55013's Contemporary Trip Reports

[47403]

ah top stuff 55013, very enjoyable indeed, leaps like that were only heightened during the summer timetables, when the NB freight locos came out to play too.

 

[Techniquest]

That sounds like an amazing day, bar the Peaks

 

[55013]

There's nowt wrong with Peaks - just ask 45135 .
I had some excellent runs off them in the old days.

Anyway, back to more contemporary events.

45135 and I had a very enjoyable time today at the East Lancs English Electric themed diesel event.
No winners and the weather was awful, but plenty of thrash.

We drove to Heywood and started by doing 37109 to Rawtenstall.
This had 37418 on the rear providing heat and it was this that hauled the return.
It was the first time I'd done 37418 since I had it from Cardiff to Fishguard and back in August 2002, a mere thirteen years ago!

It'll look great in large logo:
37418_2015.11.07_2_Rawtenstall by Phil Wood, on Flickr

Sadly, we could only have a short run on it today as we wanted to get 50015 in and so we bailed at Bury.
50015 was on the Heywood end of the train, like 37418 it was providing heat, so we first had to enjoy the always fabulous 40145 back to Rawtenstall.

I'm glad this one's no longer in large logo!
40145_2015.11.07_1_Rawtenstall by Phil Wood, on Flickr

Valiant was then enjoyed back to Bury where it came off for 31466.
We stayed on board and the Goyle struggled a bit on the greasy rails up to the "Ski Jump", this just made the aural entertainment all the better

To finish the day we had another round trip to Rawtenstall, with 40145 one way and 31466 back.

Not likely to ever get large logo:
31466_2015.11.07_2_Rawtenstall by Phil Wood, on Flickr

This was the last service of the day to Heywood and so we had no choice but to head home, this did give me the chance to get an alternative view of the 40, taken under the fence between the platform and the car park. I must admit, I like it

40145_2015.11.07_5_Heywood by Phil Wood, on Flickr

So, a very enjoyable day, although we did get a bit wet.

 

[FQ]

A top day with some top traction!

 

[47403]

A great day out that, some classic traction, I agree with you 55013, regarding 40145's large logo livery, it wasn't awful but I'd prefer it in either its original liveries of green or BR blue.
I'm staying out the wagon debate. Each to their own, my mate Cal and I debated long and hard enough on the subject, in the mid 80's to last a lifetime. I used to say, Well your big on cumbersome rust buckets, that are about as appealing as a tramps vest, if thats what floats your boat, then you enjoy the wagon's to your hearts content. Just don't expect me to like them, to which he'd say, fine, I'll/ We'll meet you at such and such, get a bloody tram(HST) then, I always got on, I moaned and groaned but i usually got on

 

[55013]

A top day with some top traction!

It was indeed.
I'm thoroughly enjoying my fairly recently acquired interest in unit chasing and shack scoring (this year for EMUs and stations, thanks to the good posters of this forum inspiring me), but nothing beats a good day of top loco haulage.

I'm staying out the wagon debate. Each to their own, my mate Cal and I debated long and hard enough on the subject, in the mid 80's to last a lifetime. I used to say, Well your big on cumbersome rust buckets, that are about as appealing as a tramps vest, if thats what floats your boat, then you enjoy the wagon's to your hearts content. Just don't expect me to like them, to which he'd say, fine, I'll/ We'll meet you at such and such, get a bloody tram(HST) then, I always got on, I moaned and groaned but i usually got on

Traction preference is all down to personal taste and nothing else.
I've always had a fondness for locos with noses, so 55s, 37s, 40s and Peaks always had a more pleasing aesthetic appeal.
Internally, there's not much difference between a Peak (especially a 46) and a 47 so it's all about the look for me.
Also, I once had a cab ride in 44004 for the full length of the GCR(N), which was a brilliant experience.

44004_2003.10.25_Cab Ride_Forward view_a by Phil Wood, on Flickr

44004_2003.10.25_Cab Ride_View from the second man's seat by Phil Wood, on Flickr

Having said all that, I absolutely love the flat fronted 50s.

