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Railroving 1970s 1990s
- Thread starter Merthyr Imp
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I only ever saw one Deltic in BR service when my dad took me to see 55016 on the 'Deltic Devonian' at St David's in 1981. A bit of a treasured memory for me that one actually.
Had there been many changes between the first rover you did and the one in 1980 Merthyr Imp? I wondered if there'd been a lot more rationalisation?
Edit - Just had another thought re getting locos for haulage etc, I always liked a mixture of covering routes I didn't know and covering locos, as I got older I started to not worry too much about mileage and started to just enjoy the experience. By the time I did my last all line I didn't take (slightly regrettably) proper notes, but I have my memories of going to Kyle/Oban etc behind 37s.
Had there been many changes between the first rover you did and the one in 1980 Merthyr Imp? I wondered if there'd been a lot more rationalisation?
Edit - Just had another thought re getting locos for haulage etc, I always liked a mixture of covering routes I didn't know and covering locos, as I got older I started to not worry too much about mileage and started to just enjoy the experience. By the time I did my last all line I didn't take (slightly regrettably) proper notes, but I have my memories of going to Kyle/Oban etc behind 37s.
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47403
Established Member
Great reads, fair ole bit of traversing on DMUs there, I remember the old 101s between Sunderland and Newcastle, as a kid, I'd rush on to try and get them front seats with my Dad and cousin, my cousin and I would stand all the way and just be gorping at the driver, if ofcourse the blind was open.
Plenty Deltic action, the only one I've ever had on the main line was 55010 and that was going up to Edinburgh for the day with family, I was blissfully unaware I'd had it, till I got into the hobby and a conversation with my cousin, about Deltics, he said well you had 55010 that time we all went to Edinburgh for the day, not that I remember anything about it.
Some right ole whoppers among the 47s too, 47074 and 47325 especially. I refrain from comment on the Wagons but it didn't spoil an enjoyable read, well maybe a twist of the face, here n there
Plenty Deltic action, the only one I've ever had on the main line was 55010 and that was going up to Edinburgh for the day with family, I was blissfully unaware I'd had it, till I got into the hobby and a conversation with my cousin, about Deltics, he said well you had 55010 that time we all went to Edinburgh for the day, not that I remember anything about it.
Some right ole whoppers among the 47s too, 47074 and 47325 especially. I refrain from comment on the Wagons but it didn't spoil an enjoyable read, well maybe a twist of the face, here n there
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Merthyr Imp
Member
Changes between 1974 and 1980?
Well, regarding the East Coast main line, whereas in 1974 it was, generally speaking, Deltics on the longer distance service and Class 47s on the others, by 1980 of course it was HSTs to Edinburgh and Newcastle and Deltics (with still some Class 47s) on the rest. The Class 46s had disappeared from the route.
On the Midland Main Line, by 1980 it was practically all Class 45/1s (the ETH fitted ones because of the use of Mk2d stock), with the Class 47s having gone.
I cant remember now just when the Nottingham Glasgow services stopped it may have been by 1980. The Thames-Clyde was still running in 1974. There also used to be a sleeper service from Nottingham on that route a sleeping coach or two used to be stabled in the bay platform (2) and shunted on the back of the 2130 departure from St Pancras at around midnight. I did toy with the idea of paying extra and making use of it but wasnt adventurous enough.
DMUS - the biggest recent change by 1980 was the introduction of the Class 123/124 hybrids on the Manchester - Sheffield- Cleethorpes axis, plus between the two dates the influx of Class 120 dmus had greatly reduced the chances of a BRCW or Cravens unit (especially the former) elsewhere. The good old Derby 2-car units were of course still soldiering on. On the other hand, Class 31s had started being used on Birmingham Peterborough Norwich services instead of assorted dmus which was a big improvement.
Nationally speaking, it was between these dates that the last of the line closures occurred the Bridport branch, Haltwhistle Alston and the Clayton West branch. Also, the Spalding to March line, meaning services had to run via Peterborough. I just missed out on the chance of travelling on all these. Roughly speaking, the trend from then on was towards re-opening lines.
Just caught up - another few great reads!
Merthyr Imp
Member
Yes, on checking, you're correct - 1982 and 1983 respectively.
It's worth remembering the Lincoln avoiding line was still open at this time, with some Yorkshire to Great Yarmouth summer Saturday services using it, but I never managed a ride on one. Probably should have tried harder to do so in the 1970s, but I think they may have stopped sending the summer extras that way by the time its closure was on the cards in the 1980s. The diversion of trains at Lincoln to Central so St Marks could be closed was one of the reasons given for it.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
All-Line Railrover Ticket 1980
I left a slightly longer gap this year before my seven days on the national network.
Saturday 2nd August 1980
I didn’t make a very early start considering it was the first day, not leaving Nottingham until the 0855 St Pancras service (45128, Mk2d downgraded 1st class) as far as Leicester, arriving at 0927.
From there – it being a summer Saturday – I got a Leicester to Paignton service (46018, Mk 1 Open) at 0934 to Birmingham, arriving 5 minutes early at 1038. This called at Hinckley and Nuneaton.
From New Street I got a service from Shrewsbury (86246, Mk 2f) which left 2 minutes late at 1050 to Euston, arriving 13 minutes early at 1217.
Following a bite to eat and an afternoon at the theatre I returned on a Leeds service from St Pancras hauled by 45122. I’ve noted down that I rode in a Mk2c Brake Second. This left at 1801 and arrived in Nottingham 2 minutes late at 2007.
