The routing of the ADEX was:
York, Leeds, Wakefield Westgate, Moorthorpe, Barrow Hill, Toton, Brent Junction, Acton Central, Kew East Junction, Clapham Junction, Stewarts Lane, Brixton, Bickley Junction & Orpington. I have made it out as 296 miles to Folkestone. You will have obviously enjoyed further mileage with 47255 to Dover!
In 4/7/76 I was on Mystery Excursion from York to Southend Central (47448 was the motive power). This went via the ECML to Finsbury Park, then Canonbury to Stratford, then onto Barking. Do you know if you were on this train.
I am originally from York, retired to the Cowal Peninsula; my closest station is Gourock which I can see from my house through a good pair of binoculars!
Thanks once more for that, and the extra details. I never did Southend loco-hauled. There always seemed to be better things to do than sit behind a 47 all the way from York or Leeds to Southend.
Anyway, here's today's contribution:
Friday 23/02/79
45017 1126 York – Leeds
46020 1707 Leeds – York, 10’ late, weak loco.
47527 1711 York – Doncaster via Selby, 67’ late.
55011 1836 Doncaster – York via Selby, 45’ late. Running One Engine Only, and covering for the cancelled 1615 FO Kings Cross – York.
This was the only run I ever recorded with 46020.
Tuesday 23/02/82
Word had reached me that my pet 40, 40069, had been on the Manchester – Cleethorpes papers the past few nights, and was allocated again tonight. Now there was a risk to this, as although the 0120 Manchester Piccadilly – Cleethorpes conveyed passenger accommodation, it was unadvertised, so it was at the discretion of the guard as to whether or not you could travel. At least as a railway employee I stood a better chance than when I was a mere basher. I set off north to chance my luck.
86244 1900 Euston – Crewe
86206 2221 Crewe – Manchester Piccadilly
Friday 23/02/90
The following day – Saturday 24/02/90 – was a diesel gala day on the S&C, so I had to position myself at Carlisle for it. So after working late shift at Paddington, there was a superb way of getting there:
87101 2350 Euston – Carlisle
Unfortunately this was not the smooth night’s sleep I had anticipated. We ran at 20 mph from signal to signal south of Rugby, following the preceding 2345 Euston – Edinburgh with a hot axle box. Then later whilst climbing Shap we were involved in a SPAD (Signal Passed At Danger), and nearly rear-ended a stationary Freightliner service. Quite an eventful and bumpy night (although we avoided the major bump hazard on Shap!).
Wednesday 23/02/94
This was another steam railtour attempting to get to Bradford Forster Square, after the previous attempt on 9th February had failed.
47759 0725 Reading – Didcot
34027 0815 Didcot – Sheffield via Solihull, Saltley, Derby.
Terminated at Sheffield 90’ late, due to overwhelming snow and ice. (See, it’s not just a modern phenomenon). Once again, we got nowhere near Bradford Forster Square, and gave up.
43180 + 43086 1515 Sheffield – Birmingham New Street, 60’ late.
47845 1706 Birmingham New Street – Reading via Coventry, 45’ late.