Back in the day...

[O8yityityit]

I liked all the rats on the Midland Main Line

That is quite a list of sightings!

Several classes I never saw in service - 44, 74, 76.

I especially like how 55021 and W55021 both appear.

I was never really sure where it was that I saw the 76s in the Sheffield area. In earlier trips I recorded it as Wath or Mexborough but I'd welcome anyone's thoughts as to where it could have been?

 

[NorthWestRover]

Did they go as far as Mexborough?

Wath was always a place to see them from my foggy memory.

 

[NorthWestRover]

As I have suggested on several occasions, I can't remember lots of my moves from the early 80s. However, watching a YouTube video of Temple Meads from 1990 earlier (Duffs and HSTs, yawn), a Duff - 47 375 - went past. For some reason that reminded me that my last Duff for sight was 47 304, one of the Knottingley ones, I think. I then remembered my last 40 - 165 - a Haymarket one, my last Deltic 019 and I think my last 86 was 025, which is maybe why I have a photo of it.

Also on that YouTube video was 47 538. Did that used to be called Python?

 

[xotGD]

Also on that YouTube video was 47 538. Did that used to be called Python?

Yes - see here:

Account Suspended

 

[D841 Roebuck]

Last ones?

For classes where all seen, 13002, 50030, 58022, 85038, 86222, 87005, 90046 and 91008 take the honours.

For classes where some missed, D2956, D2867, 06003, D3452, 15224,, D9551, D8233, D8568, 20315, D6121, D5905/09 jointly, 24032, 25067, 26004, 27007, D5705, 31275, 33057, D7076/96 jointly, 40173, D601, 44004, 45141, 46021, 47187 disguised as 57006, D1062, 55015, 56111, 71001, 76029, 81020 and 84004/005 jointly take the honours as last extant ones copped.

For Classes 22/42/43/82/83 it was too long ago to make a guess.

Classes 73 and 92 require further delving. I've seen all the exant 73s, not so sure about the 92s. Can't be bothered with HSTs.

Several 03/04/07/08/09 shunters remain elusive, as do several 66s and 68s

Of the classes missing above, the following have not been seen, so will hopefully be the last ones in due course, viruses permitting: 05001, 12083, 37075, 59101/104, 60015, 67004/011, E27003.

Edit forgot about 88s (4/10 seen) and 89001 (seen)

Edit (2). Never saw a Class 16. I suppose Henry Cole and Simon O'Brien might find one hiding in a barn to upcycle into a filing cabinet, but I'm not holding my breath

 

[O8yityityit]

Last ones?

For classes where all seen, 13002, 50030, 58022, 85038, 86222, 87005, 90046 and 91008 take the honours.

For classes where some missed, D2956, D2867, 06003, D3452, 15224,, D9551, D8233, D8568, 20315, D6121, D5905/09 jointly, 24032, 25067, 26004, 27007, D5705, 31275, 33057, D7076/96 jointly, 40173, D601, 44004, 45141, 46021, 47187 disguised as 57006, D1062, 55015, 56111, 71001, 76029, 81020 and 84004/005 jointly take the honours as last extant ones copped.

For Classes 22/42/43/82/83 it was too long ago to make a guess.

Classes 73 and 92 require further delving. I've seen all the exant 73s, not so sure about the 92s. Can't be bothered with HSTs.

Several 03/04/07/08/09 shunters remain elusive, as do several 66s and 68s

Of the classes missing above, the following have not been seen, so will hopefully be the last ones in due course, viruses permitting: 05001, 12083, 37075, 59101/104, 60015, 67004/011, E27003.

Edit forgot about 88s (4/10 seen) and 89001 (seen)

Edit (2). Never saw a Class 16. I suppose Henry Cole and Simon O'Brien might find one hiding in a barn to upcycle into a filing cabinet, but I'm not holding my breath

I recall my last ones as
13002 ( always seemed to see the same 2 when at Tinsley)
As for 59/2s - saw them all in one day at Millford!
40181
45132
55004
56040
87034

 

[xotGD]

I remember turning up at Newcastle Central one Friday evening to discover that my last 31 for sight had worked the stopper to Berwick. However, rather than waiting to see it on the return I went to the pub as planned!

I saw it shortly thereafter.

I have no idea which was my last seen of any class. Apart from 89001.

 

[D841 Roebuck]

Apologies for the long boring post caused by last night's insomnia!