 

[Techniquest]

Yay for 40145 in non-Large Logo again, looks much better that way.

I wish I could have done that diesel day, if only because I need 31466. Like you I enjoy my trips on the modern railway, but I would love a day of diesel thrash again!

 

[Room_512]

It certainly is a shame that the variety we had back then is no more.
I'm on a roll now and have found a move that illustrates the variety even more clearly.
I did loads of West Yorkshire Day Rovers back in the years 1981 to 1984 but I very few properly (well, nearly) recorded.

On the 5th March 1984 my brother tagged along for the ride, despite having zero interest in trains and we started by doing either a unit or a HST from Wakefield to Leeds, followed by 31108 back.
I remember this well as it went over the viaduct line at Leeds and I spotted 40029 sat on Holbeck depot.
This was big news for me as it was my one thousandth loco for sight.
Of course, there were still several thousand locos around at the time, so my book didn't look that full.

After bailing off 31108 at Westgate we headed back to Leeds on something that wasn't a loco and did 47599 on a West bound Trans-Pennine service.
The move at the time was to hang out of the window approaching Dewsbury and then, if the next East bound service wasn't in, bail.
Evidently we missed the tight cross over time at Dewsbury as we stayed on 47599 to Huddersfield.
There can't have been much of interest there as the next loco recorded was once again from Leeds.
This was 45109 and it made the connection at Dewsbury.

Bashing was much more popular back then than it is now and every Saturday produced a large number of teenage lads leaping off one train at Dewsbury, running frantically over the bridge and piling aboard the service back to Leeds.
I remember one occasion when the East bound service was pulling in at the same time as we did, something like fifty youths bailed out and legged it over the bridge, as we were going down the stairs our hoped for train started to move, cue us all turning round as one and racing back to the train we had just got off.
Happy days

Anyway, I digress.
After 45109 it was sister loco 45127 back to Leeds and then the move was repeated with 47553 and 47473.
Next up was something new for the day, sole class 46 namer 46026 "Leicestershire & Derbyshire Yeomanry".
No change in the move itself, though and Dewsbury was once again made, with 45111 taking us back to Leeds.

The Dewsbury leap was done one last time (from Leeds, anyway) on ETH Peak 45139 and then its no heat brethren 45026.

It was now evening and there was a York to Manchester all stations service that produced a "chuck out" from York depot and so this was covered by all and sundry as it could produce something exotic.
On this occasion it was 47484 "Isambard Kingdom Brunel" that took us through to Huddersfield, stopping at places like Morley and Batley.

Now it was time to head home and we started towards the exit when suddenly, from the tunnel, we heard whistling.
I stopped and looked.
40033 pulled in!
I said "We've got to do that" but my brother was fed up and was reluctant to say the least.
I was insistent and so off we ran.
I wanted to do the monster through to Leeds but he was moaning so much that I agreed to bail at Dewsbury.
The loss of mileage was compensated for by another NB Peak, 45069, which took us back to Huddersfield and the bus home.

So there you have it, that was a typical early '80s day for me.

Newbie here but long time reader of the forum.

This all brought back great memories, I would probably have crossed paths with you many times on WY day rover moves around that time, very likely was one of those piling across the bridge at Dewsbury, most Saturdays we were out from dawn til very late, usually getting the first bus into Wakefield or into Pontefract and onto one of the blue South Yorkshire buses into Leeds (anyone remember them?) then a day trying to track down all the class 40's that might be out on the Pennines. Were you out and about on the weekends when they were diverting them via Healey Mills so calling at Mirfield instead of Dewsbury? Spent many hours in Mirfield when the train didn't make the one going the other way, there was also the move to Mr Chips in Huddersfield for lunch then a mad dash back to get the next one over to Leeds, then there were the dodgy moves over to Stalybridge when something unexpected produced heading over to Manchester, paying the gripper with Rail Riders vouchers on the train (didn't always work!).

