Loco changes en-route

[edwin_m]

What I find interesting is that this did not apply (ever) to the Yorkshire expresses to/from Kings Cross. Holbeck and Kings Cross shed A1 and A4 locos would work right through between Leeds Central and Kings Cross without a change at Grantham, even though some trains stopped there. Even the carriage workings were completely separate from the Anglo/Scottish trains. A very reliable book on this subject states that the crack turn on Holbeck shed was the crew that worked the White Rose express throughout in both directions with approximately 2 hours turnaround in London. This was such a prestigious (and killer) turn that the top link Holbeck crew were the only set of men who did not have to prepare their loco on shed before departure, and would even book on at Leeds Central station to join their loco just before departure. Not many tougher turns can have existed in the 1950s / early 60s.

That would have been around 3hr each way and with the 2hr turnaround a return journey comes to about a typical shift length. So by stretching things a little a single crew could work a return Leeds-London journey. The same isn't true for any other ECML long distance working.

 

[SouthDevonian]

Holbeck was the ex-Midland shed for Midland line services to St Pancras, S&C, etc. Copley Hill was the ex-GN shed for ECML services to KX, etc.

 

[341o2]

When London - Bournemouth was electrified, through services to Weymouth used TC units. This unit would be detatched from the electric unit(s) at Bournemouth and diesel hauled thereafter until electrification was extended throught

Maybe not quite a "loco" change but IMHO worth a mention

 

[30907]

When London - Bournemouth was electrified, through services to Weymouth used TC units. This unit would be detatched from the electric unit(s) at Bournemouth and diesel hauled thereafter until electrification was extended throught

Maybe not quite a "loco" change but IMHO worth a mention

Agreed. Though in pedant mode I reckon the REP was detached from the TCs

 

[Taunton]

Not many tougher turns can have existed in the 1950s / early 60s.

I believe that on the West Coast expresses from Euston to Liverpool and Manchester were run as a return by a single crew within a day. Liverpool is about 195 miles each way, so 390 miles in a day. Coronation locomotive and a very heavy train, 12 coaches or more.

 

[eastdyke]

What I find interesting is that this did not apply (ever) to the Yorkshire expresses to/from Kings Cross. Holbeck and Kings Cross shed A1 and A4 locos would work right through between Leeds Central and Kings Cross without a change at Grantham, even though some trains stopped there. Even the carriage workings were completely separate from the Anglo/Scottish trains. A very reliable book on this subject states that the crack turn on Holbeck shed was the crew that worked the White Rose express throughout in both directions with approximately 2 hours turnaround in London. This was such a prestigious (and killer) turn that the top link Holbeck crew were the only set of men who did not have to prepare their loco on shed before departure, and would even book on at Leeds Central station to join their loco just before departure. Not many tougher turns can have existed in the 1950s / early 60s.

From the summer 1955 timetable, The White Rose ran from Kings Cross in the morning returning from Leeds Central in the afternoon (TC to/from Bradford Exchange). This would have allowed an A4 to head the train both ways using a Kings Cross loco and crew throughout. The public timetable interval between arrival/departure at Leeds was 2 hours 59 minutes. AFAIK no A4 was ever allocated to any of the Leeds sheds.

The West Riding ran from Leeds Central (non-stop from Doncaster) in the morning returning from Kings Cross (non-stop to Wakefield Westgate) in the afternoon which would have allowed a Leeds crew to have worked throughout as a single shift.

In total 4 or 5 Leeds trains each way ran weekdays non-stop between Kings Cross and at least Retford. This includes just 1, The Queen of Scots, which was non-stop between Kings Cross and Leeds.

 

[Wilts Wanderer]

Thank you yes, it's the West Riding not the White Rose, I managed to confuse the names. Incidentally the book in question is the Xpress Publishing 'Leeds Central' which is a fascinating study of 24hrs of passenger and parcels operations and well worth a read.

 

[EbbwJunction1]

Going back to the North to West route, did the loco change continue to be at Bristol after the stop & reversal at Newport was introduced for the daytime trains in 1966 (rather than using the Maindee East - North curve)? It would have seemed more logical to have moved it to Newport.

1966 is a bit early for me (I was ten!) but I think that I do remember locos running around trains in Newport station, as opposed to there being a complete change. I'm probably thinking of a later time than 1966, though!