Back in the day...

[NorthWestRover]

86 or 88? If it's 86, we might cross paths...

 

[xotGD]

86 or 88? If it's 86, we might cross paths...

We shall see...

 

[D6130]

SATURDAY 19th FEBRUARY 1983:

Scotland were playing Wales at Murrayfield in the Five Nations Rugby Championship and there were loco-hauled 'Rugexes' from Glasgow:
I had an appointment in Hillhead in the morning, then took the 'Subway' to Buchanan Street for Queen Street.

SPTE 114+122+132 Hillhead-Buchanan Street (Outer Circle)
37 183 1Zxx, 11 04 Glasgow QS HL-Edinburgh (Consist: SC14095/E4519/E4706/SC4316/4234/4218/4771/9271 Load 8 VB/SH)
27 206 banking Glasgow QS HL-Cowlairs
37 111 1Zxx, 17 03 Edinburgh-Glasgow QS HL (Consist: SC14039/4430/26105/26180/E4833/Sc4203/4233/14003 Load 8 VB/SH)
303 043/003 Glasgow QS LL-Hyndland (18 07 Airdrie-Helensburgh Central)

Nice comfy mark 2 BFKs next to the loco in both directions. Via Falkirk High in both directions, stopping only at Haymarket.

Unfortunately Wales beat Scotland 19-15

 

[CW2]

Saturday 19/02/77
“Southern Belle” railtour, with 1013 “Western Ranger” all day:
0810 Waterloo – Weymouth
1109 Weymouth – Guildford via Southampton, Fareham, Cosham, Havant
1629 Guildford – Redhill
1720 Redhill – Reading via Guildford
1843 Reading – Waterloo via Hounslow

Monday 19/02/79
55007 0040 Leeds – Doncaster
47528 0121 Doncaster – York via Selby
55010 1816 York – Selby 15’ late
47551 1852 Selby – York 45’ late

Friday 19/02/82
On my way home after my brief trip to Ireland, I did the Irish Mail throughout:
47450 0107 Holyhead – Crewe
81006 0346 Crewe – Euston
We were 35’ late into Euston after having to assist failed 4E38 Garston – Dagenham clear of the main line at Armitage. I didn’t see which loco had failed.

Thursday 19/02/87
After my trip to Aberdeen with 37260, the return journey was somewhat less enthralling:
47710 0500 Aberdeen – Perth
47710 0710 Perth – Stirling
47706 0803 Stirling – Glasgow Queen Street

 

[D6130]

“Southern Belle” railtour, with 1013 “Western Ranger” all day:
0810 Waterloo – Weymouth
1109 Weymouth – Guildford via Southampton, Fareham, Cosham, Havant
1629 Guildford – Redhill
1720 Redhill – Reading via Guildford
1843 Reading – Waterloo via Hounslow

I was unable to get a ticket for that tour, but I filmed it passing through Petersfield with my cheap Japanese 8 mm cine camera. The results - and quite a few other films from that era - are now on a VHS video cassette, which I shall have to see about digitisation to get them onto YouTube.

 

[Harvester]

Monday 19th February 1990

A trip to London (via Birmingham)

150106 07:25 Beeston-Birmingham NS
47827 09:06 Birmingham NS-Reading
50034 11:28 Reading-Paddington
50033 14:15 Paddington-Oxford
47827 16:28 Oxford-Birmingham NS
43???+43??? 18:06 Birmingham NS-Derby
150144 19:04 Derby-Beeston

 

[NorthWestRover]

Friday 19th February 1982

Back behind Empress of England doing a mixed diagram

40033 WBQ to Man Vic, 1J30 11.12 Bangor to Man Vic "The Bangor"
Ooh, what's this. Straight back out...
40033 Man Vic to Bangor, 1D57 13.45 Man Vic to Bangor - not "The Bangor"
40033 Bangor to WBQ, 1J39 16.52 Bangor to Man Vic

Saturday 19th February 1983

A year later and it's copy and paste from the two previous days...

