All aboard for Immingham, Saturday November 26th 1977
31261 in the winter sun at Frodingham, Nov 26th 1977
Its around 6am and teacher John Williams is waiting for the last of his Railway Club pupils to join his party for a depot bash to Frodingham, Immingham and much more. With all 19 kids (ages 11-15) counted in complete with duffel bags, bottle of pop and spotting books they all piled aboard the 117 DMU on the 0607 semi fast from Maidenhead to Padd.
Maidenhead – Padd vv
08483, 08797, 08799, 08949, 31213, 31256, 31258, 31412, 31413, 37238, 47001, 47031, 47054, 47098, 47128, 47157, 47251, 47482, 50042
The tube to Euston Square to quickly view the power at Euston’s blocks, then a fast march to St Pancras with just 45135 on the blocks. Entering Kings X there was most likely a line up of 3 Deltics on the blocks there, all off overnights. Even better for all, 55022 was on their 0800 Edinburgh service, well worth that early start!
Euston
85038, 86018, 86212, 86224, 86241, 310070, 501 set 63,
St Pancras
45135, 51630, 59591, 59640, 51638, 51613, 59596, 59590, 51623, 51631, 59623, 59620, 51592,
On the Kings X blocks..
55003 1E48 2015 (25/11) Aberdeen – Kings X
55006 1A45 2255 (25/11) Newcastle – Kings X
55013 1E40 1925 (25/11) Aberdeen – Kings X
67 different locos were spotted by the kids between Kings X and Doncaster plenty cops including 7 of the brand new class 56s, which even teacher John needed 5 of! A DMU for the half hour trip to Scunthorpe. The 20 minute walk along Briggs Road and Dawes Lane was a very different scenario to leafy Maidenhead, but it was Frodingham depot the kids wanted to appear round the corner very soon!
Kings X – Peterborough
08493, 08545, 08550, 08555, 08557, 08859, 25179, 31188, 31190, 31191, 31192, 31199, 31201, 31203, 31206, 31215, 31226, 31402, 31403, 31404, 37109, 47188, 47414, 47523, 55003, 55006, 55011, 55013, 55016, 55020, 55022H,
Peterborough – Doncaster
08100, 08101, 08102, 08116, 08131, 08272, 08277, 08315, 08324, 08413, 08438, 08745, 08876, 13002, 25182, 31184, 31196, 31211, 31214, 31217, 31219, 31246, 31279, 31314, 31326, 37094, 40111, 40150, 47190, 47217, 47380, 47541, 50046, 50048, 55018, 56018, 56031, 56032, 56034, 56036, 56037, 56039,
Doncaster – Scunthorpe – Grimsby
50032/56002H, 08146, 08397, 08404, 08436, 08444, 08508, 20029/20053, 20025/20052, 31115, 31232, 31235, 31238, 31307, 31320, 31409, 37018, 37201, 47401
56030/50047H
17 locos were recorded on Frodingham all rare uns for the Table 117 lads! A route march back from the depot to Scunthorpe station for a another DMU with a 50 minute journey to Grimsby Town with plenty passing traffic including a pair of 25’s. A 45 bus with plenty room to take the party of 20 had them at Immingham depot entrance of “Queens Road” being shouted out, as requested, by the bus driver.
Frodingham
08093, 08210, 08393, 20048, 20087, 31101, 31119, 31134, 31144, 31247, 31261, 31281, 37077, 37134, 45053, 47172, 47265, 47379
Immingham
08061, 08065, 08066, 08242, 08357, 08537, 20051, 31195, 37042, 37054, 37067, 37069, 37140, 37143, 37166, 37168, 37171, 37221, 37252, 47041, 47043, 47044, 47102, 47158, 47160, 47162, 47170, 47184, 47212, 47220, 47221, 47223, 47224, 47370,
ADB 975204
West Marsh
08405, 08434
Once the depot permit had been OK’d the kids had the freedom of Immingham depot for 50 minutes. A few locos, especially the shunters were cabbed, in all 34 locos were on depot that day. One of the older kids, slightly disappointed at seeing 15 Immingham 47’s and he’d seen all bar one of these on the local “Langley tanks”, “you didnt see 20051 on it though did you” retorted Teacher John.
The visit over, another long bus ride, the shops being visited in Grimsby for chocolate bars or the chippie then their reserved seats in TSO E5909 with 47523 for the return run back to the Cross. In darkness it was only at the likes of Doncaster or Peterborough that locos could be spotted so much sleep followed for some of the exhausted kids.
Grimsby – Lincoln – Kings X
03034, 08096, 08813, 25179/25182, 31174, 31186, 31191, 31199, 31214, 31219, 31223, 31279, 31325, 31401, 31411, 40150, 47207, 47498, 47523H, 47547, 55012, 55019
2130 back at the Cross, more block power spotting, the tube and a DMU from Paddington and back at Maidenhead for 2240, the parents thanking the teacher as they took their exhausted but happy kids home………….
Recorded haulages
55022 1S16 0800 Kings X – Edinburgh Kings X – Doncaster 261177
50032/56002 1115 Doncaster – Cleethorpes Doncaster – Scunthorpe 261177
56030/50047 1233 Sheffield – Cleethorpes Scunthorpe – Grimsby T 261177
47523 1A34 1737 Cleethorpes – Kings X Grimsby – Kings X (E5909) 261177
Phots from the day, all taken by John Williams
31261 looking good if not grubby outside Frodingham depot on November 26th 1977
37171 looking the freight loco she largely was at Immingham depot on November 26th 1977
With the huge Immingham depot coaling tower in the background (demolished in 2018) condemned 08065 awaits her fate on November 26th 1977
08065, 08066, 08357 with 37’s and 47’s nearer the depot building on November 26th 1977
The grimy, green workhorse 08357 at Immingham with a class 47 behind the green gronk on November 26th 1977
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