Back in the day...

[xotGD]

24th January 1985

After getting rather cold in snowy Crewe until past midnight, I was able to make my way back to the north east, courtesy of two of Gateshead's finest:

47403 Crewe - York 1E24
47411 York - Newcastle 1N09

No escaping those Generators!

I got home, got into bed and slept for a long time. I should just add that this trip to Swansea was the third of my interviews funded by the council. My piece was a day return from Newcastle to Swansea, despite me setting off the day before the day of validity and getting back the day after - ticket validity was more generous in those days.

24th January 1988

The drags produced today:

58009 (+86404) New St - Nuneaton 1A06
58016 (+86435) Nuneaton - New St 1G26

24th January 1990

A bit of a random move:

86213 International - Coventry

As an aside, I have realised that one class I have not looked at in my moves book to see which and how many I have had is Goyles. Maybe at the weekend if I'm feeling especially bored. I already know the answer to the question "How many have I had?" - It is "Too many!" I'm guessing around 50 or 60, but let's see...

 

[NorthWestRover]

I had 109 Goyles. Nowhere near enough.

 

[CW2]

I had 109 Goyles. Nowhere near enough.

I had 140 Goyles - far too many!

Wednesday 25/01/78
An afternoon off from college:
DMU Harrogate – Leeds, Leeds – Skipton
40056 1514 Skipton – Leeds
DMU Leeds – Huddersfield
47047 1636 Huddersfield – York

Monday 25/01/82
A little evening leap out of Waterloo:
50012 1700 Waterloo – Andover
50039 1840 Andover – Waterloo
This ran at speeds up to 102 mph, and arrived Waterloo 7 minutes early.

Saturday 25/01/86
I do not recommend the Blair Atholl leap in midwinter:
47525 0205 Blair Atholl – Inverness
I was hoping for a 37 on the Aberdeen road, but the first departures were 47s (or maybe 150 001 was still out), so I set off to enjoy the Far North line instead:
37418 0635 Inverness – Lairg
37415 0825 Lairg – Inverness
Once again, it’s 47s on the Aberdeens, so this time I set off towards Kyle:
37421 1055 Inverness – Achnasheen
37417 1223 Achnasheen – Inverness
Finally, success:
37260 1432 Inverness – Aberdeen
47703 1705 Aberdeen – Perth
This was a through train to Glasgow Queen Street, but I alighted at Perth to cover the 1934 to Queen Street, which sometimes produced a 27 or 37. Sometimes, yes, but not tonight:
47464 1934 Perth – Glasgow Queen Street
Still, a pretty successful day, with the main aim of getting Inverness – Aberdeen with a 37 achieved, plus four different 37/4s.

Thursday 25/01/96
A commuting move, with class 43 / HST nerdiness:
43169 + 43168 0859 Reading – Paddington
This was the very first day that a Mirrlees engined power car (43168) had ever been paired with a VP185 power car (43169). The following day (26/01/96) the 2115 Paddington – Exeter was in diagram for this pair, so I came out after work to cover it. Unfortunately for me, the HST on the 2035 Plymouth (43170 + 43xxx) failed, so the unique 43168 + 43169 pairing was stepped up to work that, and I missed it. 43169 (VP185) subsequently shut down en route, so the ECS from Exeter to Laira was hauled over the Devon banks by 37158. On arrival at Laira the pair were split, and I believe that was the last time such a mixed Mirrlees + VP185 pair ever ran in passenger traffic. Can anyone confirm?

 

[Techniquest]

I definitely can't help you there with the Mirlees HST power car CW2, I think @43096 will either have the gen or know someone who does.

As for 31s, I've definitely had 31452, 31454, 31601 and 31602 according to memory, back in Wessex Trains days. Which ones I had where is something lost to the sands of time, the photos are all lost (the perils of not backing stuff up, a lesson I still have not learnt yet as I rarely back anything up) and the trip to Brighton in the October half-term was 2004 I do believe. Good gravy, over 17 years ago now, that was a very different time!

