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Back in the day...
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Yes, they turned up absolutely anywhere that a 47 could go. I had a quiet respect for them, except when they turned up on a 40 or Deltic diagram.
I very much suspect it would have been:
Sunday 22/11/81
50035 1900 Paddington - Coventry (1900 Padd - Manchester)
My move off that was 86215 2209 Coventry - Euston. Possibly you did the same - the available moves from Coventry at that time of a Sunday night were pretty limited.
xotGD
Established Member
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- 4 Feb 2017
- Messages
- 6,077
25th September 1982
There was a Merrymaker to Oxford and Didcot. Normals could visit the dreaming spires while kettle fans could visit the railway centre. We chose to sample some Hoovers:
47196 Newcastle - Oxford 1Z??
50042 Oxford - Reading 1V88
50022 Reading - Oxford 1A38
47196 Oxford - Newcastle 1Z??
25th September 1987
Those Duffs on DMU turns just keep on coming...
47544 Heworth - Newcastle 2M35
47547 Newcastle - Sunderland 2B05
47406 Sunderland - Newcastle 2B06
47406 Newcastle - Sunderland 2J07
47411 Newcastle - Sunderland 2E36
47547 Sunderland - Newcastle 2B10
47547 Newcastle - Sunderland 2J11
47406 Sunderland - Newcastle 2M39
47544 Newcastle - Sunderland 2B07
47411 Sunderland - Newcastle 2M41
Definitely the last time I travelled to Sunderland five times in a day.
There was a Merrymaker to Oxford and Didcot. Normals could visit the dreaming spires while kettle fans could visit the railway centre. We chose to sample some Hoovers:
47196 Newcastle - Oxford 1Z??
50042 Oxford - Reading 1V88
50022 Reading - Oxford 1A38
47196 Oxford - Newcastle 1Z??
25th September 1987
Those Duffs on DMU turns just keep on coming...
47544 Heworth - Newcastle 2M35
47547 Newcastle - Sunderland 2B05
47406 Sunderland - Newcastle 2B06
47406 Newcastle - Sunderland 2J07
47411 Newcastle - Sunderland 2E36
47547 Sunderland - Newcastle 2B10
47547 Newcastle - Sunderland 2J11
47406 Sunderland - Newcastle 2M39
47544 Newcastle - Sunderland 2B07
47411 Sunderland - Newcastle 2M41
Definitely the last time I travelled to Sunderland five times in a day.
Given my other widespread travels, it might surprise you to know I have never been to Sunderland by main line train (although I have passed through).
I had two attempts at going there for a football match (by Metro from Newcastle), the first being rained off (in August) and the second I had to turn around part way there for a family emergency.
Given the nature of the motive power by that stage, I'm not too worried I missed out ...
47403
Established Member
Ah those GD Gennies. I think I told the story to Mr Xot whilst at the KVWR. I was on a coach trip, visiting various depots in the South West. We had down time at Bristols Shirley Temple, when 47405 came in, we knew it was a GD loco, the Crest above the number being the biggest give away, I always thought GD locos must be the warmest to drive, due to the 1 inch layer of crud that they were covered in and if they ever got washed, the paint must be immaculate due to that protective layer. However a bus load of North Easterers, we're thinking what the hell you doing here for gods sake. We turned round and a load of the local cranks were waving us goodbye from it as it left. So I guess the GD gennies mustve been popular in those parts.
Falcon1200
Established Member
Quite possibly that day but an earlier train, as I was on my fortnightly 0900-1700 shift at Reading !
I don't think many trains were diverted via Bletchley, it was mostly via Worcester / Hartlebury or bus substitutions.
NorthWestRover
Established Member
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- 24 Aug 2018
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- 1,462
Saturday 25th September 1982
Don't know what took me to the Midlands, what filled in the gaps between the Goyles or even what order the moves came in, but I know I had...
31174/31320 Birmingham NS to Tamworth
31161 Nuneaton to Birmingham NS
31270 Birmingham NS to Nuneaton
31175/31325 Nuneaton to Birmingham NS
All required other than 270 which I'd had paired with 250 on a tour from Tinsley to Cleethorpes in April 1979.
Don't know what took me to the Midlands, what filled in the gaps between the Goyles or even what order the moves came in, but I know I had...
31174/31320 Birmingham NS to Tamworth
31161 Nuneaton to Birmingham NS
31270 Birmingham NS to Nuneaton
31175/31325 Nuneaton to Birmingham NS
All required other than 270 which I'd had paired with 250 on a tour from Tinsley to Cleethorpes in April 1979.
xotGD
Established Member
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- 6,077
Hydraulics - Part 2- On the East Lancs
A couple of trips to the ELR five years apart and the same three hydraulics were in action on both occasions. First up, it is 17th September 1995, and here is Warship 832 having just arrived at Rawtenstall.
Same location, and this time it is Western D1041 just uncoupled from a set of NSE Mark 2s.
The third of the trio, Hymek D7076, seen on the SVR five years earlier, runs round its train at Rawtenstall.
Jumping forward in time to 8th July 2000, and 832 arrives into Ramsbottom.
Same vantage point, facing the other way, and in rolls D7076.
And finally for this selection, D1041 waits to depart from Bury. It has received a fresh coat of paint since my previous visit.
When I visited the ELR again earlier this year, there was much excitement regarding 832 being painted blue. I obviously missed the interlude when it wasn't blue!
Another class of locomotive present at the ELR this year will feature in my next photo offering....
A couple of trips to the ELR five years apart and the same three hydraulics were in action on both occasions. First up, it is 17th September 1995, and here is Warship 832 having just arrived at Rawtenstall.
Same location, and this time it is Western D1041 just uncoupled from a set of NSE Mark 2s.
The third of the trio, Hymek D7076, seen on the SVR five years earlier, runs round its train at Rawtenstall.
Jumping forward in time to 8th July 2000, and 832 arrives into Ramsbottom.
Same vantage point, facing the other way, and in rolls D7076.
And finally for this selection, D1041 waits to depart from Bury. It has received a fresh coat of paint since my previous visit.
When I visited the ELR again earlier this year, there was much excitement regarding 832 being painted blue. I obviously missed the interlude when it wasn't blue!
Another class of locomotive present at the ELR this year will feature in my next photo offering....
Peter Sarf
Established Member
Lovely photos @xotGD. I saw the tail end of the Hydraulic era. I remember seeing the last ten or so Hymeks lying derelict at Old Oak Common and I look in wonder at how they have been brought back to life. Westerns are my favourite but really I tend to think the Hymeks were the best looking locomotives ever.
xotGD
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- Messages
- 6,077
My first awareness of Hymeks came from a book in our school library. Little did I know that they had all been withdrawn some years earlier. The book speculated whether the "pleasing design" would be repeated on any more locomotives.
I grew up with hydraulics being the normal fare on most passenger services. The Padd - Oxford peak hour commuter trains were mostly Hymeks. The air seemed to vibrate around them when accelerating from a stand. Thanks again @xotGD for the phots.
Tuesday 26/09/78
47433 1413 York – Selby
47523 1500 Selby – York
This was a Deltic bash gone badly wrong!
