The Ulster Express

[GPT]

Could anyone confirm the following may have happened or is it just my imagination.
In the 1960's my parents used to take me each summer on The Ulster Express from London Euston to Heysham. I believe it departed at 18.50.

Before electrification into Euston, I believe the train started diesel hauled, the at some stage was electric hauled and finally steam hauled into Heysham.

Would be great if someone could confirm that this may have happened.

 

[Taunton]

Yes, that's right. About 1964-65, as the electrification progressed southwards, when it got to Nuneaton trains to north of Crewe started to change locos twice. So a Class 40 Euston to Nuneaton, then an electric loco on to Crewe, then either a steam loco or another Class 40 from Crewe to Morecambe, and finally a steam loco came on the rear and drew the train the short distance to Heysham.

 

[GPT]

Yes, that's right. About 1964-65, as the electrification progressed southwards, when it got to Nuneaton trains to north of Crewe started to change locos twice. So a Class 40 Euston to Nuneaton, then an electric loco on to Crewe, then either a steam loco or another Class 40 from Crewe to Morecambe, and finally a steam loco came on the rear and drew the train the short distance to Heysham.

Thank you for the reply - Glad to know I was not dreaming !!!!!

 

[Bevan Price]

Times varied as electrification work proceeded, but from the LMR timetable for 1966 (Monday to Friday times):-

London Euston 18:50
Crewe 21:05 (pick up only)
Preston 21:59 (set down only, stop added in timetable supplement.)
Morecambe Promenade 22:28 / 22:33
Heysham 22:43

On Summer Saturdays, there was even a relief service at 18:40 from Euston, with the same stopping pattern.

The southbound return was:-

Heysham 06:00
Morecambe Promenade 06:10 / 06:15
Lancaster Castle 06:25 / 06:26
Crewe 07:45 / 07:55
Rugby Midland 08:56 / 08:58
London Euston 10:02

 

[Bob Sumsion]

I seem to recall that here was a picture posted on the internet showing electric blue painted E3xxx locomotives double heading MKI stock.

Does anybody have any idea of the train formation(s) used?

 

[Taunton]

"Double heading" of the electric locos was very common in the period before the electrification was fully opened, because many of the interim loco rosters were unbalanced, so a second loco would be moved behind the train loco, dead and with pantograph down.