I have possibly had another 31 somewhere, although my memory does not suggest it. I haven't done too well with 33s either, 33025 and 202 I believe are the only ones I've had on the mainline, between Worcester and Cheltenham on a tour. I had a 33 some years back now on the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway, a 33/1 I recall, but which one it was I don't remember! The stronger memories from that day are the DMU up to Ravenstor and the narrow gauge Steeple Grange line!

Going back to the discussion on 86s, I've never knowingly had one. A journey from London to Ipswich, then later to Norwich and all the way back to London, in 2004 has the memory of missing an 86 by a couple of minutes, due to someone in front of me at the ticket office taking longer than I would have liked, but it doesn't tell me what I had later on. This was back in the days of DBSOs, and yes all photos are long lost, with the strongest memory being an 08 shunting next to the station and upon polluting the air something fierce I remember breathing it in purposefully I also recall wanting to travel on the 1700 out of Norwich especially because it had a restaurant service, but I didn't use it.

So I might have had 3 86s for all I know, but I haven't a clue! This was way before I took up bashing, I was a very naive spotter until some time in 2005, so even if I had all my notes (I recycled all my Trackmaps, atlases, moves books and such like a few years ago, when I tried to permanently put the railway out of mind to focus on other things. It made sense at the time, obviously not now!) I wouldn't have made the notes back then.

I did clear all of the HST power cars, with exception to those written off, except for 4 of the GC 434xx power cars. I just never got around to those! Who knows what I might have done if I'd kept following HSTs after January 2010, what I do know is that it's been a rollercoaster of a ride since then!

What I can tell you that I'm proud of, heritage traction wise, is that I've only had 12 or 14 47s!

 

[NorthWestRover]

Tuesday 25th January 1982

I'd got a taste for bashing when I'd dabbled very Neddishly at the end of the Deltics. 40s were the obvious option and as 1982 got going, so did I (my enthusiasm for Goyles was yet to develop). Anyway, I'm not sure how these first recorded moves of 1982 are explained when 40027 was on The Bangor. If my early 1982 moves book ever resurfaces, all may be revealed. If anyone knows what diagram this duff was on, that might help.

47029 WBQ to Llandudno Junc
47029 Chester to WBQ

Wednesday 25th January 1984

The only moves I have from 1984 are 40s and 87s, and even then I'm not 100% convinced they are in full. However, I did have A-Levels, Interrail, first term at Wolves Poly, so bashing took a back seat.

I think this day was an interview at Aston University. Became my insurance offer. I didn't go.

87008 Birmingham NS to Crewe

Saturday 25th January 1986

An absolutely awful West Midlands daytripper bash. The only good thing was the diversion on the final train of the day. And it only cost £1.50

87012 Wolves to Birmingham Int, 06.25 Chester to Euston
47635 Birmingham Int to Birmingham NS, 06.50 Paddington to Leeds/Hull
86412 Birmingham NS to Coventry, 06.00 Holyhead to Euston
47609 Coventry to Wolves, 06.33 Poole to Man Picc
87034 Wolves to Coventry, 11.27 Wolves to Euston
47485 Coventry to Birmingham NS, 08.55 Brighton to Manchester Picc
86226 Birmingham NS to Birmingham Int, 11.37 Shrewsbury to Euston
87011 Birmingham Int to Wolves, 11.40 Euston to Shrewsbury
87011 Wolves to Coventry, 13.37 Shrewsbury to Euston
47451 Coventry to Birmingham NS, 11.40 Poole to Man Picc
47590 Birmingham NS to Birmingham Int, 13.52 Liverpool to Portsmouth
47599 Birmingham Int to Birmingham NS, 12.55 Brighton to Manchester
86251 Birmingham NS to Coventry, 15.37 Shrewsbury to Euston
47435 Coventry to Birmingham NS, 14.13 Portsmouth to York
87014 Birmingham NS to Wolves (via Bescot), 18.00 Birmingham to Glasgow/Edinburgh

Monday 25th January 1988

Trip to girlfriend. Nice symmetry of the loco numbers when I returned on 28th (if you remember to look)...