Sunday 3rd August 1980
As I remarked in an earlier posting, on Sunday mornings in those days there were practically no trains out of Nottingham other than in a London direction before 10am. So on this day I cheated and went by Barton bus (route 5B) at 0745 to Derby, arriving 0844. Plenty of time to walk from bus station to railway station for a Birmingham to Leeds train (45013, Mk2a coach). This was timetabled to depart at 0923, but had been retimed on this day to 0947 – presumably because of there being no engineering work. This got me to Sheffield at the scheduled original time of 1036.
For some reason I didn’t get a through service on the Hope Valley line to Manchester – whether it was because there weren’t any on a Sunday morning or if there was some other reason I don’t know. But I left Sheffield on a Metro-Cammell 2-car dmu at 1128 to New Mills, arriving there 10 minutes early at 1223. I left there on a Derby 2-car dmu at 1241 to Manchester Piccadilly via Reddish North, arriving 2 minutes early at 1312.
I walked to Manchester Victoria, and from there travelled on a Derby 2-car dmu coupled to two Cravens 2-car sets at 1430 to Southport via Wigan. This arrived 13 minutes early at 1527 and so allowed me to get an earlier service (a class 507 emu) than planned from there, which left 2 minutes late at 1532 to Moorfields, arriving at 1608.
Whether I got an unrecorded connection to Lime Street or whether I walked there I don’t know, but I had plenty of time before departing there on a Birmingham service (86240, in a Mk 1 compartment coach) which left 2 minutes late at 1725. This got me to Crewe at 1802.
From Crewe it was what I have down as a Metro-Cammell 3-car unit (unusual) on a Lincoln service which left 3 minutes late at 1823 and got me back to Nottingham 4 minutes late at 2017.
Monday 4th August 1980
An early-ish start with a Glasgow train at 0715 to Carlisle. This was hauled by 47102 and I was in a Mk1 open coach. Evidently the loco ran round at Leeds as I don’t have a note of anything different from there. It arrived at Carlisle, 4 minutes late at 1145.
Not long in Carlisle before I was on a service from Edinburgh at 1204 in a Mk2c coach hauled by 86235 as far as Preston where 47474 took over for the run via Wigan and St Helens Central to Liverpool, arriving 13 minutes late at 1452.
Not long in Liverpool either, as I left at 1505 hauled by 47405 in another Mk2c coach to Leeds, calling at St Helens Junction, Manchester Victoria, Stalybridge, Huddersfield and Dewsbury, arrived Leeds 2 minutes early at 1655. From there it was a Derby 2-car dmu at 1714 to Sheffield via Normanton, Wakefield Kirkgate and Barnsley, arriving 3 minutes late at 1841.
Back to Nottingham on a St Pancras train (45108, Mk2d) at 1903 to Nottingham, arriving 2 minutes early at 1956.
Tuesday 5th August 1980
This centred around my third trans-pennine route in three days.
Not a very early start, which was on a service which, unusually, had started from Barnetby. It was the usual Swindon 3-car Cross Country unit (Class 120), and left Nottingham 4 minutes late at 0840, arriving in Birmingham 7 minutes late at 1010.
At Birmingham, I was due to get a Plymouth to Liverpool service at 1055 and change at Crewe for Preston, but perhaps it was announced as late running as instead I travelled on the service I would have changed to at Crewe – a Birmingham to Aberdeen train, hauled by 85035. Travelling in a Mk 1 compartment coach I departed in it 8 minutes late at 1111 and arrived at Preston 15 minutes late at 1256.
Still plenty of time there to get a service from Blackpool in a Class 110 BRCW 3-car dmu at 1400 to Leeds via Rose Grove, Hebden Bridge and Halifax. I think services via the Copy Pit line had only fairly recently been reintroduced at this time. Arrived at Leeds at 1558, I then got a York to Liverpool service (47415, Mk 1 Open) at 1621 to Huddersfield, arriving 2 minutes late at 1649.
From there I got a Metro-Cammell 2-car dmu at 1718 to Sheffield via Penistone and the disused Sheffield Victoria station, arriving at 1812.
Then for the second day running it was a St Pancras service (45150, Mk2d) at 1903 to Nottingham, arriving 2 minutes early at 1956.
Wednesday 6th August 1980
I had originally planned on starting with a service at 0722 to Birmingham, but perhaps on second thought not wanting to trust a 20-minute connection there got an earlier train from Nottingham. This was at 0708, which I’ve got down as a Metro-Cammell 3-car unit. This got me to Birmingham 11 minutes late at 0851.
From there it was a service from Euston, Mk2f stock, which left 3 minutes late at 0923 hauled by 86235 as far as Wolverhampton where 47436 took over, to Shrewsbury, arriving at 1027.
Then it was a Swindon Cross country 3-car dmu (Class 120) 3 minutes late at 1045 right through to Aberystwyth, arriving 10 minutes late at 1308.
I returned on the same unit, departing Aberystwyth at 1400 all the way to Crewe, arriving there 20 minutes late at 1730.
The late arrival meant I missed the 1722 back to Nottingham, so had to wait for the 1825 (the inevitable Swindon 3-car dmu), arriving back at 2020.
Thursday 7th August 1980
On the last two days, I had originally planned to travel over the Manchester – Chester route and Birmingham – Oxford – Paddington respectively, but for some reason I changed my mind and just settled for my biannual visits to the bookshops in Birmingham and London.
On this day, I started with a Derby 2-car dmu 2 minutes late at 1029 to Derby, arrived 3 minutes early at 1101.
