Thursday 04/05/78
45118 1652 Harrogate – Leeds
55013 1730 Leeds – Wakefield Westgate
DMU Wakefield Westgate – Leeds
46041 1906 Leeds – York
40074 1925 York – Leeds
DMU Leeds – York
The 1652 Harrogate – Kings Cross was usually a 31/4, although it went over to HST not long after. This was the only occasion I saw a 45/1 on it. It re-engined at Leeds to 55013, so I did a round trip to Wakefield before heading home to York. Then at York 40074 put in an appearance, so I couldn’t refuse that.
Friday 04/05/79 – Saturday 05/05/79
47425 1710 York – Leeds. Very poor loco, lost 10 minutes, 73 mph max speed.
40070 1805 Leeds – Carlisle via Mirfield, Hebden Bridge, Copy Pit, Preston, Shap.
(Sat)
40077 0145 Carlisle – York via Newcastle.
There had been a spectacular 41 wagon freight train derailment at Settle Junction, including some explosives, so it was taking a while to reopen the route. I knew the Nottingham – Carlisle train would be diverted, but I wasn’t entirely sure where, or whether or not it would get a 40. This was my first run of any sort via Copy Pit. A cracking evening out.
On arrival at Carlisle I had to get back to York – which with the Penmanshiel Tunnel collapse was relatively easy, as all the “East Coast” overnights were running via Carlisle. For reasons unrecorded the 2250 from Edinburgh (1925 ex Aberdeen) to Kings Cross was running very late, so they put on a relief with 40077. That’ll do nicely.
Sunday 04/05/80
Emerging from my doss in the stock at the SRPS depot at Falkirk, I headed off to Queen Street to see what I could discover. (The TOPS office at Queen Street was readily accessible and the staff were always good for a chat, and passing on the gen as to what was out).
47703 0759 Falkirk Grahamston – Glasgow QS
47197 0850 Glasgow QS – Dundee
27044 banker to Cowlairs
40063 1113 Dundee – Glasgow QS
81008 1515 Glasgow Central – Motherwell, EMU return.
40063 1645 Glasgow QS – Montrose
27042 banker to Cowlairs
40032 2016 Montrose – Edinburgh
I assume that whatever re-engined this train was not to my taste, as I headed off onto the West Coast once more …
47461 2345 Edinburgh – Carstairs
Monday 04/05/81
50022 + 50024 0030 Plymouth – Bristiol Temple Meads via Westbury, Bath Spa.
50009 0335 Bristol Temple Meads – Paddington – also via Bath Spa.
Saturday 04/05/85
27045 2330 Glasgow QS – Perth
Monday 04/05/87
47707 0730 Glasgow QS – Polmont
47380 0803 Polmont – Glasgow QS
154 001 0903 Glasgow QS – Aberdeen, 1343 return.
37408 1650 Glasgow QS – Bridge of Orchy
37406 1911 Bridge of Orchy – Glasgow QS
Straight off a night shift, onto a move to score 47380, then a run with the experimental prototype 154 unit. We recorded a maximum speed of 97 mph on the return journey. A fill in with 37/4s, then back to work another night shift (Yawn …)
Wednesday 04/05/88
Across to London Bridge to cover the various newspaper trains departing from there. I was hoping for a 73/0, which were occasional performers, but no such luck.
73107 0330 London Bridge – Dover Western Docks via Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, Folkestone.
EMUs back to Waterloo East.
73136 0932 Waterloo – Bournemouth
Reached Southampton Parkway in 57 minutes – a fine run.
33117 1116 Bournemouth – Weymouth, 1228 return
73212 1339 Bournemouth – Southampton
73140 1417 Southampton – Brockenhurst
EMU 1214 Brockenhurst – Lymington Pier and return
73129 1521 Brockenhurst – Southampton
73209 1642 Southampton – Bournemouth
33108 1746 Bournemouth – Weymouth
33117 1902 Weymouth – Bournemouth
73126 2004 Bournemouth – Waterloo
33114 2252 Waterloo – Southampton
Friday 04/05/90
90012 1200 Euston - Manchester Picc
31463 1645 Manchester Vic – Preston
87006 1645 Preston – Crewe
90017 1754 Crewe – Birmingham NS
47478 2111 Birmingham NS – Reading
I think this was a work-related outing, with some bashing thrown in later for good measure. 47478 was one of my most hated Duffs!
Saturday 04/05/91
Unusual for me – a day out on a diesel railtour…
47810 0041 Reading – Bristol TM
50015 + 50008 0337 Bristol TM – Penzance
Ran in top-and-tail mode from Plymouth, with 50008 leading. Visited Carne Point and Drinnick Mill. 50015 detached from the rear at Par, but 50008 then stalled at MP 284.5, so 50015 was sent for and reattached to assist through to Penzance.
50008 + 50015 1119 Penzance – Bristol TM, + 37673 1322 Par – Bugle.
50s ran in tandem to Par, where 37673 attached to the rear. Reversed, so 37 leading to Bugle with 50s assisting in rear, then reversed again and proceeded to Goonbarrow Jn with 37 idling on rear. 37 detached there, and 50s continued through to Bristol TM.
47972 1839 Bristol TM – Worcester Shrub Hill
HST Worcester – Hereford.
Finally the 1994 German (primarily steam) bash featured 03 2001, 41 1185, 01 1531 and 50 3688, in addition to 3 class 232s, 2 class 219, 1 class 228, 1 class 202, and a sprinkling of electric locos
That SRPS tour was pretty cool.
Yes, they were (and remain) a very hospitable bunch of people. It wasn't the last occasion on which I made a last minute appearance on one of their tours ...
