[bigmacca1]

I've convinced myself that the AL1 went all the way to Euston, but then again it could have gone Handforth/Wilmslow/Crewe and changed locos again there. It was the shunting at Stockport that I found really intriguing. A bit of thought must have gone into that one! I think it was part of a special 'holidaymakers' excursion, avoiding changing trains at Manchester hence the circuitous route! There's always something more atmospheric as well, about operations late at night! Thanks for the replies, guys. The London St. Pancras train sounds very plausible, given the lateness of our arrival back at Waterloo; the flexibility that we obviously had then has long since gone, I guess! I often wonder what the consist would have been for the return train if we'd actually been able to make it during the daylight hours. I don't think the little shunting manouevre on the outward trip would have been repeated, however! Again, thanks to both of you for the replies!