In the dead of night….November 77
The post Christmas gala at the Glos-Warks saw steam heat rattling through the stock despite an eh peak or xo 26 up front! The steam heat helping to bring back memories of West country trips like these in November 77. Later a 170 unit tottering up the Lickey again stirred the memories that saw these more interesting moves dug out! Enjoy!
I was Swansea based at this time and Swansea High St around 2100 was a sea of steam heat with 37176 the first power of the trip. From Bristol Temple Meads 1E61 the 0110 Sheffield, was the second classic overnight, load 10 including a BSK and SK plus many vans and 2 TPO’s in the consist and 45065 powering .
At Worcester Shrub Hill my slumbers were disturbed by the rattle of the steam heat going off in the “compo”. On peering out into the gloom at “Shrub Hill” a “failure” was the gen. Quickly an assisting 37 was attached and we departed about 30 late with an EE bark and a still groaning “peak” disturbing the peace of the Worcestershire countryside. We eased up approaching Bromsgrove, where bankers 37184 and 37186 were waiting. I woke up my mate on the other side of the compo for the show that followed!.The peak groaned forward slowly, then the lead 37 growled aggressively, much smoke and increasing noise as we climbed the Lickey. 37184/37186 were way back at the rear of the overnight joining in too!. Our compo droplight window was wide open to enjoy the sounds, smells and sparks, my mate was well impressed at the “raw power” and he was a “normal!”
By Barnt Green we lost our bankers and the noise eased but speed increased on the run into New St. Now after being unfortunate enough to have 2 of our common “South Wales steamers” as bankers, i walked forward at New St to hopefully admire our “nb” monster , boilered, ex SF, but now another South Wales steamer 37247 was our noisy rescue power. Another “peak” took the 0110 forward from New St whilst i bailed for some tamer “electric bashing” with that noise from earlier in the morning ringing in my ears all weekend long!
3/11/77 Th
37176 2125 Swansea-Bristol SW-CA
47081 2125 Swansea-Bristol CA-TM
4/11/77 Fr
45065 0110 Bristol TM-Sheffield (fail here) TM-WO
37247} 0110 Bristol TM – Sheffield WO-NS
45065(idling)}
37184} 0110 Bristol TM-Sheffield (banking) BR-BL
37186}
310061 0555 Birmingham – Stafford NS-WO
87029 0629 Wolverhampton – Euston WO-NS
86029 0726 Coventry- Manchester NS-WO
86219 0740 Shrewsbury-Euston WO-NS
86232 0814 Rugby-Liverpool NS-WO
86207 0929 Wolverhampton-Euston WO-NS
87007 0815 Bristol TM-Glas/Edin NS-WO
87011 1029 Wolverhampton-Euston WO-NS
86205 0624 Plymouth-Liverpool NS-WO
86258 1129 Wolverhampton- Euston WO-NS
87005 1218 Birmingham-Euston NS-INT
86229 1110 Euston-Birmingham INT-NS
86245 0929 Southampton- Liverpool NS-WO
86233 1329 Wolverhampton-Euston WO-NS
87006 1405 Birmingham-Glas/Edin NS-WO
86219 1429 Wolverhampton-Euston WO-NS
86235 0742 Penzance-Liverpool NS-WO
85001 1423 Manchester- Swansea WO-NS
a long wait for the only “roarer” i saw on passenger, well worth the wait though..
86253 1655 Birmingham-Liverpool NS-LS
7/11/77 Mo
86012} 0030 Liverpool-Euston LS-CR
86241(d)}
Due to a taxi driver getting lost finding us, we made this overnight on a plus 1! Fast car onto the middle platform at Lime St for the 0030.!
46050 0147 Crewe-Cardiff CR-CA
often a type 4 as a loco off a van train..
47083 0532 Cardiff-Crewe CA-NP
a class 25 would have been more welcome on this turn
46040 0600 Bristol-Cardiff NP-CA
43018} 0710 Cardiff – Swansea CA-SW
43019}
Where are they now?…
37247, 1E61’s heroic rescue loco, is seen 11 years later at Arrochar after steaming North on the 1820 Glasgow QS – Oban on 210886. 37035 is approaching with the 1800 ex Oban. After Scotland, 37247 had spells back on the Western as a Laira loco named “Tre Pol and Pen”. Renumbered 37671 she again roamed the network and was then exported to France for 1999 new line construction work. Once back in Blighty she was stored and sadly cut a few years later…
New St workhorse, 45065 has arrived with the 0855 Newquay-Manchester on 280784 7 years after her failure. 1E61’s failure machine continued as an Inter Regional/Midland workhorse until withdrawl in March 85. She was cut by late 1988
The train -1E61 0110 Bristol – Sheffield/Leeds T.M was an extension of 1B61 Penzance-Bristol Passenger/mails. 1E61 was a key train which seemed secure with TPO/Parcel/post traffic in addition to the 2 coach passenger accommodation. By May 82 the train ceased to exist for passengers, continuing as a mail/parcels only service a few more years. Nothing was secure on the 80’s railway it sadly seemed….
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