40106 WBQ to Bangor, 1D34 "The Bangor"
40106 Bangor to Man Vic, 1J30 "The Bangor"
40106 Man Vic to Bangor, 1D21 "The Bangor"
40106 Bangor to Man Vic, 1J31 "The Bangor

Sunday 20th February 1984

87020 Crewe to Preston
87014 Preston to Crewe

Wednesday 19th February 1986

I'd got as far as Perth the previous evening...

47558 Perth to Inverness, 23.30 Glasgow to Inverness
37416 Inverness to Wick, 06.35 Inverness to Wick
37416 Wick to Inverness, 12.05 Wick to Inverness
That completed the £12 Fab Feb Saver from Wolves to Wick (well, save a part of the return portion that I'd need later in the week). Another £12 from Inverness to ....(to be revealed tomorrow)
47006 Inverness to Aberdeen, 17.32 Inverness to Aberdeen
47712 Aberdeen to Perth, 22.35 Aberdeen to Perth

Another 641.25 miles including 323 behind Syphons.

 

[CW2]

I was unable to get a ticket for that tour, but I filmed it passing through Petersfield with my cheap Japanese 8 mm cine camera. The results - and quite a few other films from that era - are now on a VHS video cassette, which I shall have to see about digitisation to get them onto YouTube.

Ooh, yes please! I didn't have a camera back then, so have nothing of my own to remember that tour.

Friday 19th February 1982

Back behind Empress of England doing a mixed diagram

40033 WBQ to Man Vic, 1J30 11.12 Bangor to Man Vic "The Bangor"
Ooh, what's this. Straight back out...
40033 Man Vic to Bangor, 1D57 13.45 Man Vic to Bangor - not "The Bangor"
40033 Bangor to WBQ, 1J39 16.52 Bangor to Man Vic

I travelled on The Bangor more times than I care to remember, and I never saw them do a quick double-back like that. I assume it must have been a last-minute loco failure on the 1345, and a quick decision to step up the incoming loco.

 

[NorthWestRover]

Yeah, I didn't remember it, so checked Motherlist and RailGen. Both confirm it happened.

 

[CW2]

Yeah, I didn't remember it, so checked Motherlist and RailGen. Both confirm it happened.

Just to be clear, I wasn't doubting you - merely commenting on the rarity of the occurrence. It must have been a pretty tight turnround at Victoria / Red Bank CS, whereas the normal Bangor diagram allowed plenty of time for a leisurely pint (or more) before the afternoon run.

 

[NorthWestRover]

I did wonder about refuelling etc. Did the loco normally refuel at Manchester on the North Wales diagrams?

 

[CW2]

I did wonder about refuelling etc. Did the loco normally refuel at Manchester on the North Wales diagrams?

No, if it was full at the beginning of the day (as it should have been) then 4 x Bangor + ECS is about 410 miles, well within a 40 range.

 

[Magdalia]

No, if it was full at the beginning of the day (as it should have been) then 4 x Bangor + ECS is about 410 miles, well within a 40 range.

But presumably boiler water would run out and need to be refilled?

 

[CW2]

But presumably boiler water would run out and need to be refilled?

Yes, but that could be done at various key station platforms without the need to go to the depot. Boiler water top-ups at Chester were commonplace. The water tank was usually refilled at Bangor during the layover there.

 

[xotGD]

19th February 1998

47827 New Street - Bristol Parkway (via Camp Hill)
33208 Cardiff - Rhymney

 

[CW2]

Monday 20/02/84
I was working night shift in Leeds Control, but got a call that 40118 was on the Liverpool – Scarborough circuit, so I set out to intercept it:
45125 1540 York – Malton
40118 1624 Malton – Leeds
DMU Leeds – York
Then back home for tea before setting out for another night shift.

