“In the Beginning” – SATURDAY 30/04/1960-FRIDAY  06/05/1960

Many thanks to Jim Burton for the classic memories of a fair few years back now!

I suppose that, one of the main reasons for this the first of many All-Line Rail Rovers, was the chance for me to see a goodly bit of Britain and its railways before I became 14 and, hence, full-fare.  Now things were much different in society 65 years ago – 13 year olds just did not do All-Lines on their own – so after some weeks in the reference section of the local library in Newark (yes they stocked copies of all the regional railway timetables!!), my father and I were ready to start on the “great adventure” – hotels for the night booked and the schedule drawn up.

DAY 1 :-  NEWARK (CASTLE)-BIRMINGHAM NEW STREET ; BIRMINGHAM NEW

               STREET-BRISTOL TEMPLE MEADS : BRISTOL TEMPLE MEADS –               

                                       PLYMOUTH NORTH ROAD

The first train was an interesting working – 2020 7.00 a.m. Cleethorpes-Birmingham (New Street) via Lincoln (St.Mark’s),Nottingham (Midland), Leicester (London Road) and Nuneaton (Abbey Street).   This brought an Immingham B1 daily to Birmingham from whence int worked back at 4.55 p.m. the regular was 61318, somewhat surprising since it had a reputation for being a poor steamer. However, we were lucky as the choice was 61195. 

So…to New Street….. not the miserable New Street of today but a real “cathedral of steam’ divided  between the Midland and the London and North Western.  Our next leg was on to Bristol (Temple Meads) with 239 7.30 a.m. SO ex- Bradford (Forster Square) behind 45608 GIBRALTAR from Leeds (Holbeck).

Noted at Brosgrove on Lickey banking duties were 9F 92079 plus 2 pairs of Class 8400 – 8400/8406 and 8401/8405. Now it was on to Plymouth on 284 8.45 a.m. Liverpool (Lime Street)-Paignton/Penzance – 6977 GRUNDISBURGH HALL (82B) in charge. Nothing out of the ordinary till Newton Abbot – the Southern Region banker at Exeter (St.Davids) being Class Z 30956.. But, on whistling up for a pilot locomotive over Dainton and Rattery, the only arrival was a worried looking inspector.  Apparently the two previous services headed West had suffered loco failures – there was no pilot avaiable for us!!  Now a Modified Hall was allowed 275 tons unaided west of Newton Abbot – problem- we had 10 vehicles of c.340 tons.  Our crew was asked if they would have a go and responded “Yes..but for Gods sake don’t reset the points at Aller Junction!!!”

So, having built up the fire we set off for Dainton  – I don’t think I ever heard a steam loco so nearly flat out – our crew was hanging over the cab sides looking for any signs of slipping, a crash of exhaust was followed by a few seconds silence till the next one – we crawled over Dainton at 4 mph – but we made it!!!

Triumphally, we pulled into Plymouth having lost some 15 minutes from Newton Abbot, where I’m sure GRUNDISBURGH HALL was relieved to be replaced by 1002 COUNTY OF BERKS (83G). 

LOCOS REQUIRED FOR SIGHT

2851 – 83B; 3812 – 86E

4619 – 82A

4707 – 81C

4950 PATSHULL HALL – 83D; 4975 UMBERSLADE HALL – 83A

5164 – 83A; 5158 – 83A

5524 – 83C

6373 – 85B; 6346 – 82E

6871 BOURTON GRANGE – 83B

6982 MELMERBY HALL – 82A

9651 – 82B; 9626 – 82A; 9716 – 83D

40098 – 82E

40501 – 82E

41316 – 83H; 41302 – 83H

44182 – 15A; 44213 – 21A; 44160 – 21A; 44187 – 21A

45073 – 5A

48541 – 16B; 48665 – !A; 48754 – 2B; 48728 – 17B

82007 – 82A; 82030 – 82A; 82006 – 82A

90125 – 86C

92120 – 15C ; 92164 – 15C; 92101 – !5C; 92136 – 21A; 92117 – 18B

D807 CARADOC – 83D; D811 DARING – 83D; D809 CHAMPION – 83D

D2137 – 85B

D3582 – 21A; D3513 – 83A; D3520 – 83D

LOCOMOTIVES REQUIRED FOR HAULAGE

45608 GIBRALTAR – 55A ; 6977 GRUNDISBURGH HALL – 82B

DAY 2 :- PLYMOUTH (NORTH ROAD)-PADDINGTON + brief visits to EUSTON and

                                              KING’S CROSS

The most memorable thing about this day was that it represented the new age (NOT necessarily an improved one!!) – the “Cornish Riviera” arrived at North Road behind Class 22 D6318 (83D)/D6319 (83D), which were relieved by D801 VANGUARD (83D)

