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Back in the day...

D1511

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WCML N
Apparently said 31/4 had jacked on the Norwich-Liverpool that morning and been replaced by 47321, then was hammered back together again to do the Blackpool ... only to jack again at Sheffield on the way back and be replaced by ... 47321, which had done a Liverpool-Sheffield in the meantime.
Putting out a 31 that had already failed that day was the definition of madness!
 
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Harpo

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21 Aug 2024
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Newport
But the Maintenance Controller said it was repaired and available for service!
It takes a very big intervention to say ‘enough’. It was the Western’s Regional Operations Manager who called time on pairs of Bescot 31s repeatedly peddling their way to a standstill on summer Saturday West Of Englands.
 

D1537

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2,035
Location
North Yorkshire
Saturday 13 August 1988

87033 1G51 Coventry-B'ham NS
47560 1E26 B'ham NS-Sheffield
150xxx Sheffield-Manchester Picc
47203 1L68 Manchester Picc-Peterborough (via Retford)

203 had been a late allocation to this train and had not been fuelled. Therefore it was removed here and replaced with 31442. In a continuing theme, the 31/4 got as far as Harling Road before giving up, and 47375 had to be sent from Norwich to fetch it.

47352 1E95 Peterborough-Sheffield (via Toton)
47150 1M59 Sheffield-B'ham NS
317312 B'ham NS-Coventry
 

D1511

Member
Joined
29 Jul 2023
Messages
1,199
Location
WCML N
203 had been a late allocation to this train and had not been fuelled. Therefore it was removed here and replaced with 31442. In a continuing theme, the 31/4 got as far as Harling Road before giving up, and 47375 had to be sent from Norwich to fetch it.
There used to be a bit of a tactic for this sort of thing.....
27s were great wee engines with top thrash value, and I held them in much higher esteem than 31s, but in their later years they were notoriously unreliable, and particularly the renumbered ex push and pull ones that had been hammered to death.
The tactic was to loiter about Waverley watching the Dundees for a rough sounding one, and then hopping on, in the hope it would expire somewhere en route and a SSC fitted 20 from Thornton would be sent to the rescue! It worked quite a few times.....and.......quite remarkably......

Friday 13th August 1982

News reached us that 27024 had expired near Kirkcaldy on its way to Dundee, and there was no stock in Dundee to form the 15.21 back to Edinburgh. A 13.56 Kirkcaldy - Dundee service was cobbled together to get the stock and passengers there, with a loco sent from TJ. A fife circle unit whisked us to Kirkcaldy, and......

2??? 13.56 Kirkcaldy - Dundee 20219 xsr HA Kirkcaldy - Dundee ;) {when I get home on Saturday I'll post a triumphant pic of this......it was the filthiest 20 ever!)
1G50 13.50 Aberdeen - Edinburgh 47422 xd IM Dundee - Edinburgh
2G??? 15.21 Dundee - Edinburgh 27034 xb ED Kirkcaldy - Edinburgh (20219 didn't return sadly.....it had some coal hoppers waiting at Seafield!)
1E21 17.16 Edinburgh - Newcastle 47422 xd GD Edinburgh - Dunbar
1S15 15.53 Carlisle - Edinburgh 47425 xd GD Dunbar - Edinburgh
 

D1511

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29 Jul 2023
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Location
WCML N
Monday 13th August 1984

A trio of nb tractors for @xotGD ;)

2O08 07.40 Edinburgh - Glasgow QS 37172 xo ED Haymarket - Glasgow QS
1A27 11.30 Glasgow C - Stranraer 37013 xo HM Glasgow QS - Kilmarnock
2O49 17.15 Glasgow QS - Edinburgh 37289 xot CF (!) Glasgow QS - Edinburgh Not sure where ED got this from, but this was firmly in the riot category! :D
 

xotGD

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4 Feb 2017
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7,827
Monday 13th August 1984

A trio of nb tractors for @xotGD ;)

2O08 07.40 Edinburgh - Glasgow QS 37172 xo ED Haymarket - Glasgow QS
1A27 11.30 Glasgow C - Stranraer 37013 xo HM Glasgow QS - Kilmarnock
2O49 17.15 Glasgow QS - Edinburgh 37289 xot CF (!) Glasgow QS - Edinburgh Not sure where ED got this from, but this was firmly in the riot category! :D
Two days earlier 289 worked 1N35 - the Scarborough - Newcastle via the Durham coast, and then took over 1S51, Scarborough - Glasgow QS Between Newcastle and Glasgow. So presumably was sat at Eastfield until being sent out for those who had missed it on the Saturday.

