D6130
Established Member
It would have been a massive thrash over the hills South of Girvan with a 27 and load 6....and on a very scenic line - but the return journey would have been entirely in darkness.
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I think a Battlefield Band gig might also be awarded the title "Massive Thrash".
That being said, I was always up for a trip to Stranraer. An exceptional line, somewhat overshadowed by the West Highland, Kyle, and Far North lines, but probably my favourite amongst those.
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Fair shout, it is a nice line to do. If I'd done it on a 27 I'd probably have less biased views against going all the way to Stranraer, but I did it in the days of SPT 156s!
Graeme.Hutchis
Member
6th & 7th March 1987
303021 Branchton - Glasgow ,21.39 x Wemyss Bay
86103 Glasgow - Carlisle ,23.50 Glasgow - Bristol 1V32
85017 Carlisle - Euston , 22.00 Stranraer - Euston 1M14
LUL to Waterloo
455 873 Waterloo - Clapham , 08.36 Waterloo - Chessington South, Not sure why i done that move.
Unit Clapham - Woking 09.44 Waterloo - Bournemouth, No ED this time
33116 Woking - Basingstoke , 10.10 Waterloo - Salisbury 1L05
Unit Basingstoke - Bournemouth , 10.44 Waterloo - Bournemouth, again no ED
33118 Bournemouth - Weymouth , 11.32 Waterloo - Weymouth 1W23
33117 Weymouth - Bournemouth , 15.31 Weymouth - Waterloo 1W36
47641 Bournemouth - Southampton , 17.10 Poole - Liverpool 1M40
33062 Southampton - Bristol , 17.10 Portsmouth - Cardiff 1V85
33207 Bristol - Bathspa ,20.15 Bristol - Portsmouth 2O98
33032 Bathspa - Bristol , 18.10 Portsmouth - Bristol 1V87
45104 Bristol - Birmingham , 21.25 Bristol - Glasgow 1S19, No bankers this night
86408 Birmingham - Stafford as above 1S19
8th March 1987
47547 Stafford - Glasgow , 21.25 Bristol - Glasgow 1S19
xotGD
Established Member
- Joined
- 4 Feb 2017
- Messages
- 7,839
I've only been to Stranraer twice. Once behind a 27 and once behind a 20 piloting a 47.
Meanwhile...
6th March 1999
47806 Bristol TM - Birmingham New Street
Meanwhile...
6th March 1999
47806 Bristol TM - Birmingham New Street
NorthWestRover
Established Member
- Joined
- 24 Aug 2018
- Messages
- 1,608
I've never been to Stranraer
Cheshire Scot
Established Member
I've been to Stranraer several times:
On the sleeper and returning on a class 126
On a class 126 and then catching the ferry to Larne (as the route was back then) on two occasions - but not returning on this route, with Holyhead and Fishguard being my return routes.
And most recently in 2014 on a cl156 as being my choice of 'scenic route' from Glasgow to Cheshire, and from Stranraer I then took a bus to Dumfries which had timetabled ten minutes between arrival at Dumfries station and the departure of a train to Carlisle which I missed by several minutes and with a two hour wait for the next one I then weighed up the options of bus to Lockerbie or bus to Carlisle and chose the latter which proved to be wrong answer as having negotiated Annan, Gretna and Longtown and finally reached the outskirts of Carlisle it set off an a tour of Supermarket bus stops meaning I arrived in Carlisle some two hours after reaching Dumfries station and missed further trains and finally got home very much later than planned.
Tuesday 07/03/78
46056 1123 York – Leeds
47445 1206 Leeds – York
Wednesday 07/03/79
I had ended up at York in the wee small hours of the morning, and instead of going straight home – like any normal sane young man – I stayed out for a few more hours:
47412 0254 York – Grantham via Selby
40081 0629 Grantham – Leeds via Viaduct
Friday 07/03/80
40160 2000 Kings Cross – Edinburgh via Selby.
A nice way to start a long weekend bashing (mainly) in Scotland …
Sunday 07/03/82
Crewe station buffet saw a lot of very dossed-out wretches in the middle of the night, of whom I was one! I had arrived behind an ETH 47 via Cannock, and was looking for a way back south. Eventually a suitable conveyance arrived:
81022 0535 Crewe – Euston
(Wednesday 06/03/85)
86229 2350 Glasgow Central – Motherwell
Thursday 07/03/85
86243 0037 Motherwell – Carlisle
86258 0132 Carlisle – Mossend
37033 04xx Mossend – Tulloch via Gartsherrie South Jn, Gartcosh Jn, Springburn, Cowlairs, Glasgow Queen Street
(Unknown loco on rear Cowlairs to Queen Street)
37188 0915 Tulloch – Glasgow Queen Street
46056 1123 York – Leeds
47445 1206 Leeds – York
Wednesday 07/03/79
I had ended up at York in the wee small hours of the morning, and instead of going straight home – like any normal sane young man – I stayed out for a few more hours:
47412 0254 York – Grantham via Selby
40081 0629 Grantham – Leeds via Viaduct
Friday 07/03/80
40160 2000 Kings Cross – Edinburgh via Selby.
