• Our new ticketing site is now live! Using either this or the original site (both powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!

Search results

  1. tbwbear

    Article on WCML electrification

    It is interesting in that a lot of these accelerated timings only lasted one year. Electrification was authorized and work began - and with it disruption - so by the 1971 timetable the down Royal Scot was back to 6 hour 33 mins - although the 1605 maintained its 5hr 59 timing that year. I...
  2. tbwbear

    Article on WCML electrification

    4th May 1970 - Down Royal Scot - Euston 1005, Crewe 1209/18 (loco change) Carlisle 1419 Glasgow Central 1559 (5 hours 54 mins) 0800 ex-Euston =Watford J, Crewe, Preston, Carlisle, Glasgow in 6hrs 8 mins 1205 ex Euston = Crewe, Preston, Carlisle, Lockerbie, Beattock, Carstairs, Glasgow in 6hrs...
  3. tbwbear

    Article on WCML electrification

    It is an interesting question. IIRC the 1955 modernisation plan had electrification schemes for both Euston Liverpool /Manchester and also Kings Cross Doncaster /Leeds. Meanwhile the Deltic prototype entered traffic in October 1955 and until 1959 was being tested on the LMR, primarily on...
  4. tbwbear

    BR Railway-Sociology-History gem - "Engines Must Not Enter The Potato Siding"

    Another really small detail that somehow interests me.... In the scene in the restaurant car on the Manchester train (32.24) there is a bowl of ice on the table and the lady spoons a cube into her drink. I vaguely remember seeing that in dining cars back in the 1970s. The drinks were...
  5. tbwbear

    BR Railway-Sociology-History gem - "Engines Must Not Enter The Potato Siding"

    Thanks for creating this thread... One of my favorites - watch it often. Interesting how the announcer at Euston uses the phrase "The nine hours" to Manchester... I never heard that in real life back in the 70s - so did it used to be common in the 60s and before ? I love the way they use...
  6. tbwbear

    HS2 Manchester leg scrapped: what should happen now?

    Heath survived losing in 1966 as well.
  7. tbwbear

    Walking the Waverley Line

    Here is my latest post - on my recent walk along the wonderful Waverley Line. https://trainstobeyond.com/2023/07/03/walking-waverley/
  8. tbwbear

    Trip to Belfast - January

    Here is a blog I created back in January after a fascinating trip to Ireland (not all of it on railway themes - but visits to Whitehead and Cultra museums included) https://trainstobeyond.com/2023/01/05/2023-ireland-enterprise/
  9. tbwbear

    West Malling train fire (02/02/2023)

    What time yesterday afternoon / what service was this ?
  10. tbwbear

    Southeastern Maidstone - Blackfriars 2022.

    The hourly (off peak) SE service on the Maidstone - Swanley - London Bridge - Charing Cross service comes at the expense of one hourly SE Ashford-Maidstone-Swanley-Victoria service. The original promised frequency (a long time ago) was that, in addtion to the 2 SE trains to Victoria, there...
  11. tbwbear

    Trivia: Non-consecutive stations on the same line named after the same place

    Although strictly speaking, the names of both stations (Lytham and St Annes) pre-date the 1922 merger of the two towns to form "Lytham St. Annes".
  12. tbwbear

    Southeastern Services to Blackfriars

    Interesting. So, is that all with SE stock then ? Or would it still show as SE if it were SE drivers on TL trains ? Am I right in thinking there is a little bit of crossover between SE and TL with drivers and trains ? Or have I got that wrong ?
  13. tbwbear

    Southeastern Services to Blackfriars

    That extract from RTT - WTT posted by JonathanH is fascinating. Before February this year there were only 3 SE passenger services into Blackfriars and all are shown on the extract. These were the 0707 and 0807 arrivals from Ashford International via Maidstone East and the 1739 departure to...
  14. tbwbear

    Atlantic Coast Express - Walking to Bude and Padstow

    Thank you so much ! That is really very helpful. I have now made those corrections, but if you spot anything else, don't hesitate to shout out.
  15. tbwbear

    Atlantic Coast Express - Walking to Bude and Padstow

    Here is my latest post on walking from Okehampton to Bude and Padstow on (or as close to as possible) the old track bed. Hope you like it - Feedback, comments and criticisms most welcome ! https://trainstobeyond.com/2022/07/29/2022-uk-in-the-footsteps-of-the-atlantic-coast-express/
  16. tbwbear

    Southeastern Maidstone - Blackfriars 2022.

    I had heard from somebody at Southeastern that the hourly off peak service was now permanent and the 3-hourly Blackfriars service was offered as a kind of compensation. Which of course it isn't, and it is very likely to be withdrawn for lack of use. I thought the reduction was COVID related...
  17. tbwbear

    Southeastern Maidstone - Blackfriars 2022.

    Does anyone have any idea when the off peak Victoria to Maidstone service is going back to half hourly - if it is. We now have this ludicrous 3 hourly off peak Blackfriars service and hour gaps in the afternoon at Victoria.
  18. tbwbear

    Blackpool lines- decline and fall

    Yes, the history of the Blackpool South to Euston services over the "decline and fall" period in question is worth a quick look. Looking at the 4-year period between the first "all-electric" (Crewe to Euston) timetable (18th April 1966) and the transfer of services to Blackpool North (4th May...
  19. tbwbear

    Blackpool lines- decline and fall

    No worries. But if we could get hold of a WTT between 1966 and 1970 it would help answer one of the OP's questions - "How much was Blackpool South used for excursion traffic after the closure of Central". I would say after 1965/6 "very little" if at all (certainly after the direct 3,4...
  20. tbwbear

    Blackpool lines- decline and fall

    That is strange. The list mentions trains to Blackpool Central. Blackpool Central was already closed by 1966. Do you mean Blackpool South ?

Top