Seaside Specials

[sheff'd victoria]

The list must be endless of happy days from the 1950's up to the 1980's
Here are some that come from memory

Sheffield Victoria - Skegness
Sheffield Victoria - Mablethorpe
Derby - Blackpool North
Derby - Skegness ( Class 20's )
Leicester - Filey Holiday Camp
( http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/f/filey_holiday_camp/index.shtml )

I'm sure everyone can add to the list, plus do share what traction pulled these services and your memory's

 

[Eagle]

Derby to Skegness on summer Saturdays, run by an HST.

No wait, that was this year :P

 

[Welshman]

I remember the seaside specials from Leeds Central and Bradford Exchange, via Halifax and the Calder Valley to Blackpool, in the late 50s-early 60s.

Hauled by a variety of Jubilees, Black Fives, Patriots and at times, anything else that would move! Old, ex LMS coaches and even some non-corridor stock.

The slow slog out of Bradford and up Copy Pit, being banked in the rear.

Drawing-up at stations such as Luddenden Foot and Mytholmroyd, where the trains were too long for the platforms.

Taking about 3 hours going, but you didn't worry as you were heading for the seaside. But it seemed so slow coming back!

Then arriving at Blackpool Central's excursion platforms, the queues for the toilets, then across to Woolworth's cafeteria for fish and chips!

Also the occasional excursion round the suburbs to reach Ashburys for Belle Vue and the zoological gardens and fairground. Trying to trace which way the train went through the cat's cradle of lines around east Manchester.

For the slightly posher and with a bit more ready cash, there was even a Saturdays only special from Bradford to Llandudno, which called at all stations from Bradford to Rochdale, and then was scheduled non-stop to Prestatyn. We holidayed in Rhyl in 1957 or so, and I remember being fascinated at going straight through Manchester Victoria, Exchange and Chester without stopping [albeit very slowly!].

Seaside trains were advertised in Halifax's local paper and on what we would now call A5-sized handbills displayed in racks by the booking-office. During the Wakes week, when the mills and the whole town virtually closed-down,you bought your ticket and then queued-up with what seemed most of the residents of the town to gain access to the platforms. You then spent most of the holiday walking the prom at Blackpool or riding the trams, meeting many of the people you'd been working with the previous week! If Morecambe was in effect "Bradford-by-Sea" then Blackpool was home to many folks from Halifax and the Calder Valley during the second week in July.

 

[ainsworth74]

Derby to Skegness on summer Saturdays, run by an HST.

In a similar vein St Pancras/Leicester to Scarborough on summer Saturdays/Sundays run by a 222.

 

[Eagle]

When VXC used to run summer services to Margate via Kensington Olympia and the Chatham line, what stock worked that? (Also ISTR that some Pooles got extended to Weymouth.)

 

[47403]

Summer Saturday's, ah, freight loco's on passenger trains, for me very nostalgic days indeed, Glasgow-Scarboro(usually a 37 0r a non ETH 47) , Newcastle-Yarmouth-Newcastle (Usually a 37), 2 x Scarboro-Newcastle (1 via Sunderland) (usually a 37), Paignton-Newcastle(usually 2x 31's) and Eastbourne-Newcastle (changed weekly, I had, 2x 31's, 37's, 45's and 47's of all types, non ETH and ETH.

 

[PaulJ]

When VXC used to run summer services to Margate via Kensington Olympia and the Chatham line, what stock worked that? (Also ISTR that some Pooles got extended to Weymouth.)

usually mark 2 air con stock, hauled in the main by a 47. I lived right by Margate station at the time in flats built on the old carriage sidings there, so had a great view of comings and goings. Once or twice, a Deltic was in evidence. On YouTube, there's a couple of videos if you search under Deltic Ramsgate

 

[flymo]

Yonks ago (early - mid 70's) during BR days I remember a rake of Mk1s at Whitley Bay and Monkseaton picking up/dropping off the 'Glasgow week' or 'Edinburgh week' holidaymakers. Massive crowds on the platforms during the load up/drop off. Seem to remember a 47 on the front but could have been anything I guess, 37, 31 or whatever was available.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I remember the seaside specials from Leeds Central and Bradford Exchange, via Halifax and the Calder Valley to Blackpool, in the late 50s-early 60s. Hauled by a variety of Jubilees, Black Fives, Patriots and at times, anything else that would move! Old, ex LMS coaches and even some non-corridor stock.

