A new video series has been released by Avanti West Coast to give an insight into the West Coast Main Line from the train cab.
Tales from the Tracks was recording during lockdown and shows the West Coast Main Line from a Pendolino cab.
Using mounted cameras, the series guides viewers with commentary from experienced Avanti West Coast drivers who discuss points of view along the way.
With over 50 years of driving experience between them, Darran and Dave provide interesting facts about the WCML, from The Great Train Robbery in 1964 to the accounts of the 2am journeys with 360-degree views.
Darran and Dave also recall the 1937 record-breaking steam engine journey which accidentally broke the speed limit just outside Crewe with a speed of 114mph.
Dave is a Driver based out of Manchester Piccadilly and his sister and two sons also work for Avanti West Coast.
The train featured in the video, 390001, departed London Euston on the 12:10 pm service and took four hours and 55 minutes to complete the journey at an average speed of 82mph.
Speaking about filming the footage, Dave said: “I'm so proud to say I'm a train driver. I really couldn't imagine myself doing anything else,
“It's a real privilege to have been able to chat with Darran and share some insight in what it's like to drive high speed trains. There can't be many better office windows.”
The series is available to watch on Avanti West Coast's website by clicking here.
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Ten years ago, I was given the chance of a ride in the cab of an HST from Edinburgh to Inverness. I was with one of East Coast’s Scottish Driver Managers and a long-serving driver. The stories were excellent and I hope Avanti’s videos are as good as my trip that day.
A true ride of a lifetime!
The most surprising thing was the low level of noise despite the large diesel engine working away behind us.