Back in the day...

[xotGD]

Just I cant remember a sleeper starting at Newcastle.

1A40 used to start at Newcastle. 21:00 departure, IIRC. I think it had sleepers as well as seats.

 

[NorthWestRover]

I've been to Carlisle on the two North West Rovers I've done since coming back to a live interest in the railways. In 2018, I was still able to do the 37s and the 68s on the Cumbrian Coast but apart from that it was unit after unit after unit. There was a 57 parked up which I now understand is a Thunderbird. A couple of 66s on freights and another 37 floating around. The journey up over Shap is always great and I've done it on Pendos, 350s and a Voyager. I guess when we're back on the trains, I'll do a 397 (Nova whichever one it is). There is a Pathfinders Tour to Stranraer which picks up at Wigan and is a pair of Hoovers. I'm not sure I'd pay £115 for it though. I now see Carlisle as a changing point for Dumfries, Hexham or the Cumbrian Coast if I'm on a NW Rover. Of course, for someone from the North West, Carlisle never had the draw that it would for those from the North East as we got all the electrics easily enough and only the odd Scottish loco would have been interesting.

 

[47403]

1A40 used to start at Newcastle. 21:00 departure, IIRC. I think it had sleepers as well as seats.

Thought the 1A40 was the Newcastle to LKX mail train with the 2 coaches on the rear.

 

[xotGD]

Thought the 1A40 was the Newcastle to LKX mail train with the 2 coaches on the rear.

I think it requires someone older and wiser to sort this one out.

However, when 1N03 and 1N04 conveyed sleepers they did start and finish at Newcastle. I don't know which service 1N03 was a portion for at Darlo.

Maybe there was a Newcastle portion that got added to something that came down from Scotland? Allowing the Newcastle passengers to get to bed earlier.

 

[NorthWestRover]

For my next batch of photos, I've decided to carry on past @xotGD's trips to Carlisle and post a few random shots from Scotland. Some of the quality is awful; some quite good. Some of it seems almost prehistoric, but they were getting on for 40 years ago. 40 years before that was the 1940s which to me in the 1980s would have seemed prehistoric. Anyway, you'll get to see what I mean tomorrow.

 

[CW2]

Going right back to Page 1, I was also knocking around Scotland in 1985 at the time xotGD was doing his Scottish Rover. Looking at my moves, we were actually on the same train on a couple of occasions. 1985 was a good time to be bashing in Scotland - a side effect of the prolonged miners' strike was that the locos which normally worked coal trains were sitting around spare. Consequently there were some pretty big loco workings. There were a couple of individuals on the loco desks in Glasgow Control who made full use of this opportunity - hence the appearance of 26/0s on passenger trains on the ECML, or portions to Carstairs.

I've an idea that there was some resignalling work taking place at Crewe during this month, with consequent restrictions on traffic, so anything additional was sent via the ECML.

Loving the photos from NorthWestRover as well. So many memories.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Stephenson stabled at Preston May 1984 I think

 

[xotGD]

Going right back to Page 1, I was also knocking around Scotland in 1985 at the time xotGD was doing his Scottish Rover. Looking at my moves, we were actually on the same train on a couple of occasions. 1985 was a good time to be bashing in Scotland - a side effect of the prolonged miners' strike was that the locos which normally worked coal trains were sitting around spare. Consequently there were some pretty big loco workings. There were a couple of individuals on the loco desks in Glasgow Control who made full use of this opportunity - hence the appearance of 26/0s on passenger trains on the ECML, or portions to Carstairs.

I've an idea that there was some resignalling work taking place at Crewe during this month, with consequent restrictions on traffic, so anything additional was sent via the ECML.

Loving the photos from NorthWestRover as well. So many memories.

Small world!

The same was true in the north east, with Gateshead sending out all manner of 37s that would normally be working coal trains.

