Thanks to Jim Burton for these classic timing logs
There are so many factors which could be taken into account when deciding which performances come under this heading……..!! For example :-
1. the performance constituted a record for route/class of loco – hopefully within
something like the speed limits and in pursuit of lost time.
2. a locomotive under-powered in terms of the schedule/timing load.
3. a locomotive saddled with an excessive train according to timing load.
4. a performance which came close to schedule despite a plethora of
PWS/signal checks
5 a performance which stuck rigidly to speed limits and was within seconds of
booked time throughout.
6 a performance from which you would never realise that the loco concerned
was in an appalling condition.
7. a performance when loco and crew deserved so much better and were
prevented from doing so by poor operating.
8. the other side of the coin!! A performance totally lacking in anything positive,
to the point where time is dropped without any excuse.
And I’m sure that you will be able to add to these!! One more thought-why is it that the runs which come most easily to my mind are behind steam power??!!!!
So, to begin on the WCML here is my record run from Carstairs to Carlisle. Now, I’m only too aware that there were classes locomotives which were not exactly popular with most enthusiasts!! Among these were Class 86/2 – however they were capable machines as I hope the following run proves!!
Date :- October 23, 1989
Train :- 1M07 0850 Edinburgh Waverley/0910 Glasgow Central – Manchester
Victoria
Locomotive :- 86261 Driver John Axon G.C. (WN)
Load :- 7 coaches , 229.5 tons tare
Timing Load ;- E455
Schedule :- 54.5 minutes Carstairs-Carlisle
Status ex-Carstairs :- 9 miniutes late.
0.00. Carstairs 0. 0. 00 –
0.45 Strawfrank Junction 1. 06 32
1.90 Leggatfoot 2 37 46/63.5/76.5
5.11 Thankerton 4. 40 86/92/100
6.77 Symington 5 39 101.5
10.38 Lamington 7. 43 106/106/
103/101.5
15.76 Abington 11.5 10 57 98/101.5/106/
99/90
18.45 Crawford 12 41 96/90/88
21.00 Elvanfoot 14. 22 92.5/92.5/90
23.92 Beattock Summit 17 16. 14 90/96/95/93
28.22 Greskine 19. 01 90/97/95/91/
97.5
33.77 Beattock 23 22 15 101.5/105/103
103/106/109
39.11 Wamphray 25 19 103/102.5/100
100/105
41.83 Dinwoodie 26 54 102.5/102.5/104.5
44.90 Nethercleuch 28. 40 106/106/103/101.5
47.78 Lockerbie 31.5 30 22 101.5/103/103
50.83 Castlemilk 32 14 106/99/101.5
53.48 Ecclefechan 33 39 103/103
56.90 Kirtlebridge 39.5 35 38 105/105/106
60.61 Kirkpatrick (5) 37. 47 102.5/104.5/106
63.45 Quintinshill 46.5 39 23 103/97.5
65.04 Gretna Junction 47.5 40 24. 97.5/100
67.57 Floriston 41 50 104.5/106/106
69.53 Rockcliffe 42 59 104.5/103
72.96 Caldew Junction 45 46 97.5/56/51.5
73.61 Carlisle 54.5 47 47 25/-
OK by WCML standards of the bad old days, the load could be described as representing a half sized train but……..
Turning now to more popular classes, I offer you what must represent a “roarer” at the zenith of its performance!!
Date :- April 3, 1985
Train :- 1S85 0717 Harwich Parkeston Quay – Glasgow Central/Edinburgh Waverley
Locomotive :- 81004 (GW)
Load :- 11 coaches, 369.5 tons tare
Timing Load :- E455
Schedule :- 54.5 minutes Carlisle-Carstairs
Status ex-Carlisle :- 23 minutes late.