Saturday 26/09/81
I was working a 12 hour shift in Willesden PSB as Assistant Controller (a splendid title for a glorified booking boy). I was looking to head back to my flat in Harringay, but the North London Line services were in uproar again. Fortunately salvation was at hand in the form of 37034 which had just arrived at Willesden on a return Footex from Barking. The signaller asked the driver if he’d take me back with him on the light engine returning to Stratford, and he agreed.
37034 1750 Willesden PSB – Highbury & Islington
From there I made my way home to Harringay by EMU (class 313), and later returned to Kings Cross for a rather fine overnight:
55016 2230 Kings Cross – Edinburgh via (cue drumroll…) Cambridge, Askern, Leamside, Scotswood, Carlisle. I had a sleeper throughout. 15 early into Edinburgh. A fine overnight, covering very little of the normal ECML, and lots of interesting diversions.
Monday 26/09/83 – my first day at work in Leeds Control
31408 0805 York – Leeds
40012 1600 Leeds – Settle
45146 1757 Settle – Leeds
43182 + 43181 1910 Leeds – York
Saturday 26/09/87
A trip to the ELR to visit 40145:
86252 0901 Crewe – Manchester Piccadilly
EMU Manchester Victoria – Bury
40145 1100 Bury Bolton Street – Ramsbottom
40145 1130 Ramsbottom – Bury Bolton Street
EMU Bury – Manchester Victoria
DMU Manchester Victoria – Warrington Bank Quay
86257 1638 Warrington Bank Quay – Crewe
Monday 26/09/88
I took my Polish friends to Shrewsbury. As well as the touristy visit, I had managed to arrange a visit to the splendid old signal box – which delighted my Polish friend who was a signalling manager for PKP. Of course, I chose our trains well:
37426 1000 Crewe – Shrewsbury
37431 1604 Shrewsbury – Crewe
Sunday 26/09/93 – SVR overnight service
7819 0005 Kidderminster Town – Bridgnorth
7819 0145 Bridgnorth – Kidderminster Town
7819 0340 Kidderminster Town – Bridgnorth
7819 0520 Bridgnorth – Hampton Loade
48773 0538 Hampton Loade – Bridgnorth
48773 0640 Bridgnorth – Bewdley
3442 / 61994 0735 Bewdley – Kidderminster Town
2968 0815 Kidderminster Town – Bewdley
48773 0830 Bewdley – Hampton Loade
75069 0912 Hampton Loade – Bewdley
46443 0955 Bewdley – Arley
5764 + 5775 1023 Arley – Kidderminster Town
7714 piloting (triple header) 1045 Bewdley – Kidderminster Town
47849 1141 Kidderminster – Oxford via Worcester Shrub Hill
166 204 Oxford – Reading
A tremendous effort by the SVR, 9 locos in steam, including triple-headed pannier tanks.
Friday 26/09/97
47841 0754 Reading – Paddington
At work I learned that the 1420 Brighton – Manchester was being worked by a 33 on the Southern, so I found an interesting way to get home:
33116 1530 Kensington Olympia – Reading via Willesden South West Sidings, Acton Main Line
Saturday 26/09/98
73082 1306 Sheffield Park – Kingscote
73082 1355 Kingscote – Sheffield Park
This was the “wedding reception” of a cranky friend and his wife.
47433 1413 York – Selby
47523 1500 Selby – York
This was a Deltic bash gone badly wrong!
Saturday 26/09/81
I was working a 12 hour shift in Willesden PSB as Assistant Controller (a splendid title for a glorified booking boy). I was looking to head back to my flat in Harringay, but the North London Line services were in uproar again. Fortunately salvation was at hand in the form of 37034 which had just arrived at Willesden on a return Footex from Barking. The signaller asked the driver if he’d take me back with him on the light engine returning to Stratford, and he agreed.
37034 1750 Willesden PSB – Highbury & Islington
From there I made my way home to Harringay by EMU (class 313), and later returned to Kings Cross for a rather fine overnight:
55016 2230 Kings Cross – Edinburgh via (cue drumroll…) Cambridge, Askern, Leamside, Scotswood, Carlisle. I had a sleeper throughout. 15 early into Edinburgh. A fine overnight, covering very little of the normal ECML, and lots of interesting diversions.
Monday 26/09/83 – my first day at work in Leeds Control
31408 0805 York – Leeds
40012 1600 Leeds – Settle
45146 1757 Settle – Leeds
43182 + 43181 1910 Leeds – York
Saturday 26/09/87
A trip to the ELR to visit 40145:
86252 0901 Crewe – Manchester Piccadilly
EMU Manchester Victoria – Bury
40145 1100 Bury Bolton Street – Ramsbottom
40145 1130 Ramsbottom – Bury Bolton Street
EMU Bury – Manchester Victoria
DMU Manchester Victoria – Warrington Bank Quay
86257 1638 Warrington Bank Quay – Crewe
Monday 26/09/88
I took my Polish friends to Shrewsbury. As well as the touristy visit, I had managed to arrange a visit to the splendid old signal box – which delighted my Polish friend who was a signalling manager for PKP. Of course, I chose our trains well:
37426 1000 Crewe – Shrewsbury
37431 1604 Shrewsbury – Crewe
Sunday 26/09/93 – SVR overnight service
7819 0005 Kidderminster Town – Bridgnorth
7819 0145 Bridgnorth – Kidderminster Town
7819 0340 Kidderminster Town – Bridgnorth
7819 0520 Bridgnorth – Hampton Loade
48773 0538 Hampton Loade – Bridgnorth
48773 0640 Bridgnorth – Bewdley
3442 / 61994 0735 Bewdley – Kidderminster Town
2968 0815 Kidderminster Town – Bewdley
48773 0830 Bewdley – Hampton Loade
75069 0912 Hampton Loade – Bewdley
46443 0955 Bewdley – Arley
5764 + 5775 1023 Arley – Kidderminster Town
7714 piloting (triple header) 1045 Bewdley – Kidderminster Town
47849 1141 Kidderminster – Oxford via Worcester Shrub Hill
166 204 Oxford – Reading
A tremendous effort by the SVR, 9 locos in steam, including triple-headed pannier tanks.
Friday 26/09/97
47841 0754 Reading – Paddington
At work I learned that the 1420 Brighton – Manchester was being worked by a 33 on the Southern, so I found an interesting way to get home:
33116 1530 Kensington Olympia – Reading via Willesden South West Sidings, Acton Main Line
Saturday 26/09/98
73082 1306 Sheffield Park – Kingscote
73082 1355 Kingscote – Sheffield Park
This was the “wedding reception” of a cranky friend and his wife.
Falcon1200
Established Member
I started travelling from Oxford by train in 1972, so must have had any number of Hymeks and Westerns..... but didn't record any ! If only I knew then what I know now.
(Thanks CW2 for the Oxford/Bletchley diversions info).
