20th September - GBRf ‘Out of the Ordinary’ Day 1
So the day had arrived. The start of the GBRf 18. Due off London Victoria at 0939 I had time to hunt some units out in the morning peak and also get an annoying shack gap on my map along with a tiny bit of track. This meant an early start! I took just what I needed for the day as I would be in the same hotel that night, and boarded 377608 and 377602 with 0553 to Clapham. An 18 minute wait (felt like an eternity in London terms mind!) bought me 377313, 377308 and bonus winner
377454 then took me onto Battersea Park. From here I would get the London Overground service with 378226 that would join into the main network to Dalston Junction. I bailed at
Wandsworth Road and 378143 took me back to Clapham. It was now a case of unit hunting before breakfast. I also didn’t want to venture too far as I didn’t want to get held up in any problems!
After half an hour I spotted a unit that I needed. I boarded
377440 and off to Victoria I went. I had no idea what the unit behind was. I checked at Victoria and it was another winner!
377415! As I escaped from the platforms I spotted a 465 that was needed. A quick check on RTT and I could easily get it to Denmark Hill and back.
465156 and 465921 were had out and 466023, 466008 and 465197 back. It was too risky to do any other moves now so I went and got a large Spoons breakfast.
I had a message from Kite and then went and joined him as we waited for the tour to start. Kite it was finally great to meet you in person! The ECS had been bought in and I got a picture before the adjacent line had another train in it.
20180920-London Victoria-73963, 73961 by
Steven Booth, on Flickr
It was now time for the tour to start properly. Thankfully the guys that were sat with me were nice and friendly. I hate to say but there are some people who go on these tours that actually give people who enjoy our hobby a bad name. Spookily of our table and the one opposite, four of us were called Steve! This obviously was fun for the next four days!
66782 led the tour away with its GBRf Charity Tour livery. Like the previous tour we went via Herne Hill through to Wimbledon before a run down the South Western main line. At Worting Junction we went in the direction of Salisbury. We were well ahead of time and got held outside Salisbury for the preceding trains to cross Tunnel Junction. Eventually (back on time) we got going and it was onto to Westbury for a pickup stop.
20180920-Westbury-66782 by
Steven Booth, on Flickr
Anyway from Westbury we continued on to Bristol Temple Meads. From here
73963 and 73961 would lead the tour.
20180920-Bristol Temple Meads-73963, 73961 by
Steven Booth, on Flickr
Two more people joined here which filled the table opposite us. They were avoiding anything to do with sheds so for half this tour they weren’t on it! We left Temple Meads and at Narroways Hill Junction went left down to Avonmouth. It was then some new track for me as we took the freight only route back towards Patchway before heading under the Severn and into Wales.
At this point there was a change of plan. The original plan was to head to Celsa at Cardiff Tidal but they pulled the plug a few days before and a change of plan was required. This meant our most recent passengers opposite left the train at Newport! We then went onto Pengam Sidings and 66766 was swapped with the 73s on the front. They ran round and were now on the back. We then went on through one of the Cardiff through roads to Port Talbot Signal 3462. Confusingly this isn’t at Port Talbot but just west of Bridgend. The 73s then took us back eastwards through the other Cardiff through line, and after a quick stop at Pengam Sidings once more to lose
66766, we continued to Newport. A full compliment of seats taken once more, we were now on the final leg of the day as we headed back to England. We went via Gloucester and then down to Swindon. At Didcot West the 73s made way for 87002. We then had a frustratingly slow stagger to Reading before we were finally put on the fasts and wow! 87002 had an absolutely storming run to Paddington, easily hitting 100mph. It really was quite something and history was made as 87002 because the first AC locomotive carrying passengers into Paddington.
20180920-London Paddington by
Steven Booth, on Flickr
I made my way to East Croydon via the tube and Thameslink. Annoyingly 700102 form the night before took me to East Croydon. I couldn’t be bothered to wait for anything else as I was tired so I had to make do with it! What a great first day despite the disappointment of the Celsa part of the trip.
21st September GBRf ‘Out of the Ordinary’ Day 2
No lie in or taking it easy today! Up nice and early with all my stuff and onto
700105 at 0540 to St Pancras. Quickly outside and to McDonalds for breakfast before heading up the road to Euston. 66728 was already here having bought the ECS in.
20180921-London Euston-66728 by
Steven Booth, on Flickr
The tour would start here today led by winner
20311 and 20132.
