Thanks to Jim Burton for the cracking gen…..
All-Lines Through the Ages – Thursday July 29, 1982- Wednesday August 11, 1982
(14 day ticket)
PRELIMINARY ; WEST CALDER-EDINBURGH WAVERLEY ; EDINBURGH
(28/07/82) WAVERLEY-CARSTAIRS
A late evening start from West Calder this time – 2Y43 2000 Central-Waverley with Class 107/161unit 52007/59798/52026. A couple of hours festering at Waverley before 1C97 2340 FX Waverley-Temple Meads behind 47434 (BS) another 47 in the book! No less than 46 minutes allowed to Carstairs – even with load 8/285.5 tare that seemed excessive – some 34 years later, it still seems excessive!! With the help of a signal stop of 2 minutes 6 seconds just through Midcalder we managed to spin out 42 minutes 21 seconds by the time Carstairs was reached.
LOCOMOTIVE REQUIRED FOR HAULAGE
47434 (BS)
DAY 1: CARSTAIRS-CARLISLE ; CARLISLE-CREWE ; CREWE-EUSTON ;
WATERLOO-SOUTHAMPTON CENTRAL ; SOUTHAMPTON CENTRAL-
BRISTOL TEMPLE MEADS ; BRISTOL TEMPLE MEADS-EXETER ST.
DAVID’S ; EXETER ST. DAVID’S-WATERLOO ; WATERLOO-
BASINGSTOKE and return ; WATERLOO-EASTLEIGH
The Glasgow portion produced 86007 (WN) which departed Carstairs 1.25 minutes late on combined load of 16/570.5 tare – this had been changed into a +1 arrival at Carlisle (65 minutes approx taken ex-Carstairs). Baled at Carlisle for 1M12 2225 SX Perth-Euston which obliged with 81016 (GW) loading 16/603.5 tare (the WCML obviously still goes in for “cruelty to locomotives”!! (The memory came back of standing on Holyhead platform one summer’s day in 1956 (!) and seeing the “Irish Mail” stagger in some 45 minutes adrift with “Royal Scot” 46127 OLD CONTEMPTIBLES with smokebox door aglow at the head of 17 coaches!!). Actually 81016 put in pretty good performance. I did not log but time of 139 minutes to Crewe overall with an arrival 7.5 minutes early speaks for itself. If I had but known the motive power heading 1M14 2200 Stranraer Harbour – Euston, I would have stopped with the Perth!! The sight of 86241 (WN) about 5.15 in the morning was not appreciated. With a relatively light load of 13/453.5 tare the 86 managed an arrival at Euston 8.5 minutes early (152 minutes overall ex-Crewe).
Over to Waterloo for 1W15 0954 Weymouth Quay with 73122 (SL) loading 7/237.5. As you may have gathered, over the last year or two I’d developed a bit of a “soft spot” for the Class 73s – we did not have anything like them on the ECML or north of the border – the 73/9s were not thought about yet!!
Clapham Junction booked 7. actual. 6. 51
1 minute margining at Berrylands
signals *42 at Surbiton
Hampton Court Junc 18 16. 26
max 87.5 at West Byfleet
signals *45 at Woking
Woking Junction 27.5 25. 36
min 55 before MP31
max 77 at Farnborough
signals *44 before Winchfield
signals *51.5 before Basingstoke
Basingstoke 48 47. 53
Not bad at all, considering the 4 signal checks!!
Leaving at 1043 – on time , we hammered along agaiin
Worting Junction 4 4. 05
max 86 at Roundwood
signals *14 before Micheldever
Winchester Junction 17. 13. 86/89/87.5
Winchester 17 18. 43 86/83.5
Shawford 20. 58. 87.5/88
Eastleigh 22 23. 39. 89/83.5/77
Northam Junction 27 28. 20 45/28
Soton C 30 31. 02 27.5/-
Tis worth noting that despite the high speeds, we were doing very little more than keeping schedule!
Next port of call – Temple Meads- courtesy of 33026 (EH) at the head of 5 vehicle 161 tare forming 1V25 1110 SX ex-Portsmouth Harbour
Soton C-Salisbury 29.5 28. 30
Salisbury-Warminster 22.5 20. 23
Warminster-Westbury 5.5 5. 56
5.5 minutes overtime at Westbury due to making connection with late-running
1105 Weymouth-Westbury DMU! Left Westbury 8 adrift.
Westbury-Trowbridge 8 5. 50
More station overtime at Trowbridge
Trowbridge-Bath Spa 16 20. 50
PWS *30 + PWS *20 + signals *4 between
Lampley Stoke and Bathampton
signals approaching Bath Spa
Bath Spa-Temple Meads 16 11. 05
Arrival 9.75 minutes late – hardly the fault of loco or crew!!
Next stage was to Exeter (St.Davids) with 1V81 0910 Newcastle-Plymouth – motive power 43189 (LA)/43190 (LA) – I late ex-Temple Meads and exactly the same arriving at St. David’s!!
