The freedom of the world, an All line rover Aug 87
By 1987 our railway was changing fast, Scotland was now virtually a desert for type 2 workings, the overnights had been rationalised, roarer power was dropping too and the days of loads of peak Summer reliefs were long gone too.
Monday August 24th 1987
A 310 mileage move to the Keynes to cover the morning Cobblers, alas all were “cans” that morning so all were flagged! Things improved with a “standard” on the 1410 Waterloo – Salisbury with 33051 atop 7 early Mk IIss and van..thrash!
We crossed 33116 on the 1315 Salisbury – Waterloo en route whilst 33028 was viewed at Salisbury ready to work the 1636 Bas 4TC turn, and 33027 on the 1410 Cardiff -Pompey. 33033 was joined for a thrash across Salisbury plain to Warminster for 33008 back. Then it was back aboard those Mk IIs for 33051 to thrash back to Waterloo. Limited local 87 haulage followed then home.
078 0722 Euston- M.Keynes LB-MK
062 0838 Northampton-Euston MK-LB
048 1225 M.Keynes-Euston LB-EU
33051 1L09 1410 Waterloo-Salisbury WA-SA
33051 at Salisbury after a good thrash from Waterloo with the 1410, August 24th 1987
33033 1V77 1510 Portsmouth-Bristol SA-WA
33008 1O85 1510 Cardiff-Brighton WA-SA
33051 1L12 1729 Salisbury-Waterloo SA-WA
087 1952 Euston-Birmingham EU-WJ
87020 1A74 1826 Wolverhampton-Euston WJ-EU
87010 1S07 2055 Euston-Inverness/F.William EU-MK
090 2021 Birmingham-Euston MK-LB
Tuesday August 25th 1987
310078 to the Keynes where 87023 soon powered me North . At New St 31294 was on the 1039 Norwich but 85025 and 85024 were far more tempting. After 85024 took me to Manchester a fill in move was 304004 taken to Stockport where 47340 was crossed on the 1544 Nottingham – Blackpool, a rare “nb” on 1M26. 85024 returned me as booked to New St for 47558 and 310076 home
078 0712 Euston-M.Keynes LB-MK
87023 1G21 0810 Euston-Birmingham MK-CO
86226 1G22 0840 Euston-Wolverhampton CO-NS
85025 1010 Reading-Carlisle relief NS-WO
85024 1130 Manchester-Bir Intl WO-INT
Roaring away, 85024 at rest after working the 1130 Manchester – Bir Int’l on August 25th 1987
86407 1G30 1240 Euston-Wolverhampton INT-NS
87025 1A50 1426 Wolverhampton-Euston NS-INT
85024 1H88 1517 Bir Int’l-Manchester INT-PIC
304004 1727 Manchester-Macclesfield PIC-STO
52065}
59144} 1733 Buxton-Manchester STO-PIC
51938}
31442 1E57 1745 Liverpool-Sheffield PIC-STO
304004 1833 Macclesfield-Altricinham STO-PIC
85024 1V19 1920 Manchester-Padd PIC-NS
47558 1V19 1920 Manchester-Padd NS-CO
076 2122 Birmingham-Euston CO-LB
Wednesday August 26th 1987
The 0524 from Leighton ( the 0435 Euston – Birmingham, a train cruelly cut in Privitisation) took me to Northampton. A quick stroll up to the overbridge that overlooked the carriage yards and a sea of “cans” meant continue North!
Meeting up with Dave who was genned up meant 85031 was taken Cov – Crewe for 85035 Crewe – Euston, not bad at all. The 1410 Waterloo – Salisbury got 33017 and the usual stock. Approaching Andover it looked tight to make the the 1515 Salisbury – Waterloo as it was arriving. The long run under the subway and leaping aboard a cheer on seeing 33118 the power, my last “bag” was in the book! “You jammy git” was Dave’s comment!
As expected both 1B08 and B09 “Cobblers” both roared that evening a screaming “roarer” on 12 Mk I’s on your doorstep took some beating!
074 0435 Euston-Birmingham LB-RU
060 0700 Northampton-Birmingham RU-CO
85031 1D33 0755 Coventry-Holyhead CO-CR
Crewe-27038/27053
27038 and 27053 (probably) at Crewe Basford Hall en route to Leicester for scrapping at Berrys on August 26th 1987
85035 1A29 0930 Manchester-Euston CR-EU
In the dock at Waterloo 33207 on August 26th 1987
33017 1L09 1410 Waterloo-Salisbury WA-AN
33118 1L10 1515 Salisbury-Waterloo AN-WA
With her blowers echoing off the roof at Euston 85014 roars off to WN on August 26th 1987
85025 1B08 1745 Euston-Northampton EU-LB
85040 1B09 1815 Euston-Northampton LB-NO
063 1821 Birmingham-Euston NO-MK
073 1921 Birmingham-Euston MK-LB
Thursday August 27th 1987
With an overnight negotiated with the Mrs it was the desperate 0524 off Leighton again. No roarers again on the morning Cobbers but 86261 was taken Northampton – MK for 87004 to New St on the 0805 ex Euston. The main event later that morning was flagging 31307 on the 1030 York – Exeter Relief for 81011 on the 1010 Reading – Carlisle relief from New St. This was a strange regular running relief in that was composed entirely of First Class Mk II d/e stock which didnt get busy as this train didnt go to Scotland.