86404 Wolves to Birmingham NS, Lime St to Paddington service
47582 Birmingham NS to Oxford, same service

 

[43096]

Thursday 25/01/96
A commuting move, with class 43 / HST nerdiness:
43169 + 43168 0859 Reading – Paddington
This was the very first day that a Mirrlees engined power car (43168) had ever been paired with a VP185 power car (43169). The following day (26/01/96) the 2115 Paddington – Exeter was in diagram for this pair, so I came out after work to cover it. Unfortunately for me, the HST on the 2035 Plymouth (43170 + 43xxx) failed, so the unique 43168 + 43169 pairing was stepped up to work that, and I missed it. 43169 (VP185) subsequently shut down en route, so the ECS from Exeter to Laira was hauled over the Devon banks by 37158. On arrival at Laira the pair were split, and I believe that was the last time such a mixed Mirrlees + VP185 pair ever ran in passenger traffic. Can anyone confirm?

No definite confirmation, but 31/01/1996 was 43168’s last day in service with an MB190 (indeed it was the last day of any MB190), so more than likely it was the last day it worked with a VP185, especially as there were only two VPs with Great Western at the time.

 

[xotGD]

I think this day was an interview at Aston University. Became my insurance offer. I didn't go.

As someone who went to Birmingham and rejected Aston, I approve of your decision!

 

[CW2]

No definite confirmation, but 31/01/1996 was 43168’s last day in service with an MB190 (indeed it was the last day of any MB190), so more than likely it was the last day it worked with a VP185, especially as there were only two VPs with Great Western at the time.

Thanks. It's good to have it on record that such a combination actually ran in traffic - if only briefly.

 

[Falcon1200]

I had 109 Goyles. Nowhere near enough.

I had 140 Goyles - far too many!

My personal tally of 31s is (and it surprised me) 190, including two Toffee Apples, 31017 and 31019. A large number of these came during my two years working at Harlow Town from 1978 to 1980, sadly all records before 1983 are long since lost. My last 'new' 31 was 31270 in 2013 on Peak Rail.

 

[CW2]

My personal tally of 31s is (and it surprised me) 190, including two Toffee Apples, 31017 and 31019. A large number of these came during my two years working at Harlow Town from 1978 to 180, sadly all records before 1983 are long since lost. My last 'new' 31 was 31270 in 2013 on Peak Rail.

My sincere condolences ...

 

[Falcon1200]

My sincere condolences ...

Thanks ! My recollection of 31s on the Cambridge main line is that they were capable of a decent speed, but took an awfully long time to get there.

(I've edited my Post 2739 to correct a date.... I wasn't around in AD 180, although Goyles might have been....)

 

[D6130]

WEDNESDAY 25th JANUARY 1978:

After work, I went home to get changed and pick up my bag for a long 'weekend' bash to see my grandmother on Teesside....via Mallaig!
The trip started promisingly, with a roarer on the Inverness/Fort William overnight:

7719/7708/7818 Petersfield-Waterloo (06 23 from Portsmouth Harbour)
5340/5115 Waterloo-Wimbledon (08 12 to Effingham Junction....rare appearance of a South-Eastern BR Standard 4-EPB on the SWD)
7837 Wimbledon-Waterloo (14 52 from Guildford via Cobham)
7386/7057/7355 Waterloo-Petersfield (15 50 to Portsmouth Harbour)
5902/7834 Petersfield-Waterloo (19 05 from Portsmouth Harbour....rare appearence of a 2-SAP on a Portsmouth Direct semi-fast service.
85 014 Euston-Mossend (21 50 to Inverness/Fort William)

Consist of above: M81193/2033/2821/2067/2505/2043/2611 (INV portion), M2617/2035/15922/35315 (FTW portion) (Load 11 VB/DH)


SUNDAY 25th JANUARY 1981:

Returning home to Glasgow after a weekend visiting my girlfriend in London:

87 003 15 45 Euston-Glasgow Central (Consist: M12090/12131/12111/12083/12076/12080/1749/3301/3344/3439/81256 Load 11 AB/EH)
314 209 Glasgow Central-Partick (20 59 Motherwell-Dalmuir)

 

[CW2]

Thanks ! My recollection of 31s on the Cambridge main line is that they were capable of a decent speed, but took an awfully long time to get there.

