Back in the day...

[lostwin(m)]

Sunday 22nd November 1981

Today was a very poor Deltic day; the three day time trains out of KX (1005/1405 & 1605) all dropped, even though there were six Deltics present on Finsbury Park. After the 1005 dropped I took a quick trip out to Reading in time to cover the 1405. Once I had found out there would be no Deltics out I headed home via the MML.

I guess the 6 Deltics would have been in varying states of health, but you would imagine at least some of them would have been usable. Does that mean that at this stage, FP were actively deciding to use anything suitable but a Deltic. if possible?

 

[Sultan1056]

I guess the 6 Deltics would have been in varying states of health, but you would imagine at least some of them would have been usable. Does that mean that at this stage, FP were actively deciding to use anything suitable but a Deltic. if possible?

According to Napier Chronicles, of the six Deltics at Finsbury Park four of them departed on overnight trains to Edinburgh:

55019 2215 KX-AB Arrived FP ex 1E35 21/11
55002 2230 KX-ED Arrived FP ex 1E40 21/11 (Restricted to one engine)
55010 2315 KX-AB Arrived FP ex 1A26 21/11
55021 2355 KX-ED Arrived FP ex 1E35 22/11

55007 was undergoing a B exam and 55015 was on repairs.

I am assuming that 55010/19/21 were all having some minor repairs undertaken to preclude them from working the three daytime services out of KX.

 

[Magdalia]

According to Napier Chronicles, of the six Deltics at Finsbury Park four of them departed on overnight trains to Edinburgh:

55019 2215 KX-AB Arrived FP ex 1E35 21/11
55002 2230 KX-ED Arrived FP ex 1E40 21/11 (Restricted to one engine)
55010 2315 KX-AB Arrived FP ex 1A26 21/11
55021 2355 KX-AB Arrived FP ex 1E35 22/11

55007 was undergoing a B exam and 55015 was on repairs.

I am assuming that 55010/19/21 were all having some minor repairs undertaken to preclude them from working the three daytime services out of KX.

Another possibility is that Finsbury Park had very few available locos with working boilers so saved the Deltics for the sleepers, which were steam heat only.

 

[Sultan1056]

Another possibility is that Finsbury Park had very few available locos with working boilers so saved the Deltics for the sleepers, which were steam heat only.

Yes, that is another possibility. However the 2215 KX-AB 1S70, was a dual heated set reducing the requirement of boiler fitted locos.

 

[Sultan1056]

Friday 23rd November 1979

31240 York-Doncaster (2030 Newcastle-Kings Cross)
47035 Doncaster-York (2015 Kings Cross-Edinburgh)

Sunday 23rd November 1980

I think this was the only time that I managed to travel along the Joint Line three times on the same day.

55009 Peterborough-Doncaster via Lincoln (2315 Kings Cross-Bradford Exchange)
55021 Doncaster-Kings Cross via Lincoln (1915 Aberdeen-Kings Cross)
55011 Kings Cross-York via Lincoln (1005 Kings Cross-York)
55011 York-Retford (1550 York-Kings Cross)
55016 Retford-York (1505 Kings Cross-York) Additional

 

[D1537]

Sunday 23 November 1986
Sunday beer move again on a NE ranger, plan was to wait for 47626 on the Poole but some local gen suggested an earlier exit back north might be profitable!
47439 1O09 Newcastle-York
47712 1E16 York-Newcastle

 

[lostwin(m)]

47712 1E16 York-Newcastle

Nice, never managed to get that for haulage. I'm going to stick my neck out here and say, first 47 in large logo?

 

[xotGD]

Sunday 23 November 1986
Sunday beer move again on a NE ranger, plan was to wait for 47626 on the Poole but some local gen suggested an earlier exit back north might be profitable!
47439 1O09 Newcastle-York
47712 1E16 York-Newcastle

I've just checked to see if I ever had a 47/7 into Newcastle. The answer is yes - see post 1806 upthread.

 

[D1537]

I've just checked to see if I ever had a 47/7 into Newcastle. The answer is yes - see post 1806 upthread.

Yes, it was the standard way of returning them to Scotland from Crewe Works at the time (although they became rarer from around 1987, as for some reason Crewe started sending them back north a lot of the time on WCML parcels trains or even freights). There's one further up this thread from me (702) in post 6133, and I had at least a couple of others, without reaching for my moves books I can remember one was 710.

 

[xotGD]

Yes, it was the standard way of returning them to Scotland from Crewe Works at the time (although they became rarer from around 1987, as for some reason Crewe started sending them back north a lot of the time on WCML parcels trains or even freights). There's one further up this thread from me (702) in post 6133, and I had at least a couple of others, without reaching for my moves books I can remember one was 710.

