33207 – 0719 East Grinstead-London Bridge OX-WO 141277
My first ever “slim” haulage was back on December 14th 1977 when 33207 was raked in for just 3.1 miles from Oxted to Woldingham on the first of the morning commuters. “Fresh” off an overnight from Swansea this was my only London Bridge morning commuter moves, 33035, 33048 and 33038 were all raked in on the trains behind 33207, all winners!
The epic Clapham – Carlisle Railtour with 33202 and 33207 saw my mileage behind 33207 made more respectable. A Salisbury – Soton move on 221186 then my last move behind 207 with BR was paired up with 33205 on the 1510 Cardiff – Brighton on 130288.
33207 was stored in Sep 96 and was first sold to Harry Needle the following year. She is now a West Coast machine although her main line runs are more often ECS turns it seems.
33207 was a welcome bonus for the Aylesbury Vale Venturer mini tour on September 5th 2009, 33207 is seeing arriving at Quainton after working from Claydon Jn on what is now lifted track.
33204 – 1821 London Bridge-East Grinstead LB-EC 131278
The last East Grinstead evening commuter was often a “slim” and December 13th 1978 saw me rake in 33204 along with 33051 and 33033 on these superb trains. Formed of 8 elderly Mk I’s the thrash partiulary on the long climb from London Bridge to the summit near Norwood was superb. This commuter was my only run behind 33204.
33204 was stored in June 96, being withdrawn in Feb 97. She was sold to the Mid Hants for spares recovery with 33204 finally cut at Ropley in February 2002
Thanks to John Williams for this view of 33204 with an evening London bridge commuter on April 2nd 1974
33210 1821 London Bridge-East Grinstead LB-EC 281278
As with 33204, 33210 was raked in on the last East Grinstead commuter on the evening of December 28th 1978. 33048 and 33063 were also raked in that evening. Next haulage behind 33210 was on an All Line Rover with enoyed from Salisbury to Temple Meads on the 0810 Portsmouth – Cardiff on 260386.
33210 was withdrawn in August 87, she was eventually moved to Leicester via Cricklewood for the final cut at Vic Berry’s in Nov 90.
Temple Meads would be echoing to idling Crompton thrash as 33210 is uncoupled from the 0810 Portsmouth – Cardiff on March 6th 1986
33209 2U25 1821 London Bridge-East Grinstead LB-EC 140879
Yes you’ve guessed it 33209 was first raked in on the last East Grinstead commuter on the evening of August 14th 1979. 73140 (on the 1655 L.Bridge – Brighton) and 33046 were also raked in that Summer’s evening.
33209 with 33209 was raked in on the epic Victoria – Blaneau Railtour which included a good run along the WCML locally (and a few farces!) on December 13th 1986.
33209 was involved in a collision near Sittingbourne in Nov 88 and was withdrawn due severe cab damage a month later. Cut at Eastleigh Works in Dec 89
33211 2U25 1821 London Bridge-East Grinstead LB-EC 200879
No surprises what train 33211 was raked in on…..33047 was also raked in on an earlier commuter that August evening. This was my only run behind 33211.
33211 in Aug 93 caught fire near Sevington in Kent and was stored as a result a month later. 33211 was cut at Stewarts Lane in Jan 97
33203 1073 1110 Bristol-Portsmouth SO-FA 250485
It was not until Nov 85 that the “slims” were officially transferred to Stewarts Lane from their long term Hither Green home but by 1985 they were beginning to roam away from the South Eastern Division. It was still considered a rare event to rake in a “slim” on a Pompey in April 85, so rare that we all did 33203 back out on the 1510 Portmouth – Bristol that day, April 25th 1985. A nice blast of main line running was enjoyed behind 33203 on the 1729 Salisbury – Waterloo on August 26th 1986. My last moves behind 33203 were on a Network day in Nov 86 on the Pompeys once again.
