50030 on The Scots Streaker rail tour

[BR Traction]

In August 1985, F and W railtours had 50030 from Plymouth to Edinburgh and return on The Scots Streaker II railtour. Would this be the highest mileage ever for a single loco on a railtour from start to finish?

 

[33017]

In August 1985, F and W railtours had 50030 from Plymouth to Edinburgh and return on The Scots Streaker II railtour. Would this be the highest mileage ever for a single loco on a railtour from start to finish

Six Bells has 20067 & 20102 also working that tour, so not a single loco on the tour.

A higher mileage tour I did was D1015 on the Western Cheiftain. It also featured 66206 & 67005 but 1015 did 1,104.16 miles, by my reckoning.

 

[Harpo]

In August 1985, F and W railtours had 50030 from Plymouth to Edinburgh and return on The Scots Streaker II railtour. Would this be the highest mileage ever for a single loco on a railtour from start to finish?

I suspect that each of 50030’s stints on that tour could have been the longest unbroken runs by a single loco in the UK at that time. It predates twin tank 47/8s too doesn’t it?

 

[Cowley]

I suspect that each of 50030’s stints on that tour could have been the longest unbroken runs by a single loco in the UK at that time. It predates twin tank 47/8s too doesn’t it?

It’s got to be up there hasn’t it? 50s certainly had a good range with those big fuel tanks.

 

[33017]

It’s got to be up there hasn’t it? 50s certainly had a good range with those big fuel tanks.

It may well have been a record for longest single run (not sure if the OP was asking for longest mileage on a tour with a single loco, or longest single run).

My record for longest single run in the UK is 33109 + 33116 Inverness - Euston on the return leg of the Skirl o’ the Pipes, but that was 10 years after 50030. 570.65 miles.

 

[Harpo]

It’s got to be up there hasn’t it? 50s certainly had a good range with those big fuel tanks.

Yes. 50s are around 600 miles range and pre-twin tank 47s originally around 440 with regional variations on diagram rules.

At that time, the longest range locos were the modified (old boiler tank?) twin tank 37s in Wales but that was just to reduce fuelling trips to Margam or Landore etc..

 

[BR Traction]

It may well have been a record for longest single run (not sure if the OP was asking for longest mileage on a tour with a single loco, or longest single run).

My record for longest single run in the UK is 33109 + 33116 Inverness - Euston on the return leg of the Skirl o’ the Pipes, but that was 10 years after 50030. 570.65 miles.

I would have thought that the Skirl o’ the Pipes railtours would hold the record for the number of different locomotives on a tour as well. They were just awesome!

 

[33017]

I would have thought that the Skirl o’ the Pipes railtours would hold the record for the number of different locomotives on a tour as well. They were just awesome!

My mistake. Should have said “Skirl of the Bagpipes”!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 May 2026 ==

Yes. 50s are around 600 miles range and pre-twin tank 47s originally around 440 with regional variations on diagram rules.

At that time, the longest range locos were the modified (old boiler tank?) twin tank 37s in Wales but that was just to reduce fuelling trips to Margam or Landore etc..

What was the range of a twin tank 37? As built, a 33 could do around 800 miles, but most had smaller fuel tanks fitted during the 80s due to the original design being prone to cracking.

 

[Harpo]

What was the range of a twin tank 37?

Never heard an exact figure quoted as they were mostly under local control (trip working) and got sent for fuel when needed.

A reasonable proxy for range is fuel tank capacity, except for HST power cars which were OK for something like 1100ish miles (WR figure) when working paired as a full set.

 

[43096]

A reasonable proxy for range is fuel tank capacity, except for HST power cars which were OK for something like 1100ish miles (WR figure) when working paired as a full set.

Obviously that depends on the length of the set (7, 8 or 9 trailers). Post re-engining the range extended a bit as the new engines have lower fuel consumption. The longest HST diagram I am aware of was for 1,169 miles on one tank of fuel, covering Clayhills Depot - Aberdeen - King's Cross - Leeds - King's Cross - Newcastle (via Knottingley/Church Fenton) - Heaton Depot which was in 2017/18 timeframe.

Back in Valenta days, sets were diagrammed up to a maximum of around 1,050 miles. Although in times of service disruption/set shortage, it wasn't unknown for the set on the up Highland Chieftain to arrive in London and be turned straight round to form the 1600 to Aberdeen. At 1,105 miles, the fuel tanks would be very empty by Aberdeen!