When you look back it all seems amazing that people knew the gen on what was going to be out and about, it more often than not it was spot on. The odd Class 50 working back from Leeds or York to the South West after being in Doncaster works, mad moves over to York after school to get the very rare 31101 on a Scarborough- Sheffield working, being on 40181 on the last ever Skegness-Manchester P, going back out late at night on a Friday to see what NB 47's would be out on the overnight holiday trains, getting NB 37's on the Yarmouth-Bradford, picking it up at Moorthorpe, loco-hauled trains from places like South Elmsall, Pontefract Baghill etc. Great times.

Great times and glad I had parents who would let me out on these adventures!

These days I just take a passing interest, the Class 68's do sound tempting though!

 

[Techniquest]

Sounds like some adventures could be had back then!

68s are well worth doing, you must give them a go!

 

[47403]

Newbie here but long time reader of the forum.

This all brought back great memories, I would probably have crossed paths with you many times on WY day rover moves around that time, very likely was one of those piling across the bridge at Dewsbury, most Saturdays we were out from dawn til very late, usually getting the first bus into Wakefield or into Pontefract and onto one of the blue South Yorkshire buses into Leeds (anyone remember them?) then a day trying to track down all the class 40's that might be out on the Pennines. Were you out and about on the weekends when they were diverting them via Healey Mills so calling at Mirfield instead of Dewsbury? Spent many hours in Mirfield when the train didn't make the one going the other way, there was also the move to Mr Chips in Huddersfield for lunch then a mad dash back to get the next one over to Leeds, then there were the dodgy moves over to Stalybridge when something unexpected produced heading over to Manchester, paying the gripper with Rail Riders vouchers on the train (didn't always work!).

When you look back it all seems amazing that people knew the gen on what was going to be out and about, it more often than not it was spot on. The odd Class 50 working back from Leeds or York to the South West after being in Doncaster works, mad moves over to York after school to get the very rare 31101 on a Scarborough- Sheffield working, being on 40181 on the last ever Skegness-Manchester P, going back out late at night on a Friday to see what NB 47's would be out on the overnight holiday trains, getting NB 37's on the Yarmouth-Bradford, picking it up at Moorthorpe, loco-hauled trains from places like South Elmsall, Pontefract Baghill etc. Great times.

Great times and glad I had parents who would let me out on these adventures!

These days I just take a passing interest, the Class 68's do sound tempting though!

ah nostalgia, great times indeed, albeit I was in the North East but was no stranger to them parts you've mentioned, however there wasn't many 40's floating round then, normally on the Pennine turns. I used to see the refurbished 50's on Donnie test trains going past the school I was at. They were always good days when they ran.
You have to do the cats, they sound immense.

 

[55013]

Room_512, they certainly were good times. My mates and I rarely went outside West Yorkshire and almost never had any gen, we just enjoyed thrashing up and down.
It was only when everyone else disappeared that we realised something big must be out somewhere!
The only time I recall getting some gen was on the 13th of November 1982 (33 years ago this week!) when we just happened to hear that 25080 was working down from Carlisle and so it was out to Shipley on a unit and loads of us sheltering out of the pouring rain in the old stone bus shelter thing that they had on platform 2 back then (note to youngsters - no platform 1 at Shipley back then, Leeds bound trains had to cross over and use 2). I well remember the rat coming round the corner with steam escaping from various bodyside holes.
Ah, I've got all misty eyed

I agree with Techniquest and 47403, the 68s are fantastic locos.
I look forward to them working through Leeds dragging 442s on Trans-Pennine services

 

[Room_512]

Great times indeed, if I remember his name correctly there used to be a guy called John Sandham who was a few years older that the rest of us teenagers who always seemed to have the correct gen on stuff, rumour had it that he had a mate who had access to TOPS or something. The info then just got passed round via word of mouth.

He was like some sort of Bashing God!

I think the main difference between back then and now seems to be that everything seems to be so clean and clinical, used to come home looking like I'd done a shift somewhere dirty most Saturdays!

