Back in the day...

[D1537]

While I would sometimes get on diesel-hauled trains that weren't 47s, it was generally not without a very good reason. But occasionally it had to happen (i.e. the 31/4 in post #6687 above to get home on 1S70, the alternative being an overnight). However I always drew the line at 45s. I can't recall the last time I had one, but it was many years before they were all withdrawn. However, on this day I chose to get on a train with a 45 on the front.

Wednesday 30 April 1986
47534 1M73 Newcastle-Manchester Vic
47434 1E74 Manchester Vic-York

Now, what's this? I did go to the driver in the 45 and check that it was definitely deceased and wouldn't suddenly spring to life, he was adamant that it was as lively as the parrot in the Monty Python sketch.

47435+45120(dead) 1M77 York-Leeds

Another delay while the parrot was removed at Leeds. 1M32, the Pennine an hour behind, overtook us here, but that also had a significant amount of wheels. We left around 75 late.

47435 1M77 Leeds-Huddersfield
47534 1E59 Huddersfield-Newcastle

 

[Falcon1200]

Monday 30th April 1984
47705 1300 Glasgow Queen St-Edinburgh
47413 1417 Edinburgh-Dundee (to Kirkcaldy)
47018 1421 Dundee-Edinburgh (Kirkcaldy-Inverkeithing)
47209 1517 Edinburgh-Dundee (from Inverkeithing)
47444 1715 Dundee-Perth
27033 1638 Glasgow Queen St-Dundee (from Perth)
27033 1918 Dundee-Glasgow Queen St

Had to get the 27 mileage at the end after all those 47s.....

 

[xotGD]

While I would sometimes get on diesel-hauled trains that weren't 47s, it was generally not without a very good reason. But occasionally it had to happen (i.e. the 31/4 in post #6687 above to get home on 1S70, the alternative being an overnight). However I always drew the line at 45s. I can't recall the last time I had one, but it was many years before they were all withdrawn. However, on this day I chose to get on a train with a 45 on the front.

Wednesday 30 April 1986
47534 1M73 Newcastle-Manchester Vic
47434 1E74 Manchester Vic-York

Now, what's this? I did go to the driver in the 45 and check that it was definitely deceased and wouldn't suddenly spring to life, he was adamant that it was as lively as the parrot in the Monty Python sketch.

47435+45120(dead) 1M77 York-Leeds

Another delay while the parrot was removed at Leeds. 1M32, the Pennine an hour behind, overtook us here, but that also had a significant amount of wheels. We left around 75 late.

47435 1M77 Leeds-Huddersfield
47534 1E59 Huddersfield-Newcastle

Surely all these Sulzer engined Type 4s are much the same?

 

[Harpo]

Surely all these Sulzer engined Type 4s are much the same?

I thought I would have gone along with until I heard D4’s ‘rat on steroids’ racket.

 

[Falcon1200]

Friday 2nd May 1986
37408 1742 Fort William-Euston (to Glasgow Queen St)

 

[47403]

made me giggle this.

Now, what's this? I did go to the driver in the 45 and check that it was definitely deceased and wouldn't suddenly spring to life, he was adamant that it was as lively as the parrot in the Monty Python sketch.

47435+45120(dead) 1M77 York-Leeds

Another delay while the parrot was removed at Leeds. 1M32, the Pennine an hour behind, overtook us here, but that also had a significant amount of wheels. We left around 75 late.

 

[D1537]

So, bashing 47s ... obviously a really easy thing to do, you just hang around for the next one to turn up, don't you? Well...

Monday 4 May 1987
47528 1A33 Durham-Doncaster
47420 1N16 Doncaster-Newcastle
47555 1M62 Newcastle-Manchester Vic

Now then. 1E08 was supposed to be a 47 which is why we got off here, it turns up with a 45, that's annoying. 47455 is on the Llandudno, we could go there, or, well, the pubs are open and we can always wait for 555 to return from Liverpool in a couple of hours. We choose the latter option, which is a terrible idea, because control have stolen 555 for the 14.30 Liverpool-Brum, and here's another 45 which they found down the back of the sofa. And of course 1E99 is one as well. Five and a half hours after we arrived...