MDB1images
Member
- Joined
- 9 Jun 2018
- Messages
- 654
Sat 26th Sep 87
47442 08:20 Bolton-Manchester Victoria(1E86 Blackpool-Harwich PQ)
31449 09:38 Manchester Piccadilly-Sheffield
47627 10:53 Sheffield-Chesterfield(1V61 York-Tenby)
47449 11:22 Chesterfield-Sheffield(1M87 Harwich PQ-Manchester Piccadilly)
47449 12:50 Sheffield-Chesterfield(1E85 Liverpool-Great Yarmouth)
45106 14:04 Chesterfield-Sheffield
47617 16:31 Chesterfield-Sheffield(1E65 Newquay-Newcastle)
47625 17:27 Chesterfield-Sheffield(1E32 Penzance-Leeds)
47353 18:22 Sheffield-Preston(1M12 Harwich PQ-Blackpool)
47291 21:57 Preston-Bolton(1M40 Glasgow Central-Manchester Victoria)
Others noted…
31425 1M54 Blackpool-Derby
47309 1J27 Edinburgh-Manchester Victoria
47402 Liverpool-Newcastle
47428 1V67 Scarborough-Paignton
47455 1E22 Portsmouth-York
47480 1E63 Weymouth-Newcastle
47628 1E60 Tenby-York
Haulage wise it looked like the Summer Saturday ‘procession’ through Chesterfield was all ETH albeit 45106 was nice to have and Inverness based 47617 University of Stirling was a bit off the beaten track on a Newquay-Newcastle, however the usually pretty solid ETH 1M12 produced 47353 from Sheffield and whilst on this word got to me that a very much required Stratford NB Class 47 might work 1M40!
So it was all roads to Preston on 47353 and thankfully the very smart looking 47291 Port of Felixstowe backed onto 1M40 and was scratched off to make it two winners for the day, I say thankfully as 47309 which was also a winner had been chucked out on 1J27 in front of 1M40 so I watched that leave as 47291 being SF based was a lot rarer up in the NW of England!
Sight wise it was another blank.
47442 08:20 Bolton-Manchester Victoria(1E86 Blackpool-Harwich PQ)
31449 09:38 Manchester Piccadilly-Sheffield
47627 10:53 Sheffield-Chesterfield(1V61 York-Tenby)
47449 11:22 Chesterfield-Sheffield(1M87 Harwich PQ-Manchester Piccadilly)
47449 12:50 Sheffield-Chesterfield(1E85 Liverpool-Great Yarmouth)
45106 14:04 Chesterfield-Sheffield
47617 16:31 Chesterfield-Sheffield(1E65 Newquay-Newcastle)
47625 17:27 Chesterfield-Sheffield(1E32 Penzance-Leeds)
47353 18:22 Sheffield-Preston(1M12 Harwich PQ-Blackpool)
47291 21:57 Preston-Bolton(1M40 Glasgow Central-Manchester Victoria)
Others noted…
31425 1M54 Blackpool-Derby
47309 1J27 Edinburgh-Manchester Victoria
47402 Liverpool-Newcastle
47428 1V67 Scarborough-Paignton
47455 1E22 Portsmouth-York
47480 1E63 Weymouth-Newcastle
47628 1E60 Tenby-York
Haulage wise it looked like the Summer Saturday ‘procession’ through Chesterfield was all ETH albeit 45106 was nice to have and Inverness based 47617 University of Stirling was a bit off the beaten track on a Newquay-Newcastle, however the usually pretty solid ETH 1M12 produced 47353 from Sheffield and whilst on this word got to me that a very much required Stratford NB Class 47 might work 1M40!
So it was all roads to Preston on 47353 and thankfully the very smart looking 47291 Port of Felixstowe backed onto 1M40 and was scratched off to make it two winners for the day, I say thankfully as 47309 which was also a winner had been chucked out on 1J27 in front of 1M40 so I watched that leave as 47291 being SF based was a lot rarer up in the NW of England!
Sight wise it was another blank.
Monday 27th September 1982
Visit to Swindon Works.
45012 10:12 Derby-Birmingham NS
50043 11:15 Birmingham NS-Cheltenham
31424 12:37 Cheltenham-Swindon (31424 dragging failed DMU)
Arrived at Swindon Works with a permit, and joined other groups for an afternoon tour of the works and scrap yard.
By this time only overhauls to 08 shunters, and DMUs were being carried out at Swindon, but a lot of scrapping was being done there. The North Yard sidings were crammed with withdrawn locos waiting entry into the scrap yard. In all 175 withdrawn examples of 08, 20, 25, 31, 40, 45/0 and 46 were recorded there, the scrap yard, or in parts of the works.
After 08s, the most numerous locomotives observed were withdrawn class 40s, with 33 recorded. By this time (autumn 1982) more than half of the class had been withdrawn from service, although it appears regular contributors to this thread were still getting plenty of haulage from those still running.
A surprise sighting in the scrap yard was a class 13 (13 002).
Warship D818 Glory in green livery was on display in the works yard. This loco was observed on all of my visits between 1977 and 1984, as was Western D1015. The latter made it into preservation, but for some reason D818 was eventually scrapped. Saw a third Hydraulic (Hymek D7018) at Didcot Railway Centre later in the afternoon.
43014+43035 16:09 Swindon-Didcot
50029 16:31 Didcot-Oxford
47257 17:12 Oxford-Birmingham NS
43171+43172 18:50 Birmingham NS-Derby
Visit to Swindon Works.
45012 10:12 Derby-Birmingham NS
50043 11:15 Birmingham NS-Cheltenham
31424 12:37 Cheltenham-Swindon (31424 dragging failed DMU)
Arrived at Swindon Works with a permit, and joined other groups for an afternoon tour of the works and scrap yard.
By this time only overhauls to 08 shunters, and DMUs were being carried out at Swindon, but a lot of scrapping was being done there. The North Yard sidings were crammed with withdrawn locos waiting entry into the scrap yard. In all 175 withdrawn examples of 08, 20, 25, 31, 40, 45/0 and 46 were recorded there, the scrap yard, or in parts of the works.
After 08s, the most numerous locomotives observed were withdrawn class 40s, with 33 recorded. By this time (autumn 1982) more than half of the class had been withdrawn from service, although it appears regular contributors to this thread were still getting plenty of haulage from those still running.
A surprise sighting in the scrap yard was a class 13 (13 002).
Warship D818 Glory in green livery was on display in the works yard. This loco was observed on all of my visits between 1977 and 1984, as was Western D1015. The latter made it into preservation, but for some reason D818 was eventually scrapped. Saw a third Hydraulic (Hymek D7018) at Didcot Railway Centre later in the afternoon.
43014+43035 16:09 Swindon-Didcot
50029 16:31 Didcot-Oxford
47257 17:12 Oxford-Birmingham NS
43171+43172 18:50 Birmingham NS-Derby
Wednesday 27/09/78
45011 0915 Leeds – Carlisle – 20’ late ex Leeds due to burst vacuum pipe.
86234 1203 Carlisle – Carstairs
47525 1359 Carstairs – Haymarket
47018 1449 Haymarket – Dundee
47269 1700 Dundee – Glasgow Queen Street – 50’ late due to points failure
27203 + 27206 1930 Glasgow Queen Street – Edinburgh
55012 2020 Edinburgh – York
I think this must have been some sort of cheap promotional round trip day ticket, which (as usual) I stretched to the limits of its validity.
