TOC football charters

[MadMac]

Back in my youth advertised excursions were run for Northampton Town Football Club away matches, usually direct and therefore interesting for a route-basher. One I went on was to Nottingham, went direct via the freight only line to Market Harborough. Managed to fit in bunking Colwick but unable to join in the after match analysis discussions. They even had a large circular "Good luck the Cobblers' headboard tailored to cover the smokebox door of a Black 5, and the loco was cleaned, too.
Stock often interesting - on another, I managed to ride in one of the rare L.M.S twin artic TSO sets, originally built as 'excursion sets'.The very unusual rhythm over rail joints was lost on my fellow-passengers.

Here’s an assortment of DMUs on a similar excursion to Leicester.

 

[Merle Haggard]

Here’s an assortment of DMUs on a similar excursion to Leicester.

Thanks for finding that.
The location is where Mill Lane crosses the railway by an over bridge, and it's where I spent a great deal of time in my childhood and youth. At weekends and school holidays there was usually a group of us congregating on the bridge or in the fields; I lost touch with them years ago but I wonder whether I knew the photographer back then. I was taking 35 mm colour slides with a cheap camera myself at that time but probably wouldn't have regarded a d.m.u. as worthy of the expense ( one shilling!) of a photo. Certainly interesting now, though, with different builders, by contrast with the dull uniformity you'll see there today.

 

[BPN2022]

Football extra today for Leeds away at Blackburn formed of 2 x 150s. Given 7,000 are going I dread to think of the overcrowding on the Blackpool-York 195s

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Possibly slightly OT but did anyone back in the day, late 70s, all 80s and most of the 90s even after privatization and TOCs go on a footex just for the haulage?

 

[Magdalia]

Possibly slightly OT but did anyone back in the day, late 70s, all 80s and most of the 90s even after privatization and TOCs go on a footex just for the haulage?

In the late 1970s and early 1980s Ipswich Town were one of the top teams in what was then League Division 1. For Saturday home games there was usually a Cambridge-Ipswich footex, with the 17xx Ipswich-Cambridge being loco hauled vice DMU after the match. This was very popular with rail enthusiasts, as it could be done on a one day Anglia Ranger and usually got a steam heat loco.

Ipswich Town returned to the Premier League this season after a long absence. Greater Anglia are providing a variant of this with an Ipswich-Ely footex after some home games.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Possibly slightly OT but did anyone back in the day, late 70s, all 80s and most of the 90s even after privatization and TOCs go on a footex just for the haulage?

I asked similar on post #44. Responses, posts #46 and #49, suggested matchday footex tickets were sold via football club channels, rather than "Open To All" - and haulage fans were on the train a) because they also supported that club or, b) on rare occasions, they were a "train stowaway"...

 

[GRALISTAIR]

In the late 1970s and early 1980s Ipswich Town were one of the top teams in what was then League Division 1. For Saturday home games there was usually a Cambridge-Ipswich footex, with the 17xx Ipswich-Cambridge being loco hauled vice DMU after the match. This was very popular with rail enthusiasts, as it could be done on a one day Anglia Ranger and usually got a steam heat loco.

Ipswich Town returned to the Premier League this season after a long absence. Greater Anglia are providing a variant of this with an Ipswich-Ely footex after some home games.

I asked similar on post #44. Responses, posts #46 and #49, suggested matchday footex tickets were sold via football club channels, rather than "Open To All" - and haulage fans were on the train a) because they also supported that club or, b) on rare occasions, they were a "train stowaway"...

Thanks for that and sorry for not searching more thoroughly.

 

[Alfonso]

Considering how far the Reebok is from Bolton town centre, plus the cost of parking etc I would imagine that the local station (Horwich Parkway) and services would take hundreds if not thousands of fans.

However I'm unaware of any increase in services or "specials" from Bolton Trinity St or elsewhere to the ground, so can any local followers confirm this? Although being a "Northern" area I'd be amazed it they could find the stock and staff to fulfil such a scheme!

