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Back in the day...

NorthWestRover

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Saturday 10th June 1989

Very much in post-bashing life now, but I was still recording things. Network South East had a £5 anywhere on their network deal, so my girlfriend and I decided to go to the seaside (Bournemouth) via Winchester. An enjoyable day, although the haulage left a lot to be desired.

47622 Oxford to Winchester (07.48 Liverpool to Portsmouth)
47588 Winchester to Bournemouth (xx.xx Winchester to Bournemouth)
EMU Bournemouth to Basingstoke (xx.xx Weymouth to Waterloo)
DEMU Basingstoke to Reading (20.30 Basingstoke to Reading)
47658 Reading to Oxford (xx.xx Poole to Wolverhampton).

Back with a bang from 1983 tomorrow.
 
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CW2

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Saturday 10/06/78
47458 1413 York – Selby
My Saturday afternoon move to Selby for the predictably massive NB 40 on the Yarmouth – Newcastle
47190 1441 Selby – York
…or not, as the case may be.
DMU York – Huddersfield
40149 1635 Huddersfield – Leeds (Liverpool – Newcastle)
40169 1734 Leeds – York (Llandudno – York)
47542 1830 York – Leeds (Scarborough – Leeds Relief)
40197 1906 Leeds – York (Liverpool – Newcastle)
47408 2235 York – Doncaster
(Sunday 11/06/78)
55019 0024 Doncaster – York via Hare Park
The afternoon started badly, but improved markedly, with two NB 40s out on Liverpool – Newcastles, and another on the Llandudno – York. I rounded off the day in the early hours of the following morning with 55019 from Doncaster to York, diverted via Hare Park.

Sunday 10/06/79
Meanwhile, back in Scotland on the all-powerful 3D ticket …
86031 00xx Mossend – Carlisle
55008 0247 Carlisle – Edinburgh
27107 + 27112 0730 Edinburgh – Falkirk Grahamston
27103 + 27205 0823 Falkirk Grahamston – Edinburgh
27205 + 27103 0930 Edinburgh – Glasgow QS via Falkirk Grahamston, Cumbernauld, Cowlairs (reverse)
47274 1150 Glasgow QS – Larbert via Cowlairs (reverse), Cumbernauld
27108 1150 Glasgow QS – Cowlairs (47274 assisting in rear)
40069 1228 Larbert – Cowlairs
47706 13xx Cowlairs – Glasgow QS
The main line via Falkirk High and Bishopbriggs to Glasgow was shut for engineering work, so trains were diverted via Cumbernauld, with reversals at Cowlairs. This required extra locos. I learned that my machine 40069 was coming in on an Aberdeen, so made my way to Larbert for it. Unfortunately at Cowlairs 47706 was found to work the train into Queen Street, so that would obviously work the next Aberdeen. I had to find other entertainment, so I trotted across to Glasgow Central.
86008 1515 Glasgow Central – Milepost 34 (from Carlisle). Failed.
During my overnight at Carlisle, I had been surprised to see a Motorail train arrive behind 08759, hauling failed 86008. So I guess I shouldn’t have been too surprised when 86008 disgraced itself burst again, this time 34 miles north of Carlisle. My hopes were high for getting the two class 20s that were sitting at Beattock Loop, but Carlisle sent out 47418 to rescue us. (I suspect this was the engine booked to work the train forward over the S&C, it being a through service to Nottingham).
47418 17xx Milepost 34 – Carlisle, 55 minutes late.
At Carlisle came salvation in the form of a required Roarer on a northbound Motorail service, the 1200 Kensington Olympia to Perth, conveying 7 passenger coaches and 9 Motorail flats. I enjoyed a first class compartment to myself.
85015 1817 Carlisle – Mossend
47001 20xx Mossend – Perth
At Perth my aim was to head home to York, preferably by means of the Inverness – York Motorail service (always provided I could talk my way on board). In fact that train had sunk without trace, so I didn’t even see it. Instead I took what was on offer:
47435 2218 Perth – Mossend
86102 23xx Mossend – Carlisle

Wednesday 10/06/81 – Thursday 11/06/81
37047 1336 Liverpool St – Audley End
31205 1504 Audley End – Liverpool St
37261 1650 Liverpool St – Lowestoft
DMU Lowestoft –Reedham, Reedham - Norwich
47135 2315 Norwich – Ely
31268 0118 Ely – Peterborough
55011 0332 Peterborough – Kings Cross
More with the East Anglia Rover. After a round trip to Audley End, I watched and waited at Liverpool Street to see what would work. I wanted to do the 1650 to Lowestoft, as it was all new track beyond Ipswich, but I also wanted to do whatever (required, centre-headcode) 37261 was working. Two priorities became one when 37261 bolted onto the 1650 Lowestoft. The move at Reedham was to cover the 2115 Yarmouth – Norwich which was reported to be loco hauled, but that was a DMU too. Then across the Fens to Peterborough, for a Deltic home.