Thursday 27/09/79
I had to go to Manchester Victoria to pick up the last wages from my summer job, so once there I kept an eye open for any 40s working:
47427 1247 York – Manchester Victoria
40171 1745 Manchester Victoria – Kirkham & Wesham
47069 1858 Kirkham & Wesham – Preston
40163 1928 Preston – Manchester Victoria
46049 2125 Manchester Victoria – York
Sunday 27/09/81
Having arrived in Edinburgh behind a Deltic all the way from Kings Cross via every possible diversionary route, I stepped straight onto another Deltic:
55018 1125 Edinburgh – Dunbar
This was the through train to Plymouth, and the Deltic would work as far as York. I could have stuck with it, but instead hoped I might pick up a class 40 working or two in Scotland. It wasn’t to be my lucky day …
43084 + 43xxx 1236 Dunbar – Edinburgh
47705 1400 Edinburgh – Glasgow Queen Street
Having discovered there were no 40s to be had, I headed across to Glasgow Central for the 1515 to Nottingham, knowing that was a good bet for a roarer:
85033 1515 Glasgow Central – Carlisle
This was delayed a full hour sitting in the middle of a field somewhere south of Lockerbie, awaiting an engineering possession being given up. Apparently the Person In Charge had gone home without giving up the possession correctly.
83012 1807 Carlisle – Crewe – at least I dropped straight onto another big required roarer.
86243 2053 Crewe – Euston
Thursday 27/09/84
Another little after-work leap on the G&SW:
25035 1545 Glasgow Central – Dumfries
26037 1819 Dumfries – Glasgow Central
Tuesday 27/09/88 – a day of perfect balance.
Together with my Polish guests, we travelled to York for a trip to the NRM and general sightseeing:
37431 0840 Crewe – Stockport
DMU 51424 + 54232 Stockport – Stalybridge
47434 1000 Stalybridge – York
… and then all the same in reverse order
47434 1545 York – Stalybridge
DMU 51424 + 54232 Stalybridge – Stockport
37431 1827 Stockport – Crewe
I don’t think I’ve had any other mirror-image days like this.
Wednesday 27/09/89
90025 1630 Euston – Crewe (See also next entry).
Friday 27/09/91
90025 1530 Liverpool Street – Norwich
90025 1805 Norwich – Liverpool Street
My return journey was delayed 85 minutes due to signal failures Colchester – Witham.
Also I noted the 1555 Liverpool Street – Norwich arriving 25’ late behind required 90135, with failed 86237 dead on the rear. Seemingly the 1305 ex Norwich had failed at Witham, and the return working (1555 ex Liverpool Street) had only run from there. I assume 90135 didn’t work back, as otherwise I would have had it in place of 90025.
Sunday 27/09/92
DMU Reading – Ealing Broadway
5029 1142 Ealing Broadway – Stratford upon Avon via Greenford, High Wycombe
5029 1830 Stratford upon Avon – Ealing Broadway via High Wycombe, Greenford
DMU Ealing Broadway – Paddington
43146 + 43129 2355 Paddington – Reading
45011 0915 Leeds – Carlisle – 20’ late ex Leeds due to burst vacuum pipe.
86234 1203 Carlisle – Carstairs
47525 1359 Carstairs – Haymarket
47018 1449 Haymarket – Dundee
47269 1700 Dundee – Glasgow Queen Street – 50’ late due to points failure
27203 + 27206 1930 Glasgow Queen Street – Edinburgh
55012 2020 Edinburgh – York
I think this must have been some sort of cheap promotional round trip day ticket, which (as usual) I stretched to the limits of its validity.
Thursday 27/09/79
I had to go to Manchester Victoria to pick up the last wages from my summer job, so once there I kept an eye open for any 40s working:
47427 1247 York – Manchester Victoria
40171 1745 Manchester Victoria – Kirkham & Wesham
47069 1858 Kirkham & Wesham – Preston
40163 1928 Preston – Manchester Victoria
46049 2125 Manchester Victoria – York
Sunday 27/09/81
Having arrived in Edinburgh behind a Deltic all the way from Kings Cross via every possible diversionary route, I stepped straight onto another Deltic:
55018 1125 Edinburgh – Dunbar
This was the through train to Plymouth, and the Deltic would work as far as York. I could have stuck with it, but instead hoped I might pick up a class 40 working or two in Scotland. It wasn’t to be my lucky day …
43084 + 43xxx 1236 Dunbar – Edinburgh
47705 1400 Edinburgh – Glasgow Queen Street
Having discovered there were no 40s to be had, I headed across to Glasgow Central for the 1515 to Nottingham, knowing that was a good bet for a roarer:
85033 1515 Glasgow Central – Carlisle
This was delayed a full hour sitting in the middle of a field somewhere south of Lockerbie, awaiting an engineering possession being given up. Apparently the Person In Charge had gone home without giving up the possession correctly.
83012 1807 Carlisle – Crewe – at least I dropped straight onto another big required roarer.
86243 2053 Crewe – Euston
Thursday 27/09/84
Another little after-work leap on the G&SW:
25035 1545 Glasgow Central – Dumfries
26037 1819 Dumfries – Glasgow Central
Tuesday 27/09/88 – a day of perfect balance.
Together with my Polish guests, we travelled to York for a trip to the NRM and general sightseeing:
37431 0840 Crewe – Stockport
DMU 51424 + 54232 Stockport – Stalybridge
47434 1000 Stalybridge – York
… and then all the same in reverse order
47434 1545 York – Stalybridge
DMU 51424 + 54232 Stalybridge – Stockport
37431 1827 Stockport – Crewe
I don’t think I’ve had any other mirror-image days like this.
Wednesday 27/09/89
90025 1630 Euston – Crewe (See also next entry).
Friday 27/09/91
90025 1530 Liverpool Street – Norwich
90025 1805 Norwich – Liverpool Street
My return journey was delayed 85 minutes due to signal failures Colchester – Witham.
Also I noted the 1555 Liverpool Street – Norwich arriving 25’ late behind required 90135, with failed 86237 dead on the rear. Seemingly the 1305 ex Norwich had failed at Witham, and the return working (1555 ex Liverpool Street) had only run from there. I assume 90135 didn’t work back, as otherwise I would have had it in place of 90025.
Sunday 27/09/92
DMU Reading – Ealing Broadway
5029 1142 Ealing Broadway – Stratford upon Avon via Greenford, High Wycombe
5029 1830 Stratford upon Avon – Ealing Broadway via High Wycombe, Greenford
DMU Ealing Broadway – Paddington
43146 + 43129 2355 Paddington – Reading
xotGD
Established Member
- Joined
- 4 Feb 2017
- Messages
- 6,077
Right, two days for the price of one...
26th September 1985
I'm about to start uni. What big loco will take me down for Freshers' Week...
47483 Newcastle - New St 1V85
At this point student life got in the way of cranking activities.
27th September 1986
I'm back in Brum in time for a trip on the Cambrian...
47115 New St - Shrewsbury 1J18
37426 + 37429 Shrewsbury - Aberdovey 1J20
37428 Machynlleth - Aberystwyth 1J24
37428 Aberystwyth - Shrewsbury 1A81
47115 Shrewsbury - Wolverhampton 1A81
85008 Wolverhampton - New St 1A81
All ETH on the Cambrian although 37180 was hanging around at Shrewsbury teasing us all, but nice to end the day behind a Roarer.