 

[Techniquest]

I used to be able to do that from being at the droplights on 37-hauled turns on the Rhymneys and Fishguards (oh my, nostalgia alert! One thinks a post about that might be following...) as well as on some of the more vocal HSTs back in the day! Oh my, those clouds of clag, not to mention the noise!

*Looks for a time machine to go back to 2005 to do it all again*

55013: Just the thought of 68s hauling 442s over the Pennines had me creased up laughing. Install some openable windows in the end coaches and we'll all be there!

 

[47403]

Great times indeed, if I remember his name correctly there used to be a guy called John Sandham who was a few years older that the rest of us teenagers who always seemed to have the correct gen on stuff, rumour had it that he had a mate who had access to TOPS or something. The info then just got passed round via word of mouth.

He was like some sort of Bashing God!

I think the main difference between back then and now seems to be that everything seems to be so clean and clinical, used to come home looking like I'd done a shift somewhere dirty most Saturdays!

Ah that just sparks memories, my mate John and I plaguing foreman at either Tyne Yard or Gateshead for a TOPS before a days bashing, especially on the summer Saturdays. Couldn't agree more about coming home manky, head out the window, nearest the loco, come home stinking of deisel fuel
One of the most unexpected moves for my friends and I, happened at Newcastle, mid to late 80's seeing 40's in the North East, was getting rare enough, the poor things were dying out rapidly, the day 40013 ran the Liverpool-Newcastle and back, we knew nothing about it, we'd been out for the Glasgow-Scarborough for the NB 47, for the 37 on the Scarborough-Newcastle, leap from Durham. We were going back for a 47/3 on the DMU replacement off the Tyne Valley, however, a guy we all knew, said, no doubt you'll all be out for 40013 later, I remember Glen saying, you what? it's on 14.20 Newcastle-Liverpool, I found myself, with a quandry, 47/3 or a 40, 2 secs later, my mind was made up, the 47 could wait. We bailed the 37, now we spoke of where to go, it must've been one of our flush days, cos we all, went and bought a weekend Northumbrian Ranger, money and Rail riders vouchers were pooled and shared, to help make sure we all got one. We took 40013 to York, Central was heaving with bashers, It caused much frothing that day and Cal the peak fanatic, shouted from his window(he was in the last window on one coach and I was in the front window of the next), well I can't believe it, you've turned down a 47, for something with a nose,(and Im paraphrasing here) yeah, I said but lets face it, this is a 37's evil sister, not the tin cans, you lie in bed, making tents with the sheets about

 

[55013]

Coming home filthy and reeking of diesel fumes was certainly part of the fun.
Due to a total lack of knowledge, mixed with the fact that we just jumped on the first loco, regardless of whether it was required or not, I certainly missed far more than I ever got when it comes to things like 40s.

Whilst we're on the subject, I might as well continue with more reminiscing.
By the middle of 1984 I was doing fewer and fewer moves as my interest waned.
I had done Crewe works open day on the 2nd of June but, other than a single trip from Huddersfield to Leeds (on 45116) nothing from then until October.

I had left school by this time and was trying to make my way in the big wide world so I had other things on my mind, but on the 24th of October I made my way out and did a few engines.
It really was only a few as well.
45140 was first up, from Leeds to Huddersfield, followed by 45138 back.
45127 was then taken to Dewsbury. Evidently I was stranded there for a while as my next haulage was 45128 on to Huddersfield.
Happily, I had saved the best 'til last and it was 40086 that hauled me back to Leeds and then I went home.

I was losing interest at this point and so were the lads I had done the moves with, they lived many miles from me and now that we no longer had school in common we soon lost touch.
I did another move a couple of days later, doing 47497 Leeds to Huddersfield, 47421 back, another round trip, using a DMU out for 47401 and that was it, my heart wasn't in it anymore.

Almost a year later I had a week when I did a couple of moves, just because I thought I'd give it a shot and see if I was feeling better disposed toward the hobby.

