Sounds like a pleasant time in Cornwall. Indeed the St Ives line is most beautiful, but don't envy the long fester at Bodmin Parkway! Least you had free entertainment...
Sent from my F3311 using Tapatalk
Sent from my F3311 using Tapatalk
-
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!
55013's Contemporary Trip Reports
- Thread starter 55013
- Start date
- Status
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R
RailUK Forums
Will Young has quit Strictly.
He may or may not have cited being publicly laughed at on Bodmin Parkway station as the reason
Other than that, thanks for the kind words folks.
I certainly agree that Cornwall is a lovely part of the world, although it'll be a while before we holiday down there again.
We've pretty much cleared everything we wanted to see after going there several times over the last few years.
Lots of other places to visit before we start repeating ourselves.
Anyway, there’s one last train move to report from our holiday.
As I mentioned, we spent a few days with my parents and the hundreds of other people in my family (well, maybe not quite hundreds, but there were loads) and we needed a bit of time to ourselves so Mrs 13 and I ventured out one day with no real plan.
Conveniently we were fairly close to a required station on the Matlock branch and so a combined train & walking trip was agreed.
We drove to Belper and did 158864 for the short hop to Ambergate before going for a country walk and ending up at the next station up the line, the brilliantly named Whatstandwell, a few minutes before another Matlock bound service.
We did this, formed of 153384 and 153321, to Cromford and went for a stroll around Cromford Marina and along the canal.
153321 disappears into Willersley Tunnel at Cromford:
DMU 153321_2016.10.08_2_Cromford_& 153384 by Phil Wood, on Flickr
There’s also a fantastic cheese shop there.
We purchased a large variety of exotic cheeses to take back to the family and I had to resist doing a John Cleese impression (“I want to buy some cheese” – look up Monty Python’s Cheese Shop Sketch if you don’t know what I’m on about).
Actually I couldn’t resist, but I said it to my wife before we went in
After that it was back to Cromford station and 156470 on to Matlock.
After a stroll about town we made our way back to Whatstandwell, utilising 158810.
158810 leaves Whatstandwell (I never tire of that name!):
DMU 158810_2016.10.08_2_Whatstandwell by Phil Wood, on Flickr
We retraced our walk to Ambergate before finishing as we started, on 158864.
We left this back at Belper and that was it, an enjoyable few hours out that had seen four new shacks captured.
He may or may not have cited being publicly laughed at on Bodmin Parkway station as the reason
Other than that, thanks for the kind words folks.
I certainly agree that Cornwall is a lovely part of the world, although it'll be a while before we holiday down there again.
We've pretty much cleared everything we wanted to see after going there several times over the last few years.
Lots of other places to visit before we start repeating ourselves.
Anyway, there’s one last train move to report from our holiday.
As I mentioned, we spent a few days with my parents and the hundreds of other people in my family (well, maybe not quite hundreds, but there were loads) and we needed a bit of time to ourselves so Mrs 13 and I ventured out one day with no real plan.
Conveniently we were fairly close to a required station on the Matlock branch and so a combined train & walking trip was agreed.
We drove to Belper and did 158864 for the short hop to Ambergate before going for a country walk and ending up at the next station up the line, the brilliantly named Whatstandwell, a few minutes before another Matlock bound service.
We did this, formed of 153384 and 153321, to Cromford and went for a stroll around Cromford Marina and along the canal.
153321 disappears into Willersley Tunnel at Cromford:
DMU 153321_2016.10.08_2_Cromford_& 153384 by Phil Wood, on FlickrThere’s also a fantastic cheese shop there.
We purchased a large variety of exotic cheeses to take back to the family and I had to resist doing a John Cleese impression (“I want to buy some cheese” – look up Monty Python’s Cheese Shop Sketch if you don’t know what I’m on about).
Actually I couldn’t resist, but I said it to my wife before we went in
After that it was back to Cromford station and 156470 on to Matlock.
After a stroll about town we made our way back to Whatstandwell, utilising 158810.
158810 leaves Whatstandwell (I never tire of that name!):
DMU 158810_2016.10.08_2_Whatstandwell by Phil Wood, on FlickrWe retraced our walk to Ambergate before finishing as we started, on 158864.
We left this back at Belper and that was it, an enjoyable few hours out that had seen four new shacks captured.
Last edited:
It was most enjoyable, especially as it was with the wife so doesn't count as a day out
In other news, I've had a "D'oh" moment today whilst sat at work.
I said in my Cornwall report that I'd scored the link from the St Ives branch to the mainline at St Erth.