Temple Meads-Bridgewater 25 24. 35
max 96 before Brent Knoll
Bridgewater-Taunton 11 9. 54
Taunton-St. David’s 27 25. 28
3 minutes recovery time
max 95 before Sampford Peverell
An interesting point – since leaving Waverley every locomotive thus far had been required!!! It was, surely too good to last!! Indeed it was 1020 1618 St.David’s-Waterloo produced 50019 (LA) loading 8/257.5. This was to be taken through to Waterloo in order to connect with the evening Weymouth Quay! It seemed like most stations to Salisbury…….where we are 6 late away
Salisbury-Andover Junction 18.5 20. 52
signal stop 4. 27-6. 28 after Tunnel Junction
91 max after Grateley
Andover Junction-Basingstoke 18.5 15. 51
92 max through Overton
Basingstoke-Woking 19.5 17. 05
100 max through Fleet
Woking-Waterloo 25.5 24. 58
96 max before Surbiton
2.5 late in after having left Exeter 2.25 late.
1W47 was already waiting for me – 73108 in charge of the same set as had worked 1W15 earlier.As you may have gathered, over the last year or two I’d developed a bit of a “soft spot” for the Class 73s – we did not have anything like them on the ECML or north of the border – the 73/9s were not thought about yet!! The usual sort of run tto Basingstoke – utterly competent
Clapham Junction 7 5. 39
64 max after Vauxhall!
Hampton Court Junction 17 14. 04 82
West Byfleet 20. 02 86
It was obviously deemed that we were doing far too well!!
signals *50 before Woking
Woking 22. 26 54
signals *44 at Woking Junction
Woking Junction 26.5 22. 53
85 max at Winchfield
signal stop 42. 36-46. 01 outside Basingstoke
Basingstoke 49 48. 24
Back now to Waterloo in preparation for the overnight with 50047 (LA) heading 1O24 1818 ex-St.David’s running 4.5 late
Basingstoke-Woking. 19.5 17. 24
Woking-Waterloo 25.5 25. 15
PWS *20 before West Byfleet
Time to renew acquaintance with 73122 (SL), which having worked back to London on the up afternoon Weymouth Quay was noe set to return to Eastleigh with 1W55 2250 SX Weymouth, load 8/268
Waterloo-Woking 29 30. 03
1 minute margining time before
Clapham Junction
signal stop 26. 24-28. 57 outside Woking
Woking-Basingstoke 27 23. 23
5 minutes recovery time (!!)
signals after Hook
signal stop 20. 12-20. 53 at Barton Mill
Basingstoke-Winchester 18.5 16. 37
1 minute margining time before
Worting Junction
Winchester-Eastleigh 9 8. 50
0.25 early into Eastleigh – much excellent judgement here!
LOCOMOTIVES REQUIRED FOR HAULAGE
86007 (WN) ; 81016 (GW) ; 86241 Glenfiddich (WN) ; 73122 (SL) ;
33026 (EH) ; 43189 (LA) ; 43190 (LA) ;
DAY 2 : EASTLEIGH-SOUTHAMPTON CENTRAL ; SOUTHAMPTON CENTRAL-
WOKING ; WOKING-EASTLEIGH ; EASTLEIGH-PORTSMOUTH
HARBOUR ; PORTSMOUTH HARBOUR-SALISBURY ; SALISBURY-
ANDOVER JUNCTION ; ANDOVER JUNCTION-BASINGSTOKE :
BASINGSTOKE-WATERLOO ; BANK-LIVERPOOL STREET ; LIVERPOOL
STREET-AUDLEY END ; AUDLEY END-BISHOP”S STORTFORD ;
BISHOP’S STORTFORD-CAMBRIDGE ; CAMBRIDGE-ELY ; ELY-
PETERBOROUGH ; PETERBOROUGH-NEWARK NORTHGATE
73122 having been relieved by 33102 (EH), 1W55 proceeded to Southampton Central in 10 minutes 02 seconds (booked 10!). 1W50 awaited with 33108 (EH)
load 7/239 which took its time to Eastleigh – 11 minutes 31 seconds (booked 10).
73122 having had a short break(!) thence to Woking with load increased by one GUV to 8/269 at Basingstoke.
Eastleigh-Winchester 10 8. 08
Winchester-Basingstoke 24 17. 19
Basingstoke-Woking 24 21. 46
up slow road from before Brookwood
The usual bale/fag-break(!!) at Woking awaiting 1B01 0245 (MX) Waterloo-Bournemouth Central which rolled in behind 73128 (SL) load 6/196 – 7.5 adrift on departure – actually nothing worthy of note to Eastleigh arriving 5 late. Thence the usual doss to Portsmouth Harbour with 1T01 0428 ex-Eastleigh behind 33002 (EH) – load 2/64 – 11.5 late departure ; 3.25 late arrival.