A nice way to start a long weekend bashing (mainly) in Scotland …
Sunday 07/03/82
Crewe station buffet saw a lot of very dossed-out wretches in the middle of the night, of whom I was one! I had arrived behind an ETH 47 via Cannock, and was looking for a way back south. Eventually a suitable conveyance arrived:
81022 0535 Crewe – Euston
(Wednesday 06/03/85)
86229 2350 Glasgow Central – Motherwell
Thursday 07/03/85
86243 0037 Motherwell – Carlisle
86258 0132 Carlisle – Mossend
37033 04xx Mossend – Tulloch via Gartsherrie South Jn, Gartcosh Jn, Springburn, Cowlairs, Glasgow Queen Street
(Unknown loco on rear Cowlairs to Queen Street)
37188 0915 Tulloch – Glasgow Queen Street
Falcon1200
Established Member
Thursday 7th March 1985
EMU 0700 Burgos-Irun (from Miranda de Ebro)
Walk across the Spain/France frontier
BB9234 Hendaye-Paris Austerlitz (to Dax)
CC6534 ditto (Dax-Bordeaux)
Autorail 1814 Bordeaux-Limoges
EMU 0700 Burgos-Irun (from Miranda de Ebro)
Walk across the Spain/France frontier
BB9234 Hendaye-Paris Austerlitz (to Dax)
CC6534 ditto (Dax-Bordeaux)
Autorail 1814 Bordeaux-Limoges
Derek Cross is a renowned railway photographer but he was also a very good writer. His article "On a Diesel in a Deluge" in Railway Magazine January 1975 is a brilliant description of a footplate ride on 40044 from Ayr to Stranraer on the Wirral Railway Circle Rob Roy railtour:
According to Derek Cross, the 1 in 54 ascent out of Girvan, going towards Stranraer, is the third steepest in Scotland, after Raven Rock and Cowlairs. The line is intermittently visible, from the platform at Girvan, for about 2 miles, as it climbs high above the south end of the town. I once watched a class 27 do that climb: it took a long time and was very noisy!
Cheshire Scot
Established Member
Whilst I would not wish to doubt the word of that accomplished photographer Derek Cross, the gradient profiles book shows several 1 in 48 gradients and others of 1 in 50 Mallaig extension, also 1 in 53 out of Rannoch. Of course the gradient profiles book may be wrong, on different pages it quotes Cowlairs as 1 in 41 and 1 in 45 where I believe it is generally acknowledged as 1 in 42.
OK, here's a few of my experiences with Stranraer ...
My first trip to Stranraer I covered earlier in this thread, an unexpected cab ride in 27004 + 27037 from Ayr to Stranraer and return on 12-13/08/77. The train was the Fridays Only Blackpool - Stranraer. This train ran for about 8 weeks in the height of summer, purely for the purpose of moving Ulster holidaymakers to Blackpool and return. Originally it was LM rolling stock, and was diagrammed for a 40 from Blackpool to Preston, a Roarer Preston - Carlisle, and another 40 Carlisle -Stranraer. (On this occasion the Ayr driver didn't sign class 40s, so the pair of 27s worked Ayr - Stranraer and return).
As bashing class 40s became more popular - and the class was on limited time - the existence of this peak-summer high-mileage move became known. In many ways it was ideal, since it provided a comfortable overnight move over some quite rare class 40 track, and deposited you back at Preston or Blackpool early on Saturday morning ready for a full day of bashing class 40s. It was entirely coincidental that the train was rostered to be operated by goods guards, who were not ticket trained, and therefore the train was entirely un-gripped in both directions, enabling plenty of sleep (undisturbed by anybody wanting to check that you did indeed possess some form of validity).