As noted in post 3075, I also had one to Holyhead on the Crewe works test train. We were hoping for a 56.

 

[D1537]

As noted in post 3075, I also had one to Holyhead on the Crewe works test train. We were hoping for a 56.

Whilst I did 47s pretty much exclusively from 1984-5 onwards, I never turned down a 56 if it didn't mess up my move too much. Any other diesel though - nah, unless it was the only move. Though I did get off a 47 one night for 37212 on a late Brum-Paddington, because it was so outrageous.

 

[D1537]

Nice, never managed to get that for haulage. I'm going to stick my neck out here and say, first 47 in large logo?

47170 was the first one in 1980. 47711/712 were next in 1981, 711 was probably first out of those two but there's some debate as to that.

47170 in Large Logo 1980

 

[Sultan1056]

47170 was the first one in 1980. 47711/712 were next in 1981, 711 was probably first out of those two but there's some debate as to that.

47170 in Large Logo 1980

I first had 47712 for haulage in February 1980. Do you know if it was outshopped from Crewe in standard blue livery or did it emerge in large logo livery. I could be wrong but I thought 47711 & 712 were outshopped in large logo livery.

 

[D1537]

I first had 47712 for haulage in February 1980. Do you know if it was outshopped from Crewe in standard blue livery or did it emerge in large logo livery. I could be wrong but I thought 47711 & 712 were outshopped in large logo livery.

Both of them were initially outshopped in standard blue. They were repainted for their namings in 1981.

47711
47712

Both locos being prepared for naming, 1981

 

[Sultan1056]

Both of them were initially outshopped in standard blue. They were repainted for their namings in 1981.

47711
47712

Both locos being prepared for naming, 1981

Yes, thinking about it a little more, I remember seeing 50023 in large logo livery during Summer 1980. Several more 50s were outshopped into large logo livery before 47711/12 received their new livery which would tie this to 1981.

 

[Sultan1056]

Saturday 24th November 1979

Talking of 47/7s, today I had 4 of them. Prior to this I had taken Deltic 11 to Edinburgh planning to return south on the 0950 Edinburgh-Plymouth. I should have travelled south with Deltic 5 on the 0730 to Newcastle because No 11 headed out to Craigentinny on an empty stock working. By the time it had finished these duties it was too late for it to work the Plymouth service and with no other Deltics in Edinburgh a dreaded Duff was turned out. I spent the rest of the day pottering between Edinburgh & Glasgow taking in my last ever class 27 push-pull. IIRC there was only one set out with all others formed of 47/7 and Mk3 stock.

55006 York-Doncaster (2255 Newcastle-Kings Cross)
55011 Doncaster-Edinburgh (2315 Kings Cross-Aberdeen)
47207 Edinburgh-Haymarket (0950 Edinburgh-Inverness)
47708 Haymarket-Glasgow QS (1000 Edinburgh-Glasgow QS)
47709 Glasgow QS-Edinburgh (1130 Glasgow QS-Edinburgh)
47710 Edinburgh-Glasgow QS (1330 Edinburgh-Glasgow QS)
26034 Glasgow QS-Bishopbriggs (1444 Glasgow QS-Dundee)
27019 Glasgow QS-Cowlairs Banking Loco (1444 Glasgow QS-Dundee)
27032 Bishopbriggs-Glasgow QS (1338 Dundee-Glasgow QS)
27109+27202 Glasgow QS-Edinburgh (1600 Glasgow QS-Edinburgh)
47703 Edinburgh-Haymarket (1805 Edinburgh-Liverpool LS)
27109+27202 Haymarket-Edinburgh (1800 Glasgow QS-Edinburgh)
55012 Edinburgh-York (1630 Aberdeen-York)

 

[lostwin(m)]

47170 was the first one in 1980. 47711/712 were next in 1981, 711 was probably first out of those two but there's some debate as to that.

47170 in Large Logo 1980

Should never have betted against Stratford being the first to do it!

 

[D1537]

Yes, thinking about it a little more, I remember seeing 50023 in large logo livery during Summer 1980. Several more 50s were outshopped into large logo livery before 47711/12 received their new livery which would tie this to 1981.

Yet oddly it was five years later before 47/4s started being routinely outshopped in large logo, 47503 being the first one in August 1985.

 

[D1537]

Some very normal days out today.