I'm glad it wasn't just me that 13002 did its best to avoid! I have a theory that when the 13s were scrapped they were reincarnated as the 321/9 emus, with 902 being much shyer to appear for me than 901 or 903...

If a tardis took me back 40 years to Manchester Victoria, though, I suspect the usual regulars will be there. 25199 would be station pilot, waiting to bank something up to Miles Platting; 40184 would rumble through on oil tanks with 40035 on tne Bangor passenger circuit; if a 31 or 45 replaced a 47 on the pennine passengers they would, as usual, be 45046 and 31406; 47529 and 47533 would be bowling 40 bashers out. Not 47555 though, it was never that common for me.

 

[NorthWestRover]

47 533. The stuff of nightmares.

 

[D841 Roebuck]

47 533. The stuff of nightmares.

Seemed to be always there, with a particular penchant for Manchester to Blackpool services. In contrast, the most elusive 47/4 (of those converted by 1979) for me was 47416 for some reason. Maybe it was in particularly good nick and Gateshead MPD kept it close to cover for ailing Deltics on East Coast overnights?

 

[xotGD]

Seemed to be always there, with a particular penchant for Manchester to Blackpool services. In contrast, the most elusive 47/4 (of those converted by 1979) for me was 47416 for some reason. Maybe it was in particularly good nick and Gateshead MPD kept it close to cover for ailing Deltics on East Coast overnights?

Either that or it was always broken! I only had 416 for haulage once. Newcastle to Durham on a Liverpool service in 1985. 415 is the Generator that escaped my red pen.

 

[CW2]

Sat 06 July 1980. ECML overnight from the previous night, ending at Selby to position myself for a York - Aberystwyth ADEX. "That's bound to be a 40" was the collective wisdom. In rolls 47416 ....
(The good news was it was replaced at Chester by a 40, but 47416 waited there all day to work us back to York. Cheers then!)

 

[xotGD]

Diesel Day Dodgy Doubles! Part 2

North Norfolk Railway 3rd & 4th June 1995

Fore! Recreating a scene from somewhere in Scotland back in the 60s, D5386 and D5207 provide a mixed Type 2 double as they pass Sherringham Golf Club on the Sunday:



Also in action that weekend was a Gronk double in the shape of 08767 + 12131, and 20227.

KWVR, 1st July 1995

Less than a month later, and the action has moved to Yorkshire, starting of with a Rat & Bomb double - D5209 + D8031 terminate at Oxenhope:



The 20 also had a run paired with oddball super-shunter D226. Seen here at Oxenhope running round their stock:



The final pairing of the day consisted of two mini-beasts. D2511 and 23 provided rare traction, and are seen running round at Keighley:



East Lancs Railway, 16th September 1995

Plenty of locos operating, but just the one double-header to note. What's worse than being bowled out by a Duff? Being bowled out by a pair of duffs! 1501& 47117 seen arriving into Ramsbottom. Just to note, I didn't do this service, although I did have a run behind the Generator earlier in the day:



Also in action and sampled by me were D5054, D5518, D7076, 40135, 40145, 832, 50015, D1041 and D9019. Rather an entertaining day!

The ELR will feature again in future installments, with rather more double-headed action. Watch this space...

 

[D841 Roebuck]

Diesel Day Dodgy Doubles! Part 2

North Norfolk Railway 3rd & 4th June 1995

Fore! Recreating a scene from somewhere in Scotland back in the 60s, D5386 and D5207 provide a mixed Type 2 double as they pass Sherringham Golf Club on the Sunday:

View attachment 79510

Also in action that weekend was a Gronk double in the shape of 08767 + 12131, and 20227.

KWVR, 1st July 1995

Less than a month later, and the action has moved to Yorkshire, starting of with a Rat & Bomb double - D5209 + D8031 terminate at Oxenhope:

View attachment 79514

The 20 also had a run paired with oddball super-shunter D226. Seen here at Oxenhope running round their stock:

View attachment 79515

The final pairing of the day consisted of two mini-beasts. D2511 and 23 provided rare traction, and are seen running round at Keighley:

View attachment 79516

East Lancs Railway, 16th September 1995

Plenty of locos operating, but just the one double-header to note. What's worse than being bowled out by a Duff? Being bowled out by a pair of duffs! 1501& 47117 seen arriving into Ramsbottom. Just to note, I didn't do this service, although I did have a run behind the Generator earlier in the day:

View attachment 79519

Also in action and sampled by me were D5054, D5518, D7076, 40135, 40145, 832, 50015, D1041 and D9019. Rather an entertaining day!