0.00. Carlisle. 0. 0. 00 –
4.08 Rockcliffe 4 20 54.53
6.04 Floriston 5 36 73.50
7.64 Mossband 6 36 96.00
8.57 Gretna Junction 7.5 7 08 103.33
10.16 Quintinshill. 9 8 15 94.27
13.00 Kirkpatrick 11 9 55 102.65
16.71 Kirtlebridge 12 16 94.72
20.15 Ecclefechan 14 22 97.71
22.68 Castlemilk 15 58 95.63
25.85 Lockerbie 19 17 51 97.04
28.71 Nethercleuch 19 34 99.42
31.78 Dinwoodie 21 27 92.91
34.50 Wamphray 23. 08 102.71
39.74 Beattock 28 26 11 103.09
45.39 Greskine 30 07 86.26
49.69 Beattock Summit 35 33 25 78.18
52.61 Elvanfoot 35 15 97.05
55.16 Crawford 36 53 92.39
57.85 Abington 40,5 38 33 97.23
63.23 Lamington 41 44 101.51
66.84 Symington (2) 43 52 101.49
68.50 Thankerton 44 50 103.75
70.04 Leggatfoot 45 44 102.66
73.16 Strawfrank Junction 52.5 48 33 67.83
73.61 Carstairs 54.5 49 45 22.50
In my original notes, I regret I did not detail speeds per mile posts – therefore
the averages will have to suffice.
After all this excitement came 8 minutes station overtime at Carstairs (for the Edinburgh portion)- reason, the Edinburgh portion was wrongly marshalled in front – there must have been a reason for this, but I’ve never known it!!! Typical! happenings after a performance like that!!
Over to the ECML (my natural stomping ground!!) If there was a diesel class more unpopular than the 86/2s it was surely the Class 47s (unless they were 47/3s!!!!) . This next run goes back a long. long way – to the days when the maximum speed allowed over any part of the Scottish region was 75 mph. To the days when 1A16 and 1A35 carried the “winged thistle” headboard as befitted the “Flying Scotsman” and were obviously booked for Class 55 haulage. During my university days, I concluded my journey from Newark to Edinburgh at the start of term on 1A16 north of Newcastle.. This day, I was not amused (to put it mildly!!) to see a 47 in charge – the fact that the headboard was in place indicated that this had not been a substitution for loco failure. However…….
Date :- January 12, 1966
Train :- 1A16 1000 King’s Cross-Edinburgh Waverley/Aberdeen
Locomotive :- D1759 (31B)
Load :- 11 coaches, 380 tons tare (approx)
Timing Load :- 385 tons for Class 33D
Schedule :- 113 minutes Newcastle-Waverley
0.00. Newcastle 0 0 00 –
0.58 Manors 2 23 21/25
1.64. Heaton 4 12 41/54
PWS *40
5.00. Forest Hall 8 47 *40
5.89. Killingworth 9 30 64
PWS *20
9.93 Cramlington 14 37 65
13 90 Stannington 18 02 76
16.63 Morpeth 17 20 50 *42
18.55 Pegswood 22 53 71
23.25 Widdrington 26 27 82
25.64. Chevington 28 10 83
28.54 Acklington 30 12 87
31.94 Warkworth 32 04 72
34.86. Alnmouth 32 35. 31 *63
37.49 Longhoughton 38. 02 64
39.46 Little Mill 39 38 72/78
42.98 Christon Bank 42 17 88
46.03. Chathill 44 16 91
51.65 Belford 45.5 48 21 79
(3)
58.61 Beal 53 11 80
65.40 Tweedmouth 59.5 58 36 *57
67.00 Berwick-upon-Tweed 59 57 *64
72.64 Burnmouth 65. 05 67
78.18 Reston Junction 69 38 78
83.34 Grantshouse 76 74 54 67
87.96 Cockburnspath 78 00 72
95.40 Dunbar 86 84 01 *61
101.08 East Linton 88 43 74
103.71 East Fortune 90 45 82
106.70 Drem 96 93. 07 75
111.25 Longniddry 96 44 77
114.96 Prestonpans 99 44 74
SIGNALS *4
118.04 Inveresk 103 47 52
118.38 Monktonhall Junction 105 104 10 56
120.76 Joppa 106. 25 64
121.46 Portobello 108 107 10. 53
124.46 Waverley 113 112 11 –
Apologies for relative lack of detail – I was still learning the road and timing on a wrist-watch!!!!
Can’t remember whether the Class 47s had been derated to 2580 hp by January 1966, but whatever, I thought this was a gallant effort by an under-powered loco on a (for 1966!) challenging schedule.