Brighton is in a similar situation, limited parking and quite a drag out of town to the venue, yet a local train station with direct access to the main station and others. Do they have special services for games?

I went to a concert there about 15 years ago and there were a load of extra papers and sprinters to get people both north and south. No idea if it still happens (clearly not with pacers any more)

 

[sheff1]

I asked similar on post #44. Responses, posts #46 and #49, suggested matchday footex tickets were sold via football club channels, rather than "Open To All" - and haulage fans were on the train a) because they also supported that club or, b) on rare occasions, they were a "train stowaway"...

That certainly wasn't the case for footexs from Birmingham for Aston Villa, Birmingham City & West Bromwich Albion in the 1970's. Tickets were sold at New St station (and quite possibly other local stations) - and yes, you did get railway enthusiasts booking tickets for some of them, especially those which went via unusual routes.

 

[75A]

I think the best Footex I ever went on as a fan was on a Tuesday night in February 1983 from Portsmouth Town low level to Lincoln, which went via Birmingham and was hauled throughout by a single 33. Pompey won 3-0 and were promoted at the end of the season

 

[Dr_Intoxicated]

That certainly wasn't the case for footexs from Birmingham for Aston Villa, Birmingham City & West Bromwich Albion in the 1970's. Tickets were sold at New St station (and quite possibly other local stations) - and yes, you did get railway enthusiasts booking tickets for some of them, especially those which went via unusual routes.

I think the difference is between TOCs that regularly run extra services for football games that are public services and trains chartered by football clubs that are not open to the general public. The thread title implies the latter.

 

[AndyHudds]

The last football special we had at Huddersfield was in November 1987 for a game at Machester City. Prior to that was January 1985 for a 3rd round FA Cup tie at Wolves, drawn 1-1. On the way back we got stuck at Stalybridge, as I remember, being only 10 at the time, as Bradford City's special, they'd been at Telford in the FA Cup too, broke down in the Standedge Tunnel. Not sure which way the Bradford one was going back though, whether to Leeds and reversing or on Bradley Wood Curve, which I'm sure was totally closed by then or mothballed at the very least.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

The last football special we had at Huddersfield was in November 1987 for a game at Manchester City. Prior to that was January 1985 for a 3rd round FA Cup tie at Wolves, drawn 1-1. On the way back we got stuck at Stalybridge, as I remember, being only 10 at the time, as Bradford City's special, they'd been at Telford in the FA Cup too, broke down in the Standedge Tunnel. Not sure which way the Bradford one was going back though, whether to Leeds and reversing or on Bradley Wood Curve, which I'm sure was totally closed by then or mothballed at the very least.

The less said about that game, the better... though if you believe everyone who claims they were there, it was our biggest away following ever!

Not the last football specials at Huddersfield though. There was a charter to Wembley for the last three play-off final appearances (2012, 2017, 2022); and regular Northern "Extras" when we've played Barnsley or either of the Sheffield clubs at home.

 

[AndyHudds]

The less said about that game, the better... though if you believe everyone who claims they were there, it was our biggest away following ever!

Not the last football specials at Huddersfield though. There was a charter to Wembley for the last three play-off final appearances (2012, 2017, 2022); and regular Northern "Extras" when we've played Barnsley or either of the Sheffield clubs at home.

If you ever see the footage, the away following is pretty low, I wasn't there but my dad was and I do know we had a special that day but yeah, we had 20k there that day.

When I say football special, I mean for a standard game, not Wembley, but I take your point. I once went to Bolton on a Tuesday night, Easter Tuesday, if there is such a thing and Northern started the stopper at Horwich Parkway instead of Victoria for us with 2 extra carriages, but was pretty busy too.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

Northampton playoffs at Wembley sometime in the late 1990's (got the paperwork somewhere) - we turned out every 321 we could , hired in a RES 86 with maroon MK1 set BN91, 2 x 6 car 310's off Central and then nicked 2x313,s for extra MK to Wembkey Central non stop. Hectic - as on top of the timed extras - we ran extra ad hoc sets - oddly enough the crews decided to do extra LHCS workings on their own initiative with helpful signal staff. (we found out when a 5Zxx appeared - having run round on the Wembley reception lines)

4x8 car 321's sported "Cobbler Special no 1 -4) , - an indea of BY depot and Train crew ......