26th September 1987
After spending all week shuttling between Newcastle and Sunderland, guess what I did today...
47411 Newcastle - Sunderland 2B05
47407 Newcastle - Sunderland 2B07
I packed in early as I had to get home, sort my gear out and get back to the station for the last unit to Carlisle.
27th September 1987
I'm off for my third and final year as a student. Doing an overnight on the WCML seemed like a sensible way to get there...
87019 Carlisle - Preston 1V32
47612 (+87019) Preston - Crewe (via Manchester Victoria) 1V32
87019 Crewe - New St 1V32
That was the only time I've done that diversion, so my yellow pen says 'Thank you'.
26th September 1991
86253 International - Euston
86247 Euston - New St
Must have been a work trip. Pity about the traction.
26th September 1985
I'm about to start uni. What big loco will take me down for Freshers' Week...
47483 Newcastle - New St 1V85
At this point student life got in the way of cranking activities.
27th September 1986
I'm back in Brum in time for a trip on the Cambrian...
47115 New St - Shrewsbury 1J18
37426 + 37429 Shrewsbury - Aberdovey 1J20
37428 Machynlleth - Aberystwyth 1J24
37428 Aberystwyth - Shrewsbury 1A81
47115 Shrewsbury - Wolverhampton 1A81
85008 Wolverhampton - New St 1A81
All ETH on the Cambrian although 37180 was hanging around at Shrewsbury teasing us all, but nice to end the day behind a Roarer.
26th September 1987
After spending all week shuttling between Newcastle and Sunderland, guess what I did today...
47411 Newcastle - Sunderland 2B05
47407 Newcastle - Sunderland 2B07
I packed in early as I had to get home, sort my gear out and get back to the station for the last unit to Carlisle.
27th September 1987
I'm off for my third and final year as a student. Doing an overnight on the WCML seemed like a sensible way to get there...
87019 Carlisle - Preston 1V32
47612 (+87019) Preston - Crewe (via Manchester Victoria) 1V32
87019 Crewe - New St 1V32
That was the only time I've done that diversion, so my yellow pen says 'Thank you'.
26th September 1991
86253 International - Euston
86247 Euston - New St
Must have been a work trip. Pity about the traction.
MDB1images
Member
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- 654
Sun 27th Sep 87
47482 13:04 Manchester Piccadilly-Stockport(13:04 Manchester Piccadilly-Penzance)
47309 14:18 Manchester Piccadilly-Stockport(1A26 Manchester Piccadilly-London Euston)
45106 15:25 Manchester Piccadilly-Sheffield(1E87 15:25 Manchester Piccadilly-Harwich PQ)
31443 17:43 Sheffield-Manchester Piccadilly
Others noted…..
47406 Liverpool-Newcastle
47473 Manchester Victoria-Glasgow.
Haulage wise I think its safe to say I was a tad fortunate, having flagged 47309 last night on 1J27 at Preston(for the much rarer 47291)I noticed it sat on Longsight, I was hoping it would produce but generally any locos I needed cleared off to Buxton or such like for freight work on Sunday afternoon so it was hope more than expectation.
However today was my lucky day and with the overhead power off 1A26 which had brought me IS based 47517 last week now brought me KD based 47309 this week, I was a happy chap!
As 1E87 was a Peak I took it across to Sheffield to round off a good day.
Sight wise it was another blank.
47482 13:04 Manchester Piccadilly-Stockport(13:04 Manchester Piccadilly-Penzance)
47309 14:18 Manchester Piccadilly-Stockport(1A26 Manchester Piccadilly-London Euston)
45106 15:25 Manchester Piccadilly-Sheffield(1E87 15:25 Manchester Piccadilly-Harwich PQ)
31443 17:43 Sheffield-Manchester Piccadilly
Others noted…..
47406 Liverpool-Newcastle
47473 Manchester Victoria-Glasgow.
Haulage wise I think its safe to say I was a tad fortunate, having flagged 47309 last night on 1J27 at Preston(for the much rarer 47291)I noticed it sat on Longsight, I was hoping it would produce but generally any locos I needed cleared off to Buxton or such like for freight work on Sunday afternoon so it was hope more than expectation.
However today was my lucky day and with the overhead power off 1A26 which had brought me IS based 47517 last week now brought me KD based 47309 this week, I was a happy chap!
As 1E87 was a Peak I took it across to Sheffield to round off a good day.
Sight wise it was another blank.
xotGD
Established Member
- Joined
- 4 Feb 2017
- Messages
- 6,077
Well that worked out very nicely! Having to flag something that you need, you never know if and when you'll get a second bite at the cherry. The very next day - perfect!
barrowjack
Member
27th September 1986.
My first proper solo trip out, with an agreed travel plan to stay in Birmingham (New Stret). Well nothing wrong with slightly bending the rules. So armed with a £1 flat fare ticket, 1A26 was taken to Crewe then onwards as follows:
47566 Barrow In Furness - Lancaster
86223 Lancaster - Crewe
47418 Crewe - Birmingham New Street
86405 Birmingham New Street - Birmingham International
87024 Birmingham International - Birmingham New Street
47603 Birmingham New Street - Birmingham International
47441 Birmingham International - Birmingham New Street
86255 Birmingham New Street - Birmingham International
47222 Birmingham International - Birmingham New Street
47542 Birmingham New Street - Birmingham International
47445 Birmingham International - Birmingham New Street
86316 Birmingham New Street - Preston
87030 Preston - Lancaster
108xxx Lancaster - Barrow In Furness
Quite productive for the red pen shuttling between New Street and International, obviously the highlight being 47222 and I suspect a good haul of summer Saturday destination labels were preserved too!
My first proper solo trip out, with an agreed travel plan to stay in Birmingham (New Stret). Well nothing wrong with slightly bending the rules. So armed with a £1 flat fare ticket, 1A26 was taken to Crewe then onwards as follows:
47566 Barrow In Furness - Lancaster
86223 Lancaster - Crewe
47418 Crewe - Birmingham New Street
86405 Birmingham New Street - Birmingham International
87024 Birmingham International - Birmingham New Street
47603 Birmingham New Street - Birmingham International
47441 Birmingham International - Birmingham New Street
86255 Birmingham New Street - Birmingham International
47222 Birmingham International - Birmingham New Street
47542 Birmingham New Street - Birmingham International
47445 Birmingham International - Birmingham New Street
86316 Birmingham New Street - Preston
87030 Preston - Lancaster
108xxx Lancaster - Barrow In Furness
Quite productive for the red pen shuttling between New Street and International, obviously the highlight being 47222 and I suspect a good haul of summer Saturday destination labels were preserved too!
xotGD
Established Member
- Joined
- 4 Feb 2017
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- 6,077
Yet another Generator turning up not quite where you would expect it. I guess it might have worked from Newcastle to Liverpool and then been nabbed.