Monday 10/06/85
86234 1115 Glasgow Central – Carstairs
47317 1302 Carstairs – Edinburgh
47711 1400 Edinburgh – Glasgow QS
My before-work leap produced a required NB 47 today.

Tuesday 10/06/86
86101 0910 Glasgow Central – Carlisle
25037 1055 Carlisle – Glasgow Central via Dumfries
I delayed my journey home off night shift to get this required 25, with the added bonus of an 86/1 on the outward journey.

Saturday 10/06/89
37408 0958 Crewe – Shrewsbury
37431 1050 Shrewsbury – Caersws
37427 1213 Caersws – Wolverhampton
87011 1400 Wolverhampton – Birmingham NS
85028 1433 Birmingham NS – Preston
87018 1645 Preston – Crewe
37425 1856 Crewe – Manchester Piccadilly
37425 2030 Manchester Piccadilly – Crewe
A little dabble on the Cambrian (when it was booked for 37/4s). The entertainment of the day was provided not by the various 37s but by 85028. The loco overloaded departing Wolverhampton, Stafford, and Warrington, due to binding brakes on the stock. I pointed out the problem to the guard who maintained it was an issue affecting just one or two coaches. He was wildly wrong in his estimation. At Preston we arrived in a blue heat haze, and the train stood occupying a platform for over an hour whilst the fitters (both C&W and loco) tried to find and fix the problem. A nice little run with 37425 to finish off the day. 37425 was formerly 37292, the 2000hp prototype uprated loco, so I’ve always had a soft spot for it. I’m glad it’s still active with DRS.

Wednesday 10/06/92
43161 + 43138 0601 Reading – Paddington
87021 0725 Euston – Warrington BQ
156 441 + 142 048 Warrington BQ – Manchester Victoria
37426 1033 Manchester Victoria – Preston
37417 1141 Preston – Blackpool North
37417 1325 Blackpool North – Liverpool Lime St via Newton le Willows
508 111 Liverpool Lime St LL – Hooton, DMU Hooton – Chester, 158 799 Chester – Rhyl
31438 1705 Rhyl – Stafford via Crewe, Stoke-on-Trent
87005 1958 Stafford – Nuneaton (Marshalled DVT+8 coaches+loco+5 vans).
150 229 Nuneaton – Coventry
47809 2128 Coventry – Reading
A day out tidying up various bits of track for loco haulage, or indeed for anything. The final train of the day was 71 minutes late, the original train loco 47838 having made it all the way from New Street to Proof House Junction before expiring. Alas, the best Saltley could offer was more of the same.
 

NorthWestRover

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I had 37425 when I returned to the hobby. 6th September 2018 from Carlisle to St Bees. Not had a 37 since.
 

Techniquest

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If you had to have only one 37, that's a very good choice.

Agreed! 425 is an absolute beast, sounded good yesterday when it was polluting Derby along with 038 and 402 on a light engine move. A lot of EE noise yesterday, been too long since my ears heard that :D

I've had 37425 up the Rhymney line, to Fishguard, from Cardiff to Crewe in 2005 for an extra train for Crewe Works open day (took it both ways for that matter) and countless other little journeys. Always a good performer!
 

xotGD

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Nothing for me to report today, but I had 37425 three times on the West Highland Line in the 1980s.

A couple of Saturdays to report on tomorrow...
 

Techniquest

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Nothing exciting for me, most of the fun stuff I can't pin a date to. Pretty sure 14 years ago this month I had 40145 Linlithgow to Wick and back on a SRPS tour. It was meant to be 55022 in one direction, some last minute farce with the Deltic not cleared for something meant 57601 was used in its place. That was a long night with that loco on the back, next to my coach o_O
 

CW2

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I've got some more runs with 40096 on rare track coming up tomorrow, plus a bit more besides.
 

xotGD

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What a coincidence. I think our tracks may be about to cross.
Well I've been on the same train as you, and I've been on the same train as CW2, but I don't think we have yet found an occasion when all three of us were on the same train. But give it time...
 