LOCOMOTIVES REQUIRED FOR SIGHT

1015 COUNTY OF GLOUCESTER – 82C

1503 – 81A

2240 – 81E

2890 – 82C; 3862 – 83D

3675 – 83D; 3686 – 83D

6103 – 81D

4661 – 81D

4703 – 82B

4905 BARTON HALL – 83A; 4977 WATCOMBE HALL – 81D ; 

5904 KELHAM HALL – 82D; 4945 MILLIGAN HALL -82D

7007 GREAT WESTERN – 85A

9415 – 81B; 9479 – 81A

9633 – 83A; 9604 – 82C

30803 SIR HARRY LE FISE LAKE – 71A

31722 – 70C

31800 – 70C; 31817 – 75B

45339 – 9A

46458 – 1A

73114 ETARRE – 70A

75052 – 1A

92204 – 82B; 92206 – 82B; 92237 – 86C; 92208 – 81C

D214 – 8A

D818  GLORY – 83D

D2130 – 83A; D2132 – 83C; D2133 – 83B

D3524 – 83D; D3604 – 81A ; D3196 – 81C; D3030 – 81A; D3760 – 81A; D3761 – 81C

D5595 – 34G; D5592 – 34G

D6318 – 83D; D6319 – 83D

D8039 – 1B; D8037 – 1B

LOCOMOTIVES REQUIRED FOR HAULAGE

D801 VANGUARD – 83D

DAY 3 :- EUSTON-GLASGOW (CENTRAL) ; GLASGOW (QUEEN STREET) – 

                                 EDINBURGH (WAVERLEY) AND RETURN

Arrival at Euston was greeted by the sight of 46242 CITY OF GLASGOW (1B) at the head of the “Royal Scot”. Having been badly delayed south of Crewe, the next 141 miles to Carlisle were reeled off in 140 minutes for an on-time arrival!! That necessitated some over-enthusiastic interpretations of some speed limits through industrial Lancashire, which produced some interesting experiences in the Restaurant Car!!  The loco worked though, but with Polmade men north of Carlisle.  The northern leg was uninspiring, to say the least and we were 4 minutes late into Central.  The evening Edinburgh outing was by a 6-car Inter-City DMU as expected.

What was NOT expected was, at the head of the 8.30 p.m. ex-Waverley – a 6 vehicle hauled set, a B1 – named at that!! – 61221 SIR ALEXANDER ERSKINE-HILL (64B)

LOCOMOTIVES REQUIRED FOR SIGHT

40049 – 1A

40077 – 2B

40672 – 1C ; 40651 – 67A

41158 – COND ex-6A

42097 – 1C ; 42601 – 1B ; 42095 – 1C ; 42350 -1A ; 42585 – 1A ; 42103 – 1C ;

42105 – 1E ; 42403 – 11D ; 42130 – 68D ; 42217 – 66A ; 42163 – 66E ; 42243 – 66A ;

42695 – 66D ; 42167 – 66C ; 42060 – 66A

42786 – 9A ; 42765 – 24F; 42867 – 24F ; 42793 – 12A ; 42837 – 12A ; 42899 – 12A

42735 – 66C ; 42738 – 66A ; 42736 – 65F

43139 – 12C ; 43134 – 65E

43388 – COND ex-41B

44117 – 1E ; 44491 – 2E; 44060 – 12B ; 44181 – 12A

45222 – 2E ; 45348 – 5A ; 45271 – 8B ; 45187 – 1A ; 44730 – 24E ; 45445 – 12B ; 44890 – 26A ; 45295 – 12B ; 45140 – 12B ; 45314 – 8F ; 44882 – 12A ; 45082 – 12A ; 45163 – 12A ; 45011 – 66E ; 45472 – 63A