A big score at the time, but then became common when an ETH box was attached to each end.

I never had 172, although I see that if I'd been on 1S19 on the right night there were several opportunities to have it.
 

SW Rover

Member
Joined
30 Jan 2025
Messages
105
Location
E Mids
Sunday 14th August 1983
A family holiday in the lakes was the chance to get my first Freedom of Scotland Rover. As this was way before mobiles all moves were set so that my dad knew when to be at Carlisle.
85035 1S19 2124 Bristol Temple Meads - Glasgow Central (Carlisle to Carstairs)
40086 1G08 0627 Carstairs - Edinburgh Waverley
HST to Glasgow Queen St. I had permits for St Rollox & ED and as this was only my second trip to Scotland nearly everything was needed for sight.
47710 1O43 1530 Glasgow Queen St - Edinburgh Waverley
47702 1C85 1806 Edinburgh Waverley - Carstairs
87015 1M55 1820 Glasgow Central - Manchester Victoria (Carstairs to Carlisle)
 

D1537

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11 Jul 2019
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2,035
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North Yorkshire
Friday 14 August 1987

498 down, 8 to go

47618 1M88 Coventry-Stoke
150110 Stoke-Derby
47094 1Z44 Derby-Bristol TM
47463 1M30 Bristol TM-B'ham NS
47474 1O09 B'ham NS-Oxford
47631 1M40 Oxford-Coventry
 

D1511

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29 Jul 2023
Messages
1,199
Location
WCML N
A big score at the time, but then became common when an ETH box was attached to each end.
Not the same loco.......to me anyway. If one of my required 47/3s had ETH fitted and became 478xx, or God forbid had a GE engine fitted and became a 57, it doesn't count. I missed the 47/3, end of.....

Saturday 14th August 1982

1O?? 11.30 Edinburgh - Glasgow QS 47703 xeh HA Edinburgh - Glasgow
1Z32 12.45 Glasgow QS - Edinburgh (Rangers footex) 37005 vot GD Glasgow QS - Edinburgh (no gripper dared to ever check a Rangers or Celtic footex! ;) )
1C93 15.06 Edinburgh - Carstairs 47550 xe IS Edinburgh - Carstairs
1S58 14.30 Blackpool N - Edinburgh 47309 xos TO Carstairs - Edinburgh
1S51 15.12 Scarborough - Glasgow QS 37179 xi ED Edinburgh - Glasgow QS
1O67 21.00 Glasgow QS - Edinburgh 47705 xeh HA Glasgow QS - Haymarket
 

D1511

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29 Jul 2023
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Location
WCML N
Tuesday 14th August 1984

2O08 07.40 Edinburgh - Glasgow QS 47209 xb HA Haymarket - Edinburgh
2O49 17.15 Glasgow QS - Edinburgh 47004 xb HA Glasgow QS - Lenzie (failed)
2O49 17.15 Glasgow QS - Edinburgh 47704 xeh HA Lenzie - Edinburgh (thanks for nothing ED!)