Ah, the late 1950's when I was in my mid-teens and can remember excursions from Manchester Victoria to all points using whatever was at hand in the way of spare coaching stock, including the old non-corridor compartment stock, from Red Bank carriage sidings being pressed into service. Whatever did they stuff the seats in the old non-corridor compartment stock with ?

It was said that Newton Heath shed were not averse to using visiting locomotives and I remember Class B1 locomotives of that type appearing on some of these excursion trains that started from Manchester Victoria.

 

[Clip]

usually mark 2 air con stock, hauled in the main by a 47. I lived right by Margate station at the time in flats built on the old carriage sidings there, so had a great view of comings and goings. Once or twice, a Deltic was in evidence. On YouTube, there's a couple of videos if you search under Deltic Ramsgate

Arlington house resident? Poor you

 

[Welshman]

Whatever did they stuff the seats in the old non-corridor compartment stock with ?

Low-grade horsehair, I suspect, with a few bugs thrown in for good measure, if my blotched and itchy short-trousered legs of the time were anything to go by.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

usually mark 2 air con stock, hauled in the main by a 47. I lived right by Margate station at the time in flats built on the old carriage sidings there, so had a great view of comings and goings. Once or twice, a Deltic was in evidence. On YouTube, there's a couple of videos if you search under Deltic Ramsgate

The Deltic Operation was certainly around c 1997 , - the train ran (I think) fast from Coventry to Kensington Olympia. I took my eldest son on it one Sat with a work mate and his son , - there were virtually no normal passengers , just enthusiasts - and as there was no ticket check , they probably had a free ride. Not exactly a commercial service , and a good run out for the enthusiastic staff !.

 

[eastwestdivide]

From slightly earlier (1970s/early 80s) in Kent, there would be summer Merrymakers, one-off excursions from exotic places like Treherbert or Congleton to Margate/Ramsgate, those from the WR and ER generally bringing "exotic" 47s to the land of EMUs, 33s and 73s.

 

[455driver]

Derby to Skegness on summer Saturdays, run by an HST.

No wait, that was this year :P

It was much better in the 80s with class 20s on the front of some decrepid mark 1s!

 

[flymo]

As a slight aside here, my nostalgia nerve gets a tweak now and then whenever I visit Dawlish and in particular the footbridge over the line near Kennaway Tunnel and see all the numbers written on the wall there. All sorts of locos from the recent past, 45s, 46s and who knows whatever else. A real treat that all must have been in the early morning of a summer Saturday when all the holidaymakers came down to visit...

Oh my...!!

 

[PaulJ]

From slightly earlier (1970s/early 80s) in Kent, there would be summer Merrymakers, one-off excursions from exotic places like Treherbert or Congleton to Margate/Ramsgate, those from the WR and ER generally bringing "exotic" 47s to the land of EMUs, 33s and 73s.

Yes, I well remember the Merrymakers. At the age of 16 & 17, I had a summer job working on the Merrymakers out of Ramsgate selling tea and coffee to the masses. I remember 'mystery tours' that took me from Ramsgate to Bognor via Victoria and trips to Isle of Wight or Bournemouth with optional trips to Tucktonia at Christchurch. On another occasion I worked from Ramsgate to Severn Valley Railway and separately to Blackpool Illuminations. Happy days!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Arlington house resident? Poor you

How dare you! Naylands, I'll have you know! I couldn't possibly be persuaded to live at Arlington House!!!

 

[Clip]

I though Naylands was all houses though?

Have you been back lately? All new house/flats right next to the premier Inn.

 

[Harlesden]

Apparently Cleethorpes Station was full with summer specials back in the day, and Junstanton also had healthy summer specials traffic

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Junstanton also had healthy summer specials traffic

I thought my knowledge of railway stations, open and closed, was somewhat extensive, but I will hold myself to be defeated by this railway station that you have named....

 

[eastwestdivide]

I thought my knowledge of railway stations, open and closed, was somewhat extensive, but I will hold myself to be defeated by this railway station that you have named....

Don't you mean "jold yourself"? Couldn't resist.