47476 1E53 Manchester Vic-York
47420 1M32 York-Huddersfield (ironically, this should have been the 45 that was on 1E08, so Gateshead have stolen it for something, or they've just broken it)
47526 1E59 Huddersfield-Newcastle

 

[D6130]

So, bashing 47s ... obviously a really easy thing to do, you just hang around for the next one to turn up, don't you? Well...

Monday 4 May 1987
47528 1A33 Durham-Doncaster
47420 1N16 Doncaster-Newcastle
47555 1M62 Newcastle-Manchester Vic

Now then. 1E08 was supposed to be a 47 which is why we got off here, it turns up with a 45, that's annoying. 47455 is on the Llandudno, we could go there, or, well, the pubs are open and we can always wait for 555 to return from Liverpool in a couple of hours. We choose the latter option, which is a terrible idea, because control have stolen 555 for the 14.30 Liverpool-Brum, and here's another 45 which they found down the back of the sofa. And of course 1E99 is one as well. Five and a half hours after we arrived...

47476 1E53 Manchester Vic-York
47420 1M32 York-Huddersfield (ironically, this should have been the 45 that was on 1E08, so Gateshead have stolen it for something, or they've just broken it)
47526 1E59 Huddersfield-Newcastle

After five and a half hours at Manchester Victoria I'm surprised that you could still read the number of the loco that took you home! Those were the days when Boddington's and Holt's were still worth drinking....and available - at very attractive prices - in numerous outlets in an around the station!

 

[SW Rover]

Saturday 5th May 1984
Football Special for an away game at Bristol City.
50038 Swindon - Parson Street & Return

Monday 5th May 1986
On the way to a home game and presentation of Division 4 champions trophy.
47512 1O01 0805 Portsmouth Harbour - Poole (to Reading)
The long way around from Portsmouth to Poole via Guildford & Reading.

Saturday 5th May 1990
After an away draw at Stoke City's old Victoria Ground.
37431 1M80 1610 Cardiff Cen - Manchester Picc (from Crewe)
37431 1V20 2030 Manchester Picc - Cardiff Cen (to Crewe)

 

[D1537]

After five and a half hours at Manchester Victoria I'm surprised that you could still read the number of the loco that took you home! Those were the days when Boddington's and Holt's were still worth drinking....and available - at very attractive prices - in numerous outlets in an around the station!

Yes indeed. it was probably quite a good idea that we didn't do an overnight that night ... would probably have ended up in London or Aberdeen!

 

[Falcon1200]

Friday 6th May 1983
50014 0650 Oxford-Didcot
33031 1246 Portsmouth HBr-Leeds (Reading-Oxford)

Sunday 6th May 1984
47481 1110 Glasgow C-Euston (to Preston)
86217 1550 Blackpool N-Euston (Preston-Birmingham New St)
47602 1400 Newcastle-Poole (Birmingham New St-Oxford)

The first leg of this journey was via both the Glasgow & South Western and Settle & Carlisle lines, and took nearly 6 hours! Can't help thinking a coach might have been quicker....

 

[Falcon1200]

Saturday 7th May 1983
50007 0810 Oxford-Paddington (to Didcot)
92220 0740 Paddington-Hampton Loade (Didcot-Dorridge)
25235 + 25236 0740 ditto (Dorridge-Bewdley)
777 1510 Bewdley-Hampton Loade (to Arley)
5164 1456 Hampton Loade-Bewdley (from Arley)
5164 1610 Bewdley-Hampton Loade
7812 1648 Hampton Loade-Paddington (to Bewdley)
25202 + 25268 1648 ditto (Bewdley-Kidderminster)
47508 1648 ditto (Kidderminster-Worcester Shrub Hill)
DMU Worcester Shrub Hill-Oxford

So far, my one and only main line steam railtour.

 

[SW Rover]

Saturday 9th May 1987
Using a Hertfordshire Railtours £3 Add On fare to London and return valid from any Network SouthEast station for the 'Anglian Diesel Farewell'.