Oh heavens, yes. A few times I was bashing 37s on the Cambridge line when a 31 turned up. The 31 would be thoroughly thrashed, but progress would be painfully slow. When they ran pairs of 31s on XC services to Paignton for a couple of years, they did pretty well. If you got a clear road for about 20 minutes, they would reach a decent speed.

 

[D6130]

Thanks ! My recollection of 31s on the Cambridge main line is that they were capable of a decent speed, but took an awfully long time to get there.

They were also terribly sluggish on the Portsmouth-Bristol services back in the seventies - especially in Winter, when the ETH seemed to take a disproportionate amount of the available power - and that was only with load 6!

 

[Magdalia]

Oh heavens, yes. A few times I was bashing 37s on the Cambridge line when a 31 turned up. The 31 would be thoroughly thrashed, but progress would be painfully slow.

The Brush Type 2 took over most Kings Lynn trains in September 1958, and the schedules were well within their capabilities until the May 1979 timetable acceleration. That introduced the 63 minute non-stop timings between Liverpool Street and Cambridge, and a class 31 needed a clear road to achieve that. On the down road it would be full power all the way from Coppermill Junction to Spelbrook, and on the up road all the way from Cambridge to Stansted. The further acceleration, in 1983, was found to be unachievable in practice, even with class 47s, and was quickly abandoned.

When they ran pairs of 31s on XC services to Paignton for a couple of years, they did pretty well. If you got a clear road for about 20 minutes, they would reach a decent speed.

There was lots of 90 mph running on those trains, also with single locos on 5 car trains running as reliefs to HSTs, such as the 1133 Exeter-Leeds.

 

[xotGD]

They were also terribly sluggish on the Portsmouth-Bristol services back in the seventies - especially in Winter, when the ETH seemed to take a disproportionate amount of the available power - and that was only with load 6!

More ETHEL than loco then!

 

[xotGD]

Well I guessed 50 to 60 Goyles, and I've actually had...

60 of the things.

So far.

I've just had the scary thought that the KWVR might get one as a guest for this year's Diesel Gala. If the organisers are reading this - please don't!

 

[NorthWestRover]

That is the Diesel Gala I'm thinking of going to.

 

[xotGD]

That is the Diesel Gala I'm thinking of going to.

It was very popular last year. The 26 and 27 pulled in the crowds and the 20 and 37 were as entertaining as ever.

They'll definitely need to get a couple of rateable guest locos to match last year.

 

[NorthWestRover]

I require the 20 and the 37.

 

[D6130]

THURSDAY 26th JANUARY 1978:

Having arrived in Scotland overnight on my marathon journey from Hampshire to Teesside via Mallaig, the roarer gave way to a pair of 26s:

26 019 + 26 024 Mossend-Cowlairs (21 50 Euston-Fort William. Consist: M2617/2035/15922/35315 Load 4 VB/SH)
27 011 + 27 016 Cowlairs-Glasgow QS (as above in reverse formation)
26 019 + 26 024 Shunt platform 2 to platform 6 at Glasgow QS
27 016 + 27 011 06 00 Glasgow QS-Fort Wiiiliam (Consist: S1990/M2617/2035/15922/35315/SC14091/4252/1848 Load 8 VB/SH)
27 043 Banking Glasgow QS-Cowlairs
27 034 10 05 Fort William-Mallaig (Consist: SC14099/4906/1848/4252/14091 Load 5 VB/SH)
27 034 13 00 Mallaig-Fort William (Consist: E35415/SC4252/14091 Load 3 VB/SH)
27 011 + 27 016 18 12 Fort William-Helensburgh Upper (to Glasow QS/Euston Consist: SC14099/4906/1848/M35315/15922/2035/2617 Load 7 VB/SH)

Then overnight with friends in Helensburgh.

 

[MDB1images]

Saturday 24th January 1981

Another LCGB tour, this time to Toton and Derby Works which would have been excellent from a spotting perspective. For this thread, here is the haulage and the route for the Midlander No. 3.