I didn't.
What's more, I've done it behind not one but three locos.
19th March 1994, Pathfinder's "Cornish Caper".
We did the tour overnight with 47716 from York to New Street and 47503 on to Bristol.
We then had 50007 and 50050 to Newquay, 50033 back to Par then 7 and 50 again to Penzance.
After a short break it was 50033 to St Ives for the other two back.
There was then a swap round and we headed back to York with the traction being 50033 and 50050 throughout.
The fun continued the next day when 56131 worked round the Harrogate loop before 50033 worked the "Glorious Sunset" from York to Scarborough and back before running light engine into the NRM and a secure future in preservation (Ha!).
I suspect 50033 hasn't been back to Cornwall since that day.
I seem to remember four of us getting a bit of doss in a car parked round the back of a DIY store after arriving at York on the 50s and before the grid working the next morning.
How could I have forgotten that?
In other news, I've had a "D'oh" moment today whilst sat at work.
I said in my Cornwall report that I'd scored the link from the St Ives branch to the mainline at St Erth.
I didn't.
What's more, I've done it behind not one but three locos.
19th March 1994, Pathfinder's "Cornish Caper".
We did the tour overnight with 47716 from York to New Street and 47503 on to Bristol.
We then had 50007 and 50050 to Newquay, 50033 back to Par then 7 and 50 again to Penzance.
After a short break it was 50033 to St Ives for the other two back.
There was then a swap round and we headed back to York with the traction being 50033 and 50050 throughout.
The fun continued the next day when 56131 worked round the Harrogate loop before 50033 worked the "Glorious Sunset" from York to Scarborough and back before running light engine into the NRM and a secure future in preservation (Ha!).
I suspect 50033 hasn't been back to Cornwall since that day.
I seem to remember four of us getting a bit of doss in a car parked round the back of a DIY store after arriving at York on the 50s and before the grid working the next morning.
How could I have forgotten that?
Last edited:
Kite159
Veteran Member
158s on Matlock services, how very luxurious 
47403
Established Member
Brilliant reading again Phil. Took sometime catching up but i got there in the end.
Im sooooo jealous of the syphons and cat haulage, especially the cats, they're both required, 024 for sight too but 37 haulage on the mainline, aint to be sniffed at, in this day n age and if in place to be able to sample, in my opinion, shouldn't be ignored.
Anglia is on my agenda early next year, I'm not expecting cats n syphons for haulage then but its an area thats been untapped since the early 90s, even then.that was a coach trip, visiting depots and sheds. So theres more than a fair bit of stuff that needs underlining in my NREA down there. I can also say.I like the 90s too and like 55013 can fondly remember them being fair game when sparky bashing on the WCML, predominantly between Carlisle and Lancaster but also between, Liverpool/Manchester Picc and Crewe.
The trip to London, i took in like a spounge too. The DLR is great for clicking stuff if you do get that front window. It brought back a memory of using it the first time, I was staying at a mates in Catford for a few days, whilst taking in Neds Atomic Dustbins gig at Camden, one of the nights. Whilst traversing to Camden, for said gig, my mate knows of my railway fascinations, so devised a plan to ride it. I scored many from Lewisham to Canary Wharf. My.mate who's not remotely interested in the railways was laughing as i was furiously tapping them and many other units in and around London whilst there, into my phone.
The gronk fest sounded excellent fun with 47715 and 26007 thrown in too, left me mega jealous.
Cornish break sounded excellent and Mrs 13 is certainly a keeper. A nomination along with Noddys for most understanding wives of the year.
Some enjoyable reading and some excellent photos too. Thank you for sharing.
Im sooooo jealous of the syphons and cat haulage, especially the cats, they're both required, 024 for sight too but 37 haulage on the mainline, aint to be sniffed at, in this day n age and if in place to be able to sample, in my opinion, shouldn't be ignored.
Anglia is on my agenda early next year, I'm not expecting cats n syphons for haulage then but its an area thats been untapped since the early 90s, even then.that was a coach trip, visiting depots and sheds. So theres more than a fair bit of stuff that needs underlining in my NREA down there. I can also say.I like the 90s too and like 55013 can fondly remember them being fair game when sparky bashing on the WCML, predominantly between Carlisle and Lancaster but also between, Liverpool/Manchester Picc and Crewe.