D6130

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Saturday 10th June 1978:

Dublin Connolly-Dundalk: 102
Dundalk-Dublin Connolly: 006
Dublin Connolly-Howth: 213
Howth-Bray: 213
Bray-Dublin Connolly: 221

Wednesday 10th June 1981:

37 114 18 23 Glasgow QS-Garelochhead (TSO SC3873+TSO SC4110+TSO SC4145+TSO SC4133+BFK SC14055).

And finally for today - although strictly speaking OT - following the recent comments on the delights and frustrations of class 37 haulage attempts, I just can't resist telling you about the lovely day out that I've enjoyed today on the Scarborough Spa Express:

Thursday 10th June 2021:

37 706+37 685 "Loch Arkaig" Hebden Bridge-York (Holgate Loop)
45562 "Alberta" (aka 45699 "Galatea") York (Holgate Loop)-Scarborough
45562 "Alberta" (aka 45699 "Galatea") Scarborough-York (Holgate Loop)
37 685 "Loch Arkaig"+37 706 York (Holgate Loop)-Hebden Bridge
 

NorthWestRover

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Saturday 11th June 1983

Just the one year again on this day in history, but not a bad day.

40152 Man Vic to Scarborough, 1E19 09.40 off Vic
40152 Scarborough to Man Vic, 1M69 12.00 off Scarborough

Good start to the weekend which appears to have been marked by WCML drags between Crewe and Preston, via Chester. I think the train went round the triangle by going beyond the depot rather than running round. Is that right? Perhaps @CW2's reference to rare track yesterday.

Anyway, I got back to Warrington from Manchester somehow, then...

47266 Warrington BQ to Preston, 1P35 15.13 Crewe to Lancaster which terminated at Preston
40096 Preston to Crewe, via Chester, 1K32 15.25 Barrow to Crewe
40141 Crewe to Preston, via Chester, 1P79 18.05 Euston to Blackpool (dragging 87009)
47227 Preston to Warrington BQ, 1K16 21.50 Barrow to Crewe

Scored 47266, although I then had it in 1991 as 47828 and I believe it still exists. I'd had 47227 the previous summer in South Wales. But the 40s were obviously the highlight of a successful day.

All those drags, surely Sunday 12th would be just as good... You'll see tomorrow...
 

CW2

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Saturday 11th June 1983

40152 Man Vic to Scarborough, 1E19 09.40 off Vic
40152 Scarborough to Man Vic, 1M69 12.00 off Scarborough
Good start to the weekend which appears to have been marked by WCML drags between Crewe and Preston, via Chester. I think the train went round the triangle by going beyond the depot rather than running round. Is that right? Perhaps @CW2's reference to rare track yesterday.
Yes, when running voa Chester the norm was to arrive from the east end, pass non-stop through the station, and head north towards Birkenhead. Once clear of the junction the train would propel around the triangle and into the tunnel at the west end. Then it would reverse again, and come forward non-stop through the station, and take whichever route was required at the east end of the station.
The triangulation move always took place that way round, regardless of origin / destination of the train. There was a special entry in the Sectional Appendix setting out the details. You couldn't do it the other way round because that would have meant propelling out of the tunnel, which would have caused signal sighting issues.

Anyway, here are my efforts:

Monday 11/06/79
After a weekend spent mainly chasing 40s around Scotland, it was time to head home, and then to college in Harrogate.
81012 0053 Carstairs – Carlisle
40148 0237 Carlisle – York
DMU York – Harrogate, Harrogate – Leeds
I still had the Darlington 3D ticket in my pocket, so I couldn’t resist an evening run over the S&C with a 40:
40018 1807 Leeds – Carlisle
47422 2212 Carlisle – York via Newcastle.

Wednesday 11/06/80
40081 1630 Kings Cross – Peterborough
55012 1854 Peterborough – Kings Cross
A regular 40 working at the time, and a semi-regular move for me.
55006 2015 Kings Cross – York
At York I saw 40062 arrive on the sleepers-only from Newcastle. Despite my pleas, the guard wouldn’t let me travel with him to Doncaster (where the seating portion ex Leeds was attached) so I had to let it go without me …(to be continued)

Friday 11/06/82
An after-work leap to North Wales to pick up 40168 on The Bangor …
87033 1703 Euston – Crewe
47447 1920 Crewe – Flint
25051 2029 Flint – Warrington BQ 30 minutes late, having replaced 40168, which had failed. I alighted at Warrington in the hope that one of the portions in or out of Preston might produce something better.
86229 2140 Warrington BQ – Preston
It didn’t, so I didn’t hang around.
86261 2231 Preston – Warrington BQ
86227 2311 Warrington BQ – Preston
A day of Cans and Duffs, with a rat thrown in for good measure. Let’s hope for better tomorrow …

