The early Sunday morning non advertised 310 unit on the 0741 off Leighton got a few of us to the Keynes for the “Flower Power” north. Power today was a very average 86217 but the excitement started as we approached Rugby. Its a “tractor” was the claim and there at the far end of the down platform was the large nose of 37278 waiting to drag the “can” forward.
Any “tractor” on a service train off Rugby was extremely rare and this put our fellow basher “Smudger” into a spin. He had to be at a wedding/social event in Basingstoke by 1400 and he had to go! Only the next up off Rugby would allow him to make said event…He needed 37278 as did most of us and the prospect of a good thrash on 10 Mk I’s was very tempting. As the whistle went “Smudger” leapt back on, not being able to let 278 go!
278 hardly erupted on departure from Rugby but merely coasted to a red peg at the far end of the platform where the pilotman was waiting to join. Why he couldn’t have joined the train prior to departure was presumably against the rule book? At the said red peg the pilotman got on and “Smudger” got off! having 5 coach lengths mileage, a memorable move!
278 then opened up for a storm to Nuneaton, then a totter through Daw Mill to Birmingham, crossing both 58022 and 47322 on up drags. At New St 278 was detached and scuttled off to Saltley whilst our “can” took us forward to Wolves. A big “fridge” in 47330 soon arrived on the 0825 Manchester – Bristol which we did in ned style to Sandwell hoping for another “fridge” behind. Unfortunately only EH power obliged back to New St followed by a long fester here.
Vast crowds leapt from some Skegness bound F and W Railtour with 37233 and 37186 as power with most doing, like me, 58014 on the 1200 Wolves – Euston drag. Although the class had been working drags since April this was my first ever 58 for haulage and was claimed by many as 014’s first ever working. I too was on restricted working and had to home for the afternoon, so, for me, it was the “can” forward to Rugby. On the unit home there was time to look back and smile at “Smudger’s” outrageous Rugby leap, legendary!
Gen and moves
048 0635 Euston-Rugby LB-MK
86217 0700 Euston-Liverpool Relief MK-RU
37278} 0700 Euston-Liverpool Relief RU-NS (via Nun)
86217(d)}
86217 0700 Euston-Liverpool Relief NS-WO
47322 0805 Wolverhampton-Hastings Charter
85015 0805 Wolverhampton-Hastings Charter
58002} 0757 Wolverhampton-Euston
86220(d)}
47320 0825 Manchester-Bristol WO-SA
47294 0825 Manchester-Bristol (ex NS)
47207 Bolton-Stratford Charter
47474 1050 Birmingham-Manchester
47456 0825 Liverpool-Poole SA-NS
47484 0825 Liverpool-Poole
37233} 0610 Plymouth-Skegness Railtour
37186}
47500 W.Ruislip-Chester Charter
58014} 1200 Wolverhampton-Euston NS-NU
86223(d)}
47322} 1100 Euston-Wolverhampton
86238 (d)}
86223 1200 Wolverhampton-Euston NU-RU
052 1326 Rugby-Euston RU-LB
Phots
37278 about to back onto 86217 on 1F90 0700 Euston – Liverpool Garden Festival Relief at Rugby on July 1st 1984
The late Tony Ewer was at Nuneaton that same July day photting 58002 having worked the 0757 Wolves – Euston on July 1st 1984
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