 

[CW2]

Some highlights of Scotland in July 1985 for you:

Wed 03/07/85

The Haymarket DMU fleet was collapsing in the heat, and maybe the fitters were on a work-to-rule as well. Either way, it meant there were cancellations and loco-hauled substitutions occurring. The regular turn was the 17:05 Edinburgh – Cardenden, using the air-con Mk 2 stock off the incoming portion from Carstairs that had originated at Poole. Tonight mega-rare 26002 is allocated, and duly performs. It’s a very sickly little rat, and lost 25 minutes to Cardenden. Off it tottered to Thornton to run round. A number of 26 bashers arrived on the next unit, including one top man for whom 26002 was his last of the class for haulage. Alas (for him) Thornton turned out 26039 for the return trip!

Back at Edinburgh, 26039 was turned straight round for the 19:45 to Cowdenbeath, as there were still no DMUs available. A quick trip to Inverkeithing with 26039, returning with 27052 on a Dundee stopper. Finally, a return Lincoln to Arbroath Adex produced required 37097. Had that through to Arbroath, having first cleared it with the guard that I could come back with him on the ECS. Did that to Perth for 47526 on the Inverness – Queen Street overnight.

__

Sat 06/07/85

Various NB locos out on the Dundee circuit today. I did 27023 15:20 Edinburgh – Kirkcaldy for 47193 back. The main attraction was 37062 on 17:12 Edinburgh – Newcastle stopper. I took this to Berwick upon Tweed to pick up the corresponding northbound service, 17:18 Newcastle – Edinburgh, for which I had no gen. 45120 was the power – the only time I had a 45/1 into Edinburgh. Then the 15:20 Scarborough – Glasgow was running 2 hours late, due to two loco failures on the outward journey, and by coincidence the 20:30 Queen Street – Edinburgh had failed, trapping the 21:00 behind it. So there was a gap in the E&G service into which the Scarborough train duly slotted. 27054 22:00 Edinburgh – Queen Street

__

Sun 07/07/85

37042 on an Ayr – Caersws return Adex. Alighted at Carlisle.

__

Mon 08/07/85

37216 08:40 Carlisle – Glasgow Central via Dumfries.

__

Wed 10/07/85

37403 11:05 Glasgow Queen Street – Perth, my first ever run with a 37/4. Impressive. On arrival at Perth this was booked to go ECS back to Cowlairs. However the 11:05 Aberdeen – Glasgow class 47 failed at Arbroath, so the ECS ran as a passenger train in its path. 6 minutes late start, 1 early arrival at Queen Street on class 47 timings. My first taste of 37/4s was most impressive.

__

Thu 11/07/85

37401 08:20 Glasgow Queen Street – Oban, 13:00 Oban – Glasgow Queen Street. The first ever 37/4 to Oban. Driver was instructed by the technical rider to open the power handle wide at the platform ramp and not to attempt to control the inevitable wheelspin in Queen Street tunnel as the loco was supposed to do it automatically. The result was spectacular, but not very good, as the wheelslip protection needed some fine tuning (to be polite about it). Once safely back from Oban, it was DMU to Largs for 37265 on a Largs – Nelson return Adex. This worked to Polmadie, where 85011 took over for the run to Carlisle where I alighted. 87005 back north.

__

Fri 12/07/85 – Sat 13/07/85

Friday night and the West Highland Line collapses into chaos, with the Fort William – Euston sleepers failing on the Up and the 18:20 Queen Street – Oban failing on the Down pretty much simultaneously. Freight services were dumped to one side and their locos purloined to rescue the mess. I took note and plotted my moves, but first some new track and a required loco: 27002 + 27030 23:30 Glasgow Central – Edinburgh Waverley via Rutherglen, Whifflet, Grahamston. This was a relief service running to Kings Cross instead of Euston because of engineering work at Crewe. By the time this had staggered into Edinburgh I didn’t have long to wait for 26046 on the 04:30 Edinburgh – Queen Street. Now to pick up those required freight 37s which had rescued the West Highland Line last night:

37020 05:50 Glasgow Queen Street – Crianlarich

37104 09:10 Crianlarich – Glasgow Queen Street

My moves overlapped with xotGD on 37020, but he alighted at Dumbarton to head south to cover the Blackpool – Stranraer (37071, which I picked up later). The two pairs of 37s he had out of Queen Street later that day were to get locos onto the WHL to rescue the stranded freights.