Saturday 11/06/83
There was a block on the WCML at Hartford, I think replacing the bridge that takes the CLC lines over the WCML. So there were interesting diversions in play, and every chance of a 40 producing on something or other…
47254 0254 Preston – Stockport via Golborne, Parkside, Manchester Piccadilly
85039 04xx Stockport – Crewe
EMU 06xx Crewe – Manchester Piccadilly
Word reached me that 25152 was working the 0930 Liverpool to Glasgow portion as far as Preston, so I headed off to St Helens Jn to intercept it.
45104 0854 Manchester Victoria – St Helens Jn
The 25 on the Glasgow sank without trace – nobody had seen the train, and denied all knowledge of it. Oh well, alternative attractions are calling …
47138 1058 St Helens Jn – Liverpool Lime St
Then salvation in the form of 40096 (my Carnforth to Peteborough Womens Institute loco).
40096 1130 Liverpool Lime St – Barrow (That’ll do nicely) 45 -> 65 minutes late. Just south of Preston we passed required 40090 heading south on a passenger service. Oh well, I can’t be everywhere at once.
40096 1525 Barrow – Crewe via Warrington BQ, Chester Triangle
40096 2010 Crewe – Liverpool Lime St via Middlewich, Hartford CLC Jn, Hartford LNW Jn
40096 was put onto a 47/4 diagram at the last minute, and stayed there all day, so we managed a circular tour Liverpool – St Helens Jn – Preston – Barrow – Preston – Warrington – Chester – Crewe – Sandbach – Middlewich – Hartford Jns – Liverpool. This was my first trip over the Sandbach – Middlewich – Hartford Jns line. Not much loco variety, but plenty of different track. There was one last move before the inevitable overnight:
EMU Liverpool Lime St – Runcorn
40029 2309 Runcorn – Liverpool Lime Street (it didn’t fail me this time).

Monday 11/06/84
I was doubling back off a Sunday night shift onto a Monday late shift. Normally I would go home and sleep solidly for as long as I could manage, before making the journey back to Leeds. Today there was a different plan. 40143 had been turned out on one of the south Trans Pennine 31/4 diagrams, as some of the 31/4s were feeling poorly. I worked out I could get it on its return journey from Hull to Sheffield.
31404 0705 Leeds – Hull
40143 1010 Hull – Sheffield
DMU Sheffield – Leeds
Work
45119 2122 Leeds – York

Sunday 11/06/89
47421 1118 Crewe - Liverpool Lime St via Manchester Piccadilly, Newton le Willows
47424 1430 Liverpool Lime St – Manchester Piccadilly via Newton le Willows
86252 1522 Manchester Piccadilly – Stockport
47450 1540 Stockport – Crewe
85037 1739 Crewe – Birmingham New St
85037 2005 Birmingham New St – Crewe
This has the air of a day spent scratching around on engineering diversions, hoping – in vain – that there might be some interesting traction involved. A round trip to Birmingham with a Roarer finished off the day nicely.
 

xotGD

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11th June 1983 - things were a bit more subdued in the north east than the north west:

46004 Sunderland - Newcastle 1N35
37073 Durham - Newcastle 1N13

11th June 1988 - we had a permit to visit Tinsley, but took a roundabout route to get there:

37681 + 37686 New St - Wolverhampton 1J18
87004 Wolverhampton - New St 1A07
47613 New St - Derby 1E27
20124 + 20195 Derby - Nottingham 1E82
47664 Sheffield - New St 1M89

The guard on the unit from Nottingham to Sheffield was a bit sceptical when we flashed our Birmingham to Sheffield pieces!
 

xotGD

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What service was that? SO London-Aberystwyth with NSE coaches??
And the 20s presumably a Skegness.
1J18 was the first service which started at New Street to Aberystwyth. 06:20 departure!
1J20 was the service from Euston to Pwllheli with the NSE stock. It was 37079 + 37197 that day.

Yes, the 20s were on their way to Skeggy. The only time I had a pair of 20s on one of these services. The time I went to Skegness it was a pair of 31s :(
 

eastwestdivide

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1J18 was the first service which started at New Street to Aberystwyth. 06:20 departure!
1J20 was the service from Euston to Pwllheli with the NSE stock. It was 37079 + 37197 that day.