20180921-London Euston-20311 by
Steven Booth, on Flickr
20180921-London Euston-20132 by
Steven Booth, on Flickr
There was no sign of the guy next to me the day before which gave me room but we were wondering where he’d got to. As there was a 66 involved there was also an empty pair of seats on the table opposite. Anyway, we headed out past Willesden where I spotted my first 710s and it was on to Watford for the first pick up. It was then on off up to Bletchley for the gentle run over to Bedford. Then up to Wellingborough Yard where we would reverse.
66728 now took us south towards West Hampstead. We went down the bi directional slow line which was good as I needed that bit of track and then we took freight only route past Cricklewood and in behind West Hampstead. The 20s were now back in charge and it was time to head to south west London via Neasden South Junction and onto to South Acton Junction where required route for me saw us take the Kew East and New Kew junction onto the Chiswick line to Clapham Junction. We now dived under and joined the line towards Denmark Hill. After a bit of a stagger we got going and headed out towards Kent via Dartford and past Hoo Junction. Of the few locos here 66777 was spotted and that was needed so that was good. We continued round to Strood where we went straight on down the Medway line where we then went on into Tonbridge Yard, where there were plenty of 73s!
20180921-Tonbirdge Yard-73119 by
Steven Booth, on Flickr
20180921-Tonbridge Yard-73128 by
Steven Booth, on Flickr
20180921-Tonbridge Yard-73201 by
Steven Booth, on Flickr
20180921-Tonbridge Yard-73212 by
Steven Booth, on Flickr
At Tonbridge the 66 was removed and a pair of original 73s (
73141 and 73107) were put on the (now front of the the train). Their first job was a short journey up through the disused Royal Mail. The 20s were then back in charge once more and it was back to London. The destination was Acton Reception Sidings via Bat & Ball, then Beckenham Junction (instead of booked route via Lewisham), then towards Clapham before veering off up passed Kensington Olympia. Many people bailed here for the wait and return of the train. I stayed on (actually the people I was with did too) and at this point the guy sat next to me the day before joined the train. Guttingly for him his alarm didn’t go off! It was off to Acton Reception where the train was watered ready for the night leg of the tour. The 20s were removed and 92033 was put on the back of the train.
Once this was done the 73s took the train back to the centre of London and into Waterloo’s old international platforms whilst picking up those who got off at Kensington Olympia eariler. Completely awful for pictures but here we are.
20180921-London Waterloo-73141 by
Steven Booth, on Flickr
20180921-London Waterloo-73107, 73141 by
Steven Booth, on Flickr
20180921-London Waterloo-92033 by
Steven Booth, on Flickr
We had half an hour here to get supplies. I went to the M&S and got some food and beer to see me through the evening.
21st/22nd September GBRf ‘Out of the Ordinary’ Day N
We were soon off, (the missing two from the other table are also now on board and would be for the rest of the tour seeing as though no more 66s were to be involved) and winning
92033 (also my first time with a 92 on the 3rd rail) took us back past Kensington Olympia and onto the West Coast Mainline. We came off the main route and went via Northampton. The next diversion was as we approached Crewe. We went into Basford Yard before diving under and taking the Independent line to come out the other side of Crewe station. That bit was new route for me. It was then up to Preston before veering left and onto Blackpool. Another first, the first AC loco carrying passengers into Blackpool North. It must have been very painful for the staff at Blackpool North. All those people taking pictures!!
20180922-Blackpool North-92033 by
Steven Booth, on Flickr
Once this was all done the 73s once more had job to do. It was back to Preston where we would reverse once more and head to Scotland. Some kip was had, not a lot but did the best I could. We arrived into Motherwell just before 0500 and people who were only on the Day N leg left and others who were on the Day 3 portion of the tour joined. We then continued on into Mossend Yard where Day N finished.
22nd September GBRf ‘Out of the Ordinary’ Day 3
We left Mossend with
56113 now in charge. The 73s had been split, with one each end. 73141 was tucked in behind 56113 and would be assisting en route. Our main destination today was Fort William. Our route was up to Whifflet South Junction and across to Queen Street passing through it on the Low Level Platforms. We then continued on via Anniesland with another pickup at Dalmuir. It was then onwards to Fort William. My favourite line in the county for scenery, absolutely wonderful. We lost a bit of time and arrived 15 late into Fort William. Just before we arrived the 56 was removed which saw 73141 take the train into the station for the final half mile solo (may have had assistance from 73107 to get going).
20180922-Fort William-73141 by
Steven Booth, on Flickr
We had about an hour and half here now. I was desperate for food and made my way (along with many others) to the Spoons at the other end of the high street. It took a while but my All Day Breakfast was a treat and hit the spot! Enough time for a dash into Morrissons for some beer and food for the rest of the tour.