The trip to London, i took in like a spounge too. The DLR is great for clicking stuff if you do get that front window. It brought back a memory of using it the first time, I was staying at a mates in Catford for a few days, whilst taking in Neds Atomic Dustbins gig at Camden, one of the nights. Whilst traversing to Camden, for said gig, my mate knows of my railway fascinations, so devised a plan to ride it. I scored many from Lewisham to Canary Wharf. My.mate who's not remotely interested in the railways was laughing as i was furiously tapping them and many other units in and around London whilst there, into my phone.
The gronk fest sounded excellent fun with 47715 and 26007 thrown in too, left me mega jealous.
Cornish break sounded excellent and Mrs 13 is certainly a keeper. A nomination along with Noddys for most understanding wives of the year.
Some enjoyable reading and some excellent photos too. Thank you for sharing.
Last edited:
45135
Member
- Joined
- 15 Dec 2014
- Messages
- 107
Indeed. The prospect of two nights away from home, the first night in steerage in a Mk1 and the second night in a Vauxhall Cavalier (hatchback mind, so the smallest goes in the boot) somehow isn't so enticing nowadays...
I like days like your trip to Matlock. I have a couple of shacks left to clear that branch and they will probably be cleared with the missus (helps that her dad lives in Wirksworth so is just over the hill). Much like some of my highland shacks have been. Sounded like a good day was had.
Thanks chaps.
47403 - I've more 37s to come, although I suspect you'll be less jealous as you've recently had one of the two locos involved
As for my wife, yeah I think I'll keep her
I'd forgotten about Gary sleeping in the boot!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
45135 and I had another trip out yesterday, using the Northern Rail newspaper offer to have another run on the Cumbrian Coast.
Rather than driving we chose to use the train, a bit of a risk as it meant we would have to make a plus nine connection en-route but I was fed up of driving after doing just shy of a thousand miles in the last couple of weeks and so voted for using the rails and 45135 was happy to oblige.
We started with 150205 from Shipley and did this to Carnforth, an on time arrival meant we made our connection comfortably and even had time for a bit of a leg stretch.
TPE hire in 185140 was next, taking us to Barrow.
It was quite novel having a 185 on a Northern rover.
It shouldn’t come as a great surprise when I say that we had 37s on our minds and the 11.38 departure produced the perfect loco.
37403 has been absent from my haulage book, as Keith might say, longer than any other unrequired extant loco that I can think of.
The last time I had sampled this beast was the 2nd of September 1989 – twenty-seven years ago!
That had been on fantastic railtour that a group of us had done.
Five of us went, four of us cranks and my brother.
There had been an option to pay for a whole compartment and that’s what we’d done, so no disturbances from interlopers.
The tour left Leeds, quite unusual in itself, on Friday evening.
31107 was the traction through to Wigan North Western where doyen of the class 86ers, 86252, took over and powered us through the night to Mossend Yard.
My main memory of that area was seeing Ravenscraig steelworks in full flow, with fire and molten metal lighting up the night – what a sight.
37403 then took us through to Fort William where, after a break we embarked on what was, for many of the tour participants, the main event.
A steam loco, 5305, worked to Mallaig.
It might have been the main event for lots of people on the tour, but not for us.
We did it, though, as we all required the line.
Plus of course, with my 2016 head on, it meant I scored the shack at Mallaig
Once back at Fort William we were supposed to get a double header, with 37409 and 37410 paired up and ready to go.
Unfortunately, somebody worked out that this would make the train too long for some of the loops and so 37410 was removed – a bind at the time as we all needed it (none of us do now, except perhaps my brother who couldn’t care less).
37409 took us to Mossend, via a photo stop at Tulloch.
Something you probably wouldn’t see now, with people swarming all over what was an open line.
Not 2016:
37409_1989.09.02_Tulloch by Phil Wood, on Flickr
86252 then retraced its steps to Wigan and 47217 worked forward from there.
Me, my brother and one of the other lads bailed at Dewsbury as our mate’s wife was going to pick him up from there and he agreed on her behalf to give us a lift
Anyway, I digress – sorry for going off at a tangent.
Back to modern times and I was very happy to get 37403 in the book once more.
2016:
37403_2016.10.15_3_Barrow-In-Furness by Phil Wood, on Flickr
We did this to Whitehaven, although this being the Cumbrian coast we had to first flirt with farce.
We stopped for a while at Silecroft and the guard got off and went and examined a door in the leading coach.
Eventually we got going and he came on the tannoy, berating old “museum piece” stock and saying the door in question was now locked out of use for safety reasons and we would be further delayed as he would have to check it several more times on the journey.
True to his word he got out and had a look at ever second or third stop and the train slowly lost more time.