First it was short day again, using 47418, 45123, 47519, 45141 and 45138, all on Leeds to Huddersfield's or vice versa.
This was followed a week later, the 27th of August 1985, by a bigger move, a bit more like the old days.

The day began with 45132 from Leeds to Huddersfield and was followed by a Dewsbury round trip with 45144 out for 45020 back.
It was then back to Leeds on 45134, with another Peak, 45139, taking me back to Huddersfield (I didn't have much variety in moves, maybe that's why I got bored).
It was a change from Peaks next as first 47536 took me to Leeds (even I'm yawning now) and then it was NB 47223 for 47508 at Dewsbury.
At last a change of scenery as I headed to Wakefield to see what was on the Poole - Newcastle.
This was 45110 and was done to York.
No, actually it was done to Leeds but I fancied writing something different
47069 (later 47638/47845/57301) took me to Huddersfield for 45131 back.

As I said earlier, I had done these moves to see if I was feeling better disposed towards the hobby.
I wasn't.

Around this time I started seeing a girl called Joanne who lived in Leeds, I used to go over on the train to see her (no car) but pretty much stopped even looking at the loco id.
On the 20th September 1985 I did make a note of my haulages, it was now infamous 45015 to Leeds for 45076 back that evening.
They were the last locos I wrote down for a while.

That was the end of my railway enthusiasm, my life now revolved around work, music and (very) occasional women.
No more was I interested in trains and I thought I never would be again.
And I wasn't.
Well not for a couple of years

 

[Techniquest]

It happens to all of us, we get bored doing the same series of moves. I've had it in recent times, the 0645 bus for the 0849 to Birmingham to end up on the 1749 back for the 2045 bus home. The same run gets really boring after a while especially when it's the same stuff all the time.

As for the women thing, they are distracting

 

[sprinterguy]

55013: Just the thought of 68s hauling 442s over the Pennines had me creased up laughing. Install some openable windows in the end coaches and we'll all be there!

It still amazes me that it has been offered as an option in the ITT for the Transpennine franchise at all. hock: I'm sure that DRS must have some prospect of work for those extra seven 68s that they recently ordered!

 

[Kite159]

It still amazes me that it has been offered as an option in the ITT for the Transpennine franchise at all. hock: I'm sure that DRS must have some prospect of work for those extra seven 68s that they recently ordered!

No, the 442s are going over to ATW to release 175s to the Transpennine franchise, hauled by 67s

 

[sprinterguy]

I used to be able to do that from being at the droplights on 37-hauled turns on the Rhymneys and Fishguards (oh my, nostalgia alert! One thinks a post about that might be following...) as well as on some of the more vocal HSTs back in the day! Oh my, those clouds of clag, not to mention the noise!

Ten or so years ago, it was the Settle & Carlisle 37s up my neck of the woods. They were fun. Of course nowadays, we've got the Cumbrian 37s in the same geographic region.

Around the same time, GNER had taken on a couple of recently displaced Virgin XC power cars, and while I'm certain that Craigentinny had done their best to fettle them up, they were still the roughest, claggiest power cars on GNERs' books after the rough justice handed them by their former operator. I remember window hanging behind them on the Tyne Valley diversions in 2004, black smoke pouring skywards!

Certainly, you don't have to go so far back to remember a time when any amount of time spent hanging around manky stations would result in returning home smelling of diesel fumes: I appreciate the way that many stations have been prettified to present a smart face to the general passenger, but part of me misses the grime.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

No, the 442s are going over to ATW to release 175s to the Transpennine franchise, hauled by 67s

If many of the posts on RailUK are to be believed, the 442s are much in demand!

 

[backontrack]

If many of the posts on RailUK are to be believed, the 442s are much in demand!

There's an elephant in this room, and its name is Brighton.