Yes, the 20s were on their way to Skeggy. The only time I had a pair of 20s on one of these services. The time I went to Skegness it was a pair of 31s :(
Ta. Didn't know there was a Birmingham-Aberystwyth. I once did Euston-Aber with NSE stock, all the way through I think, not sure what year though.
And going to uni in Leicester in the early 80s, I had a fair share of 20s on the Skeggies.
Not much in the way of travel in early June in my notes for those years though - must have been exams/panic revision time.
 

NorthWestRover

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Saturday 12th June 1982

Allowed out for a short day between exams and revision, well I'll just list the moves. Mileage not great, but...

40183 Warrington BQ to Chester, 1D29 10.45 Man Vic to Holyhead
40050 Chester to Llandudno, 1M71 09.00 York to Llandudno
40169 Llandudno to Prestatyn, 1E82 13.53 to York
40145 Prestatyn to Warrington BQ, 1J22 13.58 Bangor to Man Vic
40079 Warrington BQ to Chester, 1D21 15.45 Man Vic to Bangor
40183 Chester to Newton-le-Willows, 1J53 15.17 Holyhead to Man Vic
40009 Newton-le-Willows to Warrington BQ, 1D65 Man Vic to Llandudno J

Exclusively 40 haulage, six different locos.

All 4 Manchester to North Wales diagrams were 40s as were the York to Llandudno diagrams.

Move a year forward and after the excitement of the WCML drags the day before, oh well...

Sunday 12th June 1983

47459 Warrington BQ to Preston, 1P31 08.30 Birmingham NS to Blackpool
47534 Preston to Crewe via Chat Moss and Styal, dragging 86255, 1M35 08.10 Glasgow to Euston
47540 Crewe to Preston (normal route), dragging 85039, 1S63 12.45 Euston to Glasgow
47570 Preston to Kirkham
Unit Kirkham to Preston
47534 Preston to Warrington BQ

Awful day. The next day produced a quirk.

Wednesday 12th June 1985

Just to show I didn't only do Cambrian Syphons in 1985, a day trip to Stratford-on-Avon top and tailed with some good haulage.

81002 Wolves to Birmingham NS, 1O15 09.00 Manchester to Poole. Required Roarer.
Unit Birmingham MS to Stratford
Unit Stratford to Leamington Spa
50020 Leamington Spa to Wolves, 1M61 17.40 off Paddington.
 

CW2

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Tuesday 12/06/79
I had a few things to tie up in college at Harrogate, but I still had that Darlington 3D ticket burning a hole in my pocket, and Scotland was calling me …
47060 1347 York – Leeds
46009 1439 Leeds – Sheffield
47252 1600 Sheffield – Leeds
DMU Leeds – Harrogate, Harrogate – York
40068 2150 York – Leeds
47044 2234 Leeds – York
55017 2317 York – Edinburgh via Newcastle High Level Bridge, Carlisle

Thursday 12/06/80
At York I had seen 40062 arrive on the Sleepers Only from Newcastle, and failed to get a lift with the guard in his van. I decided to follow it to Doncaster in the hope of making a minus 2 minute connection there, as it stood for a while as the Leeds seating + sleeper portion was attached.
55022 0105 York – Doncaster
I missed 40062 again. Plan B was to fester at Doncaster and persuade my way on board the 0120 Manchester – Cleethorpes which was a solid class 40 diagram, but which was not advertised for passengers. 40028 arrived on time, but for the second time that morning the Guard said “No”. I gave up and hoped for something better to take me to Kings Cross. That’ll be another “No” then.
47544 0419 Doncaster – Kings Cross
86238 0740 Euston – Birmingham New Street
86012 0927 Birmingham New Street – Crewe
47444 1229 Crewe – Chester
40023 1313 Chester – Manchester Victoria
40023 1540 Manchester Victoria – Rhyl
40178 1810 Rhyl – Crewe
85013 1925 Crewe – Tipton - Wolverhampton
87016 2133 Wolverhampton – Liverpool Lime St.
47544 was not my motive power of choice for the run from Doncaster to Kings Cross, but it performed well, arriving over 20 minutes early. (I can’t be exact as I was well dossed out, but I was the last person off the train having been awoken by a cleaner going through the stock. That was at 0655 and it was due in at 0714).
On arrival at Crewe behind 86012 on the 0927 Birmingham - Llandudno, I noticed required 40178 sitting middle road, so my hopes were raised. Not for long – some rancid duff arrived to work the Llandudno forward, and 40178 backed onto a charter. I cut my losses and headed for Chester to do The Bangor with the ever reliable 40023.
I got the gen that required 40178 was working back on a Rhyl to Tipton charter, so I joined the happy throng, intending to alight at Crewe during the loco change. Unfortunately, that was carried out middle road, and we then carried on with a Roarer all the way to Tipton. Arrival at Tipton some time after 2000 was not a position of strength, as the last train out of the place was at 1926. There was a traffic inspector there overseeing the unloading, and he kindly allowed me to remain on the ECS through to Wolverhampton, where a special stop was made for me to alight. We ran via Soho and Bescot to Wolverhampton.
The plan at Wolverhampton was to take 87016 to Crewe for the Shrewsbury – York mail train, to get me home. Unfortunately I fell fast asleep descending Madeley Bank and ended up in Liverpool!