Thence to Salisbury on 2Y56 behind 33003 (EH) loading 5/176 – as usual the “every second lamp(or should that be mile??!!)post” – utterly adequate – on time away from Portsmouth ; 2.75 early into Salisbury. Originally the idea was to await 1004 0625 ex-St.David’s……but……33115 (required) was on 1L02 0755 SX ex-Salisbury. Therefore a short haul to Andover Junction was necessary to get another line in the book!! A customary good performance from a Class 33
Salisbury-Grateley 14 13. 47
minimum 54.5 before Idmiston
Grately-Andover Junction 7.5 7. 04
max 76.5
Now for 1004 with 50038 (OC) on load 8/257.5 – another short run -to Basingstoke
in 17 minutes 41 seconds (booked 18.5) – max a mere 75 before Oakley. This All-Line was certainly doing my Class 73 mileage no harm at all!! My chosen steed to Waterloo being 1W06 0645 SX ex- Weymouth Quay behind 73108 off the previous evening’s 1W47. A 5 minute late start provided an impetus and was it taken??!!
90 mph maxima being recorded through Fleet and most of the way between Milepost 31 and Brookwood
Woking Junction 20.5 18. 44
but….the brakes were on…..signal check *32 through Woking. The PWS *20 at West Byfleet was taken at *16. So despite 89 max at Esher and 1 minute margining time….
Hampton Court Junc 30 31. 21. 82
That remains our max to Waterloo – signals to 46.5 at Earlsfield and 34.5 at
Clapham Junction resulted in a time of 47 minutes 49 seconds (booked 46.5).
The Waterloo & City provided a extra 2 minutes (literally) of enjoyment to Bank and the short walk from thence to Liverpool Street was successfully achieved in ample time for 1P68 1105 Cambridge behind 37092 (MR) with load 7/229.5 – 3 minutes late on departure
Hackney Downs 6.5. 5. 49 29
signals *19
Clapton 9 8. 26 26
Tottenham SJ 11.5 10. 11. 39.5
PWS *20 before Tottenham Hale
Brimsdowne 16.5 16. 29 71.5/69
Chestnut 19 19. 10 76.5/72
Brixbourne 21.5 21. 39 73.5/76.5
Harlow Town 26.5 26. 44
Still 3 down away
Harlow Town-Bishop’s 9 9. 21
Stortford
thence
Elsenham 7 6. 48 59/57.5
max 78 before Newport
Audley End 12 12. 48
Not much to criticise there!
Back to Bishop’s Stortford with 1c71 1144 SX Cambridge-Liverpool Street behind 37099 (SF) load 7/233 – booked 12.5 actual 12. 45 – max 72 before Stanstead..
Onward from thence to Cambridge on 1P70 1205 ex-Liverpool Street behind 37021with the usual 7 vehicles taring in at 233 tons. All stations to Audley End then booked 17.5 minutes non-stop Cambridge (with 3 minutes recovery tome – actual 15. 12. I was actually headed for North Gate this day but in very gentle stages. regrettably the next on had to be with a Class 47, which by this time you will appreciate I did not approve of!! 1P72 1235 Liverpool Street-King’s Lynnn behind 47158 (SF) loading 9/298. Ah well it was not far to Ely and it provided yet another line in the book! Schedule was 16.5 minutes, actual 15 minutes 42 seconds.
However a treat ensued on the Peterborough – I usually found the Harwich-Peterboroughs the source of unusual locomotives and the 30th of July was no exception – 31266 (TE) on 1B42 1217 ex-Harwich load 5/167 a mere 1 late leaving Ely
Ely-March 18.5 17. 53
March-Peterborough 21.5 16. 53
3 minutes recovery.
5 early into Peterborough.
How unlike the ECML! Next stop was Grantham with 1L42 1404 KX-York – motive power 43081 (NL), with 43087 (EC) dead on rear – load including 43087 9/341 – the assemblage being 36 late by Peterborough – the lateness had been significantly increased by Grantham
Tallington 7.5 9. 19 75/78
max 80 before Essendine
then steady drop in speed
Little Bytham 14. 54 78/76.5
Corby Glen 18. 59 72/70.5
Stoke Summit 15 21. 34 69/66
Grantham 19.5. 27. 53
not helped by an arrival in Grantham to Platform 5 (which I once knew as the Nottingham (Victoria)/Derby Friargate platform!!!
I then made what turned out to be a misguided decision – to go to York to see if anything unusual took place on the balance of 1L42. So, I joined 1S31 1500 KX-Aberdeen – power cars 43092 (EC)/43061 (NL) loading 8/271 – 12.75 late leaving Grantham – again from Platform 5 – making special stops at Doncaster and Selby due to the lateness of 1L42.
Barkston South Junc. 2.5 5. 42
Newark 8.5 11. 55
Retford 18 21. 55
3 minutes recovery + 0.5 minute margining
Doncaster PASS 30.5 32. 56)
35. 11)
Selby PASS 40.5 48. 30)
51. 03)
signals before Chaloner’s Whin Junction
York 54.5 64. 15
22 late by the time we arrived in York!!
Meanwhile what special arrangements had been made to deal with 1A30 1757 York-KX (balance of 1L42)? Answer – absolutely nothing!!! So 43081 (NL) was on its
tod back to KX and left York 3.5 down already!!