Happily it wasn’t too bad and some sharp running between stops meant we were only eleven late arriving at Whitehaven.
The Southbound service was also a few minutes late, meaning we had a fester of seven minutes.
We can cope with that
37402 (last had from Crewe to Llandudno Junction on the 22nd of May 1999 – so another winner for the millennium) provided the power this time, with DBSO 9705 leading.
37402 was taken for the 80 miles to Lancaster and we began to make our way home.
Shame it stopped under the bridge at Lancaster:
37402_2016.10.15_3_Lancaster by Phil Wood, on Flickr
150274 took us back to Yorkshire, but not all the way to Shipley.
45135 had spotted a move that would get me another new shack and so we left the sprinter at Skipton.
There was a Bradford bound EMU leaving eight minutes after the 150 and we boarded that for the short run to Cononley, meaning that I’ve now cleared the stations on the Skipton to Leeds line.
This was 333016.
Cononley provided some amusement in the form of an irate driver waiting at the level crossing.
First 333016 passed over, then a few minutes later 66752 came through light engine, then finally 333003, all without the barriers coming up.
This bloke was screaming abuse from his car – “Come on, for f*cks sake” and generally getting his blood pressure up.
The barriers opened and, with his tyres screaming, he shot off into the night.
Our final unit of the day was 333014 and we did this back to Shipley.
A nice little move, with over 120 tractor miles and a couple of new stations, not bad for ten quid.
47403 - I've more 37s to come, although I suspect you'll be less jealous as you've recently had one of the two locos involved
As for my wife, yeah I think I'll keep her
I'd forgotten about Gary sleeping in the boot!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
45135 and I had another trip out yesterday, using the Northern Rail newspaper offer to have another run on the Cumbrian Coast.
Rather than driving we chose to use the train, a bit of a risk as it meant we would have to make a plus nine connection en-route but I was fed up of driving after doing just shy of a thousand miles in the last couple of weeks and so voted for using the rails and 45135 was happy to oblige.
We started with 150205 from Shipley and did this to Carnforth, an on time arrival meant we made our connection comfortably and even had time for a bit of a leg stretch.
TPE hire in 185140 was next, taking us to Barrow.
It was quite novel having a 185 on a Northern rover.
It shouldn’t come as a great surprise when I say that we had 37s on our minds and the 11.38 departure produced the perfect loco.
37403 has been absent from my haulage book, as Keith might say, longer than any other unrequired extant loco that I can think of.
The last time I had sampled this beast was the 2nd of September 1989 – twenty-seven years ago!
That had been on fantastic railtour that a group of us had done.
Five of us went, four of us cranks and my brother.
There had been an option to pay for a whole compartment and that’s what we’d done, so no disturbances from interlopers.
The tour left Leeds, quite unusual in itself, on Friday evening.
31107 was the traction through to Wigan North Western where doyen of the class 86ers, 86252, took over and powered us through the night to Mossend Yard.
My main memory of that area was seeing Ravenscraig steelworks in full flow, with fire and molten metal lighting up the night – what a sight.
37403 then took us through to Fort William where, after a break we embarked on what was, for many of the tour participants, the main event.
A steam loco, 5305, worked to Mallaig.
It might have been the main event for lots of people on the tour, but not for us.
We did it, though, as we all required the line.
Plus of course, with my 2016 head on, it meant I scored the shack at Mallaig
Once back at Fort William we were supposed to get a double header, with 37409 and 37410 paired up and ready to go.
Unfortunately, somebody worked out that this would make the train too long for some of the loops and so 37410 was removed – a bind at the time as we all needed it (none of us do now, except perhaps my brother who couldn’t care less).
37409 took us to Mossend, via a photo stop at Tulloch.
Something you probably wouldn’t see now, with people swarming all over what was an open line.
Not 2016:
37409_1989.09.02_Tulloch by Phil Wood, on Flickr86252 then retraced its steps to Wigan and 47217 worked forward from there.
Me, my brother and one of the other lads bailed at Dewsbury as our mate’s wife was going to pick him up from there and he agreed on her behalf to give us a lift
Anyway, I digress – sorry for going off at a tangent.
Back to modern times and I was very happy to get 37403 in the book once more.
2016:
37403_2016.10.15_3_Barrow-In-Furness by Phil Wood, on FlickrWe did this to Whitehaven, although this being the Cumbrian coast we had to first flirt with farce.
We stopped for a while at Silecroft and the guard got off and went and examined a door in the leading coach.