Wednesday 20/02/85
One of my fellow Controllers on the TOPS course at Webb House Crewe hailed from York, and was a supporter of York City FC. It just so happened that they had been drawn against the mighty Liverpool FC in the FA Cup. The original match had been a 1-1 draw in York, so there was a replay at Anfield scheduled for that evening. I decided to accompany him to the match at Anfield. This time, Liverpool took no chances and fielded a very strong team:
https://www.lfchistory.net/SeasonArchive/Game/1445
The result was a 7-0 hammering!
The motive power was less inspiring than the trip to Anfield:
86001 1748 Crewe – Liverpool Lime Street
EMU Liverpool Lime Street – Crewe

Thursday 20/02/86
The 1715 Glasgow Queen Street – Edinburgh was a peak hour additional that was booked for a 47/4 or 47/7, but on occasions might produce something else:
37424 1715 Glasgow Queen Street – Edinburgh
47705 1930 Edinburgh – Glasgow Queen Street

Tuesday 20/02/90
A high-mileage 50 day:
50036 0740 Paddington – Plymouth
A quick visit to my parents, then:
50036 1550 Plymouth – Reading
Home for a quick change of clothes, then back out for another night shift:
50035 2028 Reading – Paddington

 

[NorthWestRover]

Sunday 20th February 1983

I reckon this is missing a Can or two and a unit to Blackpool

85039 WBQ to Crewe
40150 Blackpool N to Preston, 1G03 16.07 Blackpool to Birmingham
87026 Preston to WBQ, 1G03 16.07 Blackpool to Birmingham
87032 Crewe to Preston, 1P74 17.04 Euston to Blackpool
85020 Preston to WBQ

Monday 20th February 1984

I think these are in the right order. A gap here or there...

87029 WBQ to Preston, 1S53 08.10 Birmingham to Glasgow
87020 Preston to Crewe, 1M33 07.20 Glasgow to Birmingham
87015 Crewe to WBQ, 1P62 10.40 Euston to Blackpool
87018 Preston to Crewe, 1M57 09.20 Glasgow to Birmingham
87020 Crewe to Lancaster, 1S71 14.05 Birmingham to Glasgow
87015 Preston to Crewe, 1K04 17.50 Preston to Crewe
87018 Crewe to Preston, 1S87 18.00 Birmingham to Glasgow
87014 Preston to Crewe, 1M52 17.10 Glasgow to Euston
87006 Crewe to Lime St, 1F57 18.50 Euston to Lime St

Thursday 20th February 1986

I'd arrived in Perth from Aberdeen in the middle of the night, having left Wick at 12.05 on the Wednesday. Continuing on my £12 Fab Feb Saver from Inverness to...

47497 Perth to Glasgow QS, 23.30 Inverness to Glasgow
87020 Glasgow C to Euston (via Northampton), 1M18 07.05 Glasgow to Euston
50036 Paddington to Penzance (via Bath and Bristol), 13.40 Paddington to Penzance (the destination of my ticket)
50037 & 50024 Penzance to Plymouth, 21.35 Penzance to Paddington

871.25 miles, 403.75 behind an 87 and 405 behind Hoovers. I required the duff too, lol.

Where would my travels take me on Friday 21st?

 

[D6130]

The 1715 Glasgow Queen Street – Edinburgh was a peak hour additional that was booked for a 47/4 or 47/7, but on occasions might produce something else:

When I was living and working in Glasgow five years earlier, it departed at 17 10 and was booked for a 47/0....but in practice it could be worked by anything from a 26 or 27 to - on one memorable occasion - a Deltic!

Meanwhile:

SUNDAY 20th FEBRUARY 1977:

A week before the end, I had a ticket for the 'Western Requiem' railtour from Paddington to the South Wales Valleys. As with the previous Sunday's relief tour - described by @CW2 , the booked motive power was 1010 "Western Campaigner", but on this occasion she was far from well. After spending the Saturday night with a friend's grandmother in North London, we set off for Paddington in the dawn of a foggy winter's morning:

1010 Paddington-Swindon

On arrival at Swindon, it was clear that all was not well with the loco and there was a prolonged stop there for fitters' attention. Eventually it was decided that the loco could continue, but the problems continued, although I can't remember the exact nature of the defect.