Selby 14 14. 40
max 84 after Riccall
4.5 late away
Shaftholme Junction 17.5 17. 23
signal stop10. 08-11. 18 after Balne
max 83.5 after Arksey
Doncaster 21.5 22. 55
Not bad, I suppose but the effort had obviously exhausted 43081 which promptly lay down after arrival. So 1A30 sat at Doncaster for 35 minutes, while temporary repairs were effected (including much use of a “Clydeside screwdriver” – for those of you unfamiliar with the terms of the shipbuilding industry, this means “a hammer”!!!)
Eventually departing Doncaster 40.75 minutes to the bad……
Doncaster-Retford 13.5 15. 47
max 92.5 at Barnby Moor and Sutton
Retford-NNG 12.5 19. 13
signal stop 1. 08-2. 10 before Grove Road
no less than 51.25 adrift on arrival at North Gate – not one of the ECML’s finest afternoons!!!
LOCOMOTIVES REQUIRED FOR HAULAGE
33108 (EH) ; 73128 (SL) ; 33002 (EH) ; 33003 (EH) ; 33115 (EH0 ;
50038 Formidable (OC) ; 37092 (MR) ; 37099 (SF) ; 47158 Henry Ford (SF)
31266 (TE) ; 43081 (NL) ;
DAY 3 : NEWARK NORTHGATE-YORK ; YORK-LEEDS and return ; YORK-
BLACKPOOL NORTH ; BLACKPOOL NORTH-EDINBURGH WAVERLEY ;
EDINBURGH WAVERLEY-GLASGOW QUEEN STREET and return ;
EDINBURGH WAVERLEY-NEWCASTLE
After yesterday afternoons shambles, I was even less keen on beginning proceedings on another “tram’ – but by the summer of 1982 there was not much choice! So…to 1N00 0545 SO KX-Newcastle- power cars 43109 (NL)/43154 (NL) unlogged for North Gate to York – at least the timekeeping was immaculate by this
stage of a Saturday morning!!
The main reason for all this was to try for some Class 40 mileage somewhere else but Scotland or the North Wales Coast. Thus it was that I awaited the loco and set for 1M71 0900 SO York-Llandudno with interest. Not only was it a Class 40 – it was a required Class 40 – 40104 (LO) at the head of 4 vehicles 134 tare. It was not to be a happy experience to Leeds, though none of the lost time could be due to the locomotive. Leaving York to time, the first loss was after Copmanthorpe due to a signal stop 7. 48-9. 36 quickly followed by a PWS *20 – all before Bolton Percy. A brisk 72 was attained before Church Fenton, with a similar maximum before a signal check to *4 before Micklefield passed in 24. 52 as against a schedule of 21 including 4 minutes recovery time! Further signals were encountered a Garforth – this time speed was brought down to *15. The fates had not done with 1M71 yet! a further signal stop 34. 04-34. 15 was endured before Cross Gates with the result that 43. 23 had elapsed by the time we drew into Leeds (booking 27.5!!)
The return to York was a much happier progress behind 40158 (KD) (an ex-Haymarket faithful) heading 1E19 0840 SO Manchester Victoria-Scarborough Central loading 7/245.5 and departing Leeds 1.25 late
Cross Gates 8.5 7 .05 50/51.5
Micklefield 14 12. 15 57.5/64/
69/71.5
Church Fenton 18 16. 10 78/82
75/69
2 minutes recovery
PWS *20 before Copmanthorpe
York 34 30. 04
It was obviously a day for renewing old acquaintances!! 1M66 0926 SO Newcastle-Blackpool North being headed by 40060 (KD) (another ex-Haymarket faithful) on lad 9/313, which I had decided to take through in order to catch the Blackpool North-Waverley!! Setting out from York 1,5 late, we made a good start hitting a max of 70.5 before the PWS *20 before Bolton Percy. Church Fenton was passed in 13. 56 (schedule 12.5) at 66 and with the help of 2 minutes recovery we were virtually on time at Micklefield 18. 45 (booked 19.5) at 59 mph. Minimum up to Garforth was 55.5 and with the help of 2 more minutes recovery the schedule of 27 minutes to cross Gates was looking a bit silly as we stormed through at 75 in 23. 51. 40060 could afford to take it easy noe and did so reaching Leeds in 30. 18 (schedule 33.5.). Regrettably the WTTs covering the rest of the run are not in my collection, so the basics will have to suffice!
Leeds-Huddersfield 24 24. 24
signal stop 0. 52-0. 59 before Whitehall Junction
Morley passed in 9. 26 at 41.5/48.5
max 69 at Batley ; min 51.5 before Mirfield
Huddersfield-Stalybridge 25 23. 47
Golcar 5. 46 38/41.5
Slaithwaite 8. 06 43
Marsden 11. 32 43/44
Diggle 16. 04 45/67.5
max 76.5 at Mossley.
Stalybridge-Manchester Victoria 16 13. 32
signals after Miles Platting
signal stop 11. 37-12. 14 outside Victoria.