33203 was withdrawn in April 91 being initially sold for preservation at the Swanage Railway. She ended up in storage before being moved by road to Newton Stewart North of the border to be a gateguard for a railway themed restaurant. Unfortunatley the restaurant proect collapsed and 33203 was cut a year later on site
It all happened in a few minutes at Fareham. Every hour the Pompey bound train would arrive and 5 minutes later the Bristol train would arrive to return you North. On April 25th 1985 33203 has just arrived with the 1110 Bristol – Portsmouth, happy days on an Area C
33201 1O85 1610 Bristol-Brighton BR-SA 131285
33201 was first caned in on an All Line between nightime “roarer” moves at Temple Meads when she produced on the 1610 Bristol – Brighton in December 85. In the rapidly failing light we enjoyed her front coach chatter to Salisbury. As expected 33201 produced the following day on the 0914 Brighton – Penzance with a good run from Fareham to Salisbury where we leapt for 33008 on the 0938 Exeter – Waterloo. On another “All line” 33201 was enjoyed in daylight on the 1305 Cardiff – Portsmouth from T.Meads to Salisbury in August 86. My last BR run behind 201 was dragging a 4TC on the 1710 Salisbury – Waterloo on October 18th 1986.
33201 was finally withdrawn on October 1st 1993 but was soon sold for preservation, initially at the Coventry museum project but in recent years has been a popular and regular runner at the Battlefield Line, Shackerstone.
33201 has been a Shackerstone regular for a good few years now, she is seen here at Shenton on August 8th 2020
33208 1O73 1110 Bristol-Portsmouth SA-FA 080386
33208 was first raked in on an Area C in March 86 on a Pompey. A more unusual turn followed behind 33208 on October 24th 1987 with her working 2L11 0841 Basingstoke – Salisbury. A rarer London terminal in Paddington saw 33208 and 33202 caned in on an enjoyable tour to Minehead which the “slims” worked throughout on August 24th 1996.
33208 was withdrawn in Feb 97 but quickly going into preservation at the Mid Hants being a popular machine there. Believe she now awaits attention at the Battlefield, Shackerstone
33202 1V54 1010 Portsmouth-Swansea TM-NW 260886
For me a rare burst of Severn Tunnel running when first raking in 33202 from Temple Meads – Newport in August 86. 3 high mileage tours from London to Carlisle (Nov 86), Blaneau (Dec 86) and Minehead (Aug 96) saw 33202 cleared for a thousand without trying!
December 12th 1993 will have good memories of 33202 to the rescue on the “Southern Mariner” tour. Homeward bound to Bristol and in the dark, 56047 was failed at Woking with an air leak. First loco off the line of stabled locos at Woking was 33202 which to widespread contentment took the tour forward to Salisbury for 56054 forward. It is claimed somebody cleared their Cromptons that night by getting 33202 in the book, good for them!
33202 was initially sold to HNRC for preservation in 2001, but Fragonset purchased her and returned her to the mainline in 2002. By 2006 Fragonset had folded, but 33202 remains active in preservation currently on the Mid Norfolk.
33202 and 33209 arrive at Watford Jn with what was to be an eventful tour to Blaneau on December 13th 1986
33205} 1065 1510 Cardiff-Brighton SA-FA 130288
33207}
I was very lucky to fall on the recently reinstated 33205 paired up with 33207 at Salisbury on the 1510 Cardiff – Brighton on February 13th 1988, i was never to have the old girl again.
33205 was withdrawn in July 92, being eventually sold to DRS. 33205 was scrapped in August 2003
33206 1510 Weymouth – Preston return Railtour WY-EH (with 31145/200) 140594
33206 1510 Weymouth – Preston return Railtour EH-SA 140594
Apart from DC tours there appeared little chance of me ever getting 33206 as Crompton withdrawls increased in the early 90’s. Rumours began in April 94 that 33206 was rumoured to feature on the “Barchester Chronicles” class 31 Railtour. As this was likely to be the last loco hauled passenger service along the soon to close Bletchley – Bicester line i booked the tour for this and if 33206 produced then this would be a big bonus!
Well 33206 was allocated for the tour on the day and at Weymouth Quay platform in pouring rain she backed onto the tour to work it ECS! back to Weymouth Town. At the Town after a break 33206 with 31145/31200 also up front left Weymouth. Climbing out of Weymouth the distinctive Crompton thrash could be clearly heard, at Eastleigh the 31’s were removed for fueling and 33206 worked through to Salisbury solo. So 33206 was finally in the book and i had finally cleared my “slims” and Crompton fleet.
33206 was finally withdrawn in October 96 and finally cut at Eastleigh in Feb 97 laying the legend of the “rarest sim” to rest……………………………..
33206 at Weymouth with the returm Barchester Chronicles tour, the peds have yet to be attached for a triple headed run to Eastleigh on May 14th 1994
We are working on the late Tony Ewer’s getting his slims in. He got 33206 on a proper train, indeed the top train that was the 1410 Waterloo – Salisbury on April 30th 1987.
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