1010 Swindon-Cardiff Central via Gloucester

When we reached Cardiff the loco was failed and a required boiler-fitted Syphon was waiting to take over:

37 179 Cardiff Central-Treherbert-Pontypridd-Aberdare-Pontypridd

where 1023 "Western Fusilier" had miraculously materialised:

1023 Pontypridd-Merthyr Tydfil-Radyr-Llandaff-Leckwith Loop-Cardiff Central-Paddington via Severn Tunnel.


MONDAY 20th FEBRUARY 1978:

A day of massive disruption on the Southern Region, most of Southern and South-Western England awoke to a think blanket of snow and sub-zero temperatures:

7745/7050/5905/7746/7716 + 33 022 Petersfield-Guildford (combined 0530 and 06 13 Portsmouth Harbour-Waterloo, following the failure of the former North of Rowlands Castle. The 17 coaches and one loco were rather too long for all the platforms en route and the combined trains arrived at Guildford at 09 44 and split - having arrived Petersfield at 08 29 and departed 08 43!

5905/7746/7716 Guildford-Surbiton via Woking (06 13 Portsmouth Harbour-Waterloo....departed Guildford at 09 55)
7807/7702 Surbiton-Wimbledon (10 00 Guildford-Waterloo via Woking)

I arrived in the office at about 11 00 -about two and a half hours late - and learned later that the 19 00 Waterloo-Exeter was to be a double-headed strengthened 12 car Mark 1 formation, so it had to be done:

4626/4654 Wimbledon-Waterloo (16 35 Chessington South-Waterloo) followed by a pint or two in the Hole in the Wall....then:
33 010+33 012 Waterloo-Woking (19 00 to Exeter. Consist: M24848/35432/16140/16120/W25941/25921/35054/35196/16224/5029/
1778/25945 Load 12 VB/DH)
7807/7702 Woking-Petersfield (19 20 Waterloo-Portsmouth Harbour)


FRIDAY 20th FEBRUARY 1981:

Off to see the girlfriend in London again:

303 052 Hyndland-Glasgow QS LL (08 01 Milngavie-Airdrie)
87 013 16 03 Glasgow Central-Euston (Consist: M81613/3368/3316/11032/10005/12078/12096/12052/12149/12073/12126
Load 11 AB/EH)

 

[Cheshire Scot]

SUNDAY 20th FEBRUARY 1977:

A week before the end, I had a ticket for the 'Western Requiem' railtour from Paddington to the South Wales Valleys. As with the previous Sunday's relief tour - described by @CW2 , the booked motive power was 1010 "Western Campaigner", but on this occasion she was far from well. After spending the Saturday night with a friend's grandmother in North London, we set off for Paddington in the dawn of a foggy winter's morning:

1010 Paddington-Swindon

On arrival at Swindon, it was clear that all was not well with the loco and there was a prolonged stop there for fitters' attention. Eventually it was decided that the loco could continue, but the problems continued, although I can't remember the exact nature of the defect.

1010 Swindon-Cardiff Central via Gloucester

When we reached Cardiff the loco was failed and a required boiler-fitted Syphon was waiting to take over:

37 179 Cardiff Central-Treherbert-Pontypridd-Aberdare-Pontypridd

where 1023 "Western Fusilier" had miraculously materialised:

1023 Pontypridd-Merthyr Tydfil-Radyr-Llandaff-Leckwith Loop-Cardiff Central-Paddington via Severn Tunnel.

Then in my final year as a student at Loughborough, that weekend started with a trip north (sorry no details other than I would have spent Friday night in Helensburgh) to watch Aberdeen playing the now in liquidation (2012) version of Rangers, sadly it ended 1-0 to the blue mob -89th minute penalty quell surprise! - with just 17000 in attendance, and thus I found myself travelling overnight from Glasgow for this railtour, and due to team up with other members of LUTRS (Loughborough University of Technology Railway Society) at Paddington.

Horror of horrors my train ground to a halt at Tring, and being Saturday night into Sunday morning (happy days of overnight trains on Saturday nights!) Euston arrivals were scheduled much later than in the week. Assistance arrived and on we sped to Euston and as I ran to the Taxi rank I was conscious of someone keeping pace with me and uttering a breathless .'are you heading for the Western Requiem?', 'yes' I gasped, and we shared a fast Taxi to Paddington and made the train with minutes to spare - although with hindsight had we missed it we might have caught it up, perhaps at Swindon. I don't remember the fine detail other than I personally found it quite amusing when the 37 had to step in but well done to whoever was able to get the replacement Western onto the job.