EMU 0655 Portsmouth Harbour - Waterloo (to Woking)
33203 1L02 0700 Salisbury - Waterloo (from Woking)

33049 1L15 2210 Waterloo - Salisbury (to Basingstoke)
73134 1W55 2252 Waterloo - Weymouth (Basingstoke - Eastleigh)
204 0115 Eastleigh - Portsmouth & Southsea LL

 

[Falcon1200]

Friday 10th May 1985
85007 2350 Glasgow C-Bristol TM (to Birmingham New St)

 

[Falcon1200]

Sunday 13th May 1984
47592 1159 Portsmouth Hbr-Liverpool LS (Oxford-Birmingham NS)
86205 1159 ditto (Birmingham NS-Crewe)
87029 1445 Euston-Glasgow C (from Crewe)

Unexceptional traction (for the time) but memorable because the last train stood north of Preston for two hours as the wires were down ahead. IIRC Single Line Working was eventually implemented (cue discussion on need for bi-di signalling on the WCML, still, unbelievably, current over 40 years later)

 

[EveningStar]

Nothing exciting, just a break from sitting the finals for my first degree:

Monday 13 May 1985
Liverpool Lime Street
47512 86252 45125 86228 08923 47535 86210

 

[xotGD]

Sunday 13th May 1984
47592 1159 Portsmouth Hbr-Liverpool LS (Oxford-Birmingham NS)
86205 1159 ditto (Birmingham NS-Crewe)
87029 1445 Euston-Glasgow C (from Crewe)

Unexceptional traction (for the time) but memorable because the last train stood north of Preston for two hours as the wires were down ahead. IIRC Single Line Working was eventually implemented (cue discussion on need for bi-di signalling on the WCML, still, unbelievably, current over 40 years later)

Sit there for hours waiting for a big diesel to drop onto the front of the train, then nothing!

 

[Falcon1200]

Sit there for hours waiting for a big diesel to drop onto the front of the train, then nothing!

I know! A required 40 would have been nice....

Saturday 14th May 1983
50021 1930 Oxford-Paddington
86001 2215 Euston-Glasgow C (to Carlisle)

 

[Falcon1200]

Sunday 15th May 1983
47443 2215 (Sat) Euston-Glasgow C (from Carlisle, via Dumfries)
47704 0905 Glasgow QS-Inverness (to Dundee)
HST 1005 Aberdeen-Kings X (Dundee-Edinburgh)
27036 1405 Edinburgh-Dundee (to Cupar)
47012 1500 Dundee-Edinburgh (from Cupar)
47404 1710 Edinburgh-Inverness (to Dunkeld)
47531 1710 Inverness-Glasgow QS (from Dunkeld)
86001 2355 Glasgow C-Bristol TM (to Carlisle)

 

[Falcon1200]

Yesterday's contribution, running a little late;

Monday 16th May 1983
85008 2240 Sun Euston-Inverness (Carlisle-Mossend Yard)
47469 2240 ditto (Mossend Yard-Stirling)
47424 0650 Dundee-Glasgow QS (Stirling-Larbert)
DMU (Larbert-Dunblane)
26035 0750 Dundee-Glasgow QS (Dunblane-Stirling)
DMU Stirling-Edinburgh
27018 1011 Edinburgh-Dundee (to Haymarket)
27020 0921 Dundee-Edinburgh (from Haymarket)
47706 1130 Edinburgh-Glasgow QS
47706 1230 Glasgow QS-Edinburghh

And IIRC, HST home south. A rather disappointing Scottish trip, as it seemed at the time - an ETH 47 on a Dundee-Glasgow stopper!

Thursday 17th May 1984
47049 1638 Glasgow QS-Dundee (to Stirling)
DMU Stirling-Larbert
37192 1735 Glasgow QS-Perth (Larbert-Dunblane)

 

[AHoseason]

10th April 1982

A Merrymaker to the seaside...