Friday 28/09/79
Having arrived back at York from my afternoon trip to Manchester, I hung around at the station long enough to see a Deltic arriving on the 2015 Kings Cross – Edinburgh. Well, it would be rude not to …
55014 0011 York – Newcastle
… and there I covered the southbound services, until the last southbound overnight produced a 40:
40047 0219 Newcastle – York
Monday 28/09/81
40106 2300 Kings Cross – Doncaster
(Tuesday 29/09/81)
40168 0141 Doncaster – Kings Cross
As I arrived at Doncaster behind 40106, I could see 40168 sitting there, awaiting departure. I managed to make a minus 7 minute connection into it by 5 minutes at Doncaster, as the Leeds portion had been late arriving. 12’ -> 25’ late, overtime taking boiler water at Grantham. A fine overnight trip.
Friday 28/09/84
86225 1510 Glasgow Central – Carlisle
86317 1705 Carlisle – Carstairs
37148 1824 Carstairs – Edinburgh
47712 2000 Edinburgh – Glasgow Queen Street
Saturday 28/09/85
47714 1400 Glasgow Queen Street – Edinburgh
27040 1520 Edinburgh – Kirkcaldy
27052 1618 Kirkcaldy – Edinburgh
37215 + 27041 1715 Edinburgh – Dundee
27018 1843 Leuchars – Edinburgh
47709 2030 Edinburgh – Glasgow Queen Street
The 37 + 27 pairing on the 1715 Edinburgh – Dundee was epic. The 37 was leading, and the locos were working in multiple. Normally when starting a train, a 27 would thrash a bit, have a little pause, then thrash a bit more; if you ever tried to open up more quickly, it would simply overload. However with the 37 leading, the “pause for reflection” disappeared, and the whole equipage went from idling to full storming thrash in a nano-second. The acceleration was superb, and the noise of that 27 having its cylinders rearranged by the 37 was exceptional. (By way of explanation, the 37 was required at Dundee for ballast train working over the weekend, so this was the simplest and most cost effective way of moving it from Millerhill to Dundee). 37215 lives on, at the GWR at Cheltenham.
Wednesday 28/09/88
With my family and my two Polish guests, we set off for a couple of days in Scotland. I was handicapped by having both arms in slings, so I wasn’t a lot of help in carrying luggage etc., but I had done all the planning and booking:
86xxx 1014 Crewe – Lancaster
We miscalculated the time it would take us to walk to the station, so arrived there in a sweating heap just as the train doors were closing. We made it… just! At Lancaster I stayed on the station and guarded the baggage while everybody else went for a wander around the city.
The onward journey from Lancaster to Glasgow Central had also been carefully chosen, as the 1030 Euston – Glasgow Central was now booked for a class 90, one of the very first passenger diagrams for this then-new class of locos. It produced:
90011 1317 Lancaster – Glasgow Central
I scored the 90, which was only my third run with this class. I recall that when the loco was drawing power, the coach PA system would buzz quite loudly. That problem was soon fixed by some tweaks or other.
Across to Glasgow Queen Street:
37423 1634 Glasgow Queen Street – Rannoch
We alighted at Rannoch, and stayed overnight in the Moor of Rannoch Hotel, adjacent to the station.
Thursday 28/09/89
86423 0644 Crewe – Euston
50031 1440 Paddington – Reading
47809 1855 Reading – Paddington
This was probably house hunting in Reading.
Friday 28/09/90
I finished work early, then headed off to fill in time on the WCML prior to covering the last summer Saturday overnights from Birmingham New Street to the West Country:
87010 1225 Euston – Crewe
86245 1438 Crewe – Preston
90045 1545 Preston – Crewe
47830 1656 Crewe – Stafford
90013 1731 Stafford – Crewe
47527 1855 Crewe – Preston
47847 2127 Preston – Birmingham New Street
90045 was required. The last two 47s were on additional services, possibly in connection with the Blackpool Hallucinations.
Having arrived back at York from my afternoon trip to Manchester, I hung around at the station long enough to see a Deltic arriving on the 2015 Kings Cross – Edinburgh. Well, it would be rude not to …
55014 0011 York – Newcastle
… and there I covered the southbound services, until the last southbound overnight produced a 40:
40047 0219 Newcastle – York
Monday 28/09/81
40106 2300 Kings Cross – Doncaster
(Tuesday 29/09/81)
40168 0141 Doncaster – Kings Cross
As I arrived at Doncaster behind 40106, I could see 40168 sitting there, awaiting departure. I managed to make a minus 7 minute connection into it by 5 minutes at Doncaster, as the Leeds portion had been late arriving. 12’ -> 25’ late, overtime taking boiler water at Grantham. A fine overnight trip.
Friday 28/09/84
86225 1510 Glasgow Central – Carlisle
86317 1705 Carlisle – Carstairs
37148 1824 Carstairs – Edinburgh
47712 2000 Edinburgh – Glasgow Queen Street
Saturday 28/09/85
47714 1400 Glasgow Queen Street – Edinburgh
27040 1520 Edinburgh – Kirkcaldy
27052 1618 Kirkcaldy – Edinburgh
37215 + 27041 1715 Edinburgh – Dundee
27018 1843 Leuchars – Edinburgh
47709 2030 Edinburgh – Glasgow Queen Street
The 37 + 27 pairing on the 1715 Edinburgh – Dundee was epic. The 37 was leading, and the locos were working in multiple. Normally when starting a train, a 27 would thrash a bit, have a little pause, then thrash a bit more; if you ever tried to open up more quickly, it would simply overload. However with the 37 leading, the “pause for reflection” disappeared, and the whole equipage went from idling to full storming thrash in a nano-second. The acceleration was superb, and the noise of that 27 having its cylinders rearranged by the 37 was exceptional. (By way of explanation, the 37 was required at Dundee for ballast train working over the weekend, so this was the simplest and most cost effective way of moving it from Millerhill to Dundee). 37215 lives on, at the GWR at Cheltenham.
Wednesday 28/09/88
With my family and my two Polish guests, we set off for a couple of days in Scotland. I was handicapped by having both arms in slings, so I wasn’t a lot of help in carrying luggage etc., but I had done all the planning and booking:
86xxx 1014 Crewe – Lancaster
We miscalculated the time it would take us to walk to the station, so arrived there in a sweating heap just as the train doors were closing. We made it… just! At Lancaster I stayed on the station and guarded the baggage while everybody else went for a wander around the city.
The onward journey from Lancaster to Glasgow Central had also been carefully chosen, as the 1030 Euston – Glasgow Central was now booked for a class 90, one of the very first passenger diagrams for this then-new class of locos. It produced:
90011 1317 Lancaster – Glasgow Central
I scored the 90, which was only my third run with this class. I recall that when the loco was drawing power, the coach PA system would buzz quite loudly. That problem was soon fixed by some tweaks or other.
Across to Glasgow Queen Street:
37423 1634 Glasgow Queen Street – Rannoch
We alighted at Rannoch, and stayed overnight in the Moor of Rannoch Hotel, adjacent to the station.
Thursday 28/09/89
86423 0644 Crewe – Euston
50031 1440 Paddington – Reading
47809 1855 Reading – Paddington
This was probably house hunting in Reading.
Friday 28/09/90
I finished work early, then headed off to fill in time on the WCML prior to covering the last summer Saturday overnights from Birmingham New Street to the West Country:
87010 1225 Euston – Crewe
86245 1438 Crewe – Preston
90045 1545 Preston – Crewe
47830 1656 Crewe – Stafford
90013 1731 Stafford – Crewe
47527 1855 Crewe – Preston
47847 2127 Preston – Birmingham New Street
90045 was required. The last two 47s were on additional services, possibly in connection with the Blackpool Hallucinations.