We had some great trips out with LUTRS back then, usually benefitting from a subsidy from the Students Union to assist with 'travel costs' - I don't recall who all went on Western Requiem perhaps @Shrop and @Peterthegreat and maybe some other lurkers on here too.

EDIT: My 74 TT says 06.42 into Euston on Sunday morning looks reasonable for around half past eight from Paddington until the loco fails!
And the Friday trip north? My usual was 12.49 Loughborough to Derby ('stopper' ex St Pancras), 13.30 to Crewe (Cross Country DMU back then) and 15.05 from Crewe 15.06 from Crewe (14.05 from New St) then cl 303 to Helensburgh - unless of course i skipped Friday morning lectures (we had none in the afternoon) and went up to York on Thursday evening for the 23.25 to Helensburgh Upper!

 

[xotGD]

20th February 1982

Something a bit different - sightings from a typical Saturday at Newcastle Central and Gateshead...

03021, 03078
08147, 08164, 08775
31181, 31281
37058, 37104, 37107, 37112, 37212, 37238, 37242
40007, 40180
45017, 45064, 45106
46004, 46006, 46026, 46031, 46039, 46051, 46052, 46056
47108, 47159, 47160, 47360, 47370, 47403, 47408, 47412, 47419, 47428, 47431, 47477, 47523, 47536
56078, 56080

20th February 1998

After getting a Crompton up the valley the previous day, time for some different Type 3 power...

37417 Cardiff - Rhymney

 

[CW2]

Saturday 21/02/81
40101 2315 Kings Cross – Doncaster via Joint Lines, Sleaford avoider
20 minutes early into Doncaster!
After a while, a suitable conveyance home presented itself:
(Sunday 22/02/81)
55009 0338 Doncaster – Kings Cross via Joint Lines. 45’ late.

Wednesday 21/02/90
47825 1810 Reading – Clapham Junction via North Pole Jn.
I did this uncharacteristic 47 move to do the line at North Pole Junction. I had done it many years previously on an ADEX, for which the haulage details were long since lost, and this was my last chance to do it before the line was closed to construct the Eurostar depot.
3016 + 1223 Clapham Jn – Waterloo
… and onto another night shift!

Thursday 21/02/91
I had the following day off work to go cranking, and I was able to negotiate an early exit to go and pick up a required class 90:
87033 1525 Euston – Crewe
90022 1730 Crewe – Carstairs
47643 2137 Carstairs – Edinburgh
158 743 Edinburgh – Glasgow Queen Street
320 312 Glasgow Queen Street LL – Dalmuir
… and there I festered in the cold to await the Fort William – Euston portion …

Friday 21/02/92
EMU 1813 Victoria – Dover Western Docks
Off for a couple of weeks in Germany and Poland, starting with the night boat from Dover to Oostende …

 

[D6130]

SATURDAY 21st FEBRUARY 1976:

A trip to Birmingham to attend one of the inaugral meetings of the Western Locomotive Association, held in the BR conference room at New Street station:

EMU Petersfield-Guildford
33 209 Guildford-Reading
47 163 Reading-Birmingham New Stret via Solihull
1033 "Western Trooper" Birmingham New Street-Reading via Solihull
DEMU Reading-Guildford
EMU Guildford-Petersfield


TUESDAY 21st FEBRUARY 1978:

Yet another early morning Crompton bash in the snow, followed by another one on the (roundabout) way home after work:

7822/7716 + 33 116 Petersfield-Haslemere (06 13 Portsmouth Harbour-Waterloo)
7339/7422/7800 Haslemere-Waterloo (06 23 from Portsmouth Harbour)
5670/5680/5794 Waterloo-Wimbledon (to Guildford via Cobham)
4617/4655 Wimbledon-waterloo (17 56 from Shepperton)
33 008 19 00 Waterloo-Woking (to Exeter SD. Consist: W5453/14081/14063/5452/1987/5247 Load 6 AB/EH)
7804/7055/7732 Woking-Petersfield (delayed 18 50 Waterloo-Portsmouth Harbour)

