Duration: 5:10

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Hello viewers,

Back at Llangollen once again for the Berwyn shuttle in Feb half term.

The shuttle was hauled by LNER Class J94
No. 68067 built in 1943 by Hudswell Clarke & Co.

It was nice to see the King’s Cross square enders out again. Which where originally used on the Morgate to Welwyn Garden City or on the Hartford Loop. I’m told they used to sit in the sidings at Finsbury Park all day after morning peak, and if the sun was really hot (1976 heatwave) you learnt to sit on the cooler east side of the coach as even the dusty old BR moquette was cooler to sit on in the evening rush hour.

The nickname ‘square or block ender’ seems to be a Great Northern lined staff term- certainly heard it used by staff even in recent times.
Because they were in the main non-gangwayed stock, mostly without toilets they were never used at weekends for trips to the seaside, like Skegness which was often billed on stations here in the summer. The local dmus were often used instead- the Cravens two-car dmus certainly were as they had toilets. And also as they too often stood idle at weekends, it was useful to send ‘em to the seaside to keep the batteries charged up. In the early days of dmus on this part of the ECML there was a shortage of dmu-trained fitting staff in the north London area. Sets would be sent north to Lincoln to be serviced. Return trips up the ECML would have the power cars with the floor panels
lifted and monitored by staff to make sure all was running well underneath. Anything, pray, to make sure the units got through the working week in London. Thanks to Roger Carvell for these interesting memories and detail.

Locations are:

Llangollen

Thanks for watching

Bye for now