81020 Basford Hall Junction 3 July 1985

I have very few pictures of the pioneering Class 81s at work on the mainline, and this is about the best. 81020 weaves across onto the down relief line at Basford Hall Junction on 3 July 1985, as it prepares to take the 1S84 14:50 Birmingham New Street to Glasgow Central around the Crewe avoiding lines, due to the total closure of Crewe station for major rebuilding. Note the ScotRail branding on the leading coach of this all Mk 1 rake.