SATURDAY 21st FEBRUARY 1981:

After a night and lunch with my girlfriend in North London, it was time to head off to visit my friends in Hampshire:

33 004 14 10 Waterloo-Woking (to Salisbury. Consist: S16210/16198/4910/4905/34627/4907/80945 Load 7 VB/DH)
7424/7420 Woking-Petersfield (14 20 Waterloo-Portsmouth Harbour)

 

[NorthWestRover]

Tuesday 21st February 1984

87023 Lime St to Runcorn
87012 Crewe to Preston, 1P63 14.00 Euston to Carlisle
87024 Preston to Crewe, 1K04 17.50 Preston to Crewe
87017 Crewe to Preston, 1S87 18.00 Birmingham to Glasgow

Friday 21st February 1986

My Fab Feb Saver adventure continues with my third consecutive overnight. Having arrived from Penzance behind 50037/50024, it was onward thus...

50024 Plymouth to Paddington (via Bristol and Bath), 21.35 Penzance to Paddington
87022 Euston to Glasgow C, 1S47 07.45 Euston to Glasgow
What looks like a long fester, then short leap on unused bit of ticket...
47152 Glasgow QS to Perth, 18.05 Glasgow to Perth
47152 Perth to Glasgow QS, 19.34 Perth to Glasgow
314212 Glasgow C (Low Level) to Motherwell (this cost 80p).

785 miles with one more overnight to come and one more Fab Feb Saver tomorrow.

 

[Sultan1056]

Saturday 18/10/75
The Leeds Division had a very strong programme of excursions by special trains, and today’s one was from York to Folkestone and Dover:
47255 06xx York – Dover Priory via Leeds, ECML, Canonbury, Stratford, North London Line
After a few hours in Dover it was time to come home, but 47255’s boiler wouldn’t start.
47255 17xx Dover Priory – Leicester
We took a different route on the way back, via Willesden, Dudding Hill, and the Midland Main Line to Leicester, where steaming 45044 was waiting to take over:
45044 20xx Leicester – York via Toton, Beighton Jn, Leeds
OK, so the motive power was nothing much to get excited about, but plenty of new track for me to enjoy, and a fair bit of spotting achieved too.

Saturday 18/10/80
86227 1340 Euston – Birmingham International
86249 1600 Birmingham International – Birmingham New Street
40117 1843 Birmingham New Street – York via Derby, Sheffield, Pontefract
40117 was working a Motor Show additional. I wasn’t sure whether it was starting from International or New Street, hence the alighting at International in the first place.

Thursday 18/10/84
At this time I had wife + flat in York and I’d just started work in Glasgow Control, living in a bedsit in Hillhead. I was working late shift, so there wasn’t much choice of traction to get me to work on time:
43xxx + 43048 0947 York – Edinburgh
47703 1330 Edinburgh – Glasgow Queen Street
I was working a 1500 – 2300 shift. Part of my role was to provide meal break relief to the train running section controllers, so for 30 minutes at a time, I got to understand how each area worked, and to deal with any issues arising. On this day thankfully I wasn’t involved when the up Fort William Sleepers loco 37081 failed at Rannoch. The result was a 2-hour delay whilst big NB 37147 was taken off a freight and sent to rescue the sleepers. Moreover the train was running via Queen Street Low Level to try to recoup some lost time, so after work I made my way to the station to pick up my prize:
37147 (2333) Glasgow Queen Street (LL) – Mossend via Sunnyside Jn
The rest of the night was a bit “canny” (and not in a good sense):
(Friday 19/10/84)
86230 00xx Mossend – Carlisle
This had severe wheelspin departing from Motherwell on load 15, and nearly became gapped in the neutral section.
86259 0346 Carlisle – Glasgow Central
Of course this loco lives on today, often to be seen working railtours on the WCML.