Manchester Victoria-Blackpool North
75 74. 42
Clifton 8. 56 51/49
Farnworth 13 04 49
Bolton 16. 17 *26
Adlington 25. 40 65.5/69
signals *19 before Chorley
Preston 45. 40 *25
signal stop 58. 54-59. 57 after Kirkham
North Junction
max 57.5 before Singleton
0.25 early into Blackpool North – wonderful timekeeping on cross country service on a summer Saturday!!
What language greeted 47458 (GD) at the head of 1S58 1430 Blackpool North-Edinburgh Waverley, loading 9/306, I cannot remember, but I’m sure it was not repeatable in polite society!!! I refused to log to Preston where I hoped for better things – the better things duly came in the shape of 85030 (CE), which proceeded to produce the customary total acceptable “roarer” performance leaving Preston 4.75 late.. OK a booking of 19 minutes to Lancaster did not actually require a scintillating run but it was cut to 17 minutes 30 seconds with a max of 98 at Brock. On to Carlisle the schedule demanded a little more – 58.5 minutes (including the inevitable 4 minutes recovery + 2 minutes margining time) for the 69.12 miles
Carnforth 6. 5. 36. 92/90
Oxenholme 15 14. 17. 87.5/79
Grayrigg 19. 36 83.5/72
Tebay 25.5. 23 51 93/88
Shap Summit 27. 41. 86/81.5/81.5
Penrith 40 37. 25. 65.5/69
Carlisle 58.5 51. 33
1S58 arrived some 8.5 minutes early(!!) and departed on time
Gretna Junction 8 8. 02
Quintinshill 9.5 9. 10
Lockerbie 20.5 19. 51
Beattock 30 31. 33
Beattock Summit 38.5 39. 18
Abington 44 44. 52
2 minutes recovery time
Strawfrank Junction 56.5 56. 19
Carstairs 58.5 57. 50
The improvement in motive power continued, with 40034 (LO) waiting at Carstairs to take over.
Carnwath 4. 14. 36/38.5
Auchengray 8. 54. 54/61.5
Cobbinshaw 12. 14 55.5/54.5
Midcalder Junction 20.5 18. 39. 66/63.5
2 minutes recovery time
max 70.5 after Ravelrig Junction
PWS *40 after Curriehill
Slateford Junction 31.5 28. 34. 45
signals *!4 at Duff Street
Haymarket 34. 31. 50
Again, few complaints – a 2.5 minute early departure allowed for a gentle finish -4 minutes 36 seconds to Waverley (booked 3) and a final arrival 1 minute early. A suitable fill in before going home to West Calder on 2Y48 seemed to be 1S51 1512 SO Scarborough Central-Queen Street powered by 37027 (ED) on 6/204. Once again a departure on time!!
Haymarket 3 3. 10 36
Winchburgh Junction 13 13. 27. 72/78/76.5
Linlithgow 16.5 17. 06 85/80
signals *41.5 at Bo’ness Junction
Polmont 20 21. 53 54.5/62
Falkirk High 23 25. 22
Away 4 minutes late but helped by the 4 minutes recovery time the performance to Queen Street allowed two signal checks before and after Bishopbriggs to be successfully negotiated! Booke from Falkirk in 25.5 the actual was 23. 35.
Back over east with 47704 (HA) on 1O69 2130 Queen Street-Waverley – time off, time arrival. Plenty of time for 2Y48…then came one of those moments which require an instant change of plan!! This was the arrival of 40015 to relieve on 1E40 !…suddenly I was not going home at all – I was going to KX. What moves could be made then could be worked out during the night!! 1E40 dutifully arrived from Aberdeen and 40015 dutifully was attached to 10 vehicles 335.5 tare. Yet one more on time departure, thence
Portobello 5.5. 4. 41
Monktonhall Junction 8 7. 49
Drem 19.5 18. 09
Drem-Dunbar occupied no less than 14. 42 (booked 12.5 – a tad tight for a 40!!) – result 2.75 late away
Grantshouse 17 15. 33
Reston Junction 22 19. 48
Berwick 30.5 30. 04
Smart station work here – only 1 down on departure
4 minutes recovery time
Belford 17.5 14. 42
PWS *20 after Little Mill
Alnmouth 31 32. 41
Morpeth 46 48. 55
5 minutes recovery time
Newcastle 67.5 67. 34
Technically 0.5 minutes late but approaching 0100, who was counting!!
LOCOMOTIVES REQUIRED FOR HAULAGE
43154 (NL) ; 40104 (LO) ; 85030 (CE)
DAY 4 :: NEWCASTLE-KING’S CROSS ; WATERLOO-STRAWBERRY HILL and
return ; WATERLOO-SOUTHAMPTON CENTRAL ; SOUTHAMPTON
CENTRAL-EASTLEIGH ; EASTLEIGH-READING GENERAL ; READING
GENERAL-BIRMINGHAM NEW STREET ; BIRMINGHAM NEW STREET-
PETERBOROUGH ; PETERBOROUGH-NEWARK NORTHGATE
Unfortunately 40015 came off at Newcastle reason unknown to be replaced by the less than appreciated form of 47430 (GD). Time for a few hours kip – story take up leaving Stevenage at 0524.5 – 8.5 early departure – we could afford to take it very easily – and did so!!