45513 – 12B

45640 FROBISHER – 12A ; 45729 FURIOUS – 12A ; 45661 VERNON – 26A

46156  THE SOUTH WALES BORDERER- 6G

46489 – 12B

47191 – COND ex-82F

47668 – 1B ; 47522 – 1B ; 47286 – WW ; 47653 – 5C ; 47649 – 5C ; 47606 – 5E ; 

47340 – 12B ; 47614 – 12B ; 47527 COND ex-12A

48287 – 2B ; 48310 – 21B ; 48519 – 9D

49343 – 21B ; 49439 – 5B ; 49408 – 8F ; 49267 – 8F

54465 – 66B

54505 – 66E

55167 – 66A

56304 COND ex-66A ; 56313 – 64C

57653 – 12A

58218 – 2A

61245 MURRAY OF ELIBANK – 64B ; 61191 – 64A ; 61148 – 62A ; 61332 – 64A  

62685 MALCOLM GRAEME – 64B ; 62682 HAYSTOUN OF BUCKLAW – 65A 

62690 THE LADY OF THE LAKE – 64B ; 62693 RODERICK DHU –  64A ; 

62689  MAID OF LORNE – 64A ; 62691 LAIRD OF BALMAWHAPPLE – 64B

64515 – 64A ; 64535 – 64A ; 64537 – 65K

65288 – 65A ; 65235 GOUGH – 64B

67667 – 65A ; 67644 – 65A ; 67603 – 65A ; 67671 – 65A ; 

68479 – 65A

69188 – 65A ; 69183 – 65A ; 69181 – 65A

69564 – 12C

70050 FIRTH OF CLYDE – 66A

73055 – 66A ; 73109 – 65A

75054 – 6A

77007 – 66A

80130 – 66A

90374 – 24A ; 

90770 – 66B ; 90773 – 65F

92119 – 15C ; 92053 – 15A

12009 – 5B ; 12031 – 5B ; 12011 – 5B ; 12023 – 8G ; 12079 – 12A

D213 – 12B ; D236 – 8A ; D255 – 1B ; D234 – 8A; D218  – 8A ; D212 – 12B

D2913 – 2A

D3850 – 1B ; D3838 – 1B ; D3849 – 1B ; D3053 – 2A ; D3834 – 8B ; D3371 – 24K ;

D3846 – 24K ; D3284 – 66B ; D3212 – 65C ; D3389 – 65A ; D3210 – 65A ;

D3739 – 64B ; D3738 – 64B ; D3740 – 64B

D5079 – 1A ; D5081 – 2A ; D5082 – 2A

LOCOMOTIVES REWUIRED FOR HAULAGE

46242 CITY OF GLASGOW -1B ; 61221 SIR ALEXANDER ERSKINE-HILL- 64B

DAY 4 :- GLASGOW (QUEEN STREET)- MALLAIG and RETURN

Our hotel kindly provided an early breakfast – unfortunately it proved to be an underdone soft-bolied egg!! I have never eaten a soft-boiled egg from then until now!!!.  So to the 05.45 a.m., converting also through carriages, including sleepers from Kin’g Cross – load 9 if memory serves.  Double headed Black 5s 44976 (63B) leading 44702 (65A) to Fort William (the old station!!), with the lead loco sporting a buffer beam snowplough (this in the month of May!!).  Highlights of the journey were breakfast, as much as you could eat,  the passing over of breakfast for the buffet car crew of the first up from the Fort as we passed at Crianlarcich (Upper) and the crossing of Rannoch Moor, during which we did not see another living creature!  Then a K1 down the Extension 62034 (63B) and a different one coming back 62011 (63B) (!!) before the two Black 5s took over for the journey back to Queen Street.