Summer 1979 and I was working at Manchester Victoria station buffet for Travellers Fare. I managed to swing my rosters by a bit of juggling, so that I was early turn Friday / late turn Saturday, leaving me free to do the Blackpool - Stranraer on successive weeks. I've already listed the moves earlier in this thread, but in summary:
03-04/08/79 40164 Carlisle - Stranraer & return
10-11/08/79 40175
17-18/08/79 40113
24-25/08/79 40113 (again)
Some time in the next few years - I haven't delved into the timetables to check precisely, but certainly by 1983 - the timetable of the Blackpool - Stranraer was amended. It was now resourced from Polmadie, using one of the Sealink liveried sets. It ran FO 18xx(?) Glasgow Central - Stranraer, 0120 (SO) Stranraer - Blackpool, 0945 (SO) Blackpool - Stranraer, and 21xx(?)SO Stranraer - Glasgow Central. It was diagrammed for a steam heat 47 within Scotland, but class 37s were known to substitute from time to time. Also, what got sent to Carlisle wasn't always what came back, as Crewe Control were in the habit of pinching the Scottish class 47 for "more important" duties and sending back any old loco they could lay hands on. Retaliation was swift, with Glasgow Control allocating some of Motherwell's finest NB 37s to the diagram ...
Another fine train was the Sunday afternoon trip from Glasgow Central to Stranraer and return, which was also booked a steam-heat 47. During certain periods of the year the WCML was closed on a Sunday for engineering works, so all WCML services were diverted via Dumfries, which meant class 47s were at a premium. Once again, the faithful Scottish 37s came to the rescue, by doing the run to Stranraer and return. A splendid way to spend a summer Sunday afternoon, 1505 Glasgow Central - Stranraer, 1830 return.
The Euston - Stranraer has been mentioned by some. There was an incident one morning when the class 47 slithered to a halt on the climb out of Girvan, and was unable to restart the train. It took several hours to raise the alarm, and request assistance. The sleepers missed the ferry at Stranraer, and one of the sleeper passengers was an Ulster MP who saw the inability of ScotRail to maintain this vital connection as a threat to the very existence of the Union, and raised the matter at the Very Highest Level (he tended to speak in Capital Letters). Thereafter, the Euston - Stranraer had to have a pilot loco attached at Newton on Ayr every morning to ensure it didn't slide to a halt again. It was often a single class 20, or if not then a 26 or 27. On arrival at Stranraer the pilot loco would cut off just short of the station then draw forward into the middle road, where the crew would take their PNB before returning light engine to Ayr. Sometimes, if they wanted to get home quickly, they would pilot the 0730 Stranraer - Glasgow Central as far as Ayr, detaching there. All of this additional expense helped ensure the death of the Stranraer sleeper (along with the shipping company deciding to abandon Stranraer and move to Cairnryan of course).
Finally, there were various specials over the years - most recently a pair of 50s to Stranraer last September. In 2014 the RTC Great Britain took a pair of Black 5s to Stranraer. I wonder what the future holds for Stranraer, as the place must be dying.
My first trip to Stranraer I covered earlier in this thread, an unexpected cab ride in 27004 + 27037 from Ayr to Stranraer and return on 12-13/08/77. The train was the Fridays Only Blackpool - Stranraer. This train ran for about 8 weeks in the height of summer, purely for the purpose of moving Ulster holidaymakers to Blackpool and return. Originally it was LM rolling stock, and was diagrammed for a 40 from Blackpool to Preston, a Roarer Preston - Carlisle, and another 40 Carlisle -Stranraer. (On this occasion the Ayr driver didn't sign class 40s, so the pair of 27s worked Ayr - Stranraer and return).
As bashing class 40s became more popular - and the class was on limited time - the existence of this peak-summer high-mileage move became known. In many ways it was ideal, since it provided a comfortable overnight move over some quite rare class 40 track, and deposited you back at Preston or Blackpool early on Saturday morning ready for a full day of bashing class 40s. It was entirely coincidental that the train was rostered to be operated by goods guards, who were not ticket trained, and therefore the train was entirely un-gripped in both directions, enabling plenty of sleep (undisturbed by anybody wanting to check that you did indeed possess some form of validity).
Summer 1979 and I was working at Manchester Victoria station buffet for Travellers Fare. I managed to swing my rosters by a bit of juggling, so that I was early turn Friday / late turn Saturday, leaving me free to do the Blackpool - Stranraer on successive weeks. I've already listed the moves earlier in this thread, but in summary:
03-04/08/79 40164 Carlisle - Stranraer & return
10-11/08/79 40175
17-18/08/79 40113
24-25/08/79 40113 (again)
Some time in the next few years - I haven't delved into the timetables to check precisely, but certainly by 1983 - the timetable of the Blackpool - Stranraer was amended. It was now resourced from Polmadie, using one of the Sealink liveried sets. It ran FO 18xx(?) Glasgow Central - Stranraer, 0120 (SO) Stranraer - Blackpool, 0945 (SO) Blackpool - Stranraer, and 21xx(?)SO Stranraer - Glasgow Central. It was diagrammed for a steam heat 47 within Scotland, but class 37s were known to substitute from time to time. Also, what got sent to Carlisle wasn't always what came back, as Crewe Control were in the habit of pinching the Scottish class 47 for "more important" duties and sending back any old loco they could lay hands on. Retaliation was swift, with Glasgow Control allocating some of Motherwell's finest NB 37s to the diagram ...