Potter’s Bar 13.5 15. 51
(having reached the giddy heights of 75
through Hatfield!!)
PWS *20 after New Southgate
Finsbury Park 23.5 27. 31
KX 27 33. 01
Still 2.5 to the good!!
Now the question was – where was I going to be tonight and how was I going to get there?? Answer – Newark via Southampton, Reading, New Street and Peterborough. Still a bit of a problem -how to pass the couple of hours till 1W15 left Waterloo at 0955?? Answer – go for some new track on the Southern commuter network – the very thing – 0810 SUN Waterloo-Strawberry Hill and the 0847 SUN return – out via New Malden and back via Twickenham – additional excuse – my first trip on a Class 508 EMU!!! Back in Waterloo at 0914 dead on booking! Rewarded with a required 73 on 1W15 0955 Weymouth Quay – 73140 on load 7.237.5. Now by this time I was becoming accustomed to 73 hauled runs and was looking forward to another.
Clapham Junction 7 6. 03 58/*38
2 minutes margining time
Hampton Court Junction 18 14. 57. 78
max 82 at Byfleet & New Haw
signals *12 + signals *13 before Woking
Woking Junction 27.5 28. 02 37.5/51
minimum 69 before Milepost 31
TO DOWN SLOW before Farnborough
Winchfield 42. 38. 80/*50
TO DOWN FAST at Hook
max 80 before Barton
Basingstoke 48 50. 27
3 late on departure
Worting Junction 4 3. 27 46/62.5
Micheldever 10. 37 78/*55
Winchester 17 16. 27 87.5
max 90 at Shawford
signals *13 at Eastleigh
signals *12 before Southampton Airport
signals *35 after Swaythling
Southampton Central 30 35. 24
Loco and crew deserved better!!
Now for some more light relief – 1057 SUN Lymington Pier-Eastleigh formed of Class 423 EMU 7751/7849 – necessary to catch 2Y34 1108 SUN Portsmouth Harbour-Reading General at Eastleigh – this having been achieved, producing 33103 on load 4/137…..time off Eastleigh…..0.5 early on arrival.
Things were going well regarding haulage this Sunday morning. As you will have gathered Paddington-New Street etc. services were not exactly my happy hunting ground!! So, I was not displeased to be greeted with 50027 (OC) at the head of 1M03 1255 SUN Paddington-Lime Street. Mind it would be kinder to draw the proverbial over the run which followed – knee deep in engineering operation!!!
Then a cross country trot behind a Class 31 – 31183 (MR) as motive power on 1E77 1655 SUN New Street-Norwich. Not much of interest before Leicester, but then booked non-stop Peterborough
Syston 7.5 7. 05 63/*26
max 62 at Rearsby
PWS *20 (taken at 27.5) before Melton Junction
Melton Mowbray 19 20. 56. 54.5
max 69 at Oakham
Manton 33 35. 37. 66/*32
Luffenham 38.5 40. 47. 50/46.5
Stamford 46 48.37 44/*31.5
PWS *30 at Helpston
Helpston 54.5 57. 13 51.5/*30
3 minutes recovery time
signal stop 63. 52-66. 37 after New England North
Peterborough 64 68. 49
4.75 late arrival.
So…to 1D06 1803 SUN KX-Cleethorpes – non-stop to Northgate in a typical Sunday timing – 41 minutes!! Fortunately we are 8.75 minutes late departing which gave 47473 (BS) and crew some encouragement…..load 9/302
Helpston 6 5. 52 78/83.5
Tallington 10 7. 52 86/88
max 89 before Essendine
Stoke Summit 22.5 18. 50 80/78/78
Grantham 27.5 22. 34 88/87.5
Barkston South Junction 31.5 25. 41 78/83.5
max 92.5 at Claypole
Northgate 41 34. 44
Lateness reduced to 2.5 minutes – it would not have done in 1981 on a KX-York with a Class 55, but it was not bad at all for a Class 47!!!
LOCOMOTIVES REQUIRED FOR HAULAGE
73140 (SL) ; 33103 (EH)
DAY 5 : NEWARK NORTHGATE-HABROUGH and return
Just a quiet day – an afternoon jaunt to Habrough – at least it was a Class 31/1 on the outward journey – 31107 (IM) on load 4/131.5 forming 2D62 1415 Northgate-Cleethorpes.
Northgate-St. Mark’s 21 25. 19
signal stop 11. 59-12. 22 at Swinderby
max 51.5 at Boultham Crossing
St. Mark’s-Market Rasen 18 18. 47
max 61.5 after Wickenby
Market Rasen-Barnetby 21 20. 27
max 60 at Holton-le-Moor
Barnetby-Habrough 8,5 10. 48
PWS *20 at Melton Ross Siding
Back with the more usual Class 31/4 – 31409 load 4/142 on 2D56 1524 Cleethorpes-Northgate – 6 down leaving Habrough; 11 late by Northgate!! Run ruined by signal stops, 3 of them between St. Mark’s and Thorpe-on-the Hill!!
