From the passengers' point of view.

Last week I needed to go into Leeds city centre and decided that as the 11.38am departure for Liverpool Lime Street (from Scarborough) might be made up of a class 68 and 5 Mk 5 coaches I would travel on that. 

It arrived in York at platform 4 with the loco leading... it was 68 030 named "Black Douglas".

There was plenty of space available and the unreserved seats were indicated by a green light over the seat (see picture below). The seating was arranged around tables with only a few airline type seats at each end of the coach. They were mostly arranged so that there was a view from a window. 

The seats themselves were hard (firm) but well shaped and comfortable although I was only sitting in them for about 25 minutes. If I had been travelling all the way to Liverpool I might have had a different opinion. 

Although the bogies look strange from the outside and resemble the trolleys which used to be used to move stock around the works the ride was good and the acceleration smart. We were doing at least 60 mph by the time we left the platform end. Mind you to put this into context the loco output is 3,750hp compared to a Deltic which was only 3,300hp... and the load was only 5 coaches compared with a Deltic's load of 10 or more coaches when on ECML duties.

The inside of the SO with the information system and the few airline seats in view. Shortly after we left York station the information system told us that we were about to ARRIVE at York!

The loco and first coach on arrival at Leeds station. 

Loco no. 68 030 - "Black Douglas" sits in the darkness of Leeds station. 

A side view of a Liverpool train taken a few days before my trip showing the coach bogies.