Almost recreating the scene, Hymek 7017 at Leicester North on a Gala working from Loughborough on September 16th 2017. 7017 did work from the GC’s Leicester Central with the 1840 York – Swindon back on May 19th 1964…
Most of us will have enjoyed Hymeks 7017 and 7018 thrashing out of Loughborough Central on the preserved GCR working to Leicester North the former Birstall station on the GC. However back in the day classic overnight trains ran on this section of the then GC main-line through Loughborough, Leicester and Rugby Central. These include:
1840 York – Swindon
2222 York – Swindon
1910 Swindon – York
2150 (2225 Sat) Swindon – York‘
Extract of a summary timetable of the former GC through services to and from Swindon in the June – Sep 1964 timetable..
Normally these classic parcels and passenger trains would change engines at Leicester Central. Swindon men would work the trains from Swindon to Leicester and back, York/Sheffield men to the North of Leicester.
From 1962 – 66 we have gen on classes 24, 37 and 47 working the Northern section of these trains, with 37’s the most regular power. Hymeks were the booked power on the Swindon – Leicester C with the loco and crew off the 1910 ex Swindon returning on the 1840 ex York.
At least the following 24 different Hymeks (undoubtedly more!) are recorded at working to Leicester North between 1962 and the lines closure South of Rugby in Sep 1966.
7005, 7006, 7008, 7009, 7011, 7015, 7017, 7018, 7019, 7020, 7021, 7022, 7024, 7027, 7042, 7045, 7052, 7054, 7055, 7061, 7062, 7081, 7083, 7093,
Some Sample York – Swindon workings gen
1846 York – Swindon 231163, 1526 to Leicester Central, 7022 from Leicester Central.
1728 Scarborough – Swindon (Summer Sat) 080864, 6812 to Leicester Central, 7018 from Leicester Central
1840 York – Swindon 161265, 6747 to Leicester Central, 7062 ex Leicester Central on load 14!!
7052 1V67 1840 York – Swindon 200866, ex Leicester C
On 050966 the GC was closed South of Rugby and the York – Swindon through services via Leicester were confined to history…
So next time you are walking the old GC trackbed around Rugby Central, think back to the midnight hours of December 16/17th 1965 with 7062 throbbing South on load 14!!
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Leighton Lists 