Friday 12/06/81
Still on the East Anglia Rover.
31216 1405 Liverpool St – Elsenham
37089 1516 Elsenham – Liverpool St
37036 2355 Liverpool Street – Ipswich

Saturday 12/06/82
Weekends like this are quite rare, but when they come along, they are worth remembering. (You may spot a good deal of overlap with @NorthWestRover’s moves today).
81022 0016 Preston – Carlisle
81001 0216 Carlisle – Preston
40138 0725 Preston – Bolton
40196 0810 Bolton – Manchester Victoria (Charter to Euston, the 40 came off at Crewe)
40138 0840 Manchester Victoria – Huddersfield
40050 1014 Huddersfield – Llandudno
40169 1358 Llandudno – Prestatyn
40145 1445 Prestatyn – Warrington BQ
40079 1615 Warrington BQ – Chester
40183 1713 Chester – Newton le Willows
40009 1810 Newton le Willows – Llandudno Jn
DMU Llandudno Jn – Bangor
40020 2127 Bangor – Crewe
Two Roarers on the overnight, then a non-stop Festival of Forties for the remainder of the day. By careful planning I managed to get 9 different locos, and mostly for decent length runs. (To be continued).

Sunday 12/06/83
The overnight seats + sleepers from Euston to Manchester and Liverpool was known as “The Splitter” because the train divided at Stafford, whereas the corresponding southbound service was known as “The Joiner”. So after the exertions of the previous day my plan was to take “The Joiner” from Liverpool to Stafford for “The Splitter” from Stafford to Manchester.
The Hartford Bridge replacement blockade had produced lots of engineering diversions and absorbed all available motive power. Normally this train would have been electrically hauled, but tonight because of the diversions it had to be an ETH fitted diesel. With all the 47/4s otherwise engaged, we were in for something a bit out of the ordinary:
45137 0015 Liverpool Lime Street – Crewe via Halton Jn, Chester Triangle.
86228 0150 Crewe – Stafford
47068 0257 Stafford – Manchester Piccadilly via Stoke, Crewe.
Evidently they had run out of ETH 47s here too.
DMU Manchester Piccadilly – Altrincham
40160 0904 Altrincham – Scarborough via Manchester Piccadilly, Guide Bridge, Stalybridge, Healey Mills, Wakefield Kirkgate. ADEX
45137 (that loco again) 1425 Scarborough – York
40160 was on a Knutsford – Scarborough ADEX, but we couldn’t get any further than Altrincham for it. I assume 45137 had done the Liverpool portion of the Splitter from Crewe to Liverpool, then been turned back out on one of the Liverpool – Scarborough services that morning.
 

xotGD

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That Saturday in 1982 must have been a dream day for 40 bashers! Meanwhile I was in a different part of the country...

12th June 1982 - Merrymaker to Inverness.

The previous year the equivalent trip had been a Deltic to Perth, pair of MacRats to Inverness, 40 to Aberdeen and the Deltic back to Newcastle, so we had high hopes...

47289 Newcastle - Inverness

Oh well. At Perth there seemed to be some sort of issue with the Duff. Fingers crossed it would be declared a failure and replaced by a pair of Type 2s. No, they fixed it.

Once at Inverness we had a permit for a depot visit and spent the rest of the time festering and coming up with a plan to get rid of the Duff. But not yet...

47289 Inverness - Waverley

The plan was working. Several people had complained to the guard that the train was far too cold and could he do anything about it. He took heed and phoned ahead. Fortunately Haymarket were able to find a replacement loco with a boiler...