Tuesday 24 November 1987
47607 1M88 Coventry-B'ham NS
47661 1V59 B'ham NS-Cheltenham
47599 1S71 Cheltenham-B'ham NS
47627 1O08 B'ham NS-Reading
47447 1M40 Reading-B'ham NS
86217 1M40 B'ham NS-Crewe

Thursday 24 November 1988
47656 1O11 Coventry-Oxford
47539 1M12 Oxford-B'ham NS
47527 1O90 B'ham NS-Reading
47664 1M58 Reading-Coventry

 

[Sultan1056]

Saturday 25th November 1978

A day chasing electric traction made a change for me, 83002 being the highlight of the day.

45102 York-Birmingham NS (0700 Newcastle-Poole)
86211 Birmingham NS-Wolverhampton (0827 Swansea-Manchester Pic)
83002 Wolverhampton-Stafford (1205 Birmingham NS-Glasgow C)
86205 Stafford-Crewe (1100 Euston-Holyhead)
86221 Crewe-Stafford (1321 Liverpool LS-Plymouth)
86207 Stafford-Stoke (1028 Taunton-Manchester Pic)
86251 Stoke-Birmingham NS (1423 Manchester Pic-Swansea)
87017 Birmingham NS-Birmingham Int (1618 Birmingham NS-Euston)
86222 Birmingham Int-Birmingham NS (1540 Euston-Wolverhampton)
87027 Birmingham NS-Birmingham Int (1718 Birmingham NS-Euston)
87007 Birmingham Int-Birmingham NS (1640 Euston-Wolverhampton)
46010 Birmingham NS-Rotherham (1436 Paignton-Leeds)
E50545/50566 Rotherham-York (1608 Sheffield-York)

Sunday 25th November 1979

40006 York-Manchester Vic (1535 York-Liverpool LS)
47542 Manchester Vic-York (1705 Liverpool LS-Newcastle)

Tuesday 25th November 1980

55004 York-Newark (1810 York-Kings Cross)
55021 Newark-York (1805 Kings Cross-York)

 

[D1537]

Wednesday 25 November 1987
47599 1E24 Crewe-York
47657 1S29 York-Newcastle
47458 1M32 Newcastle-Stalybridge
53456+????? Stalybridge-Stockport
87030 1A80 Stockport-Rugby

 

[Sultan1056]

Monday 26th November 1979

55008 York-Newark (1811 York-Kings Cross)
55006 Newark-York (1805 Kings Cross-York)

 

[D1537]

Thursday 26 November 1987
310059 Coventry-B'ham Int
47644 1O07 B'ham Int-Leamington
47473 1M07 Leamington-Wolverhampton
47646 1O09 Wolverhampton-Oxford
47560 1M40 Oxford-Coventry

Friday 25 November - Saturday 26 November 1988
Friday
47665 1M88 Coventry-Manchester Picc
47443 1E61 Manchester Vic-York
47434 1M76 York-Leeds
47477 1M72 Leeds-Carlisle
85018 1S87 Carlisle-Carstairs
26003 1B29 Carstairs-Haymarket (well, that was unexpected)
47711 1H01 Haymarket-Perth
Saturday - lots of new 47 track!
47633 1H01 Perth-Pitlochry
47641 1T04 Pitlochry-Glasgow QS
47006 1M05 Glasgow Cen-Carlisle (via Newton-on-Ayr and Annbank Jc)
47006 1S47 Carlisle-Glasgow Cen (as above)
318259+318260 Glasgow Cen-Paisley Gilmour Street
47487 1S59 Paisley Gilmour St-Perth (via Rutherglen and Cumbernauld)
47604 1H21 Perth-Aviemore
47646 1M16 Aviemore-Lostock Junction

646 had been quickly reversed off a northbound service at Inverness, and didn't have enough fuel to get to England. Therefore, it was removed at Perth and refuelled. This put 1M16 out of course, which proved to be very useful when we got to Lostock...

 

[Sultan1056]

Tuesday 27th November 1979

55021 York-Newark (1811 York-Kings Cross)
55010 Newark-York (1805 Kings Cross-York)

Saturday 27th November 1982

I went to watch Man Utd play Norwich City, the result, 3-0 to Utd.

45101 York-Manchester Vic (0922 Newcastle-Liverpool LS)
47552 Manchester Vic-York (1705 Liverpool LS-Scarborough)

 

[D1537]

Sunday 27 November 1988
So, 1M16 *should* have got 2x20 to haul it from Lostock to Wigan. However, due to having to refuel 47646, it was now behind 1M13 and the diagrams got swapped, much to the chagrin of some 47 devotees on 1M13...