__

Sun 14/07/85

37071 14:05 Glasgow Central – Carlisle via G&SW.

47117 16:15 Carlisle – Beattock, hauling 87030 dead (OLE power off). Then 87030 pan up and 47117 detached at Beattock, forward unassisted to Glasgow Central.

__

Mon 15/07/85

26043 15:45 Glasgow Central – Carlisle via G&SW.

37245 20:43 Carlisle – Shields Jn via Beattock. Return Adex, load 9. At Shields Jn 37146 was attached to the other end, and led the way via High Street Jn to the then terminus at Airdrie, with 37245 on rear. By arrangement with the crew, we stayed on board the returning ECS, and made an unofficial stop at Coatbridge Sunnyside for us to alight. We hoofed it quickly to Coatbridge Central for the up Inverness – Euston with a 47 as the only sensible way out.

__

Thu 18/07/85

37200 15:45 Glasgow Central – Annan, 26043 18:00 Annan – Glasgow Central.

__

Fri 19/07/85

37103 15:45 Glasgow Central – Annan, 25089 18:00 Annan – Glasgow Central.

__

Sun 21/07/85

37017 15:05 Glasgow Central – Stranraer, and 18:30 return.

A fair selection of new track, new locos, and a few different classes involved. Happy days!

 

[NorthWestRover]

Scotland part 1...



We will start with an awFUL photograph of an aweSOME class of locomotive. This is 55 005 at Edinburgh Waverley in the late 1970s, I think. The nameplate for this loco was almost as long as the loco itself - The Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire.





Over at Glasgow Queen Street, we can here see 40 158 on passenger working, likely out to Dundee or Aberdeen, somewhere like that. I'm not sure when this was, possibly early 80s.



Before electrification reached Edinburgh, trains coming up the West Coast Main Line required a loco change at Carstairs. Here is 86 025 sitting in the stabling point between duties, although it could also have been waiting to pick up a freight train.



Back to Edinburgh in pre - electrification days, but this time on the ECML with a 254 unit alongside a shiny Duff.



Another shiny Duff at Edinburgh Waverley, this time in bright sunshine as it prepared to leave and a few minutes later pass Haymarket Depot, always full of exciting locos.



This is the sort of thing you'd have been looking out for at Haymarket, although this example was more likely to be at Eastfield as it is here preparing to leave Glasgow Central - steam heating obvious - in early 1986.



This was the McRat - class 26 - seen here not in Scotland, but at Crewe Works.



Here's a proper Rat at Glasgow Queen Street.



And finally in this varied batch of locos around Scotland is 47 637 at Inverness, probably preparing to take me south on the Highland Main Line after some Syphon bashing on the Far North Line, but more of that in the next batch of photos.

Hope you've enjoyed this selection, despite the preponderance of Brush and Sulzer types.

 

[NorthWestRover]

As I was posting those, @CW2 was posting some thrilling Scottish moves. Absolutely stunning stuff with fantastic variety of haulage.

 

[Peter Sarf]

Dales Croft, NCTS and Little Midland - SYRS ? I was an NCTS man.

1976-1979 I remember using termini Enthusiasts a lot. Overnight Peak (cl 45) hauled train from St Pancras. sleep on a BRUTE at Sheffield whilst waiting for the coach. We would do Tinsley, Toton and many others - class 20s everywhere. Sometimes we did the coach trip to the North East probably Immingham and Thornaby for 47/3s.

I also remember NREA (National railway Enthusiasts Association). Mostly getting from North Kent to Birmingham for trips to Scotland and South Wales (class 37 hunting).

Back in the 70s each of Thornaby, Toton and Tinsley had similar sized allocations of locomotives. Probably each more than the whole of the UK nowadays !.

I can't really remember. I remember they were really good value.

They were good value, included a lot of depots, permits included (allegedly) and all the research was done for you.

There was also Merry Makers - BRs charters.

 

[kemal]

Hi

Lots of great loco memories especially of loco haulage and Carlisle station. Does anyone have any Carlisle Station Overnighter trainspotting lists from the period 1983 -1987 at all please?