The ELR will feature again in future installments, with rather more double-headed action. Watch this space...

Nice photos.

Scratching gronks for trundlage is always a bit hit and miss entertainment-wise, but I recall D2511 at Keighley as rather a feisty little beast!

 

[hurri67]

If I may join this thread, back in August 1980. A little "OIK " of 13yrs, on a Area 4 Rover Western, with my cousin, bashing EE 50's I preferred 45/46's .As Taunton was going to be our start/stop point. I do not have head codes or times, as I have no books now.
If any body could help with these, I would be really grateful. These are listed in haulage order. All AM starts. All Red Pen, antes marked as DUD.


So Day 1 Sunday 10th

45070 - 00:01 Taunton - Exeter St Davids (30.60 miles)

50034 - 00:02 Exeter St Davids - Exeter Central (0.60 miles)

45028 - 00:03 Exeter St Davids - Newton Abbot (20.13 miles)

50006 - 00:04 Newton Abbot - Taunton (50.73 miles)

50046 - 00:04 Newton Abbot - Taunton (50.73 miles)

50035 - 00:05 Taunton - Exeter St Davids (30.60 miles)

50010 - 00:06 Exeter St Davids - Taunton (30.60 miles)

47477 - 00:07 Taunton - Exeter St Davids (30.60 miles)

50033 - 00:08 Exeter St Davids - Taunton (30.60 miles)

47466 - 00:09 Taunton - Exeter St Davids (30.60 miles)

50017 - 00:10 Exeter St Davids - Taunton (30.60 miles)

45012 - 00:11 Taunton - Exeter St Davids (30.60 miles)

25057 - 00:12 Exeter St Davids - Taunton (30 miles)

25267 - 00:12 Exeter St Davids - Taunton (30 miles)

Day 2 Monday 11th

47148 - 00:01 Taunton - Exeter St Davids (30.60 miles)

50016 - 00:02 Exeter St Davids - Taunton (30.60 miles)

50036 - 00:03 Taunton - Newton Abbot (50.73 miles)

50017 - 00:04 Newton Abbot - Exeter St Davids (20.13 miles) DUD

25048 - 00:05 Exeter St Davids - Newton Abbot (20.13 miles)

47477 - 00:06 Newton Abbot - Exeter St Davids (20.13 miles) DUD

50049 - 00:07 Exeter St Davids - Newton Abbot (20.13 miles)

43133 - 00:08 Newton Abbot - Exeter St Davids (20.13 miles)

43134 - 00:08 Newton Abbot - Exeter St Davids (20.13 miles)

50027 - 00:09 Exeter St Davids - Exeter Central (0.60 miles)

50858 - 00:10 Exeter Central - Exeter St Davids (1 miles)

50911 - 00:10 Exeter Central - Exeter St Davids (1 miles)

59492 - 00:10 Exeter Central - Exeter St Davids (1 miles)

47510 - 00:11 Exeter St Davids - Taunton (30.60 miles)

Day 3 Tuesday 12th

47069 - 00:05 Taunton - Exeter St Davids (30 miles)

50016 - 00:10 Exeter St Davids - Taunton (30.60 miles) DUD

47423 - 00:15 Taunton - Exeter St Davids (30.60 miles)

50027 - 00:20 Exeter St Davids - Exeter Central (0.60ch miles) DUD

50009 - 00:21 Exeter Central - Exeter St Davids (0.60ch miles)

50001 - 00:25 Exeter St Davids - Newton Abbot (20.13 miles) DUD

47560 - 00:27 Newton Abbot - Exeter St Davids - 1E70 (20.13 miles)

50006 - 00:30 Exeter St Davids - Newton Abbot (20.13 miles) DUD

50049 - 00:32 Newton Abbot - Exeter St Davids (20.13 miles) DUD

50021 - 00:34 Exeter St Davids - Newton Abbot (20.13 miles)

43040 - 00:36 Newton Abbot - Taunton (50.73 miles)

43041 - 00:36 Newton Abbot - Taunton (50.73 miles)

45141 - 00:38 Taunton - Exeter St Davids (30.60 miles)

45064 - 00:40 Exeter St Davids - Taunton (30.60 miles)

Day 4 Wednesday 13th

45064 - 00:02 Taunton - Newton Abbot (50.73 miles) DUD

50014 - 00:10 Newton Abbot - Taunton (50.73 miles)