From there I got a service hauled by 45036 in a Mk2a coach at 1113 to Birmingham, arriving 8 minutes late at 1213.
I left Birmingham at 1448 for Euston (86228, Mk2f), arriving 21 minutes late at 1651. Still plenty of time to walk to St Pancras for a service at 1720 to Leicester (45105, Mk2d), arriving 2 minutes early at 1843.
Then back to Nottingham at 1930 (45127, Mk2d), arriving 4 minutes early at 1959.
Friday 8th August 1980
I did at least make an early start for London, with the 0700 to St Pancras, calling at Loughborough, Leicester and Kettering (45112, Mk2d), arriving 2 minutes late at 0914.
I returned from London at 1341 from Euston to Birmingham, calling at Coventry and Birmingham International (87021, Mk2f), arriving 4 minutes late at 1523.
Then a service 5 minutes late at 1545 to Derby (45075, Mk 1 compartment), and departed there for Nottingham at 1647 on the usual Swindon Cross-country 3-car dmu.
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Techniquest
Veteran Member
The usual excellent read there! Still too much Peak bashing for my liking mind
Merthyr Imp
Member
Still too much Peak bashing for my liking mind
You had no choice on the Midland main line in those days!
D841 Roebuck
Established Member
Excellent nostalgia there. Including the peaks! 
47403
Established Member
Wagons wagons everywhere, even with my hatred of the things, sure many of us would prefer one of them cumbersome rust buckets these days rather than a voyager or a meridian. Great reads though.
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Techniquest
Veteran Member
True, and I suppose as 47403 says most of us would prefer a 45 or 46 hauled set of MK1s or MK2s to a Voyager!
Merthyr Imp
Member
Midland Rover Ticket 1981
In 1981, having moved house and with a lot of decorating to be done I decided I could only afford a Midland Rover ticket this year. Nottingham was on the edge of this area, and it meant going to either Derby or Leicester first in order to get anywhere else.
Sunday 7th June 1981
This was simply my annual visit to the Great Central at Loughborough.
I got the 1110 St Pancras service to Leicester (45129, Mk2d), then back up to Loughborough on a Swindon Cross-country 3-car dmu (Class 120) at 1145, arriving at 1200.
Walking to Loughborough Central, I went on the 1315 departure to Rothley and 1520 return.
Returned to Nottingham on a service from St Pancras (45150, Mk 1 compartment coach) at 1605, due back in Nottingham at 1625.
Monday 8th June 1981
A mostly dmu day.
I started with the usual Swindon Cross-country 3-car dmu (Class 120) at 0939 to Derby, arrived 1004.
Then a service 7 minutes late at 1018 (47487, Mk2d) to Birmingham, arrived 4 minutes late at 1103.
From there it was another Swindon 3-car dmu which left 9 minutes late at 1126 to Nuneaton, arrived 6 minutes late at 1157.
Why I went to Nuneaton and back I cant remember, but it was yet another Class 120 dmu at 1209 to Birmingham, arrived 6 minutes early at 1240.
I then walked to Moor Street and had a first ride on the line to Stratford, departing Birmingham at 1312 on a Class 116 dmu to Stratford, arriving at 1409.
I left Stratford at 1528 on another Class 116 dmu to Leamington, arriving at 1559. Staying on the same unit I then returned to Birmingham at 1609, arriving at Moor Street at 1658.
A walk to New Street, then what may have been another Class 116 at 1726 to Derby, arrived 3 minutes early at 1826.
Then it was back to the Class 120s with another of them at 1847 to Nottingham, arrived 1919.
Tuesday 9th June 1981
Off to Leicester first this time, at 0901, travelling, unusually for the time, in a Mk 1 open coach, and hauled by 45137 (not so unusual). Arrived at 0932, in time to change to a Swindon 3-car dmu at 0937 to Birmingham, arriving 3 minutes early at 1043.
From there I got what was probably a service from Euston which left 2 minutes late at 1057 to Wolverhampton (86102, Mk2a), arriving 3 minutes late at 1114.
Then a set formed of two Swindon 3-car dmus at 1151 to Shrewsbury, arrived 2 minutes late at 1236.
Then a service 10 minutes late at 1312 to Hereford (33034, Mk 1 compartment), arrived 6 minutes late at 1418.
Back to Birmingham on another Swindon 3-car dmu, departing Hereford at 1455, arriving at New Street 2 minutes late at 1629.
Then yet another Swindon 3-car dmu at 1656 to Nottingham, arriving 14 minutes late at 1838.
Wednesday 10th June 1981
To Leicester to start with again a St Pancras train at 0901 for the second day running, this time in a Mk 1 compartment coach, hauled by 45126, arrived at 0931.
Then also for the second day in a row it was a Swindon Cross-country 3-car dmu (Class 120) at 0937 to Birmingham, arriving at 1046.
From there I got service 4 minutes late at 1114 to Oxford (47142, Mk 1 compartment), arrived 3 minutes early at 1242.
From Oxford it was a service (must have been from Paddington) 5 minutes late at 1356 to Worcester Shrub Hill (50042, Mk2f), arrived 2 minutes late at 1507.
From Worcester it was a Class 116 dmu which left 4 minutes late at 1558 to Cheltenham, arrived 1624.
Then a service 5 minutes late at 1651 to Birmingham (45002, Mk 1 open), arriving 3 minutes early at 1737.
Then a service at 1751 to Derby (47536, Mk2d), arriving 6 minutes early at 1830.
Then back to Nottingham on the usual Swindon 3-car dmu at 1847 arriving at 1919.