In it rolled from Heaton with a Peak on the front. Not what we were expecting. One 40 basher rejected the train outright. This proved not to have been a good move.

45023 Newcastle - Leeds 1Z94

Hello, what's this? The Wagon has been removed! And look what is taking its place...

40044 Leeds - Llandudno 1Z94
40044 Llandudno - Newcastle 1Z94

A memorable day out.

It was over 39 years before I returned to Llandudno while on holiday last year.

10th April 1994

Heading back home after Easter...

91021 Newcastle - Doncaster
47830 Doncaster - Derby

10th April 1982
40044 Leeds - Llandudno 1Z94
40044 Llandudno - Newcastle 1Z94

Thanks for confirming that! A great day out. The 11 carriages were so empty!
Wish there were photos of it at Llandudno

 

[Falcon1200]

Saturday 28th May 1983
47558 0550 Paddington-Manchester Picc (Oxford-Birmingham New St)
86212 ditto (Birmingham New St-Wolverhampton)
86321 1118 Birmingham New St-Euston (New St-Birmingham International)
86221 1005 Euston-Aberystwyth (International-New St)
45056 0900 Paignton-Leeds (Birmingham New St-Derby)
31282 + 31283 1237 Skegness-Leicester (Nottingham-Beeston)
45102 1300 Skegness-Derby (from Beeston)
45004 1005 Weymouth-Leeds (Derby-Sheffield)
50032 1320 Glasgow C-Paddington (Birmingham New St-Oxford

 

[Falcon1200]

Yesterday's report;

Monday 30th May 1983
25097 + 25244 1810 Skegness-Derby (Skegness-Boston)
31138 + 31311 1837 Skegness-Burton (Boston-Nottingham)
20134 + 20173 1855 Skegness-Leicester (from Nottingham)

 

[xotGD]

Yesterday's report;

Monday 30th May 1983
25097 + 25244 1810 Skegness-Derby (Skegness-Boston)
31138 + 31311 1837 Skegness-Burton (Boston-Nottingham)
20134 + 20173 1855 Skegness-Leicester (from Nottingham)

Fast helicopter on the 29th to get you from Oxford to Skeg?

 

[Falcon1200]

Fast helicopter on the 29th to get you from Oxford to Skeg?

IIRC I went up to Paddington, across to Kings X and onwards to Skegness!

 

[Falcon1200]

Saturday 1st June 1985
47622 1848 Brighton-Wolverhampton (Oxford-Birmingham New St)
86311 1935 Paignton-Glasgow C (Birmingham New St-Carlisle)
TBC...

 

[Falcon1200]

Sunday 2nd June 1985
27103 1935 Sat Paignton-Glasgow C (from Carlisle)

It might have been 40 years ago, and the start of summer, but I still recall how cold the train was as the 27 was not providing heat! IIRC the train was also diverted and used the R&C (Rutherglen & Coatbridge) Line, which at the time was still freight-only.

 

[D1537]

Saturday 4th June 1988
47512 1O02 Birmingham NS-Bournemouth (via WCML, Kensington Olympia, Gatwick Airport, Hove Curve and Southampton)
47662 1M88 Bournemouth-Birmingham NS
47331 1V51 Birmingham NS-Exeter SD
47288 1V12 Exeter SD-Teignmouth
47331 1E37 Teignmouth-Birmingham NS
47654 1V99 Birmingham NS-Coventry

 

[Falcon1200]

Saturday 4th June 1983
50013 1215 Paddington-Oxford (from Reading)
47147 1023 Manchester Piccadilly-Brighton (Oxford-Reading)
47342 1242 Paddington-Manchester-Piccadilly (Reading-Oxford)

 

[CW2]

Sunday 2nd June 1985
27103 1935 Sat Paignton-Glasgow C (from Carlisle)

It might have been 40 years ago, and the start of summer, but I still recall how cold the train was as the 27 was not providing heat! IIRC the train was also diverted and used the R&C (Rutherglen & Coatbridge) Line, which at the time was still freight-only.

See post #852. You weren't the only one on that train!
I believe it was main line, not via R&C, but I will check.