50006 - 00:12 Taunton - Newton Abbot (50.73 miles) DUD

50049 - 00:15 Newton Abbot - Exeter St Davids (20.13 miles) DUD

50047 - 00:20 Exeter St Davids - Totnes (28.74 miles)

50021 - 00:22 Totnes - Exeter St Davids (28.74 miles) DUD

50025 - 00:25 Exeter St Davids - Newton Abbot (20.13 miles)

43036 - 00:30 Newton Abbot - Taunton (50.73 miles)

43037 - 00:30 Newton Abbot - Taunton (50.73 miles)

47422 - 00:32 Taunton - Exeter St Davids (30.60 miles)

46004 - 00:40 Exeter St Davids - Taunton (30.60 miles)

Day 5 Thursday 14th

46004 - 00:02 Taunton - Newton Abbot (50.73 miles) DUD

50041 - 00:04 Newton Abbot - Taunton (50.73 miles)

50049 - 00:06 Taunton - Exeter St Davids (30.60 miles) DUD

50019 - 00:08 Exeter St Davids - Exeter Central (0.60 miles)

50027 - 00:10 Exeter Central - Exeter St Davids (0.60 miles) DUD

47545 - 00:12 Exeter St Davids - Taunton (30.60 miles)

50024 - 00:14 Taunton - Totnes (59.54 miles)

50028 - 00:16 Totnes - Taunton (59.54 miles)

47488 - 00:18 Taunton - Exeter St Davids (30.60 miles)

45005 - 00:20 Exeter St Davids - Taunton (30.60 miles)

Day 6 Friday 15th

47553 - 00:02 Taunton - Exeter St Davids (30.60 miles)

50016 - 00:04 Exeter St Davids - Taunton (30.60 miles) DUD

47437 - 00:06 Taunton - Exeter St Davids (30.60 miles)

50009 - 00:08 Exeter St Davids - Taunton (30.60 miles) DUD

50042 - 00:10 Taunton - Totnes (59.54 miles)

50036 - 00:12 Totnes - Exeter St Davids (28.74 miles) DUD

47468 - 00:14 Exeter St Davids - Taunton (30.60 miles)

46016 - 00:16 Taunton - Exeter St Davids (30.60 miles)

43012 - 00:18 Exeter St Davids - Taunton (30.60 miles)

43013 - 00:18 Exeter St Davids - Taunton (30.60 miles)

Day 7 Saturday 16th

46045 - 00:01 Taunton - Exeter St Davids - 1B18 Bristol-Plymouth (30.60 miles)

50011 - 00:02 Exeter St Davids - Exeter Central (0.60 miles)

47118 - 00:03 Exeter St Davids - Newton Abbot - 1B20 Oxford-Paignton (20.13 miles)

50043 - 00:04 Newton Abbot - Paignton (8.07 miles)

50043 - 00:05 Paignton - Exeter St Davids (28.20 miles)

33035 - 00:06 Exeter St Davids - Exeter Central (0.60 miles)

33052 - 00:06 Exeter St Davids - Exeter Central (0.60 miles)

50036 - 00:07 Exeter St Davids - Taunton (30.60 miles) DUD

50007 - 00:08 Taunton - Newton Abbot (50.73 miles)

45061 - 00:09 Newton Abbot - Taunton (50.73 miles)

50031 - 00:10 Taunton - Exeter St Davids (30.60 miles)

45005 - 00:11 Exeter St Davids - Taunton (30.60 miles) DUD

I had a blast, shame it had to end..

 

[CW2]

The pair of 25s from Exeter to Taunton at the end of Day 1 really stands out to me. 25s got used on various Devon branches, but getting them on the main line was most unusual. Can anybody shed any light as to what train this was (Sunday 10th August 1980)?

 

[xotGD]

In August 1980 (also aged 13) I had not graduated beyond the stage of spotting out of my bedroom window!

 

[CW2]

Back in the 1970s you had to pay full fare as soon as you reached 14, so in 1972 (aged 13) a school-mate and I persuaded our respective parents that this was our last chance to do an affordable (child-rate) All Line Rover. It took several weeks of negotiation, and an undertaking not to do any overnights (which restricted the geographical scope severely) but we did manage some memorable and respectable moves.
The following year, having reached the age of 14 but still looking young enough to get away with it, I did another All Line Rover, on my own this time.
Looking back, I'm amazed my parents agreed to it. Maybe they could already see that railways were more than a mere passing interest for me.