Thursday 11th June 1981
For the third morning running I started with the 0901 to Leicester (45113, Mk 1 open), arrived 0932.
Then also for the third day in a row it was a Swindon Cross-country 3-car dmu at 0937, this time as far as Nuneaton, arrived 3 minutes late at 1012.
From there I got an emu, which would either have been a Class 304 or a 310, which left 24 minutes late at 1045 to Stafford, arriving 26 minutes late at 1123.
There was more late running in a service hauled by 86206 (Mk 1 open), which left 21 minutes late at 1148 to Birmingham, arrived 15 minutes late at 1221.
Then what was probably a Class 116 dmu at 1301 to Kidderminster, arrived 1343. I returned on the same unit at 1355 to Birmingham, arriving at 1441.
Then a service at 1539 to Leamington (47086, Mk2c), arrived 1620. Returned to Birmingham from there on a service 2 minutes late at 1739 (50047, Mk2d), arriving 5 minutes early at 1813.
Then to Derby at 1850 (45070, Mk2a), arriving 8 minutes early at 1927, which seems good going. Finally, back to Nottingham at 1955 (Swindon 3-car dmu of course), arriving at 2025.
Friday 12th June 1981
This was supposed to incorporate my bi-annual trip to the bookshops in Birmingham, but it wasnt to be.
I started with the 1147 to Derby a Swindon 3-car dmu, of course, which arrived 2 minutes late at 1215.
I was supposed to have an 8 minute connection at Derby, but the service, hauled by an unidentified Class 45 (Mk2d coach) left 39 minutes late at 1300 and got me to Birmingham 36 minutes late at 1346.
That was evidently late enough for me to give up, and maybe after just a bite of lunch I returned to Derby on the 1450 departure (47560, Mk2d downgraded 1st class), arriving 8 minutes early at 1528.
Then back to Nottingham at 1547 on a Swindon 3-car dmu, arrived 1615.
Saturday 13th June 1981
I wound the week up with a more successful visit to Birmingham, starting with a service to Derby at 0735. This was evidently a summer Saturday service (maybe to Llandudno) as it was hauled by 25062 and I was in a Mk 1 compartment coach. Arrived Derby 4 minutes late at 0808.
From there it was the 0817 to Birmingham (45038, Mk 1 compartment again), arriving 2 minutes early at 0909.
I made the return journey more interesting, with what was probably my first trip over the line to Lichfield City. This was a Class 116 dmu departing at 1357, and arrived at 1438.
I returned to Birmingham at 1503 (whether it was the same unit isnt recorded), arriving at 1545.
Then a service at 1551 to Derby (a Class 45, Mk2a), arriving 2 minutes late at 1642. I was able to make a connection to a service which was 9 minutes late at 1646 to Nottingham, and just for a change it was a BRCW 3-car dmu (Class 104).
In 1981, having moved house and with a lot of decorating to be done I decided I could only afford a Midland Rover ticket this year. Nottingham was on the edge of this area, and it meant going to either Derby or Leicester first in order to get anywhere else.
Sunday 7th June 1981
This was simply my annual visit to the Great Central at Loughborough.
I got the 1110 St Pancras service to Leicester (45129, Mk2d), then back up to Loughborough on a Swindon Cross-country 3-car dmu (Class 120) at 1145, arriving at 1200.
Walking to Loughborough Central, I went on the 1315 departure to Rothley and 1520 return.
Returned to Nottingham on a service from St Pancras (45150, Mk 1 compartment coach) at 1605, due back in Nottingham at 1625.
Monday 8th June 1981
A mostly dmu day.
I started with the usual Swindon Cross-country 3-car dmu (Class 120) at 0939 to Derby, arrived 1004.
Then a service 7 minutes late at 1018 (47487, Mk2d) to Birmingham, arrived 4 minutes late at 1103.
From there it was another Swindon 3-car dmu which left 9 minutes late at 1126 to Nuneaton, arrived 6 minutes late at 1157.
Why I went to Nuneaton and back I cant remember, but it was yet another Class 120 dmu at 1209 to Birmingham, arrived 6 minutes early at 1240.
I then walked to Moor Street and had a first ride on the line to Stratford, departing Birmingham at 1312 on a Class 116 dmu to Stratford, arriving at 1409.
I left Stratford at 1528 on another Class 116 dmu to Leamington, arriving at 1559. Staying on the same unit I then returned to Birmingham at 1609, arriving at Moor Street at 1658.
A walk to New Street, then what may have been another Class 116 at 1726 to Derby, arrived 3 minutes early at 1826.
Then it was back to the Class 120s with another of them at 1847 to Nottingham, arrived 1919.
Tuesday 9th June 1981
Off to Leicester first this time, at 0901, travelling, unusually for the time, in a Mk 1 open coach, and hauled by 45137 (not so unusual). Arrived at 0932, in time to change to a Swindon 3-car dmu at 0937 to Birmingham, arriving 3 minutes early at 1043.
From there I got what was probably a service from Euston which left 2 minutes late at 1057 to Wolverhampton (86102, Mk2a), arriving 3 minutes late at 1114.
Then a set formed of two Swindon 3-car dmus at 1151 to Shrewsbury, arrived 2 minutes late at 1236.
Then a service 10 minutes late at 1312 to Hereford (33034, Mk 1 compartment), arrived 6 minutes late at 1418.
Back to Birmingham on another Swindon 3-car dmu, departing Hereford at 1455, arriving at New Street 2 minutes late at 1629.
Then yet another Swindon 3-car dmu at 1656 to Nottingham, arriving 14 minutes late at 1838.