40013 Warrington Central to Toton via Man Picc, Stockport, Stoke, Uttoxeter, Stenson Junc, Sheet Stores Junc, Trent, Stanton Gate, Toton Depot (Meadows Reception Siding)
The 40's boiler failed, so...
20071/20041 Toton to Derby via Long Eaton
47143 Derby to Warrington Central via reverse of outward route

Was on that from Manchester Piccadilly.
When I started looking back for missing moves/trips out in recent years going back to the late 70's I couldn't figure out how I'd gone around Derby Works (only did it once)but none of the open days fitted my dates, luckily found a photo I'd taken of 40013 approaching Man Picc and was able to piece the jigsaw.
If you have a list of what you wrote down at Derby or Toton could you forward it on if you get a chance.

 

[NorthWestRover]

If you have a list of what you wrote down at Derby or Toton could you forward it on if you get a chance.

I don't think I do, but if it ever resurfaces, I'll send it through.

Wednesday 26th January 1983

A day at 6th Form, then a trip to Bangor and back...

40052 WBQ to Bangor, 1D21 15.45 Man Vic to Bangor
40052 Bangor to WBQ, 1J31 19.25 Bangor to Man Vic.

A nice 156 miles.

 

[CW2]

Thursday 26/01/78
Coming home from college:
31417 1652 Harrogate – Leeds. Re-engined to:
47469 1730 Leeds – Wakefield Westgate
DMU back to Leeds
46051 1906 Leeds – York

Friday 26/01/79
… and again, but a year later it’s all a bit different:
43096 + 43076 1620 Harrogate – Leeds
47459 1707 Leeds – York
This was running 50 minutes late after a points failure at Huyton.

Tuesday 26/01/82
A repeat of my moves of the previous day, same trains, different 50s:
50031 1700 Waterloo – Andover
50036 1840 Andover – Waterloo

Wednesday 26/01/83
One train I was never able to cover was the daytime Edinburgh – Newcastle – Carlisle and return, which produced some interesting traction on occasions (as @xotGD can testify). I was working normal office hours in York by this time, and could never get out for it. On this day the diagram was being worked by 40027, which was also then allocated to the 2230 Edinburgh – Kings Cross. So after work I headed off north to have it back from Edinburgh:
45130 1830 York – Newcastle
43058 + 43053 2008 Newcastle – Edinburgh
Unfortunately for me, 40027 had failed at Alnmouth on its way north from Carlisle, so instead of a 40 mileage move, I got to spend the night strumming my way south instead:
47271 2230 Edinburgh – York
Bashing is just like that sometimes …

 

[xotGD]

26th January 1991

90006 New St - Stafford

Stafford Rangers 0 Gateshead 1

47822 Stafford - New St

A fine win for The Heed!


Another day on the Sunday Drags tomorrow...

 

[D6130]

FRIDAY 27th JANUARY 1978:

Continuing my Hampshire to Teesside via Mallaig marathon:

27 037 Helensburgh Upper-Glasgow QS (08 00 from Oban. Consist: SC16104/E4262/SC4255/SC4222/SC14039 Load 5 VB/SH)
27 208 + 27 210 12 00 Glasgow QS-Edinburgh (Consist: SC5160/5189/5144/5134/13424/9395 Load 6 AB/DH)
47 427 Edinburgh-Newcastle (13 00 to Kings Cross. Consist: E81282/5697/5616/5399/6136/6161/5656/1549/1024/3183/3428/14150
Load 12 AB/EH)

I was somewhat disappointed to see what was on the front of this train, but things improved after a loco change at Newcastle!