 

[Peter Sarf]

Back in the 1970s you had to pay full fare as soon as you reached 14, so in 1972 (aged 13) a school-mate and I persuaded our respective parents that this was our last chance to do an affordable (child-rate) All Line Rover. It took several weeks of negotiation, and an undertaking not to do any overnights (which restricted the geographical scope severely) but we did manage some memorable and respectable moves.
The following year, having reached the age of 14 but still looking young enough to get away with it, I did another All Line Rover, on my own this time.
Looking back, I'm amazed my parents agreed to it. Maybe they could already see that railways were more than a mere passing interest for me.

Yes. I remember my parents waiting for me to "grow out of it". 45 years on and ........

 

[CW2]

"It's just a phase he's going through..."

 

[NorthWestRover]

The rats leapt out at me too. Some interesting Duffs too. If that's not an oxymoron.

 

[NorthWestRover]

Home Sweet Home part 1

Here's an interesting selection of locos in Warrington in 1986 or 87, I think. The lack of 40s and appearance of 25/9s suggests it was after 1985 at any rate.



Two Merry-go-round MGR trains of which I must have seen thousands in my life. When the line through Latchford was still open, these came from the Yorkshire coalfields and straight through to Fiddlers Ferry power station, hauled when I first started spotting by 47s and then 56s. By the time of these two photos, the Latchford line was closed and the MGR trains had to come in southbound through Warrington Bank Quay, then in Warrington Yard where the locos would run around, run past Arpley Yard onto a short spur where the loco would again run around, then go under Bank Quay and off to Fiddlers Ferry. What a rigmarole! In these two photos, you can see 47 290 (I think that's the number) with a train full of coal running past Warrington Yard towards Arpley for the spur. The second photo shows 20 180 and a friend on the empties emerging from Bank Quay Low Level (a long time ago there was a station there) having dropped off a load of coal at Fiddlers Ferry. A few years earlier, the sight of a pair of Choppers in Warrington would have been very rare.



Much more prevalent around Warrington were Rats! These two have funny numbers. 25 904 is running light engine having just left Arpley Yard and 25 905 is on a northbound freight just entering Bank Quay.



47 217 is stabled here in the southbound bay of Bank Quay. All sorts of things could be seen in this bay and it is quite possible that this Duff was waiting to take the Ravenscraig to Shotton steel train forward relieving the electric loco that would have pulled it down the WCML. Those steel trains were a great sight - coil upon coil of steel on very long trains.

20 046 and an unknown Rat are stabled here in Arpley Yard. As a spotter, Arpley was a great place. In the late 70s to mid 80s, it was guaranteed to have between 5 and 10 locos at almost any time, mainly 08, 24, 25, 40, 47 at first, but then over time 20, 31, 37, 45, 56 could all be seen here.

Hope you find these interesting. I've got some more Warrington photos to post in due course.

 

[xotGD]

The second 20 on the mgr has an Eastfield Westie on the side by the looks of it. Unusual sight in Cheshire!

Thanks for sharing.

 

[CW2]

<snip>
Much more prevalent around Warrington were Rats! These two have funny numbers. 25 904 is running light engine having just left Arpley Yard and 25 905 is on a northbound freight just entering Bank Quay.
<snip>

The 25/9s were a sub-pool of 12 (?) locos which were dedicated to movements of road salt from Ince & Elton to various points of the compass. The Minerals sector hoped that by dedicating resources to their trains they would overcome the issues of shortage of locos, or failures.
Picking a pair of rats and then thrashing them along the West Coast Main Line on a fully laden train would not be my chosen recipe for reliability and punctuality. One by one they incinerated themselves, spreading mayhem and chaos wherever they went.
The experiment was not repeated - at least not with knackered self-combusting Rats!

 

[NorthWestRover]

Well spotted on the Westie.

 

[NorthWestRover]

The 25/9s were a sub-pool of 12 (?) locos.... One by one they incinerated themselves, spreading mayhem and chaos wherever they went.

Love it. Obviously as an EE fan, the silly Sulzers were always looked down on but they were funny little things, the Rats, and I think because they were so ubiquitous in Warrington, they have a little corner of my heart. Spreading mayhem and chaos just about sums them up though...

 

[CW2]

Love it. Obviously as an EE fan, the silly Sulzers were always looked down on but they were funny little things, the Rats, and I think because they were so ubiquitous in Warrington, they have a little corner of my heart. Spreading mayhem and chaos just about sums them up though...

