Midlands-Great Yarmouth summer Saturday trains in 1976

[crosscity]

On summer Saturdays in 1976 two loco-hauled trains operated between the Midlands to Great Yarmouth usually hauled by a pair of Class 25s. As the trains ran close together and the stock had to reverse at Norwich, a new loco was added there to the first train to take it to Yarmouth, and the locos from the first train were then attached to the second one to take that to Yarmouth. Something similar happened in the reverse direction, with the end result being the pair of 25s that came from Derby, worked the Walsall back.

The trains involved were
1E83 0812 Derby-Yarmouth
1E91 0800 Walsall-Yarmouth
1M37 1415 Yarmouth-Derby
1M66 1430 Yarmouth-Walsall

Can anyone confirm the operations? As far as I can see Norwich (Thorpe) depot would have had to provide a locomotive to operate 1E83 from Norwich to Yarmouth and 1M66 from Yarmouth to Norwich. What type of loco was booked for this service (I’m guessing a Class 37 or 47)?

 

[306024]

From (a hazy) memory that sounds right. A class 31 would have most likely done the job to Yarmouth, but 37s or 47s were not uncommon. March crews on 'short rest' used to work the 25s to Yarmouth, as only they officially signed the traction. Providing they had a long break at Yarmouth (4 hours+) diagrams up to 12 hours (or more?) were permitted.

It was further complicated with other trains from the midlands / north. There was a Newcastle with a class 40 to Grassmoor Jn at March where a loco change would occur, usually for a March 37. All was fine if these trains arrived in order, but if one appeared at Norwich late the loco diagrams were shot and all sorts of strange workings could occur, such as 2 x class 20s ending up at Great Yarmouth.

 

[BR_Nick1980]

There was also a Manchester Yarmouth and return 1E34/1M74 with loco change at Sheffield ( early 70's) then Lincoln from 76/77.
In 1977 the Derby and Walsall locos returned on the same trains as they were retimed, but we're changed back the following year.
Nick