Thank you

Kemal Ali

 

[NorthWestRover]

Scotland part 2...



These delightful West Highland Terriers were attached to the side of the Syphons which spent a few years thrashing up and down the, er, West Highland Line from Glasgow to Oban, Fort William and Mallaig. This became a bit of a mecca for bashing as it was a great route for working the engines, was relatively good value with the Freedom of Scotland rover and the scenery was fantastic.





Two different Syphons with the classic Oban backdrop.





Two photos from out on the route. Maybe Crianlarich or one of the Tyndrums...

These were all from January and February 1986 when I was on my £5 Kelloggs day returns from Penzance to Oban and from Wick to Penzance. Not bad for a fiver each...





And, indeed here we are on the Far North at Wick and, I think, Georgemas Junction.






And I'll leave you with these three random shots. I think the middle one may be at Wick as per the earlier photo. I'm sure others might be able to identify the locations of the other too.

What bashing days, eh?

 

[xotGD]

Some highlights of Scotland in July 1985 for you:

Wed 03/07/85

The Haymarket DMU fleet was collapsing in the heat, and maybe the fitters were on a work-to-rule as well. Either way, it meant there were cancellations and loco-hauled substitutions occurring. The regular turn was the 17:05 Edinburgh – Cardenden, using the air-con Mk 2 stock off the incoming portion from Carstairs that had originated at Poole. Tonight mega-rare 26002 is allocated, and duly performs. It’s a very sickly little rat, and lost 25 minutes to Cardenden. Off it tottered to Thornton to run round. A number of 26 bashers arrived on the next unit, including one top man for whom 26002 was his last of the class for haulage. Alas (for him) Thornton turned out 26039 for the return trip!

Back at Edinburgh, 26039 was turned straight round for the 19:45 to Cowdenbeath, as there were still no DMUs available. A quick trip to Inverkeithing with 26039, returning with 27052 on a Dundee stopper. Finally, a return Lincoln to Arbroath Adex produced required 37097. Had that through to Arbroath, having first cleared it with the guard that I could come back with him on the ECS. Did that to Perth for 47526 on the Inverness – Queen Street overnight.

__

Sat 06/07/85

Various NB locos out on the Dundee circuit today. I did 27023 15:20 Edinburgh – Kirkcaldy for 47193 back. The main attraction was 37062 on 17:12 Edinburgh – Newcastle stopper. I took this to Berwick upon Tweed to pick up the corresponding northbound service, 17:18 Newcastle – Edinburgh, for which I had no gen. 45120 was the power – the only time I had a 45/1 into Edinburgh. Then the 15:20 Scarborough – Glasgow was running 2 hours late, due to two loco failures on the outward journey, and by coincidence the 20:30 Queen Street – Edinburgh had failed, trapping the 21:00 behind it. So there was a gap in the E&G service into which the Scarborough train duly slotted. 27054 22:00 Edinburgh – Queen Street

__

Sun 07/07/85

37042 on an Ayr – Caersws return Adex. Alighted at Carlisle.

__

Mon 08/07/85

37216 08:40 Carlisle – Glasgow Central via Dumfries.

__

Wed 10/07/85

37403 11:05 Glasgow Queen Street – Perth, my first ever run with a 37/4. Impressive. On arrival at Perth this was booked to go ECS back to Cowlairs. However the 11:05 Aberdeen – Glasgow class 47 failed at Arbroath, so the ECS ran as a passenger train in its path. 6 minutes late start, 1 early arrival at Queen Street on class 47 timings. My first taste of 37/4s was most impressive.

__

Thu 11/07/85

37401 08:20 Glasgow Queen Street – Oban, 13:00 Oban – Glasgow Queen Street. The first ever 37/4 to Oban. Driver was instructed by the technical rider to open the power handle wide at the platform ramp and not to attempt to control the inevitable wheelspin in Queen Street tunnel as the loco was supposed to do it automatically. The result was spectacular, but not very good, as the wheelslip protection needed some fine tuning (to be polite about it). Once safely back from Oban, it was DMU to Largs for 37265 on a Largs – Nelson return Adex. This worked to Polmadie, where 85011 took over for the run to Carlisle where I alighted. 87005 back north.