Another fine train was the Sunday afternoon trip from Glasgow Central to Stranraer and return, which was also booked a steam-heat 47. During certain periods of the year the WCML was closed on a Sunday for engineering works, so all WCML services were diverted via Dumfries, which meant class 47s were at a premium. Once again, the faithful Scottish 37s came to the rescue, by doing the run to Stranraer and return. A splendid way to spend a summer Sunday afternoon, 1505 Glasgow Central - Stranraer, 1830 return.
The Euston - Stranraer has been mentioned by some. There was an incident one morning when the class 47 slithered to a halt on the climb out of Girvan, and was unable to restart the train. It took several hours to raise the alarm, and request assistance. The sleepers missed the ferry at Stranraer, and one of the sleeper passengers was an Ulster MP who saw the inability of ScotRail to maintain this vital connection as a threat to the very existence of the Union, and raised the matter at the Very Highest Level (he tended to speak in Capital Letters). Thereafter, the Euston - Stranraer had to have a pilot loco attached at Newton on Ayr every morning to ensure it didn't slide to a halt again. It was often a single class 20, or if not then a 26 or 27. On arrival at Stranraer the pilot loco would cut off just short of the station then draw forward into the middle road, where the crew would take their PNB before returning light engine to Ayr. Sometimes, if they wanted to get home quickly, they would pilot the 0730 Stranraer - Glasgow Central as far as Ayr, detaching there. All of this additional expense helped ensure the death of the Stranraer sleeper (along with the shipping company deciding to abandon Stranraer and move to Cairnryan of course).
Finally, there were various specials over the years - most recently a pair of 50s to Stranraer last September. In 2014 the RTC Great Britain took a pair of Black 5s to Stranraer. I wonder what the future holds for Stranraer, as the place must be dying.
Last edited:
The Derek Cross article includes a vivid description of 40044 slithering to a halt on the climb out of Girvan, and a brilliant recovery by a skilled driver.
Yes. If Derek Cross was checking the Gradient Profiles book, then it looks like he lost interest before getting to Sc30, the last in the Scottish section.
Falcon1200
Established Member
I've been to, and through, Stranraer many times, but my only surviving record of loco haulage is the 2115 Glasgow Central-Stranraer on the 5th November 1987; By this time the traction was the rather less exciting 47559. As I had not been there for many years I did a day trip on the 23rd October 2019, the traction then being the even less exciting 156442. But it was adequate for the traffic, and got there and back OK.
alistairlees
Established Member
- Joined
- 29 Dec 2016
- Messages
- 4,390
I did the Euston - Stranraer once, in a sleeper berth throughout, to get some sleep in the middle of an all-liner. I think it was 1985.
47469 from Carlisle to Stranraer (on the Euston to Stranraer sleeper).
47470 from Stranraer to Glasgow C (on the 07.30 Stranraer to Glasgow C)
There was no pilot.
I didn't bother going again.
xotGD
Established Member
- Joined
- 4 Feb 2017
- Messages
- 7,839
7th March 1987
Myself and a mate had procured some cheap March tickets for a circular trip to the south coast. Six different classes for haulage*...
47479 New Street - Oxford 1O03
50036 Oxford - Paddington 1F29
Àcross London on the tube and we had to leg it to only just catch...
73104 Waterloo - Bournemouth 1B19
33113 Bournemouth - Weymouth 1W31
My only time on a 4TC.
Unit to Westbury then...
33062 Westbury - Bath 1V85
Pub visit before the next Crompton...
33032 Bath - Bristol TM 1V87
45104 Bristol TM - New Street 1S19
37227 Lickey Banker 1S19
A good day out. I've previously shared a couple of photos from the day somewhere up thread.
*OK, so the 73 and 37 were pushing!
7th March 1992
87031 New Street - Wolverhampton
90005 Wolverhampton - Coventry
86242 Coventry - New Street
7th March 1993
Off to South Wales for a couple of days...
47831 New Street - Cardiff (via Camp Hill and Chepstow)
Myself and a mate had procured some cheap March tickets for a circular trip to the south coast. Six different classes for haulage*...
47479 New Street - Oxford 1O03
50036 Oxford - Paddington 1F29
Àcross London on the tube and we had to leg it to only just catch...
73104 Waterloo - Bournemouth 1B19
33113 Bournemouth - Weymouth 1W31
My only time on a 4TC.
Unit to Westbury then...
33062 Westbury - Bath 1V85
Pub visit before the next Crompton...
33032 Bath - Bristol TM 1V87
45104 Bristol TM - New Street 1S19
37227 Lickey Banker 1S19
A good day out. I've previously shared a couple of photos from the day somewhere up thread.