47125 1M16 Lostock Jc-Wigan NW (47646 on rear)
47646 1M16 Wigan NW-Crewe (via Newton-le-Willows)
47468 1O09 Crewe-Reading (via Bescot & Duddeston, and via Bicester, Greenford, the Hanwell Curve and Slough - quite a rare curve that and I certainly required it)
47542 1E33 Reading-Coventry

 

[Sun Chariot]

47468 1O09 Crewe-Reading (via Bescot & Duddeston, and via Bicester, Greenford, the Hanwell Curve and Slough - quite a rare curve that and I certainly required it)

Marvellous stuff. I presume down the WCML to Bletchley then over the exLNWR to Bicester Town and Oxford (only reopened a year at that point)?

 

[D1537]

Marvellous stuff. I presume down the WCML to Bletchley then over the exLNWR to Bicester Town and Oxford (only reopened a year at that point)?

I'm pretty sure it simply went via Banbury and High Wycombe, as I think I would have noted if it went via the WCML - it is 36 years ago though!

Also, could you even access the High Wycombe line from Bletchley via the LNWR without reversing?

 

[Sun Chariot]

I'm pretty sure it simply went via Banbury and High Wycombe, as I think I would have noted if it went via the WCML - it is 36 years ago though!

Also, could you even access the High Wycombe line from Bletchley via the LNWR without reversing?

True. My 1980s late-teen self would've been content with either route - especially Hanwell Curve. Nice work.

 

[Sultan1056]

Wednesday 28th November 1979

55016 York-Newark (1811 York-Kings Cross)
47522 Newark-York (1805 Kings Cross-York)

Friday 28th November 1980

A good start to the weekend being able to take a Deltic northbound to Newcastle rather than a stopping service to KX. An added bonus was Deltic 8 being turned around quickly to work the 2130 to Darlington via the coast.

55008 York-Newcastle (1605 Liverpool LS-Newcastle)
55008 Newcastle-Darlington via Sunderland (2130 Newcastle-Darlington)

Saturday 28th November 1981

After having spent three dire weekends previously I was beginning to think that I should have booked myself onto one of the many Deltic railtours. Today there were three, York to Paddington, London to Exeter and Newcastle to Edinburgh. I wasn’t a big fan of railtours and decided that I should stick with scheduled trains. Having arrived into KX with “Gordon the Big Engine” I followed Deltic 17 all the way to Edinburgh. I was hoping that it would work through to Aberdeen but unfortunately a Duff was waiting at Waverley today. I was surprised how few enthusiasts were out today, perhaps they were all following the special trains. I knew that Deltic 19 had worked to Carlisle so I set off in pursuit of it. I returned with No 19 to Edinburgh via Newcastle, to cover the southbound overnight services. Deltic 8 was also present at Haymarket and was the first to leave for KX, however it was on the Sleeper Only service. I had to wait until nearly midnight until I could head south on the fourth and final train of the evening. This had been my first decent Deltic day of the month.

55016 York-Kings Cross (2025 Edinburgh-Kings Cross)
55017 Kings Cross-Edinburgh (0550 Kings Cross-Aberdeen)
27033 Edinburgh-Haymarket (1225 Edinburgh-Dundee)
47477 Edinburgh-Carstairs (1325 Edinburgh-Carstairs)
86223 Carstairs-Carlisle (1343 Glasgow C-Bristol TM)
55019 Carlisle-Edinburgh via Newcastle (1553 Carlisle-Edinburgh)
55019 Edinburgh-Kings Cross (2025 Aberdeen-Kings Cross)
via Bedlington, Leamside, Normanton, Lincoln & Hertford N

Sunday 28th November 1982

47525 York-Leeds (1225 Newcastle-Liverpool LS)
E51436 Leeds-York (1645 Leeds-York)

 

[D1537]

Thursday 28 November 1985
47416 1M73 Newcastle-Liverpool
The plan here was to get 1E88 (1605 LPL-NCL) back to Manchester to pick up 47414 on 1E16. However, 1E88 (a 47 diagram) had four too many wheels.
47416 1E59 Liverpool-Newcastle

Saturday 28 November 1987
Nothing out of the ordinary this day, until the opportunity arose to get two new stations in for alighting/detraining from a 47-hauled train...
47596 1M09 Coventry-Crewe
47489 1V05 Crewe-Shrewsbury
47576 1A41 Shrewsbury-Wolverhampton
86416 1A41 Wolverhampton-B'ham NS
47615 1V51 B'ham NS-Oxford

So far so normal. On 1M07, though, some sort of farce occurred as we approached Birmingham. Now, in those days 1V87 (1609 STF-PAD) stopped at Lea Hall and Marston Green as a commuter train during the week, and the stopping pattern also happened on a Saturday. So, when we were held at an extended red light in Stechford platform, the timetable Bible came out ...

47447 1M07 Oxford-Stechford
312201 2G85 Stechford-Lea Hall
47468 1V87 Lea Hall-Oxford
47537 1M58 Oxford-B'ham NS