LOCOMOTIVES REQUIRED FOR SIGHT

40187 – 65D

42131 – 65D

44255 – 63B

44967 – 65A ; 44970 – 65A ; 44957 – 65A  ; 44702 – 65A ; 44976 – 63B ; 

44908 – 65A ; 44956 – 65A

61396 – 65A ; 61401 – 65A

62012 – 63B ; 62052 – 63B ; 62011 – 63B ; 62034 – 63B

64540 – 65A ; 64632 – 65A ; 64638 – 65A

64865 – 52A

65300 – 63B ; 65313 – 63B

67601 – 65I ; 67675 – 65C

69178 – 65A

73108 – 65A

D3392 – 65A

LOCOMOTIVES RESUIRED FOR HAULAGE

44702 – 65A ; 44976 – 63B ; 62034 – 63b ; 62011 – 63B

DAY 5 :- GLASGOW (BUCHANAN STREET)-INVERNESS ; INVERNESS-

                                          DINGWALL and RETURN

Just to make things a tad more interesting we took 27 10.15 a.m. departure to Aberdeen as far as Perth behind  73009 (63A) and then baled for the 10.00 a,m. Buchanan Street – Inverness with 73008 (63A), which we had overtaken at Stirling.  Unfortunately, the Standard Class 5 did not require the assistance a banker at Blair Athol!!  The evening trip to Dingwall with 45117 (60A)l resulted in our attendance at a football match.  We were told that this was a friendly fixture but given the nature of some of the tackling, it would probably have rated an “X certificate had points been at stake!!!  Our return train (ex-Kyle of Lochalsh)) had been noted arriving at the station before we left the football!!  However, we need not have worried – 44924 (63A) was still leisurely shunting when we arrived.

LOCOMOTIVES REQUIRED FOR SIGHT

42168 – 60B

43137 – 65A

44320 – 65F

45389 – 65J ; 44979 – 63A ; 44952 – 66E ; 45475 – 63A ; 45463 – 63A ; 44998 – 63A ;

45492 – 63A ; 45497 – 63A ; 45162 – 61B ; 44783 – 60A ; 45117 – 60A ; 44723 – 60A ; 

44924 – 63A ; 45360 – 60A ; 45479 – 60A

46243 – CITY OF LANCASTER – 5A

45718 DREADNOUGHT – 12A

54501 – 65B ; 54486 – 63A ; 54466 – 60B ; 54482 – 60B ; 54463 – 60A

55216 – 60A ; 55198 – 60A ; 55236 – 60A

56305 – 60A

57261 – 65B ; 57411 – 65B

57586 – 60B

57668 – 66B ; 57661 – 60A 

60531 BARHAM – 61B

60927 – 64A

64593 – 65F ; 64591 – 64A

65934 – 64A

69178 – 65A

72000 CLAN BUCHANAN – 66A

73009 – 63A

80092 – 63A

D2413 – 60A

D2733 – 65G

D3279 – 65B ; 13280 – 65B ; D3387 – 65B ; D3542 – 63A ; D3544 – 63A

LOCOMOTIVES REQUIRED FOR HAULAGE

73009 – 63A ; 73008 – 63A ; 45117 – 60A ; 44924 – 63A

DAY 6 :- INVERNESS-EDINBURGH (WAVERLEY) via ABERDEEN

At the time, I did not think Inverness-Aberdeen had much going for to – in steam days it seemed to take for ever, with not much in the way of railway interest, since the 7.40 a.m. ex-Inverness was routed “main-line” with 61350 (61A).  Onwards to Edinburgh, we sampled one of the recently accelerated 3-hour expresses – well diesel haulage (D5334 (64H)/D5344 (64H) – yes we were sill in the days when the major diesel depot in Edinburgh was Leith Central !!! -made a change!!  What, 65 years later, would we give for a pair of 26s on this route??!!!