Eventually we got going and he came on the tannoy, berating old “museum piece” stock and saying the door in question was now locked out of use for safety reasons and we would be further delayed as he would have to check it several more times on the journey.
True to his word he got out and had a look at ever second or third stop and the train slowly lost more time.
Happily it wasn’t too bad and some sharp running between stops meant we were only eleven late arriving at Whitehaven.
The Southbound service was also a few minutes late, meaning we had a fester of seven minutes.
We can cope with that
37402 (last had from Crewe to Llandudno Junction on the 22nd of May 1999 – so another winner for the millennium) provided the power this time, with DBSO 9705 leading.
37402 was taken for the 80 miles to Lancaster and we began to make our way home.
Shame it stopped under the bridge at Lancaster:
37402_2016.10.15_3_Lancaster by Phil Wood, on Flickr150274 took us back to Yorkshire, but not all the way to Shipley.
45135 had spotted a move that would get me another new shack and so we left the sprinter at Skipton.
There was a Bradford bound EMU leaving eight minutes after the 150 and we boarded that for the short run to Cononley, meaning that I’ve now cleared the stations on the Skipton to Leeds line.
This was 333016.
Cononley provided some amusement in the form of an irate driver waiting at the level crossing.
First 333016 passed over, then a few minutes later 66752 came through light engine, then finally 333003, all without the barriers coming up.
This bloke was screaming abuse from his car – “Come on, for f*cks sake” and generally getting his blood pressure up.
The barriers opened and, with his tyres screaming, he shot off into the night.
Our final unit of the day was 333014 and we did this back to Shipley.
A nice little move, with over 120 tractor miles and a couple of new stations, not bad for ten quid.
Last edited:
Techniquest
Veteran Member
I'm on the Cumbrian Coast tomorrow, so just for once I don't have Moves Envy! I need Belper and Whatsandwell, another two in the pipeline for next year. Way too many things already planned, and I kid you not when I say things are being provisionally planned for 2018. Two major trips already...
Enjoyed the nostalgia with the 1989 tour, that would be huge in this day and age!
Enjoyed the nostalgia with the 1989 tour, that would be huge in this day and age!
Thanks.
The Cumbrian 37s are definitely recommended. I appreciate that real life often gets in the way, mind.
Excellent. Enjoy
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Never had the privilege to get that one. 408 was beast, but as they say, your first is always your favourite, so nothing will ever beat 37203 for me. 12 years ago now!
My first 37 was 37081 in 1981 and my first 37/4 was 37426 in 1988.
37429 is my favourite because I had some storming runs behind it.
Coincidently, I've just had a look and my last runs on 429 began 16 years ago today!
45135 and I did it Birmingham - Bangor overnight on the 16th of October 2000 and then spent the early morning of the 17th doing it from Bangor to New Street and back.
Just over 400 miles of 37429 loveliness.
If I'd known it was going to be the last time I would have stayed on it.
37429 is my favourite because I had some storming runs behind it.
Coincidently, I've just had a look and my last runs on 429 began 16 years ago today!
45135 and I did it Birmingham - Bangor overnight on the 16th of October 2000 and then spent the early morning of the 17th doing it from Bangor to New Street and back.
Just over 400 miles of 37429 loveliness.
If I'd known it was going to be the last time I would have stayed on it.
Last edited:
A very enjoyable read. I remember 37402 well as I also had it on the North Wales Coast that May day (together with 37178 & 37203). Had many miles on 429 as well (first had in Sept 1988 the same day as 20045/20159 from Shrewsbury - Telford). Like the picture at Norwich as well. Since your visit 68022 has been swapped for 68002 so another one in the book!
My mates and I also did 37178 & 37203 that day.
Not only that, but I too scored 37429 on the same day I got 20045 & 20159 in the book.
However, that was the 11th of August 1989 and the 20s were on a Crewe - Derby.
An interesting coincidence!
Not only that, but I too scored 37429 on the same day I got 20045 & 20159 in the book.
However, that was the 11th of August 1989 and the 20s were on a Crewe - Derby.
An interesting coincidence!
Last edited:
D841 Roebuck
Established Member
Some good reading and nostalgia on this thread!
My first 37 was 37219, piloting 45132 up Old Hill bank from Worcester to Birmingham on the Plymouth to Glasgow sleeper on 4/5/85. Rather noisy...
Best remains the flame emitting 37175 on the West Highland line about six weeks later, though.
My first 37 was 37219, piloting 45132 up Old Hill bank from Worcester to Birmingham on the Plymouth to Glasgow sleeper on 4/5/85. Rather noisy...