*OK, so the 73 and 37 were pushing!
7th March 1992
87031 New Street - Wolverhampton
90005 Wolverhampton - Coventry
86242 Coventry - New Street
7th March 1993
Off to South Wales for a couple of days...
47831 New Street - Cardiff (via Camp Hill and Chepstow)
D6130
Established Member
SATURDAY 7th MARCH 1981:
A friend and I decided to travel on a "Holiday Preview" ADEX Excursion from Glasgow Central to Rhyl:
314 204 Hyndland-Glasgow Central LL (07 48 Dalmuir-Motherwell)
85 016 08 55 Glasgow Central-Warrington Bank Quay (Consist: M34671/25763/24825/25813/16155/25977/25764/25733/25379/25432/35181 Load 11
VB/DH)
40 078 Warrington BQ-Rhyl
M51190/56340/51198/56337 Rhyl-Llandudno Junction (13 07 Chester-Llandudno)
M56339/51197 Llandudno Junction-Bangor (14 28 to Holyhead)
47 530 Bangor-Rhyl (15 03 Holyhead-Manchester Victoria. Consist: M35067/24126/16063/24880/15634/24882/25835/34560 Load 8 VB/DH)
40 078 18 04 Rhyl-Chester (Return ADEX). As it was running short of fuel, the Whistler was replaced at Chester by:
47 188 Chester-Warrington BQ
85 016 Warrington BQ-Glasgow Central
The Roarer, the Whistler and the two Duffs were all required for haulage....a splendid day out, with good weather too. I didn't record how I got home from Glasgow Central, but I suspect that we walked to the Bon Accord at Charing Cross - my 'go to' pub at the time (and still is when I visit Glasgow) - after which my friend probably caught the last train back to Helensburgh and I probably meandered through the West End of Glasgow, doubtless calling in at various other pubs en route, before eventually pouring myself through my front door in Hyndland at some ungodly hour of the morning!
A friend and I decided to travel on a "Holiday Preview" ADEX Excursion from Glasgow Central to Rhyl:
314 204 Hyndland-Glasgow Central LL (07 48 Dalmuir-Motherwell)
85 016 08 55 Glasgow Central-Warrington Bank Quay (Consist: M34671/25763/24825/25813/16155/25977/25764/25733/25379/25432/35181 Load 11
VB/DH)
40 078 Warrington BQ-Rhyl
M51190/56340/51198/56337 Rhyl-Llandudno Junction (13 07 Chester-Llandudno)
M56339/51197 Llandudno Junction-Bangor (14 28 to Holyhead)
47 530 Bangor-Rhyl (15 03 Holyhead-Manchester Victoria. Consist: M35067/24126/16063/24880/15634/24882/25835/34560 Load 8 VB/DH)
40 078 18 04 Rhyl-Chester (Return ADEX). As it was running short of fuel, the Whistler was replaced at Chester by:
47 188 Chester-Warrington BQ
85 016 Warrington BQ-Glasgow Central
The Roarer, the Whistler and the two Duffs were all required for haulage....a splendid day out, with good weather too. I didn't record how I got home from Glasgow Central, but I suspect that we walked to the Bon Accord at Charing Cross - my 'go to' pub at the time (and still is when I visit Glasgow) - after which my friend probably caught the last train back to Helensburgh and I probably meandered through the West End of Glasgow, doubtless calling in at various other pubs en route, before eventually pouring myself through my front door in Hyndland at some ungodly hour of the morning!
Wednesday 08/03/78
DMU Harrogate - Leeds, Leeds – Skipton
46032 1514 Skipton – Leeds
DMU Leeds – Huddersfield
45019 1636 Huddersfield – York
Not much to show for an afternoon off college.
Saturday 08/03/80
I had arrived at Edinburgh on the 2000 overnight from Kings Cross, which re-engined from 40160 to something much less appealing. I stuck with it nevertheless, keen to get to Dundee to cover the early morning departures in all directions from there, and pick up some gen from Dundee TOPS Office:
47269 0328 Edinburgh – Dundee
40165 0650 Dundee – Stirling
40057 0846 Stirling – Glasgow Queen Street, 6’ early!
47708 0930 Glasgow Queen Street – Edinburgh via Falkirk High
40148 1100 Edinburgh – Aberdeen
DMU Aberdeen – Inverurie and return
40101 1530 Aberdeen – Perth
40157 2012 Perth – Dundee
40078 2046 Dundee – Edinburgh
A fine crop of 40s and some decent long runs in the course of the day. The last train that 40078 was on was the 1915 Aberdeen – Kings Cross (the balancing working of the 2000 Kings Cross – Edinburgh on which I had arrived earlier that morning). It re-engined at Edinburgh as booked:
55014 2225 Edinburgh – Newcastle
Thursday 08/03/84
I had a few days’ leave, so after a visit to the office I headed for Scotland, via London (as you do).