Included just to show some days were dull as dishwater, even with a loco failure! :D
 

CD

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22 Jun 2014
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1,052
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34004
Saturday 15th August 1987

33103+33117 Yeovil Jn-Salisbury (0550 Exeter-Hove)
33010 Salisbury-Southampton (0550 Exeter-Hove)
73136 Southampton-Basingstoke (0741 Poole-Waterloo)
47527 Basingstoke-Bournemouth (0645 Wolverhampton-Poole)
47624 Bournemouth-Southampton (0955 Weymouth-Newcastle)
47549 Southampton-Wareham (0855 Cardiff-Weymouth)
33118 Wareham-Poole (1228 Weymouth-Waterloo)
47280 Poole-Southampton Pwy (1357 Poole-Manchester)
73139 Southampton Pwy-Southampton (1344 Waterloo-Bournemouth)
47586 Southampton-Basingstoke (1455 Poole-Liverpool)
47635 Basingstoke-Southampton (0750 Glasgow-Poole)
47624 Southampton-Basingstoke (1732 Poole-Liverpool)
33116 Basingstoke-Salisbury (1810 Waterloo-Salisbury)
50007 Salisbury-Yeovil Jn (1910 Waterloo-Exeter)
 

SW Rover

Member
Joined
30 Jan 2025
Messages
105
Location
E Mids
Monday 15th August 1983
86031 1S07 2215 Euston - Inverness (Carlisle to Mossend)
47531 1S07 (Mossend to near Dalnaspidal) Failed on the climb to Druimuachdar Summit
47537+(47531) 1S07 (Dalnaspidal to Inverness)
26042+26034 1A27 1048 Inverness - Aberdeen (Delayed)
47414 1G80 1350 Aberdeen - Edinburgh Waverley
47701 1C85 1806 Edinburgh Waverley - Carstairs
87010 1M55 1820 Glasgow Cen - Manchester Vic (Carstairs to Carlisle)
 

D1511

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29 Jul 2023
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Location
WCML N
Saturday 15th August 1981

1M94 09.18 Edinburgh - Blackpool 40153 xi TE Edinburgh - Carstairs
1S37 07.37 Liverpool - Edinburgh 47489 xe BS Carstairs - Edinburgh
1C92 13.25 Edinburgh - Carstairs 47709 xeh HA / 40162 xb HA Edinburgh - Carstairs
1Z15 ???? Leamington Spa - Edinburgh adex 40162 xb HA Carstairs - Edinburgh
1S97 13.24 Scarborough - Glasgow QS 40154 xi TE Edinburgh - Glasgow QS
1O61 19.30 Glasgow QS - Edinburgh 47708 xeh HA Glasgow QS - Edinburgh
1S51 15.10 Scarborough - Glasgow QS 27034 xb ED Edinburgh - Glasgow QS
2L63 21.14 Glasgow QS - Dundee 27038 xb ED Glasgow QS - Larbert
 

SW Rover

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30 Jan 2025
Messages
105
Location
E Mids
Wednesday 17th August 1983
85039 1S19 2138 Bristol TM - Glasgow Cen (Carlisle to Carstairs)
47703 1G08 0516 Carstairs - Edinburgh Waverley
27023 2L18 0625 Edinburgh Waverley - Dundee (to Haymarket)
47706 1O04 0700 Edinburgh Waverley - Glasgow Queen St (from Haymarket)
37012 1B14 1634 Glasgow Queen St - Fort William (to Dumbarton Central)
86261 1M40 1820 Glasgow Cen - Liverpool Lime St (to Carlisle)
 

SW Rover

Member
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30 Jan 2025
Messages
105
Location
E Mids
Thursday 18th August 1983
87025 1S45 0750 Manchester Vic - Glasgow Cen (Carlisle to Carstairs)
47401 1G44 1122 Carstairs - Edinburgh Waverley
27036 2L40 1217 Edinburgh Waverley - Dundee
47462 1T35 1255 Aberdeen - Glasgow Queen St (Dundee to Stirling)
47518 1C85 1806 Edinburgh Waverley - Carstairs
87007 1M55 1820 Glasgow Cen - Manchester Vic (Carstairs to Carlisle)
86207 1S87 1800 Birmingham New St - Glasgow Cen (Carlisle to Carstairs)
47401 1G30 2205 Carstairs - Edinburgh Waverley
47541 1P04 2310 Edinburgh Waverley - Inverness
 

xotGD

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4 Feb 2017
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17th August 2025 (yesterday!)

I took a trip down to the Battlefield Line in order to red-pen the resident Crompton:

33201 Shackerstone - Shenton
33201 Shenton - Shackerstone
33201 Shackerstone - Shenton
33201 Shenton - Shackerstone

Mission accomplished. I could have stayed for one or two more round trips, but decided to head home in time for tea.