LOCOMOTIVES REQUIRED FOR HAULAGE
NIL
DAY 6 : NEWARK NORTHGATE-YORK ; YORK-SCARBOROUGH CENTRAL (via
LEEDS and HARROGATE): SCARBOROUGH CENTRAL-MALTON ;
MALTON-YORK ; YORK-DARLINGTON and return ; YORK-NEWARK
NORTHGATE
Another early start from Northgate on 1L41 0545 SX KX-York. The usual tram – power cars 43096 (EC)/43102 (HT)
Northgate-Retford (GN) booked 13.5 actual. 15. 00
(did one hear the comment “rubbish” from somewhere???!!)
Retford GN-Doncaster 16 13 49
3 minutes recovery time
Doncaster-Selby 14 15. 15
signals before Arksey
Selby-York 15 13. 58
2 minutes recovery
Not exactly inspiring!!! 7 late off Northgate ; 5.25 late in York
The point of all this was to make use of the availability of All-Lines on advertised excursions – hence I was bound for Scarborough via Harrogate, Leeds and York
courtesy of 1G50 0845 ex-York formed 0f 10 vehicles/334 tons and headed by Stanier Black 5 45305 – 14 late departing
Skelton Junction 5 4. 40. 21.5/28
Poppleton 9 7. 28. 24.5/32
Hammerton 19 15. 56 45/38
Cattal 23 19. 19. 25/27
max 46 after Allerton
Knaresborough 32 29. 59 40/24.5
Starbeck 34. 31 23
Harrogate 41 40 22
On to Leeds
Rigton 10 11. 18 43
max 47 after Weeton
Bramhope Tunnel S 21 03 45/21.5
Horsforth 21 23. 16 *19
max 49.5 after Headingley
Leeds 35 34. 19
Again not exactly inspiring!!!
Cross Gates 9 9. 15 37.5/30
Garforth 14. 04 35/38
Micklefield 18 17. 27 40.5/51.5
Church Fenton 25 25. 09 56/60/*30.5
WEAVE *21.5
max 54.5 at Copmanthorpe
signals *19 at Chaloner’s Whin Junc
York 39 45. 33
Truncated stop York-5 late away
max 52.5 at Barton Mill
Malton 28 33. 14 44/*30
max 57.5 at Heslerton
signals *9 at Weaverthorpe
max 48.5 before Seamer West
Seamer 50 60. 34 34.5
Scarborough Central 56 66. 47
15.75 late arrival – fairly desperate stuff!!!
1M26 1300 Scarborough C-Lime Street looked to be of interest – 45004 (TO) on load 7/223.5 – and an 18 minute late start – another disappointment!!
Scar C-Seamer 5 5. 31 59 max
Seamer-Malton 17 18. 22
max 71 after Knapton
A break at Malton , then on to York with 1L35 1405 SX ex-Scarborough C – 31260
(OC!!!) on lad 6/202.5 – and only 2 late leaving!! Well, at least we kept the schedule
Malton-York 26 25. 29
max 72.5 after Strensall
Another fill-in required – OK Darlington with 45135 (TO) on 1E55 1000 Cardiff-Newcastle – load, a respectable 11 vehicles 365 tare – a 14 late start from York
Skelton Junction 4.5 3. 56 26.5/51/5
Tollerton 11 10. 29. 77/83.5
Thirsk 20 18. 56 90/92
Northallerton 25.5 24. 25 84/86
max 90 after Danby Wiske
PWS *20 after Croft Spa
Darlington 37 38. 59
Pity about the PWS!!
Return to York with 45143 (TO) heading 1V97 1626 Newcastle-Temple Meads loading 10/335 – 5.25 adrift leaving Darlington
Northallerton 12.5 12. 57. 86/*36
TO UP SLOW ROAD *40
PWS *20 after Otterington
Thirsk 19.5. 23. 01. 37.5
max 67.5 after Sessay
TO UP FAST ROAD – PILMOOR *39
Tollerton 32.5 35. 37. 80/81.5
max 89 at Beningborough
5 minutes recovery time
Skelton Junction 44.5 41. 29 87.5/73.5
York 48.5 45. 51
2 late arrival – what more can one say??!
Back to Northgate on 1A30 1757 York-KX – 43086(EC)/43055 (NL) on 8/271 – 11.5 late start due to late-running of 1E18 1500 Waverley-KX
sigs *4 Chaloner’s Whin Junction
max 103 at Riccall
sigs *64 before Barlby North
Selby 14 14. 50
12.25 late off
3 minutes recovery time
3 minutes margining time
max 112 at Moss
Shaftholme Junction 17.5 9. 42. 106/103
Doncaster 21.5 14. 26
4.5 late away
max 116 after Bawtry
Retford GN 13.5 12. 52
3.5 late away
max 120 after Egmanton
Northgate 12.5 13. 21
LOCOMOTIVES REQUIRED FOR HAULAGE
43096 (EC) ; 45305 (Black 5) ; 31260 ; 45143 5th. ROYAL INNISKILLING
DRAGOON GUARDS ; 43055 (NL)
DAY 7 : NEWARK CASTLE-NOTTINGHAM ; NOTTINGHAM-MANCHESTER
VICTORIA ; MANCHESTER PICCADILLY-EUSTON ; LONDON BRIDGE-
EAST CROYDON ; EAST CROYDON-OXTED and return ; EAST
CROYDON-WATERLOO EAST ; WATERLOO-BASINGSTOKE and return.