__

Fri 12/07/85 – Sat 13/07/85

Friday night and the West Highland Line collapses into chaos, with the Fort William – Euston sleepers failing on the Up and the 18:20 Queen Street – Oban failing on the Down pretty much simultaneously. Freight services were dumped to one side and their locos purloined to rescue the mess. I took note and plotted my moves, but first some new track and a required loco: 27002 + 27030 23:30 Glasgow Central – Edinburgh Waverley via Rutherglen, Whifflet, Grahamston. This was a relief service running to Kings Cross instead of Euston because of engineering work at Crewe. By the time this had staggered into Edinburgh I didn’t have long to wait for 26046 on the 04:30 Edinburgh – Queen Street. Now to pick up those required freight 37s which had rescued the West Highland Line last night:

37020 05:50 Glasgow Queen Street – Crianlarich

37104 09:10 Crianlarich – Glasgow Queen Street

My moves overlapped with xotGD on 37020, but he alighted at Dumbarton to head south to cover the Blackpool – Stranraer (37071, which I picked up later). The two pairs of 37s he had out of Queen Street later that day were to get locos onto the WHL to rescue the stranded freights.

__

Sun 14/07/85

37071 14:05 Glasgow Central – Carlisle via G&SW.

47117 16:15 Carlisle – Beattock, hauling 87030 dead (OLE power off). Then 87030 pan up and 47117 detached at Beattock, forward unassisted to Glasgow Central.

__

Mon 15/07/85

26043 15:45 Glasgow Central – Carlisle via G&SW.

37245 20:43 Carlisle – Shields Jn via Beattock. Return Adex, load 9. At Shields Jn 37146 was attached to the other end, and led the way via High Street Jn to the then terminus at Airdrie, with 37245 on rear. By arrangement with the crew, we stayed on board the returning ECS, and made an unofficial stop at Coatbridge Sunnyside for us to alight. We hoofed it quickly to Coatbridge Central for the up Inverness – Euston with a 47 as the only sensible way out.

__

Thu 18/07/85

37200 15:45 Glasgow Central – Annan, 26043 18:00 Annan – Glasgow Central.

__

Fri 19/07/85

37103 15:45 Glasgow Central – Annan, 25089 18:00 Annan – Glasgow Central.

__

Sun 21/07/85

37017 15:05 Glasgow Central – Stranraer, and 18:30 return.

A fair selection of new track, new locos, and a few different classes involved. Happy days!

Some cracking moves there. Looks like you had better access to the gen than we did - we were essentially flying blind.

At least after 35 years I now know why we had two pairs out of Queen St on the Saturday afternoon!

 

[CW2]

Some cracking moves there. Looks like you had better access to the gen than we did - we were essentially flying blind.

At least after 35 years I now know why we had two pairs out of Queen St on the Saturday afternoon!

Cheers. I was working in a junior position at Glasgow Control - on shift work of course. I got to hear things in real time, but couldn't always profit from them. There was a tremendous variety of traction on offer in Scotland at that time. Even the WCML electrics still offered variety, with 81s and 85s still appearing on passenger work.

 

[xotGD]

Cheers. I was working in a junior position at Glasgow Control - on shift work of course. I got to hear things in real time, but couldn't always profit from them. There was a tremendous variety of traction on offer in Scotland at that time. Even the WCML electrics still offered variety, with 81s and 85s still appearing on passenger work.

I'm not sure which is worse: missing something because you didn't have the gen or having the gen and being unable to go for it. But nothing beats just being in the right place at the right time when something huge rolls in.

 

[NorthWestRover]

I agree with that. The thrill of thinking you can hear a whistling in the distance and then a 40 comes round the corner, when the diagram had had a Duff in the morning... Wonderful...

 

[CW2]

Can't disagree with that. Going "blind" for something which then produces unexpectedly is always a delight. Conversely there are so many times when it all turns to dust ...