Anyway, back on topic, Hastings (Jastings?) would have been a difficult resort to send Merrymakers or summer Sats trains, on account of either a reversal at Eastbourne or the narrow tunnels via Tunbridge Wells - were there other popular seaside destinations that weren't served very well by seaside specials?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

There was a thread quite early in 2011 about the British Rail run "Manchester Rail Travel Club" of which our family had membership from 1981 to 1984, with a monthly newsletter which gave an itinerary of the regular weekly forthcoming trips from about four different parts of the area. Many long-distance trips were there to be enjoyed and for the more adventurous, there were mystery tours, where you were only informed of your destination after an hour into the journey. Oldham Mumps to Largs was one such mystery trip. When it eventually was wound-up by British Rail, all members received a special key-ring as a memento.

Did anyone else on the forum also hold membership of this club ?

 

[Harlesden]

I apologize for my typo. Yes, I did mean Hunstanton

 

[341o2]

RT bus to Haringey, then steam hauled special to Southend for the day. Came to an end with electrification

 

[Ploughman]

I can remember up to 6 excursions at Southport on a summer Saturday mid 70s.

Also going on a day excursion from Southport to Barry Island.
We went to the scrap yard and not the seafront.

 

[sheff'd victoria]

Was their not a train in the late 1980's that went from Sheffield Midland to Brighton " 3 to the sea " ?

 

[flymo]

Was their not a train in the late 1980's that went from Sheffield Midland to Brighton " 3 to the sea " ?

In the mid 80's there was a Mon-Sat Leeds - Brighton, (dep 14:00 - arr 20:35).
Also a Mon-Sat Derby - Brighton (dep 06:01 - arr 11:00).

Northbound there was a Mon - Fri Brighton - Derby (dep 18:48 - arr 23:48)

Happy days.....

 

[AJP62]

In the early 70s there were still summer Saturday holiday trains along the Newcastle and Carlisle. One went to Blackpool and the other to Largs via Dumfries using some freight only lines in Ayrshire. I think the latter originally went to a branch serving Butlins in Ayr but changed destination when the branch closed. Both trains served Hexham and possibly Haltwhistle. I think they finished running in the mid 70s.

There were also two summer Saturday trains from Glasgow, one to Blackpool and one to Morecambe. These always ran down the GSW, the Blackpool one changing to electric at Carlisle. The Morecambe one was diesel hauled thoughout nonstop from Carlisle using the direct curve to Bare Lane and giving very rare passenger diesel haulage over Shap after electrification. It was a 47 when I took it and possibly used these regularly to give extra power coming north compared to the more usual 40s.

During the Glasgiow holiday fortnight the Blackpool could have several reliefs running too, some coming over Beattock.

 

[tbtc]

The Deltic Operation was certainly around c 1997 , - the train ran (I think) fast from Coventry to Kensington Olympia. I took my eldest son on it one Sat with a work mate and his son , - there were virtually no normal passengers , just enthusiasts - and as there was no ticket check , they probably had a free ride. Not exactly a commercial service , and a good run out for the enthusiastic staff !.

Call me a cynic, but I think that this was great PR for Virgin at the time (having just taken over the high profile franchises), I remember reading about how you could travel by Deltic for only (something like) £2.40 (which was admittedly the price of a ticket from New Street to Birmingham International, and wouldn't have got you near the seaside!). The kind of stunt that Branson is good at.

 

[38Cto15E]

I am sure that in the 50s my mam and dad took me to Blackpool on seaside specials from Leicester.
When skirting Manchester I am sure there was a small area where children were on the lineside encouraging passengers who had their heads out of the window to throw a few coins out of the window. This may have been called a 'Penny Drop'

A similar event took place at Portsmouth Harbour where children stood in the harbour mud and encouraged passengers to drop some coins into the mud to see if they could retrieve it.
Anyone else remember these type of things?

 

[Spam Can]

I remember te seaside specials as I was brought up in Blackpool. Only had 1 year remeberibg B-Pool central but memories include a couple of Hymeks on illumination specials, the 2 rebuilt Jubillees (that looked like "Royal Scots") and loads of Black 5's, double headed 4F's, BR stds etc. North during 64/65/66 was a steam mecca.
anything that moved from the manchester or yorkshire area's was pressed into service. Crabs, Jubilees, (Alberta, Seychelles, Ajax, Khohallapur ecwere saturday afternoon regulars) = 8f's and on more than 1 occassion, 9F's with 14 & 15 coaches on (I remeber once that a 9f brought 18 in. The noice coming up the gradient from Layton station was incredible and they had to split the train on arrival and shunt half the train into a second Platform.!
Happy days.