Tuesday 18/10/88
47544 0002 Stirling – Perth
Perth station shunt by 08712
47635 0110 Perth – Inverness
37416 0655 Inverness – Kyle of Lochalsh
37416 1128 Kyle of Lochalsh – Inverness
The 1415 / 1430 Perth – Edinburgh was often a good bet for a pilot loco from Inverness to Perth. Not today, unfortunately:
47542 1415 Inverness – Perth
47702 1647 Perth – Glasgow Queen Street
My ratio of Sulzer : EE was getting seriously overloaded in favour of Sulzer today, so I had to have another burst on the WHL to even things up:
37405 1834 Glasgow Queen Street – Crianlarich
37408 2036 Crianlarich – Glasgow Queen Street

Sunday 18/10/92
A day of diversions on the Gatwick Express services:
43025 + 43033 0747 Reading – Paddington
73202 0900 Victoria – Gatwick Airport via Balham, Carshalton, Horsham
73212 1020 Gatwick Airport – Victoria via Horsham, Carshalton, Balham
43087 + 43140 1230 Paddington – Reading

I have enjoyed reading your reminisces which has brought back some great memories. I was also on the same excursion to Folkestone and Dover. I can confirm that it was routed via the MML in both direction. My spotting notes from the day back this up.

 

[CW2]

I have enjoyed reading your reminisces which has brought back some great memories. I was also on the same excursion to Folkestone and Dover. I can confirm that it was routed via the MML in both direction. My spotting notes from the day back this up.

Oh, thanks for that. I had it recorded as ECML southbound, MML northbound. I'll have to unearth my old notebook if I can find it, and adjust my records accordingly.
Cheers.

 

[xotGD]

First up, a delayed entry from yesterday...

20th February 2002

47709 Loughborough - Leicester

This was when the MML was using a loco-hauled set to supplement its fleet of Trams. A funny place for a shove-Duff.

Now for today...

21st February 1986

An evening in Cheltenham started poorly with a Tram, but coming back was:

47443 Cheltenham - New St 1S19
37224 + 37232 Lickey Bankers 1S19

Now at this point I would normally go home to bed, but thus was February cheap ticket time...

81007 New St - Glasgow Central 1S19

The overhead was icy, so we were entertained to flashes from the pantograph as we made our way through the night. 007 instantly became my favourite Roarer.

Less entertaining was the bunch of students across the aisle playing board games all night, thereby preventing any doss. It turned out that we had similar plans for the next morning.

To be continued tomorrow...

 

[Sultan1056]

Oh, thanks for that. I had it recorded as ECML southbound, MML northbound. I'll have to unearth my old notebook if I can find it, and adjust my records accordingly.
Cheers.

I believe our paths have crossed several times in the past. I was on 40106 from Heckmondwike in June 80. The photo that you provided a link to shows us both. If I am correct I am second from your right. The picture is a little blurry but it could possibly be Bowgo stood between us

 

[CW2]

I believe our paths have crossed several times in the past. I was on 40106 from Heckmondwike in June 80. The photo that you provided a link to shows us both. If I am correct I am second from your right. The picture is a little blurry but it could possibly be Bowgo stood between us

I've had a rummage through the "archive" (selection of plastic boxes filled to the brim with old notebooks) and can't trace my original notebook for that time, so I'd be grateful if you could add any further route details.

I definitely did do the route advised on one of the ADEX trips to the Southern sometime between September 1975 (when I first moved to York) and 1979 (when my better notes begin). It was pretty crazy, going up the chord at Canonbury then eastbound around the North London Line, to then do a loop around Stratford and back through Canonbury again westbound this time. If you have any better route / mileage info, I'd be very pleased to receive it.

So were you a resident of York in the late 70s, or from further afield?
Interesting you live in Gourock now. I was there myself 1984-87 in a flat overlooking the seafront, my first family home, while I worked at Glasgow Control. The merits of Gourock at the time were that it was relatively cheap, the views were superb, and there was a good train service. I'd guess not much has changed.