55 005 Newcastle-Darlington
E50184/59072/50218 17 15 Darlington-Thornaby (continuing to Saltburn)

TUESDAY 27th JANUARY 1981:

Another after-work trip to spend the night with my parents near Garelochhead:

303 027 Hyndland-Glasgow QS LL (08 01 Milngavie-Springburn)
37 012 18 20 Glasgow QS HL-Garelochhead (continuing to Oban. Consist: SC4172/4255/4193/14024 Load 4 VB/SH)

MONDAY 27th JANUARY 2014:

The start of a beery trip with a friend to Bamberg and Prague.....the return trip was made by air for reasons which I can't fully remember:

373 107/108 ES 9110, 06 50 London St Pancras International-Bruxelles Midi/Brussel Zuid
4602 ICE 15, 10 25 Bruxelles Midi/Brussel Zuid-Koeln Hbf
101 015-6 Koeln Hbf-Mainz Hbf (IC 2313)
143 248-1 Mainz Hbf-Aschaffenburg Hbf (RB 15721)

Overnight with friends in Aschaffenburg.

 

[CW2]

Friday 27/01/84
I’ve just done the day boat from Hoek van Holland after a couple of weeks chasing steam in Poland. Now it’s just a question of getting back home to York. I was anticipating doing a 47 to Liverpool Street then across to Kings Cross for an HST to York, but there was an unexpected bonus waiting for me. Instead of the usual 31/4 on the 1807 Harwich - Peterborough, there sat 37115!
37115 1807 Harwich Parkeston Quay - Peterborough via Ipswich, Ely.
The train was rather cold at first, as there was no 2nd man* diagrammed for the train, so the boiler wasn’t working. Thankfully at Ipswich a 2nd man* was provided, so we soon began to warm up. This was the only time I ever had a 37 round the north curve at Manningtree.
*(Yes, nowadays they are called Drivers’ Assistants or some such, but back then they were always known as Second Men. Apologies for the politically incorrect terminology).

Monday 27/01/92
I was returning from a weekend trip to Germany and Poland, returning by a work visit to Zeebrugge. I had found that if the Jetfoil ran on time, I could usually make a dodgy unadvertised tight connection into the 1422 Dover Western Docks – Liverpool to get me home to Reading directly:
47841 1422 Dover Western Docks – Reading via Canterbury East, Dartford, Sidcup, Hither Green, Nunhead, Factory Jn., Kensington Olympia, Willesden South West Sidings, Acton Main Line.

Thursday 27/01/00
I had to be at Mossend for a meeting the following day, so a trip on the sleeper was in order:
90020 2355 Euston – Carstairs
I had travelled in the Edinburgh portion as I wasn’t expected at Mossend until mid-morning (and I got an extra couple of locos in the book this way!):
(Friday 28/01/00)
90038 05xx Carstairs – Edinburgh
91031 0920 Edinburgh – Motherwell
I’m particularly glad I did this move, as 90038 turned out to be my lowest mileage 90.

 

[NorthWestRover]

Saturday 27th January 1979

87019 Preston to Crewe

Was presumably on some sort of North West rover to do some spotting.

Thursday 27th January 1983

Same post-6th Form as the previous day. Different loco.

40028 WBQ to Bangor, 1D21 15.45 Man Vic to Bangor
40028 Bangor to WBQ, 1J31 19.25 Bangor to Man Vic

 

[xotGD]

27th January 1990

Heading to Edinburgh for the beer and footy...

47556 New St - Crewe (via Shrewsbury)
87005 Crewe - Carstairs
47640 Carstairs - Waverley

Hearts 3 Dundee United 2

27th January 1991

Avid readers may recall that the previous Sunday I endured an ETH Duff to Wolves and back on the drags. Would today be any better...

47007 (+86249) New St - Wolves
47007 (+86239) Wolves - New St

Slightly better, but not exactly a big Type 5. As it turned out, this was the last time I had anything other than an ETH Duff on the drags around Brum.

 

[Harvester]

Saturday 28th January 1989

A round trip to Shrewsbury

150120 09:08 Derby-Crewe
47639 10:43 Crewe-Shrewsbury
47525 11:31 Shrewsbury-Wolverhampton
86253 Wolverhampton-Birmingham NS
43008+43??? 13:00 Birmingham NS-Derby

Sunday 28th January 1990

Sunday diversion outward via Wichnor Jn and Lichfield City

47574 14:44 Derby-Birmingham NS
47447 Delayed 15:10 Birmingham NS-Derby (running 55 min late)