Across the road from King’s Cross, St Pancras was easy enough to sometimes climb the steps and wander across the concourse and back before shooting off home at the end of a working day. Greatly decayed superficially, it was nevertheless a hugely impressive buildings – though far-too ornate for its rather “pedestrian” role. The elliptical ticket office was always worth appreciation as I passed across the wooden floor towards the taxi road entrance, as were the huge metal spans across the breadth of the building. I’d wander under the building at an entrance point or two among the gothic offices of Pancras Road, including the night shelter, and crane my neck to see more of the former Somers Town Goods Yard and stabling point canopy from various vantage points towards Camden.
The wonderful roof spans of St Pancras Station dwarf an 08 shunter parked on a storage road under its shadow – by contrast, outside in the sunshine are the signal box, bridge and gasometers. This dirty but sun-warmed ambiance was very evocative of steam days. 7303#AA01-STP-08###-PARKD
Parked between duties on the lay-over road beside the platforms of Euston Station are 86206 “City of Stoke on Trent” and a Class 85 loco. The ’86 has the nice embellishment of a coat of arms above the nameplate, placed carefully to add a certain dignity to it’s appearance. 8108#AA01-EUS-86206-PARKD
St Pancras Station on 7th November 1981 hosts 45136 and two classmates near the stop blocks. The locomotives have new ends fitted with headlights, but are old, and soon to be replaced by HSTs on the Midland service. The roof has been recently renovated. 811107A01-STP-45136-PAS_U
An advertising hoarding of the 70s looks out over the area that passengers flow through behind 45135 ‘3RD CARABINIER’ at St Pancras in the early 80s. The yellow of of its protruding headcode boxing stands out from the shiny BR blue and cab door is open as the crew switch to it for the run out again. 7####FE01-STP-45135-PAS_U
Heading an ACS train at St Pancras Station, 45104 “THE ROYAL WARWICKSHIRE FUSILIER”, with glass-fronted domino headcode, epitomises a ‘lived-in’ corporate BR livery, as its logo and number are clean, but the rest of the loco has been sadly neglected. 8303#AB01-STP-45104-PAS_D
47531- resplendent in blue livery with pristine logo – waits to leave on the track presently occupied by 45049 “THE STAFFORDSHIRE REGIMENT” as it snakes into St Pancras on 31st July 1974: also with a passenger service. In the background is the tower of the Tropical Diseases Hospital, the trees surrounding Old St Pancras Church, and the Gas Holder superstructures. 740731A01-PAN-45049-PAS_U
Taken from the concrete base of the now demolished old signal box, two HST power cars in differing liveries peep from the huge cavern of St Pancras station in the early 1980s – the left in the original paint finish and the right in “executive” style. Overhead electrification equipment is in place, as are new signals at the platform ends. 8####BH01-STP-STATN-VIS_S
Cless 47 1832 fuels at Cambridge Street stabling point a half mile north of St Pancras on 6th June 1973, the picture taken from a train entering the terminus. I only saw this depot on a few occasions, window-hanging, and was unable to gain access from the street. 1832 is in two-tone green livery with yellow ends, and carries a Midland service headcode. Photo: H C Casserley.
The Eric Curnow Collection 