68s freed up by moving from Chiltern (to be replaced by 170/3s) hauling 442s (replaced by 387s on the Gatwick Express routes) together with HSTs from the GWML electrification. These would operate on a 6tph basis from Mallaig to Brighton via Glasgow Crossrail, Kilmarnock, Carlisle, Settle, Clitheroe, Bolton, Manchester, Huddersfield, Sheffield, Pontefract, York, Doncaster, Lincoln, Nottingham, Derby, Crewe (a reversal), Norton Bridge, Stafford, Rugeley, Walsall, Wolverhampton, Birmingham New Street, Birmingham International, Rugby, Northampton, Wellingborough, Peterborough, Cambridge, Cheshunt, White Hart Lane, Stratford (a reversal), Willesden Junction, Kensington Olympia, East Croydon and Brighton.

 

[sprinterguy]

Excellent work, I think you've just cured in one go most of the ills currently plaguing RailUK!

 

[Techniquest]

Get stuffed, TPX are not having the 175s back, we like them and won't give up decent DMUs without a fight!

Well, unless we get top and tail 68s (or 37s!) on well refurbished MK2s in place of 175s

 

[55013]

Crikey, my tongue in cheek comment about TPE 68s has started something.
Still, it'll definitely happen.
I heard it from a bloke who had heard it from a woman who works with a chap who knows somebody who's uncle works in an office close to the DfT and heard someone talking in their lunch break, so it must be true.
Probably.

 

[backontrack]

Excellent work, I think you've just cured in one go most of the ills currently plaguing RailUK!

You're welcome. West Highland Line, Glasgow Crossrail, S&C, Ribble Valley, Penistone Line, Dearne Valley Line, the three railway oases of York, Doncaster and Crewe, Norton Bridge, Walsall to Wolverhampton, Birmingham, the Nene Valley Line, an end to the total catastrophe of services at White Hart Lane, the new 'centre of the universe' at Stratford (a.k.a London East) and loco-hauled 442s to Brighton!

Where's my cheque? :P

 

[55013]

Nah, it has to stop at Leeds otherwise my m-card would be useless.

 

[backontrack]

Nah, it has to stop at Leeds otherwise my m-card would be useless.

But then the Dearne Valley...!

How about Manchester-Huddersfield-Barnsley-Leeds-Moorthorpe-Ponterfract-York-Doncaster?

 

[Techniquest]

Excuse me, where's the stop in the Midlands for those of us who want to do a New Street to International leap on it? How rude!

 

[47403]

Your all wrong, dont you know the 142's are gonna be MTU'd, they're alo gonna add 3 new coaches, which will be built at the new Hitachi Works in Newton Aycliffe, they'll then be renumbered (cos thats what they like to do, to make everyone think they've got new trains) to the Class 169's and WILL replace the Chiltern 68's, The 68's plus DVT's, will be transfered to Tyne Yard, to work the Carlisle-Middlesbrough turns.

 

[Segedunum]

Carlisle-Middlesbrough? Nah they're doing Carlisle-Brighton in order to reinstate the really really really important XC service to Brighton, we've not had that crop up in a while [emoji14]

 

[backontrack]

Excuse me, where's the stop in the Midlands for those of us who want to do a New Street to International leap on it? How rude!

Erm, between Crewe and Rugby.

Your all wrong, dont you know the 142's are gonna be MTU'd, they're alo gonna add 3 new coaches, which will be built at the new Hitachi Works in Newton Aycliffe, they'll then be renumbered (cos thats what they like to do, to make everyone think they've got new trains) to the Class 169's and WILL replace the Chiltern 68's, The 68's plus DVT's, will be transfered to Tyne Yard, to work the Carlisle-Middlesbrough turns.

Don't forget the fact that London Midland are leasing out Voyagers on the Snow Hill route, and the XC Super Voyagers will swap round with the Class 168s. All trains to Leamington will be a Pacer or Voyager!

I say this all without hyperbole.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Carlisle-Middlesbrough? Nah they're doing Carlisle-Brighton in order to reinstate the really really really important XC service to Brighton, we've not had that crop up in a while [emoji14]

Please see above.