Wednesday 10th June 1981
To Leicester to start with again a St Pancras train at 0901 for the second day running, this time in a Mk 1 compartment coach, hauled by 45126, arrived at 0931.
Then also for the second day in a row it was a Swindon Cross-country 3-car dmu (Class 120) at 0937 to Birmingham, arriving at 1046.
From there I got service 4 minutes late at 1114 to Oxford (47142, Mk 1 compartment), arrived 3 minutes early at 1242.
From Oxford it was a service (must have been from Paddington) 5 minutes late at 1356 to Worcester Shrub Hill (50042, Mk2f), arrived 2 minutes late at 1507.
From Worcester it was a Class 116 dmu which left 4 minutes late at 1558 to Cheltenham, arrived 1624.
Then a service 5 minutes late at 1651 to Birmingham (45002, Mk 1 open), arriving 3 minutes early at 1737.
Then a service at 1751 to Derby (47536, Mk2d), arriving 6 minutes early at 1830.
Then back to Nottingham on the usual Swindon 3-car dmu at 1847 arriving at 1919.
Thursday 11th June 1981
For the third morning running I started with the 0901 to Leicester (45113, Mk 1 open), arrived 0932.
Then also for the third day in a row it was a Swindon Cross-country 3-car dmu at 0937, this time as far as Nuneaton, arrived 3 minutes late at 1012.
From there I got an emu, which would either have been a Class 304 or a 310, which left 24 minutes late at 1045 to Stafford, arriving 26 minutes late at 1123.
There was more late running in a service hauled by 86206 (Mk 1 open), which left 21 minutes late at 1148 to Birmingham, arrived 15 minutes late at 1221.
Then what was probably a Class 116 dmu at 1301 to Kidderminster, arrived 1343. I returned on the same unit at 1355 to Birmingham, arriving at 1441.
Then a service at 1539 to Leamington (47086, Mk2c), arrived 1620. Returned to Birmingham from there on a service 2 minutes late at 1739 (50047, Mk2d), arriving 5 minutes early at 1813.
Then to Derby at 1850 (45070, Mk2a), arriving 8 minutes early at 1927, which seems good going. Finally, back to Nottingham at 1955 (Swindon 3-car dmu of course), arriving at 2025.
Friday 12th June 1981
This was supposed to incorporate my bi-annual trip to the bookshops in Birmingham, but it wasnt to be.
I started with the 1147 to Derby a Swindon 3-car dmu, of course, which arrived 2 minutes late at 1215.
I was supposed to have an 8 minute connection at Derby, but the service, hauled by an unidentified Class 45 (Mk2d coach) left 39 minutes late at 1300 and got me to Birmingham 36 minutes late at 1346.
That was evidently late enough for me to give up, and maybe after just a bite of lunch I returned to Derby on the 1450 departure (47560, Mk2d downgraded 1st class), arriving 8 minutes early at 1528.
Then back to Nottingham at 1547 on a Swindon 3-car dmu, arrived 1615.
Saturday 13th June 1981
I wound the week up with a more successful visit to Birmingham, starting with a service to Derby at 0735. This was evidently a summer Saturday service (maybe to Llandudno) as it was hauled by 25062 and I was in a Mk 1 compartment coach. Arrived Derby 4 minutes late at 0808.
From there it was the 0817 to Birmingham (45038, Mk 1 compartment again), arriving 2 minutes early at 0909.
I made the return journey more interesting, with what was probably my first trip over the line to Lichfield City. This was a Class 116 dmu departing at 1357, and arrived at 1438.
I returned to Birmingham at 1503 (whether it was the same unit isnt recorded), arriving at 1545.
Then a service at 1551 to Derby (a Class 45, Mk2a), arriving 2 minutes late at 1642. I was able to make a connection to a service which was 9 minutes late at 1646 to Nottingham, and just for a change it was a BRCW 3-car dmu (Class 104).
47403
Established Member
Very good read again there Mr Imp. I see the 50's were starting to inch into the Midlands then. I take it the wagons were the main stay.on the St Pancras turns. My mate Cal would've been in his element. We'd have had some rip roaring volleys at each other, if we'd been old enough to go there in them days.
I can almost hear cal shouting, well get on a F*@k!$g zing then.:roll:
I can almost hear cal shouting, well get on a F*@k!$g zing then.:roll:
I've forgotten whether you said earlier but were you taking numbers of stuff you'd seen during your travels?
Because all my mothers side of the family are from Nottingham I remember Nottingham midland quite well from back then even though I was young. Cabbed my first loco (a 47) there in fact. Gran used to live at Lenton and sometimes you'd see (and more often hear) 20s going past the end of the road on freight.
There seemed to be a lot of railway infrastructure in Nottingham back then with many closed bits of line like the GCR still in evidence and disused bridges, tunnels etc all over the place. Very different to home in Devon.
Because all my mothers side of the family are from Nottingham I remember Nottingham midland quite well from back then even though I was young. Cabbed my first loco (a 47) there in fact. Gran used to live at Lenton and sometimes you'd see (and more often hear) 20s going past the end of the road on freight.
There seemed to be a lot of railway infrastructure in Nottingham back then with many closed bits of line like the GCR still in evidence and disused bridges, tunnels etc all over the place. Very different to home in Devon.
Merthyr Imp
Member
It was unusual to find anything other than a Class 45 on the Midland main line at that time.
I think Class 50s were the mainstay of the Paddington - Worcester services at that time, and as per one of my journeys just described must also have been working at least some Paddington - Oxford - Birmingham services.
