What a fabulous thread. Set off all manner of memories. Things I’d long forgotten. Spotting and bashing from my yoof!
Such as having to buy a full fare ticket when you turned 14. I was still getting away with it When I’d just turned 15. Buying Midland Railtourer tickets for around £1.50 or an East Midlands Ranger for somewhere close to £3.50 ish.
Trying to bash Westerns on the 10.25 New Street - Pad service, heading to Solihull to hopefully score another one back into Brum. Usually we failed and scored a brace of Duffs. I’d have caught the 08.56 Long Eaton (home station) to Derby. Railtourer wasn’t valid before 09.00 on weekdays. 09.26 Derby to New Street. If it was on time you could just about make the 10.25 Paddington train. Seem to recall when the train south to New Street was late a Western was almost guaranteed. Bloody typical.
Later in the day we’d try for the 18.25 Pad to Leamington to hopefully score a Western back. This then made for a mad dash across New Street to get the 19.50 back to Derby from platform 8.
Patiently waiting at Derby for anything “interesting” on NE/SW summer trains. Interesting defined as anything but Classes 47, 46 or 45.The occasional 37, 31 or a pair of 25’s was good.
Bashing Deltics on the ECML between Peterborough and Doncaster on the East Midlands Ranger ticket. Staying out on Friday and / or Saturday for the overnight parcel trains with one or two Mk1 passenger carriages often with a Class 40 in charge.
Weekend walkabouts at Toton. It was about a mile from my Mum’s house. You could never get around it during the week. Too busy and guaranteed you’d get told to leave. Sunday’s were a completely different story. There was a footpath that gave almost a back door entrance. I could walk down and just wander about rarely would you see anyone other than other spotters. Row upon row of 08, 20, 25, 44, 45, 47. Later on 56s. Occasionally visitors from further afield 24, 31, 37 or 40s. The huge bank on the Toton side of the yard was accessible from Stapleford or from Long Eaton town centre, crossing the footbridge called Long Tom - quite a long walk to get up there mind!
The “Explore Britain” adex’s: LE to Aberdeen, LE to Edinburgh, Mystery Destinations (Tenby, Yarmouth, Brighton). Two that stick in my mind were a trip to Carnforth Steamtown and onto the Ravensglass and Eskdale Railway. Cardiff Canton Duff to Crewe, Class85 to Lancaster and a Class 40 for the trip around Cumbria. The second being the Edinburgh day trip. It was early November. I forget which Peak was heading us north. The return was a surprise 40 and the 45 double header as far as York. Some bright spark was setting off fireworks on the train on the way back.....air bombs being launched as we approached Newcastle.
The trips to Edinburgh and Aberdeen made me want to do a Scottish Rover trip. Finally persuaded my Mum to let me do it sometime in 78. I don’t recall if Spring Bank week or after I’d finished my O levels in June / July. Friend who was going with me was a little older and was working so I travelled up on my own and arranged to meet him at Newcastle for one of the late trains from there on Saturday night / Sunday morning. I set off back south from Waverley with an eth Duff hoping to get back into Newcastle for the meet. Train was delayed and it was looking decidedly unlikely I’d meet him. I kept an eye out but saw nothing heading north so thought it was likely his train was also delayed. I got into Newcastle and discovered all northbound trains were being diverted via Carlisle. Next train that came in bound for Edinburgh a different mate was on, we shared a compartment so could get some shut eye. Deltic “under the wires” to Edinburgh. Met Phil at Waverley in the very early hours. Took the next train north to get more kip.
Had an amazing week up there which included oversleeping on the overnight train to Carlisle (ended up in Preston) which screwed up some plans. Discovered Coatbridge Central was a real dump and was amazed anything actually stopped there. Ended up stranded overnight in Aberdeen sleeping rough in the bus station. All the more frustrating that the stock for the first Edinburgh service was hooked up to steam heating pipes but was locked. We did get some nice soup with the rest of the dossers though
Lost my light meter on one of the Euston - Perth overnight trains but did get it back from lost property. Got in a lot of miles behind 40s, 26s, 27s and fortunately not too many behind 47s.
I’m hoping that somewhere I can find all my photos and notebooks. I’ve a feeling that a lot will be long gone but back then a lot of my photos would be slides so take up a lot less space. I’ve a box file or two with stuff in so I may be able to provide dates, details and pics.
Ah yes the memories...