MDB1images
Member
- Joined
- 9 Jun 2018
- Messages
- 654
Dropped very lucky, that's for certain!
Saturday 28 Sept 1985
NENTA Traintours The Cambrian Explorer
47570 Norwich - Abbey Foregate Jn
25303/25323 Abbey Foregate Jn - Aberystwyth
VOR kettle #8 Aberystwyth - Devils Bridge & Devils Bridge - Aberystwyth
25303/25323 Aberystwyth - Abbey Foregate Jn
47598 Abbey Foregate Jn - Norwich.
NENTA Traintours The Cambrian Explorer
47570 Norwich - Abbey Foregate Jn
25303/25323 Abbey Foregate Jn - Aberystwyth
VOR kettle #8 Aberystwyth - Devils Bridge & Devils Bridge - Aberystwyth
25303/25323 Aberystwyth - Abbey Foregate Jn
47598 Abbey Foregate Jn - Norwich.
xotGD
Established Member
- Joined
- 4 Feb 2017
- Messages
- 6,077
28th September 1984
37005 Hexham - Newcastle 2E48
Yes, still occasional Syphon action on DMU substitutions. It would be rude not to take advantage. Here it is in action earlier in the day:
www.flickr.com
And this is what I missed out on that day:
www.flickr.com
28th September 1991
West Midlands travelcard moves, featuring:
87027, 90018, 87018, 90019, 87023, 86214
28th September 1997
I haven't bothered recording days that just feature 91s on the ECML, but today includes something else:
91002 Leeds - Doncaster
91015 Doncaster - Newcastle
47849 Newcastle - Sheffield
91030 Doncaster - Newcastle
37005 Hexham - Newcastle 2E48
Yes, still occasional Syphon action on DMU substitutions. It would be rude not to take advantage. Here it is in action earlier in the day:
37005
Middlesbrough: with the stock which would form 2B16 15:55 to Newcastle (DMU replacement) 28/09/1984. Had spent some time with this loco from Newcastle to Sunderland & back then down to Middlesbrough. I got off this train at Thornaby as was going back via Darlington which turned out to be a...
www.flickr.com
And this is what I missed out on that day:
37138
Newcastle: arrived at Newcastle hauling failed HST (front power car 43153) on 1S28 13:00 London Kings Cross to Aberdeen 28/09/1984. Fell on to this at Darlington, where the loco came on I don't know but as I recall it took the train forward from Newcastle. (edit) according to RailGenArchive the...
www.flickr.com
28th September 1991
West Midlands travelcard moves, featuring:
87027, 90018, 87018, 90019, 87023, 86214
28th September 1997
I haven't bothered recording days that just feature 91s on the ECML, but today includes something else:
91002 Leeds - Doncaster
91015 Doncaster - Newcastle
47849 Newcastle - Sheffield
91030 Doncaster - Newcastle
MDB1images
Member
- Joined
- 9 Jun 2018
- Messages
- 654
Fri 28th Sep 84
47199 Preston-Bolton
47199 Preston-Bolton
Saturday 29th September 1990
Tinsley Depot Open Day
154002 11:14 Beeston-Derby
47814 11:45 Derby-Sheffield
DMU Shuttle Sheffield-Tinsley
Some guest locos seen, plus the ordinary allocation.
Guest locos:
Black Five 44932 (in steam); Deltics D9000/D9016; 09008; 59001 and 90050
DMU Shuttle Tinsley-Sheffield
43155+43??? 15:54 Sheffield-Derby
150101 16:35 Derby-Beeston
Tinsley Depot Open Day
154002 11:14 Beeston-Derby
47814 11:45 Derby-Sheffield
DMU Shuttle Sheffield-Tinsley
Some guest locos seen, plus the ordinary allocation.
Guest locos:
Black Five 44932 (in steam); Deltics D9000/D9016; 09008; 59001 and 90050
DMU Shuttle Tinsley-Sheffield
43155+43??? 15:54 Sheffield-Derby
150101 16:35 Derby-Beeston
Friday 29/09/78
Returning from college in Harrogate, I was delighted to find a Deltic waiting to work the 1620 to Kings Cross instead of the usual 47/4. It was sitting in the south end bay platform, rumbling gently to itself, waiting to attach to the stock stabled in the middle road. I examined it more closely, then the signal came off. The driver – for whatever reason – decided to pull the power handle wide open, so 55006 went from idling to full power in an instant. With an enormous roar, the loco hurtled forward leaving a choking blue fog behind it. I was rather startled by all this performance, as I was in close proximity when it all happened. Still, I had a Deltic on a service train out of Harrogate:
55006 1620 Harrogate – Leeds
46030 1707 Leeds – York
Even the 46 was a winner!
Tuesday 29/09/83
I’ve started working night shift in Leeds Control, and am trying to find a sensible way home to York:
DMU Leeds – Dewsbury
31251 0745 Dewsbury – York
47451 2023 York – Leeds … and so another night begins …
Saturday 29/09/84
26037 1545 Glasgow Central – Auchinleck
There weren’t many moves you can normally make at Auchinleck, but on a Saturday there was a through Euston – Glasgow service routed that way, and on this occasion it was something worth coming out for:
37136 1705 Auchinleck – Glasgow Central
That’ll do nicely!
Monday 29/09/86
47457 0740 Glasgow Central – Carlisle via G&SW
85040 1111 Carlisle – Glasgow Central
Thursday 29/09/88
We (myself, wife, 2 sons aged 2 years and 6 months, plus my Polish couple) had stayed overnight in the Moor of Rannoch Hotel. We joined another couple of friends on the through service from Euston, for a trip from Fort William to Mallaig by steam.
37408 0836 Rannoch – Fort William
Now the tricky bit. Back in those (pre-internet) days, tickets for the Mallaig steam train were sold by the ticket office at Fort William. I knew this was going to be a tricky transaction, so I wrote it all down on a piece of paper, to make it easier for the booking office clerk. It went something like this:
1 FIP supplement Fort William – Mallaig (using all lines FIP free coupon ticket)
1 FIP 50% single Fort William – Mallaig, plus steam supplement.
2 priv adult supplements (BR staff boxes/tickets)
2 child supplements (?)
2 return priv supplements (BR staff)
The clerk at the counter had a mild fit when presented with this, and told us to wait in the buffet until the rush had died down. I placed the carefully written out list on the table top, and sat there with my 6-month old son on my knee. He decided the most fascinating thing in the entire world was that vital bit of paper, so (unnoticed by me) he picked it up, shoved it in his mouth, and started drooling all over it. Next we were approached by the guard of the train, who was going to sell us the tickets. “The clerk tells me you have it all written down?” “Not any more – he just ate it!” We were ushered into a compartment near the front, and travelled in privacy near the noisy end all the way to Mallaig, and not a penny changed hands. Even my two friends returning on the same train were let off the fare for their return journey too.