 

[The exile]

Basically they are saying that because more people are using the service from and to the city centre, they are going to stop providing it. Is it not supposed to be a customer focussed industry?

What they are saying is that it is impossible to police a queuing system when you’ve got trains going both ways from the same (because island) platform. An easement to allow travel via the next station in the “wrong direction” would go a long way to alleviate any problems caused.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 1 Dec 2024 ==

Possibly slightly OT but did anyone back in the day, late 70s, all 80s and most of the 90s even after privatization and TOCs go on a footex just for the haulage?

I had a train almost exclusively to myself from Ipswich to Liverpool Street - presumably because of extra time or a late kick off (about 30 years ago). First fans were arriving just as we left.

 

[Dave W]

oddly enough the crews decided to do extra LHCS workings on their own initiative with helpful signal staff. (we found out when a 5Zxx appeared - having run round on the Wembley reception lines)

I know it's a knackered old trope within these halls but could you imagine that happening today, etc etc!

 

[Par]

I asked similar on post #44. Responses, posts #46 and #49, suggested matchday footex tickets were sold via football club channels, rather than "Open To All" - and haulage fans were on the train a) because they also supported that club or, b) on rare occasions, they were a "train stowaway"...

That’s not my experience at all.
Travelled on numerous Footex trains and always bought tickets at either Manchester Piccadilly or Victoria.

Still got most of the tickets too, which I can post up if anyone is remotely interested?

 

[Sun Chariot]

That’s not my experience at all.
Travelled on numerous Footex trains and always bought tickets at either Manchester Piccadilly or Victoria.

Still got most of the tickets too, which I can post up if anyone is remotely interested?

I am envious

I didn't follow football (my father supported Luton Town - that was enough to get me into rugby union instead).
By the mid 1980s - when I was trusted to travel the UK sans parents - the best FootEx traction had gone.

 

[YorkshireBear]

I have only ever been on one, swfc away at derby in I think 2009. EMR HST football fans only waiting in the platform at derby, non stop to Sheffield. Must have been easy for them to put on but it was an extra service marked as for football fans only. With anyone looking like a fan turned away from service trains to Sheffield.

 

[AndyHudds]

Fans slam Blackburn train chaos as Leeds comment and Northern make assault appeal

Leeds United fans have described train issues to and from Blackburn as a 'complete nightmare' as Northern Railway say an employee was subject to assault.

www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk

Sounds like Leeds could have done with a few specials on Saturday, sounds farcical. Two work colleagues said they were at New Pudsey waiting and the train just sailed straight past, as corroborated in the article, they said they just ended up getting taxis there and back too.

 

[londonbridge]

On a similar note, not sure exactly what happened as I wasn’t there and it’s hard to make sense of some of the ramblings that get posted on Readytogo, but apparently there was some trouble on a train after Sheffield United vs Sunderland on Friday night which resulted in everyone having to leave the train when it eventually arrived at Doncaster after a delay and Northern refusing to assist and telling people to make their own way home after connections were missed?

 

[Spartacus]

On a similar note, not sure exactly what happened as I wasn’t there and it’s hard to make sense of some of the ramblings that get posted on Readytogo, but apparently there was some trouble on a train after Sheffield United vs Sunderland on Friday night which resulted in everyone having to leave the train when it eventually arrived at Doncaster after a delay and Northern refusing to assist and telling people to make their own way home after connections were missed?

Well they'd never have made it back to Sunderland anyway with a 20:00 kick off time. Considering first that and that they'd been ripping the unit apart en-route to fashion weapons to fight each other with I'm can hardly blame Northern for telling them to make their own way back. I imagine they were aiming for the 23:54 Newcastle but after the 51 minute delay they closest they could have got was York.