Now let’s turn to a route which may not be a natural for memorable runs….the old G&SW from Glasgow to Carlisle. By the time of the run below, St.Enoch had been closed for many years, but I think a departure from Central could be allowed!!
Date :- July 12,1978
Train :- 1M03 1045 Glasgow Central-Carlisle
Locomotive :- 40011 (LO)
Load :- 9 coaches, 311 tons tare.
Timing Load :- D175
Schedule :- 24 minutes Glasgow Central-Dunlop
4 minutes Dunlop-Stewarton
6.5 minutes stewarton-Kilmarnock
30.5 minutes Kilmarnock-Kirkconnel
28.5 minutes Kirkconnel-Dumfries
19.5 minutes Dumfries-Annan
20 minutes Annan-Carlisle
Status :- ex-Glasgow Central 1 minute late
ex-Dunlop 1 minute early
ex-Stewarton TIME
ex-Kilmarnock 1 minute late
ex-Kirkconnel 2 minutes late
ex-Dumfries 1 minute late
ex-Annan TIME
arr Carlisle 0.5 minute early
0.00. Glasgow Central. 0 0. 00 .-
0.97. Eglinton Street 3 04 20/28
1.50 Pollockshields East 4 11 26/30
1.76 Strathbungo 5 07 36
2.25 Crossmyloof 5 43 39/47
3.20. Pollockshaws West 7 03 47/54.5
4.10. Kennishead 8 21 54.5
5.68 Nitshill 9 42 61/62/64
7.32 Barrhead 13 11. 17 63.5/60
9.40 Neilston Low 13 52 54.5/51.5/46/44
12.46. Uplawmoor 17 37 42/56/60.5
14.12 Lugton 19 18 58/59.5
16.43. Dunlop 24 21 52 62/64/37/-
0 0 00 –
2.20 Stewarton 4 4 11 28.5/47/55/42/-
0.00 0. 0. 00 –
3.24 Kilmaurs 3 51 38.5/51.5/65/69/
74
5.44. Kilmarnock 6.5 7 01 67/54/42.5/-
0.00 0 0 00 –
1.81. Hurlford 3 26 21/46/51
3.45 Woodhead 5 57 54.5/51
6.75 Garrochburn 9 12 49/49/47.5/48/47.5
7.55. Mossgiel Tunnel North 10 32 47
9.41. Mauchline 12 12 50 59/62
10.46 Barony Junction 14 54 63
13.80 Auchinleck 16 08 65
15.80 Cumnock 17 07 65.5/64
18.73 Polquhap Siding 62/65
21.21 New Cumnock 23 07 66/61
64/65.5/64/64
28.66 Kirkconnel 30.5 30. 30 60/63.5/41/-
0.00 0 0 00 –
3.31 Sanqhuar 4 21 48/56/64
8.06 Ardoch 8 58 66/69/70/68/*55
11.46 Drumlanrig Tunnel South 12 23 53/55.5/56
11.92 Carronbridge 12 49 62
15.26 Thornhill 15.5 15 39 70/71/75
17.98. Closeburn 17 52 74.5/75/72.5
21.85 Auldgirth 21 09 69/69
26.09. Holywood 24 45 72.5/73/69
29.41 Dumfries 28.5 28 26 67.5/71.5/32/-
0.00 0 0 00 –
3.96. Racks 5 10 36/45.5/55.5/67
8.55. Ruthwell (4) 9 13 68.5/69/67.5/64.5/66
12.07 Cummertrees 12 14 71/69/74/72.5/66
15.45. Annan 19.5 16 06 63.5/61/60/57/-
0.00 0 0 00 –
3.01 Eastriggs 4 26 27/48.5/56/62
5.89 Rigg (1) 6 57 66/69.5/71/74/75
8.06 Gretna Green 8 44 *39/40
8.81. Gretna Junction 11 10 11 40
11.48. Floriston 12 53 57/64/68.5
13.46. Rockcliffe 14 35 69/70/70
75/73
17.54. Carlisle 20 19. 24 72.5/57/26/-
This seems to me to have been a perfect run as far as operating is concerned. No out of course checks of any description, no heroics up front, no speed limits ignored if only slightly, timekeeping more or less spot-on over the entire journey – and all this with a load definitely over the timing load!!
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