 

[CW2]

Thursday 22/02/79
Some more nocturnal ECML bashing:
40081 0115 York – Doncaster via Selby, 10’ late
40160 0320 Doncaster – York via Selby, 25’ late
40160 was new for haulage, so a nice little round trip. I was ready to head off home when I realised the 1930 Aberdeen – Kings Cross hadn’t arrived yet. In it rolled behind 55010 …
55010 0254 York – Grantham via Selby, 85’ late.
At Grantham I had only a short wait for:
31417 0629 Grantham – Leeds

Wednesday 22/02/84
I was working night shift in Leeds Control. One of the traction controllers tipped me off that something unusual was in the offing. I went home, got a few hours’ sleep, then appeared again later that day:
43050 + 43xxx 0745 Leeds – York
[Sleep]
45137 1154 York – Leeds
50006 1230 Leeds – Derby via Viaduct, Moorthorpe, Sheffield
47442 1449 Derby – Sheffield
47448 1549 Sheffield – York
[More sleep]
45131 2023 York – Leeds … and onto another night shift!
50006 was fresh ex Doncaster works, and was being sent back to the Western Region via the 1230 Leeds – Cardiff. It worked the train as far as Gloucester, then another service forward to Plymouth. After an exam at Laira, it did a round trip from Plymouth to Penzance, then worked the Up Midnight … and promptly erupted into spontaneous self-combustion. It was swiftly dragged back to Doncaster for them to have another try!

Friday 22/02/85
Returning from Crewe to Glasgow at the end of my TOPS for Controllers course at Webb House, I chose to do the scenic route:
87028 1219 Crewe – Lancaster
DMU Lancaster – Carlisle via Barrow in Furness, Maryport
47590 1740 Carlisle – Glasgow Central via Dumfries

Friday 22/02/91
I started the day on a very cold platform at Dalmuir, awaiting the arrival of the Fort William – Euston sleeper, to cover yet another bizarre route variant:
37405 0004 Dalmuir – Carstairs via Yoker, Glasgow Central Low Level, Rutherglen, Holytown, Wishaw
86249 01xx Carstairs – Euston
Then a stroll along the Euston Road for:
91009 0910 Kings Cross – Peterborough
91029 1021 Peterborough – Kings Cross
91029 was new for haulage.
At this time there was a short lived diagram for loco + stock out of Marylebone on the Aylesbury direct route. OK, it was only a 47, but it had to be done for the rarity value:
47598 1224 Marylebone – Aylesbury
47598 1451 Aylesbury – Marylebone
Then to round off the day, across to Waterloo:
50037 1705 Waterloo – Andover
50030 1843 Andover – Basingstoke
205 032 Basingstoke – Reading

 

[NorthWestRover]

Wednesday 22nd February 1984

I think this was my last 40 haulage until I fortuitously fell onto 122 in June 1986 on the Cambrian Coast. Appropriate that it was into Warrington.

87013 Preston to Crewe, 1M33 07.20 Glasgow to Birmingham
40002 Crewe to WBQ (dragging 87004) 1S61 06.45 Paddington to Glasgow
87004 WBQ to Preston, 1S61 06.45 Paddington to Glasgow
87032 Preston to Crewe, 1M57 09.20 Glasgow to Birmingham
87029 Crewe to Preston, 1S71 14.05 Birmingham to Glasgow
87014 Preston to Crewe, 1K04 17.50 Preston to Crewe
87032 Crewe to Preston, 1S87 18.00 Birmingham to Glasgow
87004 Preston to Crewe, 1M52 17.10 Glasgow to Euston

Saturday 22nd February 1986

Final Fab Feb Saver day...

86225 Motherwell to Mossend Yard, 1S07 21.00 Euston to Fort William
37402 Mossend Yard to Cowlairs, 1S07
37409 (pulling)/37402 (pushing) Cowlairs to Glasgow QS, 1S07
37402 Glasgow QS to Tyndrum Upper, 1S07
37404 Tyndrum Lower to Arrochar & Tarbert, 08.00 Oban to Glasgow
37411 Arrochar & Tarbert to Oban, 08.20 Glasgow to Oban
37411 Oban to Glasgow QS, 13.00 Oban to Glasgow
87022 Glasgow C to Crewe, 1M52 17.05 Glasgow to Euston
86248 Crewe to Wolverhampton, 1M47 17.15 Glasgow to Birmingham

All four 37s required, £4 Fab Feb Saver Motherwell to Oban (and return of one of the earlier ones Glasgow to Wolves; I'm sure I bought a day return for the double back on the WHL lol). Sleep.