LSL to take ‘Peak’ back to St Pancras

IT IS more than 18 years since London St Pancras throbbed to the sound of a Sulzer engine in a Class 45 ‘Peak’.

That occasion was April 8, 2004, when No. 45112 hauled a farewell special to Leicester and back, ahead of the station being extended and rebuilt for Eurostar international and HS1 domestic services.

On November 9, under Locomotive Services Ltd’s Inter-City brand, the plan is to take sister loco No. 45118 over the Midland Main Line (MML) via Harringworth viaduct.

Running as ‘The International’, this tour begins at Lancaster, and will call at Preston, Wigan North Western, Warrington Bank Quay,

Crewe, Stafford and Nuneaton before running nonstop via Leicester, Melton Mowbray and Oakham, then from Corby, under the electrified section of MML into St Pancras, where passengers will enjoy a threehour break.

The return leg will be the more direct route through Market Harborough before taking Wigston South Curve to reach Nuneaton and the set down stations.

Rolling stock is all first class Mk.3s and fares from all pickup points are £129 per person, with a guaranteed window table for two supplement at £30. The train will have a buffet on board for hot and cold drinks and snacks, and alcoholic drinks.

In the event work on the ‘Peak’ is not completed in time, the train will be hauled by a pair of LSL Class 37s.

Book online at inter-city. co.uk or call 0800 038 5364.