak-hauled trains also left, which certainly made it worthwhile risking life and limb, as I have no head for heights.