1B09 1815 Euston – Northampton remembered

1B09 remembered

1B09 the 1815 Euston – Northampton “Cobbler” was introduced on May 17th 1982.

This was the last of the expanded 4 strong “Evening Cobbler” service introduced as a

temporary measure to overcome issues with poor slow line track conditions at the time.

Booked load 13 Mk 1’s this service operated to the following times

Euston 1815, Watford Jn pass non stop at 1829, L.Buzzard 1845, Bletchley 1853, the newly opened M.Keynes Central 1859 and arrive Northampton 1918.

These fast times and Mk 1 comfort compared with a slow line stagger on a 310 unit soon made these trains very popular with commuters. Until 1987 1B09 offered a very good chance of a “roarer” up front, although a good few 86’3’s (known as a the curse) also worked it. Class 86’0’s with their 80 mph restriction also featured on B09 (especially on Fridays when there was much Fridays Only traffic stretching power requirements further).

86’1’s and 86’2’s also produced and 86’2/4’s were the dominant power in B09’s later years. The “temporary measure” of loco hauled Mk I “Cobbers” lasted until 1990. In May 88 1B09 was officially recoded 1N25 and no longer called at Leighton. From May 89 the train was recoded 1N55 and operated to the following times

Euston 1814 M.Keynes 1859, Wolverton 1904 and Northampton 1922.

It was a sad day when 86401 left the Keynes with the final “1B09” on May 11th 1990. some 8 years after the train was first introduced.

As listed below at least 134 locos worked 1B09/1N25/1N55 ranging from a solitary 25, to a pair of 31’s, many “roarers” and even more “cans!” Today’s class 350 units operate fast services leave Euston at 1813 and 1816 but the likes of 350237, are not a touch on the magic of 85037 “roaring” out of Euston on 1B09. 1B09 long gone but never forgotten.

Selected 1B09 events 1982-1990

1B09 82004 270582

last known class 82 on 1B09, all surviving class 82’s withdrawn by Autumn 82.

1B09 83012 170682

last known class 83 on 1B09, all surviving class 83’s withdrawn by Winter 82

1B09 25251 201283

48 hour drag locally due the infamous Bourne End dewirement.

1B09 85011 fail LB 220485

The normally reliable 85011 was failed at Leighton on 1B09, train caped, 85031 forward ECS

1B09 310073 081185

Due to a stock farce a load 13 Mk I rake was substituted for a single 310 unit. Rather wedged!

1B09 85040 221185 failed to stop LB, butterfly pulled Stoke Hammond, unit back from BY

To the horror of Dave Jackson waiting to join and hundreds aboard, 85040 shot through Leighton station instead of stopping! Cord pulled in Stoke Hammond area, Leighton passengers had to detrain at Betchley for a busy unit back!

1B09 86030 080986 last 86’0 to work an evening cobbler

A good few 86’0’s worked 1B09 though they were never common. Non multi wired 86’0s like 86030 were more common than the multi wired ones on B09. This was the last 86’0 to work B09 as mass conversion to the very common 86’4 was underway

1B09 81010 fail LB 051186

Train caped due loco failure, rescue power took some hours to arrive

1B09 81022 fail MK low amps cape 060287

the rarer 81022 failed at M.Keynes with low amps. Train caped

1B09 81011 terminates LB stock issue 220487

A rare stock fault issue, whilst the Cobblers were often a few coaches short of the booked load 13 there were rarely stock issues which necessitated a capeage like this one

1B09 85036 fail Harrow280587

It is claimed that passengers were asked to join another service when 85036 failed at Harrow but they refused. They were rewarded with 31280 assisting throughout some 54 late

recoded 1N25 31308/31294 throughout 180588

Massive working. 31308/294 had worked into Euston on an earlier failure. Such was the desperate power shortage the 31’s worked 1N25 throughout! Only 12 late at MK too.

85012 rear 5 coaches derailed at Northampton on arrival plat 3 on 1N25 270489

86501 1N55 141189. This short lived 86’2 converted class only worked a few Cobblers due their nominal 75mph restriction. This was the last one on 1N55

1N55 special stop LB (due hurricane shambles) 86248 260190

81017 1N55 190789 last known 81 on B09

A bonus in an 81 producing but a sad last class 81 working 1B09/N25/N55.

85018 1N55 230390 last known “roarer” on B09/N25/N55 of hundreds.

A sad day showing just how short Euston were that evening.

86401 final ever cobbler commuters drinking champagne, balloons, talking, 5 bashers highest number of bashers 1B09/1N25/1N55 ever carried!! ..110590

1B09 – The locos

At least the following worked 1B09/1N25/1N55 there are likely to more 86’s

25251, 31280, 31294/31308,

81002, 81003, 81004, 81005, 81006, 81007, 81008, 81009,

81010, 81011, 81012, 81013, 81014, 81015, 81017, 81018, 81019, 81020, 81021, 81022,

82004, 83012

85001, 85002, 85003, 85004, 85005, 85006, 85007, 85008, 85009, 85010, 85011, 85012,

85013, 85014, 85015, 85016, 85017, 85018, 85019, 85020, 85021, 85022, 85023, 85024,

85025, 85026, 85028, 85029, 85030, 85031, 85032, 85034, 85035, 85036, 85037, 85038,

85039, 85040

86103, 86204, 86205, 86208, 86212, 86216, 86218, 86219, 86221, 86222, 86225, 86227,

86229, 86231, 86232, 86233, 86234, 86235, 86236, 86237, 86239, 86240, 86241, 86242,

86243, 86247, 86248, 86251, 86252, 86254, 86255, 86258 (also as 86501), 86259, 86260

86401#, 86403#, 86404#, 86405, 86406#, 86407#, 86408, 86409#, 86411*, 86412*, 86413*,

86414*, 86415*, 86416*, 86417*, 86418*, 86419*, 86420*, 86421*, 86422*, 86423*,

86424*, 86425*, 86426*, 86427*, 86428*, 86429*, 86430#, 86431#, 86432, 86433#, 86434,

86435#, 86436#, 86438, 86439#

* Also worked as 86311-329.

# Also worked as 860xx.

Note: Logs readers may well have class 86 ‘s new to the 1B09 list, these would be welcome as our “can” records are not as through as our “roarer” records….

Total of 134 different known locos..

1B09 phot spot