86257 goes “pop”, Saturday May 17th 1986
A local day out to rake in the first ever Saturday “Cobbler” service. Turned out to be a bit more riotous than expected with a loco failure, 3 “roarers”and other long lost power raked in on your doorstep. Happy days on the WCML!
86257 having failed and getting a push from 85019, 31116 and 31317 about to assist forward from Leighton Buzzard as ECS
The moves and gen from Saturday May 17th 1986
049 0655 Euston-Birmingham L.Buzzard-M.Keynes
86257 0740 Northampton-Euston (inag Sat cobb) 1A30 M.Keynes-Milepost 44 (fail)
I was the sole desperado covering this train and was not surprised with a can up front. Did it for the history value. 86257 emitted a large crack on leaving Bletchley, and much to my amusement coasted to a halt at Stoke Hammond
85019 15 vans-rear end assist Milepost 44 – L.Buzzard
1A30’s guard was keen to get moving, running along the wall of the cutting here. 85019’s driver was less keen. Assisting a dead can, 11 Mk 1’s plus 15 vans is a mighty load albeit on a gentle rising gradient. 85019 had no problem with load 26 tho!
31116} ECS forward
31317}
86101 0726 Wolverhampton-Euston (spec stop)
Joined by 200 passengers off the failure, despite the rescue locos being ahead of 86101
081 0812 Euston-M.Keynes L.Buzzard-M.Keynes
81011 0935 Northampton-Euston 1A55 M.Keynes-Euston
A proper electric on a Saturday Cobbler!
85030 0930 Euston-Northampton
85035? 0935 Euston-Aberystwyth
85025 1025 Euston-Crewe
86258 1123 Euston-Northampton Euston-L.Buzzard
81008 1L00-u charter
85013 0735 Aberystwyth-Euston
81011 1155 Euston-Manchester
Euston short of cans?
85030 1131 Northampton-Euston L.Buzzard-Euston
86260 1520 Euston-Northampton
313003 1517 Euston-Watford Jn Euston – Watford Jn
Classic fill in to kill a hour or so
092 1601 Watford Jn-Euston Watford Jn-Euston
85013 1640 Euston-Wolverhampton
81008 1645 Euston-Blackpool
85030 1710 Euston-Northampton Euston-M.Keynes
Euston still short of cans!
86260 1745 Northampton-Euston M.Keynes-L.Buzzard
Phot spot from the day
85019 is about to be detached from the 11 mk 1’s of the failure at Leighton station. The rear coaches are well off the platform as normal in these times, nobody worried about HSE madness back then
Bletchley quickly kicked out 31116 and 31317 to assist but control decreed the failure should go forward emcars. In this Leighton view, 86257’s pan is still up despite having expired
The second ever Saturday Cobbler got a proper electric in 81011 seen at the blocks with the 0935 Northampton – Euston
Having worked in on the Abbo-Euston, oil streaked 85013, also 85030 awaits her next turn on Euston A sidings
end
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