5305 1050 Fort William – Mallaig
Ferry Mallaig – Armadale
Bus Armadale – Kyleakin
Ferry Kyleakin – Kyle
37421 1640 Kyle of Lochalsh - Inverness
Friday 29/09/89
An after-work leap to pick up a new 90, on my way to Crewe:
90031 2030 Euston – Milton Keynes Central
90027 2124 Milton Keynes Central – Birmingham New Street
87023 2251 Birmingham New Street – Crewe
Saturday 29/09/90 “Network Day”
47442 0021 Birmingham New Street – Bristol Temple Meads
This loco shut down completely when going down Lickey, but restarted OK. It was replaced at Bristol by 47804. I boarded the 2325 Liverpool – Paignton at Bristol, but that train was then cancelled due to a prevailing lack of interest. So:
47848 0526 Bristol Temple Meads – Exeter St Davids (2315 York – Paignton)
50044 0645 Exeter St Davids – Waterloo
EMU 60 Waterloo – Bank, Central Line to Stratford
37140 1051 Stratford – Enfield Town via Temple Mills, Seven Sisters
37140 1150 Enfield Town – Seven Sisters
EMU 321 342 Seven Sisters – Cambridge
56056 1333 Cambridge – Kings Lynn
37196 + 37218 1443 Kings Lynn – Cambridge, 1618 Cambridge – Kings Lynn
73103 + 73129 1720 Kings Lynn – Cambridge
EMU 317 368 1928 Cambridge – Liverpool Street
43030 + 43138 2200 Paddington – Reading
Friday 29/09/95
43151 + 43147 0716 Reading – Bristol Parkway
47825 0826 Bristol Parkway – Taunton
Bus Taunton to Bishops Lydeard
1010 + 1041 1025 Bishops Lydeard – Williton
45108 (running as 120) 1100 Williton – Crowcombe
832 1120 Crowcombe – Minehead
40145 1305 Minehead – Bishops Lydeard
50049 1420 Bishops Lydeard – Minehead
7017 1535 Minehead – Crowcombe
1041 1641 Crowcombe – Blue Anchor
50149 1725 Blue Anchor – Bishops Lydeard
Bus Bishops Lydeard – Taunton
43150 + 43009 2004 Taunton – Reading
Returning from college in Harrogate, I was delighted to find a Deltic waiting to work the 1620 to Kings Cross instead of the usual 47/4. It was sitting in the south end bay platform, rumbling gently to itself, waiting to attach to the stock stabled in the middle road. I examined it more closely, then the signal came off. The driver – for whatever reason – decided to pull the power handle wide open, so 55006 went from idling to full power in an instant. With an enormous roar, the loco hurtled forward leaving a choking blue fog behind it. I was rather startled by all this performance, as I was in close proximity when it all happened. Still, I had a Deltic on a service train out of Harrogate:
55006 1620 Harrogate – Leeds
46030 1707 Leeds – York
Even the 46 was a winner!
Tuesday 29/09/83
I’ve started working night shift in Leeds Control, and am trying to find a sensible way home to York:
DMU Leeds – Dewsbury
31251 0745 Dewsbury – York
47451 2023 York – Leeds … and so another night begins …
Saturday 29/09/84
26037 1545 Glasgow Central – Auchinleck
There weren’t many moves you can normally make at Auchinleck, but on a Saturday there was a through Euston – Glasgow service routed that way, and on this occasion it was something worth coming out for:
37136 1705 Auchinleck – Glasgow Central
That’ll do nicely!
Monday 29/09/86
47457 0740 Glasgow Central – Carlisle via G&SW
85040 1111 Carlisle – Glasgow Central
Thursday 29/09/88
We (myself, wife, 2 sons aged 2 years and 6 months, plus my Polish couple) had stayed overnight in the Moor of Rannoch Hotel. We joined another couple of friends on the through service from Euston, for a trip from Fort William to Mallaig by steam.
37408 0836 Rannoch – Fort William
Now the tricky bit. Back in those (pre-internet) days, tickets for the Mallaig steam train were sold by the ticket office at Fort William. I knew this was going to be a tricky transaction, so I wrote it all down on a piece of paper, to make it easier for the booking office clerk. It went something like this:
1 FIP supplement Fort William – Mallaig (using all lines FIP free coupon ticket)
1 FIP 50% single Fort William – Mallaig, plus steam supplement.
2 priv adult supplements (BR staff boxes/tickets)
2 child supplements (?)
2 return priv supplements (BR staff)
The clerk at the counter had a mild fit when presented with this, and told us to wait in the buffet until the rush had died down. I placed the carefully written out list on the table top, and sat there with my 6-month old son on my knee. He decided the most fascinating thing in the entire world was that vital bit of paper, so (unnoticed by me) he picked it up, shoved it in his mouth, and started drooling all over it. Next we were approached by the guard of the train, who was going to sell us the tickets. “The clerk tells me you have it all written down?” “Not any more – he just ate it!” We were ushered into a compartment near the front, and travelled in privacy near the noisy end all the way to Mallaig, and not a penny changed hands. Even my two friends returning on the same train were let off the fare for their return journey too.
5305 1050 Fort William – Mallaig
Ferry Mallaig – Armadale
Bus Armadale – Kyleakin
Ferry Kyleakin – Kyle
37421 1640 Kyle of Lochalsh - Inverness
Friday 29/09/89
An after-work leap to pick up a new 90, on my way to Crewe:
90031 2030 Euston – Milton Keynes Central
90027 2124 Milton Keynes Central – Birmingham New Street
87023 2251 Birmingham New Street – Crewe
Saturday 29/09/90 “Network Day”
47442 0021 Birmingham New Street – Bristol Temple Meads
This loco shut down completely when going down Lickey, but restarted OK. It was replaced at Bristol by 47804. I boarded the 2325 Liverpool – Paignton at Bristol, but that train was then cancelled due to a prevailing lack of interest. So:
47848 0526 Bristol Temple Meads – Exeter St Davids (2315 York – Paignton)
50044 0645 Exeter St Davids – Waterloo
EMU 60 Waterloo – Bank, Central Line to Stratford
37140 1051 Stratford – Enfield Town via Temple Mills, Seven Sisters
37140 1150 Enfield Town – Seven Sisters
EMU 321 342 Seven Sisters – Cambridge
56056 1333 Cambridge – Kings Lynn
37196 + 37218 1443 Kings Lynn – Cambridge, 1618 Cambridge – Kings Lynn
73103 + 73129 1720 Kings Lynn – Cambridge
EMU 317 368 1928 Cambridge – Liverpool Street
43030 + 43138 2200 Paddington – Reading
Friday 29/09/95
43151 + 43147 0716 Reading – Bristol Parkway
47825 0826 Bristol Parkway – Taunton
Bus Taunton to Bishops Lydeard
1010 + 1041 1025 Bishops Lydeard – Williton
45108 (running as 120) 1100 Williton – Crowcombe
832 1120 Crowcombe – Minehead
40145 1305 Minehead – Bishops Lydeard
50049 1420 Bishops Lydeard – Minehead
7017 1535 Minehead – Crowcombe
1041 1641 Crowcombe – Blue Anchor
50149 1725 Blue Anchor – Bishops Lydeard
Bus Bishops Lydeard – Taunton
43150 + 43009 2004 Taunton – Reading