45108 1154 York – Leeds
43153 + 43065 1245 Leeds – Kings Cross via Viaduct
87027 1645 Euston – Glasgow Central
37112 2238 Glasgow Queen Street – Perth
Wednesday 08/03/89
A meeting of the Continental Railway Circle in Stafford:
86411 1807 Crewe – Stafford
47665 2207 Stafford – Crewe
47665 survives to this day as 47785 at the Wensleydale Railway.
DMU Harrogate - Leeds, Leeds – Skipton
46032 1514 Skipton – Leeds
DMU Leeds – Huddersfield
45019 1636 Huddersfield – York
Not much to show for an afternoon off college.
Saturday 08/03/80
I had arrived at Edinburgh on the 2000 overnight from Kings Cross, which re-engined from 40160 to something much less appealing. I stuck with it nevertheless, keen to get to Dundee to cover the early morning departures in all directions from there, and pick up some gen from Dundee TOPS Office:
47269 0328 Edinburgh – Dundee
40165 0650 Dundee – Stirling
40057 0846 Stirling – Glasgow Queen Street, 6’ early!
47708 0930 Glasgow Queen Street – Edinburgh via Falkirk High
40148 1100 Edinburgh – Aberdeen
DMU Aberdeen – Inverurie and return
40101 1530 Aberdeen – Perth
40157 2012 Perth – Dundee
40078 2046 Dundee – Edinburgh
A fine crop of 40s and some decent long runs in the course of the day. The last train that 40078 was on was the 1915 Aberdeen – Kings Cross (the balancing working of the 2000 Kings Cross – Edinburgh on which I had arrived earlier that morning). It re-engined at Edinburgh as booked:
55014 2225 Edinburgh – Newcastle
Thursday 08/03/84
I had a few days’ leave, so after a visit to the office I headed for Scotland, via London (as you do).
45108 1154 York – Leeds
43153 + 43065 1245 Leeds – Kings Cross via Viaduct
87027 1645 Euston – Glasgow Central
37112 2238 Glasgow Queen Street – Perth
Wednesday 08/03/89
A meeting of the Continental Railway Circle in Stafford:
86411 1807 Crewe – Stafford
47665 2207 Stafford – Crewe
47665 survives to this day as 47785 at the Wensleydale Railway.
Saturday 8th March 1980
Cumbrian Mountain Express (Steam hauled southbound)
The train ran Preston-Carlisle-Settle-Skipton-Preston, with the tickets valid on some service trains to and from Preston.
DMU Derby-Crewe
87012 09:10 Crewe-Preston
81018 11:10 Preston-Carlisle
5305 12:46 Carlisle-Skipton
4472 16:35 Skipton-Carnforth
40032 18:00 Carnforth-Preston
87028 18:44 Preston-Crewe
DMU Crewe-Derby
Cumbrian Mountain Express (Steam hauled southbound)
The train ran Preston-Carlisle-Settle-Skipton-Preston, with the tickets valid on some service trains to and from Preston.
DMU Derby-Crewe
87012 09:10 Crewe-Preston
81018 11:10 Preston-Carlisle
5305 12:46 Carlisle-Skipton
4472 16:35 Skipton-Carnforth
40032 18:00 Carnforth-Preston
87028 18:44 Preston-Crewe
DMU Crewe-Derby
NorthWestRover
Established Member
- Joined
- 24 Aug 2018
- Messages
- 1,608
Spectacular day. 165 was my last one for spotting. Took me ages and one day it was sitting there in Warrington sidings. I never had it for haulage.
Falcon1200
Established Member
Friday 8th March 1985
CC6527 0712 Brive-Paris Austerlitz (from Limoges)
Metro to Gare du Nord
CC40104 1330 Paris Gare du Nord-Koln (to Brussel Midi)
EMU Vise-Knokke (from Brussel Midi)
Tram to Oostende
Ship ('Sealink tub' as one of friends called them) to Dover
Tuesday 8th March 1994; Day trip to the Tyne & Wear Metro
91023 0800 Glasgow C-Kings X (to Newcastle)
153351 1325 Newcastle-Carlisle
87016 1250 Euston-Glasgow C (from Carlisle)
CC6527 0712 Brive-Paris Austerlitz (from Limoges)
Metro to Gare du Nord
CC40104 1330 Paris Gare du Nord-Koln (to Brussel Midi)
EMU Vise-Knokke (from Brussel Midi)
Tram to Oostende
Ship ('Sealink tub' as one of friends called them) to Dover
Tuesday 8th March 1994; Day trip to the Tyne & Wear Metro
91023 0800 Glasgow C-Kings X (to Newcastle)
153351 1325 Newcastle-Carlisle
87016 1250 Euston-Glasgow C (from Carlisle)
D6130
Established Member
I had it for the first time last Saturday (5th March)....albeit on a much shorter ourney and at a more sedate pace - on the East Lancashire Railway.