Hopefully this photo will appear. I'm sorry to say I was always very lax in recording details of photos I took, but this one could have been taken during that week in 1981. The Class 31 would likely have been ready for a Norwich train.
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Merthyr Imp
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Merthyr Imp
Member
Merthyr Imp
Member
No, I'd not bothered number spotting since I was about 13 when I began to go off trainspotting towards the end of steam. However, when taking a close interest in railways again from the mid-70s, as related, I did as is clear note the numbers of locos hauled by - and later with the onset of Sprinterisation began to record multiple unit numbers as well. But while underlining such numbers in a book in the traditional manner I never went out of my way to seek out haulage/rides involving missing numbers.
There's still quite a bit of the old infrastructure in Nottingham (I get back there every couple of years) but it seems to be lessening all the time. Parts of the GC viaduct south of Victoria are still there I think, and part of it has been incorporated into the new tram route. I think at the north end of the Victoria Centre (on the site of Victoria Station, of course) you can still see the tunnel mouth. The old London Road Low Level station is still there, in use as some sort of health/fitness club I believe. The High Level station was still in existence along with quite a bit of the former GNR viaduct but I'm not sure how much is still there. Of course, from the Midland line towards Lincoln, after you've gone past the current sidings/sheds there's still plenty to see of the abutments/embankments of the original GNR line to Grantham and the connections to the old Nottingham Suburban line.
Yes I've always looked out for a lot of those bits. The tunnel by The Victoria Centre is still there but harder to see these days. I had an uncle who was a fireman in steam days at Colwick and all of that area has completely changed now.
The photos were good, the one at New Street with the 31, Peak and 50 has lots of grubby BR blue atmosphere.
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Yet another awesome time there, and those photos show just how grubby things were back then! New Street looks a lot brighter than that these days!
Merthyr Imp
Member
Midlands Rover Ticket 1982
A year later I had another Midland Rover ticket.
Friday 4th June 1982
The week started with one of my trips to the bookshops in Birmingham.
I got a Swindon Cross-country 3-car dmu (Class 120) at 0906 to Derby, arrived 4 minutes early at 0936.
HSTs had now arrived on cross-country services, and I got one which left Derby 12 minutes at 0943 (43183 at front) to Birmingham, arriving 16 minutes late at 1030.
I returned via Leicester, with what was probably a Norwich service hauled by 31169 (Mk 2a coach) which left 12 minutes late at 1517 and arrived Leicester 5 minutes late at 1618.
Back to Nottingham on a service from St Pancras (45121, Mk2d) which left 5 minutes late at 1707 and arrived 8 minutes late at 1747.
Saturday 5th June 1982
An early start, with the 0610 to Derby (Derby 2-car dmu), arrived 3 minutes early at 0640.
I was due to get a Leeds to Cardiff train at 0651 but didn’t – maybe it was cancelled. Instead I got an HST (43176 at rear) which left 5 minutes late at 0731 and got me to Birmingham 11 minutes late at 0825.
From there it was the 0855 to Wolverhampton (86209, Mk2f), arriving 0910.
I paid my way from Wolverhampton to Welshpool and back in order to visit the Welshpool & Llanfair Railway. Departed Wolverhampton on a Euston to Aberystwyth service which left 31 minutes late at 1021 hauled by double-headed Class 25s, and riding in a Mk 1 compartment coach. Arrival at Welshpool was 38 minutes late at 1147.
I was evidently able to get to Raven Square in time for the 1215 to Llanfair Caereinion hauled by the former German Army 0-8-0T ‘Sir Drefaldwyn’. Back in Welshpool for 1435 I got what I’m sure must have been the same pair of Class 25s as earlier, on their way back from Aberystwyth to, according to my records, Shrewsbury only. Their lateness was even worse now, leaving Welshpool 73 minutes late at 1652. I now obtained their numbers – 25200 & 25048 – and this time I was in a Mk 1 open coach. As I remember it, one of them one of them was providing no power although the engine was running, which with only a single Type 2 hauling explains the late running, and it probably did well to drop only another 2 minutes to Shrewsbury, arriving 75 minutes late at 1726.
My schedule had gone by the board, but in the end I was back in Nottingham only just over an hour later than intended.
First, from Shrewsbury I got s Swindon Cross-country 3-car dmu at 1745 to Wolverhampton, arriving 2 minutes late at 1841. There I hopped straight onto a service hauled by an unidentified Class 86, riding in a Mk2f – evidently a Euston service, but I must have been more interested in getting on it to note its scheduled departure and arrival times. Back in Birmingham, though, there was more late running, with an HST (43181 at front) which left 27 minutes late at 1917 to Derby, arriving 24 minutes late at 1959. So I then did very well to get the 2000 Swindon 3-car dmu to Nottingham due there at 2031 – perhaps it was late! (I didn’t record it).
Sunday 6th June 1982
For some reason, I don’t seem to have recorded this day.
Monday 7th June 1982
I started with a St Pancras train 5 minutes late at 0908 (45148, Mk2d) to Leicester, arrived 4 minutes late at 0932.
From Leicester, it was a Swindon Cross-country 3-car dmu at 0945 to Birmingham, arrived 6 minutes early at 1050.
Probably time for pie & chips in Birmingham Littlewood’s, then what was either a Class 116 or 118 dmu which left 5 minutes late at 1235 to Worcester Foregate St, arriving 8 minutes late at 1322.
From there I got what I think was a Class 119 dmu (hopefully in the front seat) 2 minutes late at 1338 to Oxford, arriving still 2 minutes late at 1500.