56113 was once more leading with 73107 now the assisting loco. A quick stop at Crianlarich meant a photo was got and a small leg stretch.
20190922-Crianlarich-73107, 56113 by
Steven Booth, on Flickr
We continued south and retraced our steps as far as Anniesland. At Partick we headed south to pass under Glasgow Central before heading through Rutherglen and towards Hamilton. We then swung round and once more we were back at Motherwell for a drop off/pick up. Into Mossend for the final time today, a loco swap around saw the 56 no on its own with the 73s both on the back together. We then continued north and up to Coatbridge Central and Falkirk Grahamston. At Linlithgow we took the route towards Dalmeny and crossed the Forth Bridge. The train stopped at Rosyth Down Loop and the 73s were now back in charge. For the first time ever a pair of original 73s hauled the train back of the Forth Bridge and onto Edinburgh.
20180922-Edinburgh-73141, 107 by
Steven Booth, on Flickr
20180922-Edinburgh-56113 by
Steven Booth, on Flickr
From here (after the not so great plan of how the locos would be swapped as our train was fouling the cross overs) 90041 was attached to our train and took us on the final leg of the day into Glasgow Central via Falkirk Grahamston and Coatbridge Central. This meant the curve from Coatbridge Junction to Langloan Junction was new for me.
20180922-Glasgow Central-90041 by
Steven Booth, on Flickr
So that was Day 3! We were all exhausted and we all went off to wherever we had booked for the night. I was in the easy hotel (along with quite a few others it would so seem). It had just gone midnight and I slept incredibly well!
23rd September GBRf ‘Out of the Ordinary’ Day 4
The final day already? So the first part of the final day wasn’t what GBRf had planned. Network Rail at literally the last minute decided we couldn’t go to Paisley Canal as they didn’t know how high the OHLE was! Shocking! So a hastily put together plan saw us head to Paisley St James with 73107 and 73141. 47749 then took us back to Polmadie (via Shields Junction and West Street Tunnel so new route for me). The 73s we now in charge for the penultimate time and took us back into Glasgow Central.
20180923-Glasgow Central-73107, 73141 by
Steven Booth, on Flickr
2080923-Glasgow Central-47749 by
Steven Booth, on Flickr
For those that chose to lie and and not do the stock turn move, they could now rejoin the train and start our trip back to London. 47749 did the first stint. We were originally planned to go via Dumfries, but engineering works put paid to that idea. So instead it was the normal route southwards bar the initial bit where we went via Mount Florida and then through to Newton. A reasonably good run saw us 2 down at Carlisle. From here a pair of Freightliner 86s would be put on the front.
20180923-Carlisle-47749, 86637, 86639 by
Steven Booth, on Flickr
20180923-Carlisle-86639, 86637 by
Steven Booth, on Flickr
20180923-Carlisle-47749 by
Steven Booth, on Flickr
And just to prove they were still there
20180923-Carlisle-73107, 73141 by
Steven Booth, on Flickr
86639 and
86637 now took us onto Crewe for another loco change. This time a pair of 50s (
50007 and 50049) were swapped with the 86s.
20180923-Crewe-86s & 50s by
Steven Booth, on Flickr
20180923-Crewe-50007, 50049 by
Steven Booth, on Flickr
Our planned route from Crewe was down to Shrewsbury and then across to Wolverhampton. From here we went via Bescot and onto Coventry. People were starting to leave the train now as it was clear easier for them to get home from here. We then went on towards Leamington Spa. At Ruislip we went onto the Greenford branch via the junctions there and on to Hanwell Loop (the curve off the Greenford branch here was new for me).
It was nearly time! 73107 and 73141 for the final leg of the entire tour took us into Paddington to a fanfare of horn blowing!
20180923-London Paddington-50049 by
Steven Booth, on Flickr
20180923-London Paddington-73107, 73141 by
Steven Booth, on Flickr
What a fantastic tour! Despite the two bits that were taken away (Celsa and Paisley Canal) it was brilliantly organised and a massive thank you to all who were involved. We don’t know yet what money has been raised but its apparently into six figure and is more than the last tour! Amazing!
After this I had a fair wait for my train home! I went to the local chippy for some fish and chips. I then headed to pub on Paddington station where i met three of the guys who were sat near me on the tour! As it turned out, two of them were heading west on the sleeper! We sat and socialised for the next hour or so before we headed to the train! 57603 would be taking me home. We said our goodbyes and headed off to which ever part of the train we would be in. The end of an amazing four days!