1980's Nuneaton Drags

Quick query about the drags that used to take place between Birmingham New St and Nuneaton on Sundays.

I'm in the process of adding these drags into the new version of 'Hellfire' and cannot remember what happened with 1J32, the 1340 Euston - Shrewsbury working. Did it get a pilot loco from Nuneaton to Brum, which was then dropped for the spark to Wolves, or did the EH47 work the train through from Nuneaton to Salop?

I'm just trying to work out the CL56 diagrams for the drags in 1981.

I know they were a good opportunity for Class 56 haulage, but can anybody give an estimate of how common they were? Assuming all Wolverhampton - Euston (and return) workings were dragged, I reckon 4 locos could cover the day. Were they generally all 56's, or did they try to slip in 47's as well?

Cheers

Mike

I can't answer your first question, but in my experience, there were far more 58's used than 56's, but I'm talking late 80's.

40012Railrover said:

Quick query about the drags that used to take place between Birmingham New St and Nuneaton on Sundays.

I'm in the process of adding these drags into the new version of 'Hellfire' and cannot remember what happened with 1J32, the 1340 Euston - Shrewsbury working. Did it get a pilot loco from Nuneaton to Brum, which was then dropped for the spark to Wolves, or did the EH47 work the train through from Nuneaton to Salop?

I'm just trying to work out the CL56 diagrams for the drags in 1981.

I know they were a good opportunity for Class 56 haulage, but can anybody give an estimate of how common they were? Assuming all Wolverhampton - Euston (and return) workings were dragged, I reckon 4 locos could cover the day. Were they generally all 56's, or did they try to slip in 47's as well?

Cheers

Mike

Click to expand...

Ok, hope this helps and may trigger some thoughts

1) Pretty certain the drag loco did Nuneaton to Shrewsbury - this being a 50 once for defo

2) The loco doing the 0800 Wolves Euston came back light engine - sometimes died or did the 1200 Wolves Euston

Hope my memory is correct and other can confirm

Not sure about your listed service, but all the "Nuneaton" drags were all "supposed" to be worked by 47/4s, but "somehow" there were occasions when insufficient 47/4s were available. Then, any available loco. could appear, including 56s, but also 47/0, 47/3, 50, and in later years, 58s. I think that, at least once, a pair of 31s was also used. Fortunately, many Saltley drivers seemed to have a wide traction knowledge.

I was a driver at Saltley and did get involved with the "Nuneaton Drags",sometimes the electric loco remained on the train but on some services the electric loco was detached/attached at Nuneaton.Saltley drivers had traction knowledge of nearly all diesel classes and therefore which ever locos were availiable were used although a 47/4 was the rostered loco..
I did two drags in 1981,one in April with loco no. 47465 working 1A05 from New St. to Nuneaton and then 1Sxx from Nuneaton through to Stafford via Walsall the electric loco was left on the train in both cases.The second drag was in August with 47538 working 1A06 New St. to Nuneaton, then 1G26 Nuneaton to New St. then 1A12 New St. to Nuneaton and then LD back to New Street for relief by another Saltley crew.I did two drags in 1982 the first in February with 47349 we went LD Saltley to Oxley CS then worked 5A03/1A03 Oxley-Wolverhampton to Nuneaton.then 1F10 Nuneaton to Wolverhampton then 1A06 New Street to Nuneaton and then LD Nuneaton to Saltley.The second drag was in March using 50023 we went LD Saltley to Oxley CS then 5A06/1A06 Oxley-Wolverhampton to Nuneaton then LD Nuneaton to Oxley CS then 5A14 Oxley to New Street and relief by another Saltley crew.
I did another drag in June 1984 with 47445 1A29 New Street to Nuneaton and 1J32 Nuneaton to New St. and left the loco at New St. for another Saltley crew.
Class 56's to my knowledge were rarely used on these trains although class 58's were often employed but mostly class 47's were the norm.

I was lucky enough to get 37294 on the drags back on 04/09/88.

Also 37019 on 29/01/90, but this was on a weekday, unscheduled drags because of OHLE problems near Coventry.

Hi all,

Many thanks for the info - all gratefully received. Was a bit surprised to head about Class 50's working the drags, but I suppose with the legendary traction and route knowledge of Saltley Men, it would not pose a problem. (Also at that time there was a booked Class 50 turn to Leicester overnight on a parcels working)

It was said that when Neil Armstrong first set foot on the moon, there was a Saltley Driver and Secondman waiting to come back passenger!

Oh - almost forgot (hence the edit...) what was the last drag Southbound? Assuming the possession would have been lifted at 1600 (usual time for a Sunday), would the 1500 ex Wolves (1A23) be dragged, or would it not have been practical, as the time lost on the drag would mean the 1600 ex Wolves (1A25) travelling direct would end up overtaking it!

Cheers

Mike