40068 Waverley - Newcastle

The train would have been much warmer, if it wasn't for the fact that we now had all the windows wide open. A good end to the day!

I have a listing of sightings that day. I won't list everything, but it includes 26001/27/32/33/41/42/43/44/45 27012/17/18/27/38/107/08/09/10/11 37005/17/25/35/58/260
 

CW2

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A very different day from mine in 1982 indeed. 47289 was a bit of a surprise - it was more used to hauling MGR trains around Yorkshire than taking passengers to Inverness.
A Deltic to Perth the previous year would have been good too. I never had one there (nor did I ever have 47289).
 

xotGD

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A very different day from mine in 1982 indeed. 47289 was a bit of a surprise - it was more used to hauling MGR trains around Yorkshire than taking passengers to Inverness.
A Deltic to Perth the previous year would have been good too. I never had one there (nor did I ever have 47289).
I don't think you'd have swapped your 40fest for 47289!
 

D6130

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Location
West Yorkshire/Tuscany
The plan was working. Several people had complained to the guard that the train was far too cold and could he do anything about it. He took heed and phoned ahead. Fortunately Haymarket were able to find a replacement loco with a boiler...

40068 Waverley - Newcastle
Now that's what I call a plan! You should have put in for a job in Control alongside @CW2 .

Meanwhile, back in the Emerald Isle:

Monday 12th June 1978:

Dublin Heuston-Cork: Unidentified class 071
Cork-Cobh: Unidentified class 141
Cobh-Cork: Another unidentified class 141
Cork-Mallow: 086
Mallow-Killarney- Tralee: 177
Tralee-Dublin Heuston: Another unidentified class 071

A high mileage day by Irish standards, but very frustrating that I can't find the special green notebook that I purchased for the trip and have only the slightly hazy evidence of uncaptioned photos to go by.

Friday 12th June 1981:

The start of my first ever overseas rail trip - apart from Ireland - to Switzerland with a friend and work colleague, including travelling across France and a couple of minor incursions into Italy. Straight from work to Glasgow Central for 87 018 on the 16 03 to Euston. The stock formation was:

BG M81165, FO M11052/37, RBR M1711, TSO M12168/35, 12099/60, BSO M9506.

The fun really begins tomorrow!
 

NorthWestRover

Established Member
Joined
24 Aug 2018
Messages
1,459
Monday 13th June 1983

Short after College bash which was fairly productive. Bit of 87 mileage, a 40 and an unusual bit of roarer haulage.

87002 Warrington BQ to Lancaster
87004 Lancaster to Preston
40172 Preston to Liverpool LS on 1M22 - required.
85006 Liverpool LS to Allerton dragging failed unit.
Unit Allerton to Padgate
 

D6130

Established Member
Joined
12 Jan 2021
Messages
5,648
Location
West Yorkshire/Tuscany
Tuesday 13th June 1978:

Dublin Connolly-Sligo: 2 x unidentified class 121
Sligo-Dublin Connolly: same 2 x class 121

Saturday 13th June 1981:

First European trip;
7763/7120/411 521 London Charing Cross-Folkestone Central
Bus: Folkestone Central-Folkestone Harbour
M.V. "Hengist" Folkestone Harbour-Calais Maritime
BB67597+67607 Calais Maritime-Lille Flandres
BB15013 Lille Flandres-(Basel)

To be continued tomorrow.
 

CW2

Established Member
Joined
7 May 2020
Messages
1,922
Location
Crewe
Tuesday 13/06/78
A short day at college in Harrogate, with some moves before and after:
45056 0915 York – Leeds
40070 1004 Leeds – York
46046 1126 York – Leeds
DMU Leeds – Harrogate
31410 1620 Harrogate – Leeds
46046 1707 Leeds – York