From Carlisle 47411 on a regular vice DMU turn took me to the pleasant shack of Haltwhistle the branch to Alston long lifted by then sadly. A DMU then 87003 to Glasgow with 37422 taken on the mileage move that the 1740 Fort William – Euston portion had to take due vandalism on the direct route. 37422 took the portion to Stiring before running round and returning the portion to Mossend. Here it joined up with 1M16 from Inverness to go forward.
090 0435 Euston-Birmingham LB-RU
075} 0705 Rugby-Euston RU-NO
073}
86261 1A83 0810 Northampton-Euston NO-MK
87004 1G21 0810 Euston-Birmingham MK-NS
47654 1M10 0703 Padd-Wolves NS-WO
85006 1A31 0714 Aberystwyth-Euston WO-CO
86225 1S85 0750 Harwich- Glass/Edin CO-NS
81011 1010 Reading-Carlisle Relief NS-CA
81011 after working the 1010 Reading – Carlisle Relief on August 27th 1987
81019 approaches Carlisle with Shap Fell – Mossend loaded limestone on August 27th 1987
47411 1651 Carlisle-Newcastle CA-HA
51197} 1745 Newcastle-Carlisle HA-CA
56130}
87003 1S69 1400 Euston-Glasgow CA-CE
47705 1L51 2025 Glasgow-Dundee QS-ST
47492 1T42 1820 Inverness-Glasgow ST-QS
37422 1M16 1740 Fort William-Euston (via Stir) QS-ME
Friday August 28th 1987
At Mossend i was disappointed to see 86401 rather than the diagrammed 81011 (off the relief) so a Carlisle bail was enforced. 85036 waiting middle road improved spirits and this was joined. I was wandering if 81011 (now on 963 miles) would no 1M15 ex Mossend so i bailed at Crewe.
Unfortunately M15 got 87003 which i took to Rugby for 310065 to Coventry. Here for the umpteenth time i flagged off 47436 (my last EH 47) on the 0645 Wolves – Padd for better power, i never did get 436! More reasonable roarer mileage with 85006 and 85003 obliging.
At the Keynes early afternoon i was treated to the Volkswagen empties being tripped from Wolverton to Bletchley by, as booked, 08806 quite a sight on a Friday afternoon!
86401 1M16 1930 Inverness-Euston ME-CA
85036 1M14 2200 Stranraer-Euston CA-CR
87020 1M15 2100 Inverness-Euston CR-RU
065 0435 Euston-Birmingham RU-CO
85006 1D33 0755 Coventry-Holyhead CO-ST
304001 0915 Stafford-Walsall ST-WO
85003 1A31 0714 Aberystwyth-Euston WO-EU
86238 1B03 1325 Euston-Northampton EU-MK
08806 trundles through Milton Keynes with the Volkswagon empties for Bletchley on August 28th 1987
85040 at Lime St after storming down the Trent with the 1322 Brighton – Liverpool which the roarer worked from Mitre Bridge Jn on August 28th 1987
85040 1M00 1322 Brighton- Liverpool MK-LS
86224 1G62 1900 Liverpool-Birmingham LS-CR
87033 1A79 1920 Liverpool-Euston CR-WJ
075} 2202 Euston-Rugby WJ-LB 086}
Saturday August 29th 1987
A lie in then lovely 86249 took me South on the 0746 Northampton – Euston “Saturday Cobbler”. A choice of ED’s on the Gatwicks with 73128 taken with 73114, 73126, 73135 and 73141 also out on what many of us thought were the most boring loco hauled trains on BR. Composed of Ex Midland “coffins”, a slent electric on a dull route, still 73128 was required!
Some unit to Brighton for 33015 on the 1112 Brighton – Paignton via the coast, a top train. 33043, 33031, 47433! and 33033 all followed on route 89 leaps before 73114 whirred home on the 2035 Gatwick – Victoria. 310058 on the 2122 Euston – Keynes ended an enjoyable All Line rover.
86249 1A30 0746 Northampton-Euston LB-EU
73128 1D92 0930 Victoria-Gatwick VI-LGW
1586 0932 Victoria-Brighton LGW-BI
33015 at Brighton prior to departure with the 1112 to Paignton on August 28th 1987
33015 1V12 1112 Brighton-Paignton BI-SA
33043 1V62 1210 Portsmouth-Cardiff SA-TM
33031 1O43 1400 Cardiff-Portsmouth TM-BA
47433 1V66 1310 Portsmouth-Bristol BA-TM
33033 1O96 1507 Cardiff- Brighton TM-BI
7912 1851 Brighton-Bognor Regis BI-HO
1259}
1705} 1847 Portsmouth-Victoria HO-LGW
1263}
73114 1D85 2035 Gatwick-Victoria LGW-VI
058 2122 Euston-M.Keynes EU-LB
END
Leighton Lists 