The “Dore-Mat” Railtour remembered, Saturday 18th February 1984
Another classic multi traction, circuitous routed tour from “Staffordshire Railtours with 2 named 40’s the highlight for many, not forgetting some rare class 13 mileage and some trusty “roarer” action too! The tour had a highly charged atmosphere all day, 300 plus noisy class 40 miles helping. The class 13 was novel, every single window had heads out in Tinsley Yard to view the double gronks. A smashed window from yobs in the Beighton area resulted in a mini farce at Derby. Expecting the damaged coach to be removed, some participants were a bit withered on the opposite platform when 40033 took the whole train to Matlock rather than shunt out the damaged coach. 40033’s thrash on the long climb to Matlock, echoing off the hills was superb!
300 plus 40 miles, 100 plus roarer miles and .86 class 13 miles to remember! A classic tour.
Itinerary
O/w – New St – Stafford – Crewe – Middlewich – Altrincham – Manchester Ox Rd – Guide Bridge – Standedge – Huddersfield – Healy Mills – Barnsley – Sheffield – Shepcote Lane Jn – Tinsley yard – Doncaster – Rotherham – Beighton – Derby – Matlock
R/t Matlock – Derby – Chesterfield – Dore – Edale – CChinley – New Mills South – Skelton Jn – Altrincham – Sandbach – Middlewich – Crewe- Stafford – New St
An ex works tour itinerary, thanks to “TR”
Tour power
85032 New St – Crewe
40024 Crewe-Sheffield (via Manchester and Healy Mills)
40033 Sheffield-Shepcote Lane Jn
13001 Shepcote Lane Jn-Tinsley E
40033 Tinsley E-Crewe (via Derby,Matlock,Derby,Chesterfield, Dore, Altrincham)
81014 Crewe-New St
Tour phots – thanks to Trev Rolfe for most of these memorable views
40024 steaming nicely prior to departure with the “Dore-Mat” from Crewe, 180284
40033 took over the tour at Sheffield and is caught superbly by Trev on the sharp curves linking the Midland with Tinsley Yard
The 40 was removed for 13001 to offer rare haulage through the Yard itself, just a few heads looking out!
No shortage of power on Tinsley that Saturday afternoon, still a real railway back then….
“RIP 40131” this old split box warhorse withdrawn in Oct 83 awaits the inevitable at Doncaster works, farewell 40131
The climb up to Matlock was loud, probably very loud, 40033 takes a rest before running round for the return thrash through the Southern Pennines
Stalybridge, thanks to Trev Rolfe, feel the noise, 40024 erupts on leaving Stalybridge
Huddersfield
40024 in sunshine and steam heat at Huddersfield
Sheffield
40033 waits to take over from 40024 shown below on the “Dore-Mat” at Sheffield
Trev Rolfe’s view of 40024 after a loud performance over the hills.
Tinsley Yard
Heads out to view 13001 working a short but unforgettable haulage through Tinsley yard
Matlock, thanks to Tony Ewer
With thanks to the “Axeman” for this elevated Matlock view of 40033
Pre/post tour moves n gen
18/2/84 Sa
86219 2124 (17/2) Bristol-Glas/Edin NS-CR
47441 0238 Crewe-Holyhead
47575 0204 Crewe-Cardiff
85029 0352 Crewe-Birmingham CR-ST
86215 2350 Euston-Liverpool
45125 2350 Euston-Liverpool
47448 Holyhead-Euston Addit
86316 Holyhead-Euston Addit
86228 2355 Glas/Edin-Bristol ST-WO
50014 0620 Wolverhampton-Euston WO-NS
31433 0804 Birmingham-Norwich
81012 0754 Birmingham-Manchester
062 2221 Birmingham-Euston NS-LB
Leighton Lists 