Then a service 5 minutes late at 1515 (47050, Mk2a) to Birmingham, arrived 10 minutes late at 1644.
Then back to Nottingham on the usual Swindon 3-car dmu at 1700, arrived 1834.
Tuesday 8th June 1982
I started again with the 0903 to St Pancras (45139, Mk2d) which this morning left on time, as far as Leicester, arrived 0929.
Then a service 5 minutes late at 0949 to Birmingham (Swindon Cross-country 3-car dmu), arrived 1055.
Probably time for pie & chips at Littlewood’s on New Street again before getting an HST (43168 at front, 43167 at rear) which left 25 minutes late at 1240 to Gloucester, arrived 27 minutes late at 1323.
Then a service 3 minutes late at 1348 to Worcester Shrub Hill (Swindon 3-car dmu), arrived 1422.
Then back to Birmingham on a Class 118 dmu at 1438, arriving 5 minutes late at 1556.
Then I got what I think was a Class 304 emu 5 minutes late at 1617 to Walsall , arriving 8 minutes late at 1645. I returned on the same unit to Birmingham at 1654, arriving 2 minutes late at 1720.
Then an HST (43171 at front) at 1750 to Derby, arrived 2 minutes early at 1831.
Back to Nottingham on the usual Swindon 3-car dmu at 1847), arrived 1920.
Wednesday 9th June 1982
For a change this year I paid a Wednesday afternoon visit to the Great Central at Loughborough, but via a roundabout route, starting with a Swindon 3-car dmu which left 2 minutes late at 0908, arriving at Derby on time at 0940.
Then I got an HST (43183 at front) which left 17 minutes late at 0948 to Birmingham, arriving 21 minutes late at 1035.
Then a service 3 minutes late (Swindon 3-car dmu) at 1118 to Leicester, arrived still 3 minutes late at 1223.
Then to Loughborough on another Swindon 3-car dmu at 1341, arrived 1354. Walked to Loughborough Central, and after a trip to Rothley and back returned to Nottingham on a service from St Pancras at 1716 (45145, Mk2d), arrived 1739.
Thursday 10th June 1982
The week wound up with just a morning trip to Matlock and back – Swindon 3-car dmus throughout!.
I got a service at 0907 to Derby, arriving 2 minutes early at 0938.
Then a service 3 minutes late at 1003 to Matlock, arriving 3 minutes late at 1038. I returned on the same unit at 1046 to Derby, arriving 5 minutes late at 1124.
Then back to Nottingham at 1148, arriving at 1217.
Photos are a dmu at Foregate Street, HST at Gloucester, and 4744 approaching Loughborough Central - although I can't guarantee they were all taken during this particular week!
A year later I had another Midland Rover ticket.
Friday 4th June 1982
The week started with one of my trips to the bookshops in Birmingham.
I got a Swindon Cross-country 3-car dmu (Class 120) at 0906 to Derby, arrived 4 minutes early at 0936.
HSTs had now arrived on cross-country services, and I got one which left Derby 12 minutes at 0943 (43183 at front) to Birmingham, arriving 16 minutes late at 1030.
I returned via Leicester, with what was probably a Norwich service hauled by 31169 (Mk 2a coach) which left 12 minutes late at 1517 and arrived Leicester 5 minutes late at 1618.
Back to Nottingham on a service from St Pancras (45121, Mk2d) which left 5 minutes late at 1707 and arrived 8 minutes late at 1747.
Saturday 5th June 1982
An early start, with the 0610 to Derby (Derby 2-car dmu), arrived 3 minutes early at 0640.
I was due to get a Leeds to Cardiff train at 0651 but didn’t – maybe it was cancelled. Instead I got an HST (43176 at rear) which left 5 minutes late at 0731 and got me to Birmingham 11 minutes late at 0825.
From there it was the 0855 to Wolverhampton (86209, Mk2f), arriving 0910.
I paid my way from Wolverhampton to Welshpool and back in order to visit the Welshpool & Llanfair Railway. Departed Wolverhampton on a Euston to Aberystwyth service which left 31 minutes late at 1021 hauled by double-headed Class 25s, and riding in a Mk 1 compartment coach. Arrival at Welshpool was 38 minutes late at 1147.
I was evidently able to get to Raven Square in time for the 1215 to Llanfair Caereinion hauled by the former German Army 0-8-0T ‘Sir Drefaldwyn’. Back in Welshpool for 1435 I got what I’m sure must have been the same pair of Class 25s as earlier, on their way back from Aberystwyth to, according to my records, Shrewsbury only. Their lateness was even worse now, leaving Welshpool 73 minutes late at 1652. I now obtained their numbers – 25200 & 25048 – and this time I was in a Mk 1 open coach. As I remember it, one of them one of them was providing no power although the engine was running, which with only a single Type 2 hauling explains the late running, and it probably did well to drop only another 2 minutes to Shrewsbury, arriving 75 minutes late at 1726.
My schedule had gone by the board, but in the end I was back in Nottingham only just over an hour later than intended.
First, from Shrewsbury I got s Swindon Cross-country 3-car dmu at 1745 to Wolverhampton, arriving 2 minutes late at 1841. There I hopped straight onto a service hauled by an unidentified Class 86, riding in a Mk2f – evidently a Euston service, but I must have been more interested in getting on it to note its scheduled departure and arrival times. Back in Birmingham, though, there was more late running, with an HST (43181 at front) which left 27 minutes late at 1917 to Derby, arriving 24 minutes late at 1959. So I then did very well to get the 2000 Swindon 3-car dmu to Nottingham due there at 2031 – perhaps it was late! (I didn’t record it).