Here's the Crompton, five minutes before it stopped being required for haulage:

33201-jpg.186580


I might have to wait a little while longer to get Slug 6 in the book:

37906-jpg.186582
 

SW Rover

Member
Joined
30 Jan 2025
Messages
105
Location
E Mids
Friday 19th August 1983
26026+26024 1A12 0548 Inverness - Aberdeen (to Elgin)
47013 1N08 0715 Elgin - Inverness
47269 1A22 0848 Inverness - Aberdeen
47555 1T35 1255 Aberdeen - Glasgow Queen St (to Dundee)
47485 2G68 1421 Dundee - Edinburgh Waverley
47709 1O69 2130 Glasgow Queen St - Edinburgh Waverley
47706 1C97 2340 Edinburgh Waverley - Carstairs
 

SW Rover

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30 Jan 2025
Messages
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Location
E Mids
Saturday 20th August 1983
47706 1C97 2340 Edinburgh Waverley - Carstairs
I would now learn the costly lesson - 'Never join an overnight train when tired that goes beyond the boundary of your Rover'.
The plan was only to go to Carlisle and return north.
Fell asleep and luckily woke up during the stop in Preston Station! Did not even have the time to see what was hauling the train before it left.

8???? 1V61 2355 Glasgow Cen - Bristol TM (Carstairs to Preston)
All the northbound overnight trains had left so it was a long wait for the first train north!
81001 1S45 0750 Manchester Vic - Glasgow Cen (Preston to Carstairs)
47160 1G44 1122 Carstairs - Edinburgh Waverley (to Haymarket) HA Permit
47703 1O32 1300 Edinburgh Waverley - Glasgow Queen St (from Haymarket)
EMU Glasgow Cen - Motherwell (MW Permit but not allowed in!)
86210 1S85 0717 Harwich Parkeston Quay - Glasgow Central (from Motherwell)
87013 1M47 1720 Glasgow Central - Birmingham New St (to Carlisle)

Wednesday 20th August 1986
33212 1V46 0830 Brighton - Cardiff Central (Bath Spa to Bristol TM)
33212 1V62 1210 Portsmouth Harbour - Cardiff Central (from Bristol TM)
33033 1O48 1810 Cardiff Central - Portsmouth Harbour (to Bristol TM)
33026 1O50 2145 Bristol TM - Southampton (to Bath Spa)

Saturday 20th August 1988
20197+20013 1E79 0718 Derby - Skegness
47204 1N92 1042 Skegness - Newcastle (to Doncaster) (1D22 Skegness-Leeds extended to Newcastle) Updated as#7,049 Thanks D1537
31466+31458 1J26 1310 Skegness - Sheffield (from Lincoln Central)
47660 1M32 1620 York - Birmingham New St (Sheffield to Derby)
 
Last edited:

D1537

Established Member
Joined
11 Jul 2019
Messages
2,035
Location
North Yorkshire
Saturday 20 August 1988
87007 1G51 Coventry-B'ham NS
47425 1E26 B'ham NS-Sheffield
47204 1E47 Sheffield-Skegness (via Nottm)
47204 1N92 Skegness-Leeds (via Lincoln, 1D22 Skegness-Leeds extended to Newcastle)
142xxx Leeds-Skipton
47236 1E11 Skipton-Leeds
43102+43193 1A?? Leeds-Peterborough
47311 1E95 Peterborough-Sheffield (via Toton)
47661 1M59 Sheffield-B'ham NS
317330 B'ham NS-Coventry
 

Sun Chariot

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16 Mar 2009
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2 miles and 50 years away from the Longmoor Milita
Going a bit OT but @D1511 or @D1537 might know:
Why were class 47s nicknamed Spoons? I only knew them as Duffs in the 1980s and 1990s.

I asked Google Gemini and got a very odd result: "The British Rail Class 47 locomotives were nicknamed "Spoons" because of the distinct sound of their horns, said to resemble the noise of a spoon being scraped against the side of a saucepan." o_O
 

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