I hadn't realised is was there now. Last time I had it was way back in 1995 on the West Somerset Railway.
D6130
Established Member
It arrived on the ELR in 2017 and is on a five year loan expiring at the end of this year.
xotGD
Established Member
- Joined
- 4 Feb 2017
- Messages
- 7,839
8th March 1988
Attending a job interview...
47568 New Street - Manchester Pic 1M88
86426 Manchester Pic - New Street 1G09
I didn't get the job!
Attending a job interview...
47568 New Street - Manchester Pic 1M88
86426 Manchester Pic - New Street 1G09
I didn't get the job!
Sunday 09/03/80
Continuing the weekend trip to Scotland, I festered at Newcastle in the hope of something decent to take me back north, via Beattock. Eventually …
40084 0332 Newcastle – Edinburgh via Scotswood, Carlisle.
70’->110’ late, held for 20+ minutes at both Carstairs (on the avoider) and Midcalder, waiting for the previous late-running train to clear the section.
Usually there was something worth chasing in Scotland, even on a Sunday. Not today. It was class 47s as far as the eye could see. Eventually we learned that the only 40 working would be the 1925 Aberdeen – Kings Cross as far as Edinburgh, which was allocated 40148. So we headed north to Aberdeen, duff all the way:
47705 1100 Edinburgh – Aberdeen
We had about 5 hours to waste in Aberdeen, on a Sunday, back in the days of strict licensing hours. We passed the time by walking down to Ferryhill depot, and winding up the headcode “1E40” onto the centre headcode panel of 40148. A long cold day.
40148 1925 Aberdeen – Edinburgh
Whatever took over at Edinburgh was not to my taste, so I headed up the West Coast instead:
47709 2345 Edinburgh – Carstairs
Monday 09/03/81
An evening Deltic bash:
55017 1805 Kings Cross – Peterborough
55013 2051 Peterborough – Grantham
55002 2119 Grantham – Kings Cross
Friday 09/03/84
26024 0105 Perth – Aberdeen
At Aberdeen the 26 was immediately attached to the unadvertised 0447 to Elgin. It was officially an ECS service, because it shunted into the yard at Elgin whilst other trains crossed in the station. Its main purpose was the conveyance and distribution of newspapers which had arrived from Glasgow off the 2330 Queen Street – Inverness and 2325 Edinburgh – Inverness, connecting into the 0105 Perth – Aberdeen. Fortunately the 0447 Aberdeen – Elgin often conveyed off-duty staff or other passengers, so I had no problem boarding:
26024 0447 Aberdeen – Elgin (ECS / news / mails)
26024 0715 Elgin – Inverness
So I had the same 26 Perth – Aberdeen – Elgin – Inverness.
47103 0848 Inverness – Elgin
47270 0930 Elgin – Inverness
47270 was new for haulage, then onto the Far North line with steam-heat 37s:
37017 1140 Inverness – Brora
37260 1346 Brora – Inverness
37025 1740 Inverness – Brora
37017 1946 Brora – Inverness
47483 2350 Inverness – Glasgow Queen Street
Saturday 09/03/85
37111 2330 Glasgow Queen Street – Perth
Continuing the weekend trip to Scotland, I festered at Newcastle in the hope of something decent to take me back north, via Beattock. Eventually …
40084 0332 Newcastle – Edinburgh via Scotswood, Carlisle.
70’->110’ late, held for 20+ minutes at both Carstairs (on the avoider) and Midcalder, waiting for the previous late-running train to clear the section.
Usually there was something worth chasing in Scotland, even on a Sunday. Not today. It was class 47s as far as the eye could see. Eventually we learned that the only 40 working would be the 1925 Aberdeen – Kings Cross as far as Edinburgh, which was allocated 40148. So we headed north to Aberdeen, duff all the way:
47705 1100 Edinburgh – Aberdeen
We had about 5 hours to waste in Aberdeen, on a Sunday, back in the days of strict licensing hours. We passed the time by walking down to Ferryhill depot, and winding up the headcode “1E40” onto the centre headcode panel of 40148. A long cold day.