One night I was working night shift on the West traction desk (covering South West Scotland) in Glasgow Control. Whilst having my regular chat with my counterpart in Crewe, I expressed my doubts that his finest pair of 25/9s would make it to Mossend, and bet him they would collapse en route. He defended them, declaring them a fine pair of locos that could haul anything anywhere anytime.
A couple of hours later, I called him again. He was on a meal break so I just left a message for him:
"Milepost 45, total incineration, job stopped."
They were high on entertainment, but low on reliability. The Scottish McRats were generally a class above the 25s (literally as well as numerically).

 

[NorthWestRover]

I was watching a YouTube video recently of, I think, 40 044 on the Bangor failing at Chester and being replaced by a Rat. Much amused winding up from the windows by by the 40 Bashers who remained on the train.

 

[CW2]

My first ever All Line Rover

I mentioned further up this thread that back in 1972 I did an All Line Rover with a school friend. We were both 13, and with full fares payable at 14, this would be our last (legal) chance to travel at half fare.

Planning the rover took a lot of preparation and negotiation. Firstly we had to promise our respective parents that we would come back to Reading every night, apart from one night spent with his relatives in Hexham. Also we agreed to do it Thursday to Wednesday, with Sunday off, so it turned into two sets of three days.

The main aim of the trip was spotting, and travelling to parts of the country we’d only read about in books. Even planning the trips was far more difficult than you might imagine. This was in the days when the BR timetables were issued as separate regional books, and it was very difficult to get off-region timetables to buy or borrow. We lived in Tilehurst, so getting the Western book was no problem – but we had no intention of spending our week on the Western Region. Instead we had to go to the travel centre at Reading station (or maybe it had moved to the base of Western Tower by then?), and plead to borrow the timetables for a half hour at a time whilst we stood at the counter.

Buying the tickets was also a bit long winded. You couldn’t simply turn up at the ticket counter and buy the ticket, you were obliged to fill in a form giving name and address details and give 24 hours’ notice so the tickets could be prepared for you to collect. We had to go through a similar performance for seat reservations on the Flying Scotsman.

A one-week child rate All Line Rover cost £12. That’s the equivalent of £137.38p today. Nowadays the equivalent ticket costs £270, so our 1972 purchase seems a bargain. It took a great deal of saving up pocket money.

I’m not 100% certain of the dates – they could be plus or minus one week.

For clarity, I’ve added the TOPS numbers of locos involved, although all this took place back in the days of old numbers.

Thursday 03/08/72

1741 (47148) 08:11 Tilehurst – Paddington (07:35 Oxford – Paddington)

There were about 4 loco-hauled trains which served intermediate stations from Oxford to Reading to Paddington in the morning, and return in the evening. I had seen these trains many times, and sometimes used them from Tilehurst to Reading or vice versa. I seldom travelled on them through to London, so this was a novel experience. We settled amongst the regular commuters for the run to Paddington. We took the Circle Line to Kings Cross / St Pancras, sticking our nose through the portals of St Pancras to spot a few Peaks before making our way across the road to Kings Cross for the main event of the day:

9008 (55008) 10:00 Kings Cross – Edinburgh “Flying Scotsman”.

My first ever Deltic for haulage. The Mk2d air-conditioned stock was a relatively recent addition, and hadn’t reached the Western Region yet. We had seats prebooked in one such coach, but for some reason we were switched to seats in the Mk1 buffet car. That was disappointing, but having the window open made up for it.

Passing Finsbury Park we spotted former class 15s which had been converted to train heating units numbered DB968000 and DB968002. We passed through the centre road at York (which was later removed under electrification), and on the Newcastle, spotting a number of class 03 shunters and Brush Type 2s (class 31) on the way. Somewhere en route we spotted parcels DMU 55987, which was a bit of a novelty for us.

Arrival in Edinburgh was punctual, but we didn’t have time to take in much as we had to head straight back south with another named train, the Talisman, with another Deltic …

1108 (47525) 16:00 Edinburgh – Newcastle (- Kings Cross) “The Tailisman”

The “11 hundreder” Brush 4s were always a bit of a numerical novelty, but it was still a disappointment to see one at the head of our train. I’d really hoped for another Deltic. As on the northbound journey we ran via Penmanshiel Tunnel, which collapsed with the death of two workmen during improvement works in 1979.

We alighted at Newcastle Central and joined a DMU (I didn’t routinely record MU numbers) for the run to Hexham, where we were picked up by my mate’s uncle and stayed there for the night.