A luxurious start with DMU 50737/59274/50668 forming the 0750 St.Mark’s-New Street – 3 late out of Castle – 4.75 late into Nottingham. this to cover 1S68 0932 Nottingham-Central/Waverley to Manchester Vic – haulage 47448 (CD) again a required 47!! Dependent of public TT for the intermediate times I’m afraid!
Nottingham-Alfreton & Mansfield
Parkway 28. 24. 17
Alfreton etc!!-Chesterfield 17 20. 41
signal stop 7. 15-13 19 before Clay Cross
Chesterfield-Sheffield 19 17. 32
PWS *20 after Dronfield
Signals approaching Sheffield
Sheffield-Man Vic 69 63. 11
WEAVE before Dore & Totley
signal stop 30. 16-30. 56 at Chinley
North Junction
WEAVE after Chinley
3 minutes down into Man Vic.
Across to Piccadilly bound for Euston with 1A49 1315 departure with 87033 on 9 vehicles/306 tare – again limited detail as to timings due to lack of relevant WTT!!
Piccadilly-Stockport 7 7. 13
Stockport-Macclesfield 13 12. 43
Macclesfield-Stoke 19 19. 44
PWS *20 before Etruria
Thence non-stop to Euston
PWS *20 at Stone
max 83.5 before Hixon
Colwich Junction 18. 51 79/*51.5
Lichfield 26. 04 97/95
Tamworth 29. 56 98
max 100 after Atherstone
Nuneaton 38. 27 99/97.5
Rugby 48. 28 *55
max 100 before Wolverton
TO UP SLOW ROAD at Denbigh
Hall North Junction
Leighton Buzzard 80. 20 65.5/80
TO UP FAST ROAD before
Cheddington
Tring 88 21 95/*50
PWS *50 after Tring
Watford Junction 98 10 96
max 97.5 before Hatch End
PWS *20 at South Kenton
Willesden Junction 108. 53 90/87.5
Euston 123 117. 11
Time off Victoria – 5.5 early Euston – can’s complain!!
Now for a new experience – the London Bridge commuters. I was less than happy to be confronted by 33005 (EH) 0n 2U19 1720 SX London Bridge-Uckfirld – load 8/263.5. The short trip to East Croydon was “enlivened” be the attitude of one of my fellow-passengers!! I was clearly sitting in “his seat” – I dread to think how many evenings he had sat in it over the years. However. I was determined not to move!!
Actually the journey was only booked 13 minutes – actual was 15. 08 thanks to a signal stop of 6 seconds (!!) after Norwood Junction and a subsequent PWS *20.
1U21 1734 SX Lodon Bridge-East Grinstead was altogether a happier experience. For a stat I required 33053 (HG) which appeared at the head of 8 vehicles 263.5 tare. The journey to Oxted was booked 16 – actual 14. 13 including signals approaching Oxted.
Two consecutive MUs were to follow – the first being on board the 1710 Uckfield/1740 East Grinstead-London Bridge with DEMU power in the shape of 1113/1106. Baled at East Croydon to catch the 1810 Tottenham Corner-Cannon Street to Waterloo East with EMUs 5660/5432
Why Waterloo?? Well, obviously, the evening Weymouth Quay as far as Basingstoke. Natural, this produced another required Class 73, 73106 (SL) heading 7 coaches 238.5 tare. The usual highly enjoyable run to Basingstoke, following an on time departure….
Clapham Junction 7 6. 02 61.5/*36
Hampton Court Junction 17 15. 20 77/78
max 85 after Weybridge
Woking Junction 26.5 23. 31 76.5
max 86 after Fleet
signal stop 42. 36-44. 18 at Barton
Basingstoke 49 46. 29
2.5 early on arrival – as usual with the Weymouth Quays no complaints!!
The usual service returning to Waterloo 1O24 1818 ex-St.David’s with 50032 on load 7.227 – 1.5 early leaving Basingstoke!!!
Basingstoke-Woking 19.5 18. 22
Ater a leisurely stop still 1.5 to the good on departure
Woking-Waterloo 25.5 26. 15
PWS *20 at West Byfleet
signal stop 18. 23-18. 35 before Clapham Junction
Despite all this scrambled into Waterloo on time.
LOCOMOTIVES REQUIRED FOR HAULAGE
47448 (CD) ; 33053 (HG) ; 73106 (SL)
These memories of All-Lines become even more lengthy as time goes by!!! As this was a 14-day epic, let’s leave week 2 for the future – I was not doing the Southern overnight this time so let’s leave me en route from Waterloo to Paddington!!!
End of Part ONE
Thanks again to Jim for the memories.
Leighton Lists 