LOCOMOTIVES REQUIRED FOR SIGHT

42273 – 64C

45170 – 63A ; 44718 – 60A

46463 – 62B ; 46464 – 62B

54493 – 60A

55185 – 61C

60099 CALL BAY – 64B

60898 – 61B ; 60894 – 64A ; 60844 – 62B

61350 – 61A ; 61294 – 61A ; 61263 – 62B

61792 – 61C

61994 THE GREAT MARQUESS – 62A

64577 – 64A ; 64627 – 62B

64704 – 52G

65338 – 61C

65932 – 62A ; 65905 – 62A

68481 – 64B

68750 – 61A

69138 – 61B ; 69180 – 61B ; 69211 – 64B

73145 – 65B

76104 – 61A

78053 – 61C

80121 – 61C ; 80123 – 62B

90041 – 61B ; 90020 – 62A ; 90444 – 62B ; 90560 – 62C

11708 – 62b ; 11711 – 62B

D252 – 50A ; D237 – 52A

D2415 – 61C ; D2417 – 61A

D3547 – 61B ; D3546 – 61B ; D3548 – 61B ; D3550 – 61B

D5344 – 64H

D6144 – 61A

D8034 – 60A

LOCOMOTIVES REQUIRED FOR HAULAGE

61350 – 61A ; D5334 – 64H ; D5344 – 64H

DAY 7 ;:- EDINBURGH (WAVERLEY)-KING”S CROSS ; KING’S CROSS-

                                                   NEWARK (NORTH GATE)

In those far-off days, the sight of a Class 40 diesel, D257 (52A) on the 10.00 a.m. “Flying Scotsman” was definitely NOT appreciated!!!  However faith was restoredat Newcastle, when we re-engined for 60017 SILVER FOX (34A) – all set we were for an on-time arrival passing Finsbury Park with 9 minutes in hand….we actually took 14 minutes for the last 2.5 miles!!!  King’s Cross in 1960 was NOT the easiest station to operate!!  There was to be a last bonus, in the shape of 60006 SIR RALPH WEDGWOOD (34A) on the 6.26 p.m. to Hull back to Northgate. (did the A4 work to Doncaster or would we have changed locos at Grantham for a Doncaster A1????).

LOCOMOTIVES REAUIRED FOR SIGHT

43129 – 51A ; 43039 – 55A ; 43093 – 40F

44781 – 26B

60805 – 52A

61359 – 64A ; 61184 – 64A ; 61278 – 62B ; 61176 – 51A ; 61030 NYALA – 51A ; 

61218 – 55H ; 61235 – 40B ; 61190 – 40B

61936 – 12C ; 61992 – 64A ; 61927 – 50B ; 61815 – 30A

62733 NORTHUMBERLAND – 64A ; 62711 DUMBARTONSHIRE – 64A ; 

62718 KINROSS-SHIRE – 64A

63366 – 52C ; 63447 – 51L ; 63369 – 51L ; 63433 – 52K

63856 – 52H ; 63698 – 36A

64257 – 40E

64518 – 64A ; 64482 – 64A

64916 – 52D ; 64945 – 52B

65224 MONS – 64A

65479 – 34D

65867 – 52F ; 65884 – 51L

67606 – 64A ; 67652 – 52B ; 67657 – 52A

67783 – 34A

68017 – 51A

68747 – 52B ; 68742 – 52B ; 68728 – 52A  ; 68686 – 50A

68965 – 36A ; 68981 – 34B ; 68918 – 34B ; 68989 – 34B

69150 – 64A

69529 – 34A ; 69574 – 34A ; 69498 – 34A

69698 – 34C

69886 – 50F

90373 – 51L ; 90446 – 51L ; 90023 – 33B ; 90075 – 34E

92202 – 40B

D257 – 52A ; D240 – 52A ; D270 – 52A

D2064 – 50A ; D2066 – 50A ; D2029 – 34D ; D2000 – 34D ; D2001 – 34D

12137 – FP

D3741 – 64A ; D3938 – 52E ; D3679 – 52F ; D3677 – 51A ; D3456 – 51A ; 

D3444 – 36A ; D3479 – 36A ; D3712 – FP ; D3716 – FP ; D3308 – 34A ; D3476 – 34C 

13239 – 50A ; D3320 – 50A ; D3440 – 34E

D5586 – FP ; D5600 – FP ; D5601 – FP ; D5602 – FP ; D5587 – FP ; D5592 – FP ;

D5593 – FP ; D5607 – FP ; D5608 – FP

D8025 – FP ; D8046 – FP ; D8021 – FP ; D8020 – FP

LOCOMOTIVES REWUIRED FOR HAULAGE

D257 – 52A ; 60017 SILVER FOX – 34A

TOTAL MILEAGE –  2370.17

LOCOMOTIVES REQUIRED FOR HAULAGE –  18

LOCOMOTIVES REQUIRED FOR SIGHT – 565

As far as the costs went, my ticket (half-price) was £12 10 shillings!!

end