Friday 04/08/72

After a good night’s sleep, we joined another DMU to take us to Carlisle. Having done Edinburgh via the ECML, today it was due to be Glasgow. Electrification of the WCML from Crewe to Carlisle was under way, with trains north of Crewe worked by the relatively new EE Type 4s (class 50) in multiple.

421 (50021) 10:29 Carlisle – Glasgow Central (07:40 Liverpool Lime St – Glasgow Central)

I expected this to be a pair of EE Type 4s, and to run via Beattock. Instead it was only a single loco, and ran via Dumfries, the main line being closed for electrification works. On arrival at Glasgow Central we had a brief stroll around the station, then joined the queue for unreserved seats for the 13:55 to Euston – which was formed of the same rake of stock we’d travelled in from Carlisle. The queue for seats stretched all the way out into the street! Eventually we were let through the barrier, and walked right to the front of the train to find 447 + 448 in multiple preparing to depart.

447 (50047) + 448 (50048) 13:55 Glasgow Central – Crewe (- Euston).

Again we ran via Dumfries. There were no Second Class seats to be had, so we stood in the front vestibule of the leading First Corridor coach. A Travelling Ticket Inspector was doing a brisk trade in upgrades to First Class. When he came to us, he said nothing but just pointed at the “Second Class” on our tickets to emphasise that we should not attempt to bunk a ride in the adjacent empty FC compo. He needn’t have worried – we were enjoying the open window and the thrash from the EE Type 4s, as well as the scenery, and the new locos waiting to be spotted. Passing Kingmoor was particularly manic – the place was loaded with locos.

E3115 (86603) 17:56 Crewe – Euston.

The spotting count went quite well – I scored twenty EE Type 4s (class 50s) and a load of Brush Type 2s (classes 24 – 27). The shape of numbers yet to come was visible at Crewe, where a loco numbered 83013 was visible (recently overhauled E3098).

At Paddington I assume we took an Oxford DMU back to Tilehurst, then home for a good bath and some sleep. (It takes a lot to get a full day’s worth of EE clag out of your hair).

Saturday 05/08/72

The plan for Saturday was to join an organised shed visit to Allerton and Longsight depots. (This had been the determining factor in settling the date of the rover). The attraction of Allerton was that it was the home of the small D28xx shunting locos (class 02), most of which had already been withdrawn. We also hoped to see some of the Manchester – Sheffield electrics when we went to Manchester, not realising that they were maintained at Reddish, not Longsight, and so saw none of them. (Wrong sort of electricity).

Being a Saturday, there were no loco-hauled commuter services from Tilehurst, so we took a DMU up to Paddington, then straight to Euston.

E3164 (86225) 09:30 Euston – Liverpool Lime Street.

We caught a local service out to Allerton, met the tour group, then took a quick look around the shed. The elusive shunters 2852, 2856 and 2866 were duly scored. We made our way across to Manchester and out to Longsight. There we found (amongst other things) a number of the early AC electrics (Roarers) stored awaiting refurbishment. (At this time there were 100 class 86s available to work all trains from Euston to Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester on a timetable much less intensive than today’s. They could cover everything that moved, passenger and freight, with some margin to spare, so the Roarers were effectively redundant. They were all undergoing rebuilding – removing dodgy unreliable kit such as mercury arc rectifiers - so that once the WCML electrification was completed through to Glasgow in 1974 they could be reintroduced to service).

I copped four class 50s that day, 402, 434 442 and 443, and was invited into the cab of 434. The other exotic beast was parcels DMU 55993. I was used to seeing 55991 and 55992 around Reading, but 55993 was a novelty, like 55987 which we’d seen on Thursday.

E3117 (86227) 17:40 Manchester Piccadilly – Euston via Stoke on Trent, Hixon.

From Paddington it was another DMU home to Tilehurst.

Sunday 06/08/72

A mandatory rest day, spent at home. That was the theory at least. Instead I persuaded my parents that I’d had plenty of rest, and staying at home with an All Line Rover burning a hole in my pocket was a bit of a waste of money. I was given permission to do an afternoon spotting trip to London, so I did the usual trinity of Euston, St Pancras and Kings Cross. There were 36 assorted AC electrics stabled in and around Euston, or working in and out. I also noted seeing steam loco 6000 King George V, which I guess was at Old Oak Common?

Monday 07/08/72

We started off with a DMU through to Birmingham New Street. (At this time the Paddington to Birmingham fast services all ran via High Wycombe, so there were only the sporadic cross-country services on the route via Oxford.