 

[Gaz67]

The last football special we had at Huddersfield was in November 1987 for a game at Machester City. Prior to that was January 1985 for a 3rd round FA Cup tie at Wolves, drawn 1-1. On the way back we got stuck at Stalybridge, as I remember, being only 10 at the time, as Bradford City's special, they'd been at Telford in the FA Cup too, broke down in the Standedge Tunnel. Not sure which way the Bradford one was going back though, whether to Leeds and reversing or on Bradley Wood Curve, which I'm sure was totally closed by then or mothballed at the very least.

Did that out of man Vic, 45145 , it then ran a service train to Leeds via HM I think. It was a long train of mk1s but only front 2 had Terriers fans in. Good day to be a City fan and Peak basher.

 

[londonbridge]

Well they'd never have made it back to Sunderland anyway with a 20:00 kick off time. Considering first that and that they'd been ripping the unit apart en-route to fashion weapons to fight each other with I'm can hardly blame Northern for telling them to make their own way back. I imagine they were aiming for the 23:54 Newcastle but after the 51 minute delay they closest they could have got was York.

Sounds like it was more serious than I was aware of, what about other passengers, if they identified some of those involved then fair enough but surely they can’t just abandon everyone including those who had nothing to do with football or any trouble and were simply travelling quietly?

 

[Spartacus]

Sounds like it was more serious than I was aware of, what about other passengers, if they identified some of those involved then fair enough but surely they can’t just abandon everyone including those who had nothing to do with football or any trouble and were simply travelling quietly?

I wouldn't have thought there'd be many others needing onward connections off the 2341 arrival, and I'd hazard a guess they'd have been fairly easy to distinguish from the trouble makers, the only places that would have been affected were Northallerton, Darlington, Durham & Newcastle. I'd have thought even fans who weren't too worse for wear could have make their way to York and had something arranged for travel further up the ECML.

 

[Old Yard Dog]

WMR have been rightfully panned for this, even the club have publicly called them out on their incompetence.

Blues started laying on free shuttle busses between New St station and the stadium before and after the match precisely because the train service to Bordesley was a joke to start with. WMR have now come out with this 'trial' referencing the fact that the shuttle bus service means that they now don't need to provide as many trains.

I'm glad they're one of the first ones for having their contract stripped.

Are there any ticket easements allowing passengers from the city centre to double back at Small Heath?

 

[1D54]

Was Bordesley ever used back in the day when footex was a popular method of travel for fans? Digbeth Road was never the safest of options for visiting fans who needed to get back to New Street on foot.

 

[Womar]

Are there any ticket easements allowing passengers from the city centre to double back at Small Heath?

This was something I tried last Wednesday the train was completely wedged just managed to squeeze in, but it doesn't work after the game had to walk back to Moor at at my age the wrong side of 70 it was a struggle.The club do support a free bus back to the city but it gets stuck in traffic very slow journey..

 

[Cross City]

Are there any ticket easements allowing passengers from the city centre to double back at Small Heath?

Unsure as I don't use that line for the football as it's so unreliable so I've no cause to look.

I highly doubt it though because what's the point? Small Heath receives very little service, it'd be quicker to walk the mile and a half from Moor St to St Andrews.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Dec 2024 ==

This was something I tried last Wednesday the train was completely wedged just managed to squeeze in, but it doesn't work after the game had to walk back to Moor at at my age the wrong side of 70 it was a struggle.The club do support a free bus back to the city but it gets stuck in traffic very slow journey..

I think the shuttle bus is excellent (obviously WMR do too as they quote that as the reason why they've cut the service to Bordesley despite it meaning to be a supplement to the trains not a replacement).

Gets stuck in the usual traffic on the way to the stadium before the game but it's still quicker than walking. After the game is even quicker as once it gets out of Kingston Road and over the Watering Hole Island its a straight shot down Digbeth.