Best remains the flame emitting 37175 on the West Highland line about six weeks later, though.
My first was 37142 in 1987 towing a tram to Plymouth and back, but I think my favourite was 37087 out to Kyle in 1994 when I had the entire front coach to myself for most of the journey on a nice sunny day, just took turns sticking my head out of the window listening to the noise (safely of course ) and sitting back down to have a sip of beer.
) and sitting back down to have a sip of beer.
Kite159
Veteran Member
First - 37612 & 37611, Romsey to Llandrindod Wells (double headed, April 14)
I've only ever had 4x 37s for haulage (those 2, plus 37674 and 37423)
I've only ever had 4x 37s for haulage (those 2, plus 37674 and 37423)
I still think it's amazing that you can still get them, and not just in one part of the country regularly but two! I remember talking to other bashers twenty years ago and thinking that there'd only be another ten years (at the very best) of old diesels hauling trains...
Sorry 55013 your thread seems to been taken over.
Sorry 55013 your thread seems to been taken over
.
47403
Established Member
Great reads, hearing folk hark back to 37s for haulage. I agree too Cowley, getting 37s for haulage in this day and age is a privelage I certainly had given up on getting one for haulage on the main line passenger service again. In fact barring the sleepers and the introduction of the WAG, the chiltern and fife circle cat turns. I thought we'd seen the end of loco hauled trains full stop. Cats over the pennines is gonna be hellish fun indeed.
As regards my first 37, I think it was GD split box Beast 37023 on the summer Saturday Scarborough-Newcastle turn from Durham. The best was definitely, rare CF based 37289 on the Scarborough - Newcastle. A year later, we had two workings, the earlier one ran via the Durham Coast, my friends and I would intercept at Snow Hill on tbe Wear(Sunderland). Word had obviously got.out. The platform was rammed with bashers, heads out of every window and i mean every window, the driver looked back for the signal to go and played to his audience, we got the go and he revved her up loudly without moving, then pulled back the handle to signal a huge roar from the engine, errupting a huge plume of smoke n noise in the cavernous station and let her rip up the gradient outta there, i remember just saying to my mate, wooaahh! and looking back briefly to see a blue hue right over the platforms. We startled a few crossing the Wear bridge, as we growled out the tunnel over the rail bridge. In between those intermediate stations, the driver would slow right down and just let rip again n again, I shouted from my window to another of my mates, this is f'in class, he too was grinning like a cheshire cat, them 12 miles were pure joy. At Newcastle, on leaving the cab at Newcastle, the driver was cheered. Never had I seen the like and have never seen the like or had anything as close to that again. On rare occasions i see one of.my companions that day, john, we always recount that day, when we talk railways.
Like 55013 my fave 37/4 was also my first of that sub class. 37429 from Newport to Cardiff, another loud n proud performance, not as bold as 37289s but still great fun.
As regards my first 37, I think it was GD split box Beast 37023 on the summer Saturday Scarborough-Newcastle turn from Durham. The best was definitely, rare CF based 37289 on the Scarborough - Newcastle. A year later, we had two workings, the earlier one ran via the Durham Coast, my friends and I would intercept at Snow Hill on tbe Wear(Sunderland). Word had obviously got.out. The platform was rammed with bashers, heads out of every window and i mean every window, the driver looked back for the signal to go and played to his audience, we got the go and he revved her up loudly without moving, then pulled back the handle to signal a huge roar from the engine, errupting a huge plume of smoke n noise in the cavernous station and let her rip up the gradient outta there, i remember just saying to my mate, wooaahh! and looking back briefly to see a blue hue right over the platforms. We startled a few crossing the Wear bridge, as we growled out the tunnel over the rail bridge. In between those intermediate stations, the driver would slow right down and just let rip again n again, I shouted from my window to another of my mates, this is f'in class, he too was grinning like a cheshire cat, them 12 miles were pure joy. At Newcastle, on leaving the cab at Newcastle, the driver was cheered. Never had I seen the like and have never seen the like or had anything as close to that again. On rare occasions i see one of.my companions that day, john, we always recount that day, when we talk railways.
Like 55013 my fave 37/4 was also my first of that sub class. 37429 from Newport to Cardiff, another loud n proud performance, not as bold as 37289s but still great fun.
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Where's 37023 now then?
The tale of 37289, oh you can picture the scene, what a bloody monster of a leap that must been!
The tale of 37289, oh you can picture the scene, what a bloody monster of a leap that must been!
- Status