31 (45030) 11:25 Birmingham New Street – York (09:25 Bristol Temple Meads – Edinburgh Waverley). Passing Washwood Heath we spotted D2 “Helvellyn” on a coal train, the first of the original Peaks that I had seen. Visible at Derby was Clayton 8512, which was one of the locos used to power test trains for the Derby Research Centre. North of Sheffield we ran via the Cudworth route, which was then the main line from Sheffield to York – and has since been closed.

The National Railway Museum was still at the planning stage, so there wasn’t anything to visit there. We took a walk down towards the depot to see whatever was visible over the wall. We did spot the General Manager’s Wickham Railcar DB975005/6. Back in York station we saw one of the unique Trans Pennine 5-car DMU sets, and managed to “cab” 51959.

After a while spent spotting in York it was time to head home via London. We were pleased to see a Deltic on our train south; less pleased to see it was 9008 again, the only one we’d previously had for haulage.

9008 (55008) 15:13 York – Kings Cross (08:55 Aberdeen – Kings Cross)

Thence back home via Paddington.

Tuesday 08/08/72

In a repeat of the previous day, we made our way to Birmingham by DMU to pick up the Bristol – Edinburgh service, which we took as far as Derby.

150 (46013) 11:25 Birmingham New Street – Derby (09:25 Bristol Temple Meads – Edinburgh Waverley). The plan for the day was to visit Toton, as that was the lair of the elusive low-numbered Peaks. Burton on Trent was still a thriving depot in those days, and we struggled to list all the class 20s that were stabled there. From Derby we took a DMU to Long Eaton, and a bus from there to somewhere near Toton depot. Passing the Railway Technical Centre at Derby we saw some very exotic vehicles. To begin with, there was the APT-E, along with the prototype HST power cars 41001/2, baby Deltic 5901, then Wickham railbus DB999507 (since preserved), and Park Royal twins DB975089/90. I’ve also noted 2 BIL Southern EMU 2037 at some stage during the day – perhaps this was at Derby too for some exotic reason.

I don’t recall quite how we got around Toton – I’m pretty sure there was no permit involved. Nevertheless we got a good way around the depot, copping Peaks 5,6,7,8, and 10 in the process.

After a long journey back to Derby, we headed home via Birmingham New Street:

114 (45066) 17:19 Derby – Birmingham New Street (15:29 York – Bristol Temple Meads)

Another parcels DMU 55994 was spotted en route. Then it was the regular purgatory of a DMU back to Reading.

Wednesday 09/08/72

The original plan for the day was to go up to Paddington then via High Wycombe to Birmingham New Street, then on to Chesterfield. Some friends had told us Chesterfield was a good place for spotting, as the lines from Derby, Toton and Nottingham converged to the south, and Sheffield and Barrow Hill to the north.

However after the success at Toton we decided to revisit there, especially to see if we could track down the elusive Scafell Pike, the very first Peak, our “Number 1” priority. We started on a familiar train:

1737 (47121) 08:11 Tilehurst – Paddington (07:35 Oxford – Paddington)

Following a by-now familiar path, we headed for St Pancras. There was time for a quick peep into Kings Cross, where I copped 9010.

120 (45108) 10:05 St Pancras – Derby

Naturally much of what we saw at Derby was a repeat of the previous day, but there was still plenty new to be seen. On to Long Eaton for another visit to Toton, where at last the all-important Scafell Pike D1 was finally bagged, along with another host of Peaks and Choppers. We made our way back to Derby, then:

91 (45056) 17:19 Derby – Birmingham New Street (15:29 York – Bristol Temple Meads)

We expected to finish the rover with another rattling DMU all the way from Birmingham to Reading, but something fell in our favour, as we dropped onto a late running loco-hauled service to finish off the week:

1737 (47144) 17:20 Birmingham New Street – Reading (15:20 Liverpool Lime Street – Southampton). Via Solihull (as were all trains at this time, the Leamington to Coventry line being freight only).

… and so to bed, happy but exhausted.

In summary, we travelled the length of the WCML (or at least the bits still open to traffic), and the ECML; I sampled my first haulage with Deltics and Class 50s, and saw a large proportion of the AC electric loco fleet. We also saw the shape of things to come, with the APT-E and HST both visible at Derby.

I spotted 656 new locos during the trip, at a rate of a little under 55 locos to the Pound Sterling. I only wish I’d taken better notes at the time, as my memory is straining to remember the details. I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this.

 

[NorthWestRover]

That's a fascinating read. Thanks for that.