Sunday 6th June 1982
For some reason, I don’t seem to have recorded this day.
Monday 7th June 1982
I started with a St Pancras train 5 minutes late at 0908 (45148, Mk2d) to Leicester, arrived 4 minutes late at 0932.
From Leicester, it was a Swindon Cross-country 3-car dmu at 0945 to Birmingham, arrived 6 minutes early at 1050.
Probably time for pie & chips in Birmingham Littlewood’s, then what was either a Class 116 or 118 dmu which left 5 minutes late at 1235 to Worcester Foregate St, arriving 8 minutes late at 1322.
From there I got what I think was a Class 119 dmu (hopefully in the front seat) 2 minutes late at 1338 to Oxford, arriving still 2 minutes late at 1500.
Then a service 5 minutes late at 1515 (47050, Mk2a) to Birmingham, arrived 10 minutes late at 1644.
Then back to Nottingham on the usual Swindon 3-car dmu at 1700, arrived 1834.
Tuesday 8th June 1982
I started again with the 0903 to St Pancras (45139, Mk2d) which this morning left on time, as far as Leicester, arrived 0929.
Then a service 5 minutes late at 0949 to Birmingham (Swindon Cross-country 3-car dmu), arrived 1055.
Probably time for pie & chips at Littlewood’s on New Street again before getting an HST (43168 at front, 43167 at rear) which left 25 minutes late at 1240 to Gloucester, arrived 27 minutes late at 1323.
Then a service 3 minutes late at 1348 to Worcester Shrub Hill (Swindon 3-car dmu), arrived 1422.
Then back to Birmingham on a Class 118 dmu at 1438, arriving 5 minutes late at 1556.
Then I got what I think was a Class 304 emu 5 minutes late at 1617 to Walsall , arriving 8 minutes late at 1645. I returned on the same unit to Birmingham at 1654, arriving 2 minutes late at 1720.
Then an HST (43171 at front) at 1750 to Derby, arrived 2 minutes early at 1831.
Back to Nottingham on the usual Swindon 3-car dmu at 1847), arrived 1920.
Wednesday 9th June 1982
For a change this year I paid a Wednesday afternoon visit to the Great Central at Loughborough, but via a roundabout route, starting with a Swindon 3-car dmu which left 2 minutes late at 0908, arriving at Derby on time at 0940.
Then I got an HST (43183 at front) which left 17 minutes late at 0948 to Birmingham, arriving 21 minutes late at 1035.
Then a service 3 minutes late (Swindon 3-car dmu) at 1118 to Leicester, arrived still 3 minutes late at 1223.
Then to Loughborough on another Swindon 3-car dmu at 1341, arrived 1354. Walked to Loughborough Central, and after a trip to Rothley and back returned to Nottingham on a service from St Pancras at 1716 (45145, Mk2d), arrived 1739.
Thursday 10th June 1982
The week wound up with just a morning trip to Matlock and back – Swindon 3-car dmus throughout!.
I got a service at 0907 to Derby, arriving 2 minutes early at 0938.
Then a service 3 minutes late at 1003 to Matlock, arriving 3 minutes late at 1038. I returned on the same unit at 1046 to Derby, arriving 5 minutes late at 1124.
Then back to Nottingham at 1148, arriving at 1217.
Photos are a dmu at Foregate Street, HST at Gloucester, and 4744 approaching Loughborough Central - although I can't guarantee they were all taken during this particular week!
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Techniquest
Veteran Member
Quite a fun week, although the lack of records for the Sunday is a little odd. Maybe something was going on away from the railway?
Nice to have the photos to see what it all looked like back then, although Worcester Foregate Street doesn't look any different to what it does now! Bar of course the motive power!
A single 25 must have been giving off some serious thrash, phwoar!
Nice to have the photos to see what it all looked like back then, although Worcester Foregate Street doesn't look any different to what it does now! Bar of course the motive power!
A single 25 must have been giving off some serious thrash, phwoar!
Keith Jarrett
Member
37172 certainly was not boilered so you had a a big one there. Boilered centre headcode 37s were 37175-192, 247, 248, 259-268 with the remainder being NB.
Some great reads here and one day I'll get around to documenting more of my travels from days gone by. OK I cannot go back much beyond 1977/1978 but I'm sure that there'll be some interesting stuff in there (says he, hopefully).
47403
Established Member
Totally agree. A fascinating thread this, despite the wagon fest
A pair of rats would've been awesome, one doing all the donkey work, as tech rightly said, it would've been thrashing it's guts out, Well at least sputtering it's guts out but it would've sounded awesome.I'm all for hearing your nostalgic posts too Mr KJ.
Totally agree. A fascinating thread this, despite the wagon fest
I'm all for hearing your nostalgic posts too Mr KJ.
I was thinking that too. It's slowly getting to the time when I started bashing which I'm looking forward to.
On another note although there weren't that many late running trains in your report I do remember that late running was quite common in the 80s with temperamental old diesels working heavy weekend passenger trains on hot days.
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Glad someone could correct me there.
Keith, I'm more than looking forward to your nostalgic trip reports, I need to get my older stuff all written up but other things keep taking over!
I had either 50035 or 50031 from New Street to Leamington Spa on a Paddington Service back in the 80's, sadly I can't currently tell you which it was or on which working which was I believe a regular 50 working then. Seemed to get the pair of them all the time. 50031 is my favourite 50 so wasn't bothered when that showed up.
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