Wednesday 13/06/79
Having arrived at Edinburgh behind a Deltic on the 2000 Kings Crosss – Aberdeen, what more could I hope for than a class 40 to take it forward to Aberdeen? Well, it could always be my machine, 40069 …
40069 0458 Edinburgh – Leuchars
DMU Leuchars – Markinch
DMU Markinch – Edinburgh via Thornton
At this time there was only one train per day which did the line from Markinch to Thornton, an early morning commuter run to Edinburgh.
40066 0915 Edinburgh – Carstairs (on Air Cons)
86004 1001 Carstairs – Carlisle
85006 1216 Carlisle – Carstairs
47001 1318 Carstairs – Edinburgh
I needed 40066 for haulage, and both the electrics. Back at Edinburgh 40066 had been taken off the Carstairs portions to work:
40066 1455 Edinburgh – Dundee
26025 1715 Dundee – Perth
The 1715 Dundee – Perth was a short parcels train with a coach attached which only ran as a passenger train between Dundee and Perth. It could produce anything in the way of locos – today a required 26.
27001 1822 Perth – Dundee
26014 1922 Dundee – Kirkcaldy
I needed both these locos too. I stepped back at Kirkcaldy for the return working of 40066:
40066 2031 Kirkcaldy – Edinburgh
At Edinburgh in the evening there was a move you could make to Carstairs and back with little Sulzers on predominantly mail / parcels trains with advertised passenger accommodation.
26018 2140 Edinburgh – Carstairs
Unfortunately the train departed without a tail lamp, and was stopped in Princes Street Tunnel whilst a lamp was found, lit, and then attached to the rear of the train. The consequent delay meant I missed 27003 on the return working from Carstairs. The only answer was to drown my sorrows in the pub – which (very sociably) stayed open well past normal closing time.

Friday 13/06/80
Having overdossed to Liverpool, my exit plan was to take The Joiner to Stafford for The Splitter to Manchester. I managed to overdoss for the second time that night.
86217 0030 Liverpool Lime St – Euston
For reasons that now escape me – possibly some form of summer bargain ticket offer - I chose to return to York via the Midland Main Line.
45140 0643 St Pancras – Sheffield via Derby
46007 1035 Sheffield – Leeds
25262 1205 Leeds – Sheffield (The 0705 Glasgow Central – Nottingham via S&C).
47345 1307 Sheffield – York
47345 was on the 0950 Bristol – Newcastle, and was held at Sheffield until 1320 to run in the path of the late-running Plymouth – Edinburgh service.

Saturday 13/06/81
(I think I have already covered some of the details of this day in another thread. Apologies for any repetition).
03179 Ipswich Shunt
47573 0205 Ipswich – Liverpool Street
The through coaches from Norwich were crowded SOs, whereas the solitary Peterborough coach was a declassified BFK. I had a compo to myself, and raked in the 03 shunt too.
I was sweating a bit about the +5 connection at Liverpool Street into the 0400 to Norwich via Cambridge, but the loco for that train didn’t even back on until 0405.
37034 0400 Liverpool Street – Cambridge
31126 0621 Cambridge – Norwich
DMU Norwich – Lingwood
47585 0919 Lingwood – Norwich (not quite what I expected)
31236 1002 Norwich – Grassmoor (load 13 – the lowest power to weight ratio I’ve encountered in the UK!)
40198 1139 Grassmoor – Spalding
37088 1242 Spalding – Norwich
25208 + 25209 1458 Norwich – Sleaford
31306 Sleaford – Sheffield
47422 2023 Sheffield – Leeds
31270 2230 Leeds – Doncaster
My first – and last – visit to the March – Spalding line. I managed to cover it three times in the day, with a 40, a 37, and a pair of 25s, so I considered that “job done”.
(Sunday 14/06/81)
55013 0208 Doncaster – Kings Cross

Sunday 13/06/82
The previous day had been a festival of class 40 action. Could Sunday possibly offer more of the same?
40106 0137 Crewe – Preston via Stockport, Denton Jn, Manchester Victoria, Bolton, load 14 + 81017 dead
40106 0406 Preston – Stafford via Bolton, Manchester Victoria, Denton Jn., Stockport, Crewe, load 11 + 86205 dead
81005 0631 Stafford – Bletchley via Northampton
86226 0920 Bletchley – Stafford via Northampton (Euston – Llandudno ADEX)
40091 1122 Stafford – Holyhead
40091 1553 Holyhead – Rhyl
40157 1751 Rhyl – Manchester Victoria
DMU Manchester Victoria – Eccles
40050 2125 Eccles – Manchester Victoria
40180 2240 Manchester Victoria – Bangor
(Monday 14/06/82)
47452 0146 Bangor – Crewe
86318 0330 Crewe – Euston
A noisy round trip to Preston on the overnight drags, then all day spent with long runs behind class 40s. An exceptionally good weekend.

Saturday 13/06/87
A day trip (with wife and 11-month old son) from Crewe to Pwllheli
47440 0953 Crewe – Shrewsbury
37070 1050 Shrewsbury – Pwllheli
37070 1530 Pwllheli – Shrewsbury
47448 1950 Shrewsbury – Crewe
This was my first ever visit to Pwllheli, and my only visit behind a 37.
 

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