40148 1925 Aberdeen – Edinburgh
Whatever took over at Edinburgh was not to my taste, so I headed up the West Coast instead:
47709 2345 Edinburgh – Carstairs
Monday 09/03/81
An evening Deltic bash:
55017 1805 Kings Cross – Peterborough
55013 2051 Peterborough – Grantham
55002 2119 Grantham – Kings Cross
Friday 09/03/84
26024 0105 Perth – Aberdeen
At Aberdeen the 26 was immediately attached to the unadvertised 0447 to Elgin. It was officially an ECS service, because it shunted into the yard at Elgin whilst other trains crossed in the station. Its main purpose was the conveyance and distribution of newspapers which had arrived from Glasgow off the 2330 Queen Street – Inverness and 2325 Edinburgh – Inverness, connecting into the 0105 Perth – Aberdeen. Fortunately the 0447 Aberdeen – Elgin often conveyed off-duty staff or other passengers, so I had no problem boarding:
26024 0447 Aberdeen – Elgin (ECS / news / mails)
26024 0715 Elgin – Inverness
So I had the same 26 Perth – Aberdeen – Elgin – Inverness.
47103 0848 Inverness – Elgin
47270 0930 Elgin – Inverness
47270 was new for haulage, then onto the Far North line with steam-heat 37s:
37017 1140 Inverness – Brora
37260 1346 Brora – Inverness
37025 1740 Inverness – Brora
37017 1946 Brora – Inverness
47483 2350 Inverness – Glasgow Queen Street
Saturday 09/03/85
37111 2330 Glasgow Queen Street – Perth
NorthWestRover
Established Member
- Joined
- 24 Aug 2018
- Messages
- 1,608
Saturday 9th March 1985
After the excitement of the Crompton the previous Saturday, it was back to more traditional WM Daytripper Fare, although I did shell out 90p for a day return Brum to Nuneaton.
86260 Wolves to Coventry, 09.57 Wolves to Euston
47622 (required) Coventry to Birmingham NS, 07.34 Poole to Glas/Ed
85011 Birmingham NS to Wolves, 07.34 Poole to Glas/Ed
87016 Wolves to Coventry, 11.37 Shrewsbury to Euston
50046 Coventry to Birmingham NS, 09.40 Poole to Newcastle
87019 Birmingham NS to Coventry, 14.18 Birmingham to Euston
47449 Coventry to Birmingham NS, 11.40 Poole to Manchester
31418 Birmingham NS to Nuneaton, 16.10 Birmingham to Norwich
31424 Nuneaton to Birmingham NS, 13.32 Norwich to Birmingham
86209 Birmingham NS to Wolves, 14.17 Portsmouth to Manchester
After the excitement of the Crompton the previous Saturday, it was back to more traditional WM Daytripper Fare, although I did shell out 90p for a day return Brum to Nuneaton.
86260 Wolves to Coventry, 09.57 Wolves to Euston
47622 (required) Coventry to Birmingham NS, 07.34 Poole to Glas/Ed
85011 Birmingham NS to Wolves, 07.34 Poole to Glas/Ed
87016 Wolves to Coventry, 11.37 Shrewsbury to Euston
50046 Coventry to Birmingham NS, 09.40 Poole to Newcastle
87019 Birmingham NS to Coventry, 14.18 Birmingham to Euston
47449 Coventry to Birmingham NS, 11.40 Poole to Manchester
31418 Birmingham NS to Nuneaton, 16.10 Birmingham to Norwich
31424 Nuneaton to Birmingham NS, 13.32 Norwich to Birmingham
86209 Birmingham NS to Wolves, 14.17 Portsmouth to Manchester
Falcon1200
Established Member
Friday 9th March 1984; Having been appointed to a job in Glasgow I needed somewhere to stay ! Which was the purpose of this 'day' trip.
31405 0005 Kings X-Edinburgh (to Newcastle)
47604 ditto (from Newcastle)
47709 0930 Edinburgh-Glasgow Queen St
86319 1510 Glasgow C-Euston (to Preston)
86244 1747 Preston-Crewe
87035 1823 Manchester Piccadilly-Paddington (Crewe-Birmingham New St)
47515 ditto (Birmingham New St-Oxford)
31405 0005 Kings X-Edinburgh (to Newcastle)
47604 ditto (from Newcastle)
47709 0930 Edinburgh-Glasgow Queen St
86319 1510 Glasgow C-Euston (to Preston)
86244 1747 Preston-Crewe
87035 1823 Manchester Piccadilly-Paddington (Crewe-Birmingham New St)
47515 ditto (Birmingham New St-Oxford)
NorthWestRover
Established Member
- Joined
- 24 Aug 2018
- Messages
- 1,608
Goyle Kings Cross to Newcastle! Brilliant.
I think you were a few months ahead of me arriving in Glasgow Control. I was still in Leeds Control at this time, with reorganisation and redundancy looming.
Starting off your move with a Goyle from Kings Cross to Newcastle was errr.. brave!