 

[Peter Sarf]

I agree with that. The thrill of thinking you can hear a whistling in the distance and then a 40 comes round the corner, when the diagram had had a Duff in the morning... Wonderful...

In my case it was me lingering at Birmingham New Street in the hope that the service from Paddington produced a whizzing sound from the tunnel and the distinctive out line of a class 52 Western. That service was always meant to be a hauled by a class 50 but never was. It was most likely to produce a duff (class 47). That would have been 1974 to 1977 iirc.

My choice was weather to fork out for a ticket to Bescot for freight locos but the smoky depths of New Street with its Cross Country 45s & 46s and maybe a 52 usually won.

 

[xotGD]

The new rules on face coverings has reminded me that some Cranks would wear ski masks or balaclavas for flailing in cold weather. Does anyone want to admit to this?

 

[NorthWestRover]

I did some silly things in my youth, but don't remember doing that.

 

[CW2]

I remember a small group we nicknamed "The Welders", as they wore welding masks. The arrival of this bunch on a train would be a guarantee of a howling gale of cold air down the corridor, and a distinct lack of serenity (and sanity).

 

[xotGD]

And of course kettle neds wear goggles to keep the lumps of coal out of their eyes.

 

[Peter Sarf]

I admit to owning a pair of lab safety specs back in the late 1970s. Still got them and in use with my 230mm Angle grinder - phwoar !.

I did some silly things in my youth, but don't remember doing that.

I don't understand - what has youth got to do with it . And it is best not to remember it anyway

 

[NorthWestRover]

Oh, I've done even sillier things since growing up but they are not to do with bashing

 

[NorthWestRover]

Most of this thread is about spotting days out or loco bashing trips. Most of that is less interesting today (isn't it?) with the dominance of units in most places. Looking back at my old photos, I've dug out some nostalgic unit photos for a bit of a change. Most of the photos are of types no longer in service and I'll start with these two types of DMU - BRCW and Cravens. I've got enough unit posts for a few posts, you'll be delighted to know.





These are both at Blackrod (between Bolton and Preston), probably in 1980 or 1981. I would have ridden here from Warrington to visit Horwich Works (lots of EMUs in there) and then gone to Wigan Springs Branch which used to be full of locos. Quite likely I'd have stopped somewhere around Newton-Le--Willows too to catch the Transpennine stuff.







Some more Cravens, this time at Norwich in the mid 1980s. I would have been here on 31 bashing duties, but seemed to have liked the look of Cravens.







And three more Birminghams. These are from 1983 or 84. The first one is at Preston - not sure what that black stripe is or the code EXP DM 352 - and the other two at Llandudno Junction. These will all have been between 40 bashing moves and the last one shows what fun we had, lol.

 

[NorthWestRover]

Fast units. Class 253 and 254 units (or IC 125 units) took over from many favourite loco hauled services in the late 1970s and were disliked by the bashing fraternity. That doesn't seem to be the case nowadays with lots of affection for the things. I get that that they look great (but then I also think Pendos look great and have always liked the look of the Bullet train or the TGVs), but I don't get the love-in for that whiney engine. Still, you can't hear them in these photos, just see them.





These were at Crewe Works Open Day in 1979, at Doncaster in 1981 and at Paddington back in 1980 (I think).





A couple more at Paddington and again at Doncaster (they're not Westerns or Deltics, are they? I'm getting bored just posting them...)



This is more interesting. Don't ask me why there was an HST at Earlestown in 1981. I don't know.



And here's one of the ill-fated APT-E sets. This was at the 150th Anniversary of the Rainhill Trials in April 1980 (it was being pushed by a 56 which you'll see in due course).



And last, but by no means least, here's a proper fast train! At Geneva, here is the TGV which I'd either just taken from Paris or was about to. August 1985. Beautiful, isn't it?

 

[O8yityityit]

And of course kettle neds wear goggles to keep the lumps of coal out of their eyes.

Yes but they are varifocals !

 

[Cowley]

I don’t recall ever seeing a black band below the windows like this before:



Does anyone know what that signifies?