Spring Holiday reliefs, May 1985
Back in the days of the proper railway, relief trains were an important means of coping with the additional traffic a Bank Holiday weekend could bring. Across the country relief or additional trains ran down the spine of the country on Table 51 (via New St) and to/from most London termini.
By 1985 the cost cutting regime imposed on the railway did mean the numbers of relief trains were lower than previous years but still impressive enough. All the additional and amended trains were published in a free “Train Service Alterations” booklet which although primarily for staff it was very useful for enthusiasts too!
The gen booklet!
Sample relief trains May 85
With thanks to the Timewarp website and our roving local bashers, below are just some of the many relief trains and in some cases exotic power that featured on them. Most of the gen comes from the Midlands, Table 51 country!
Friday May 24th 1985.
45066 1V31 1030 York – Plymouth relief , from Bristol TM
45069 1E69 1709 Bristol – Leeds Relief
45108 1V31 1030 York – Exeter relief, to Bristol TM
45108 1Z16 1916 Bristol Temple Meads – Derby relief
45115 1E75 1521 Bristol Temple Meads – Leeds relief
45135 ???? 1324 Wolverhampton – Plymouth relief via Camp Hill
47094 1Z68 1206 Bristol – Edinburgh Relief from Carstairs
47140 1Z17 12.25 Plymouth – Crewe relief
47401 1425 York-Plymouth Relief to BNS
45127 1425 York-Plymouth Relief ex BNS
47513 1Z09 1205 Bristol Temple Meads – Edinburgh relief via Camp Hill, to Wolverhampton
33117 1325 Reading-Wolverhampton Relief
33117 1710 Wolverhampton – Poole Relief
37103 1803 York-Birmingham Relief
47525 ???? 1626 Reading – Liverpool Lime Street relief
47556 1Z28 1147 Padd-Penzance Relief
50023 1Z?? 1859 Paddington – Paignton relief
45019 ???? 1922 Paddington – Bristol relief
85028 1215 Carlisle-Plymouth Relief
85017 1Z09 1205 Bristol Temple Meads – Edinburgh relief, from Wolverhampton
Loads of reliefs!
Saturday May 25th.
45066 ???? 1358 Sheffield – Swansea relief
45066 1E51 0732 Exeter St Davids – Sheffield relief
45069 1V32 1032 York – Penzance Relief
47352 1V54 13.11 Lancaster – Plymouth relief , from BNS
47524 1005 Crewe-Penzance Relief
86324 1411 Lancaster-Plymouth Relief to BNS
47352 1411 Lancaster-Plymouth Relief ex BNS
47441 0915 Wolverhampton – Portsmouth H Relief
Sunday May 26th.
No booked relief trains…..
Bank Holiday Monday May 27th.
20121} 1825 Skegness – Derby relief
20157}
31466} 16:25 Newcastle – Kings Cross relief
31467}
45017 1V21 1425 York – Plymouth relief
45112 1Z16 1709 Bristol Temple Meads – Derby relief
47275 1Z09 1801 York – Birmingham New St relief
Tuesday May 28th 1985.
25211 1V21 1420 York – Plymouth relief to Bristol TM
31202 1V21 1425 York – Plymouth relief ex Bristol TM
45066 0906 Bristol – York relief
45066 1Z09 1801 York – Birmingham Relief
45069 1521 Bristol – Leeds Relief
45107 ???? 1806 Exeter St David`s – Birmingham New Street Relief
45142 1E75 1521 Bristol Temple Meads – Leeds relief
45144 1709 Bristol-Derby relief
47140 1V32 1032 York – Plymouth relief
47159 ???? 1435 Derby – Cardiff relief
Much jubilation aboard as 25211 arrives at Sheffield with 1V21 1420 York – Plymouth relief to Bristol TM on 280585
25211 leaves Cheltenham with 1V21 1420 York – Plymouth relief which the rat worked to T.Meads for 31202 forward to Plymouth on 280585
Wednesday May 29th 1985.
47091 1Z09 1801 York – Birmingham New St relief
47598 1G54 1815 Llandudno – Birmingham New Street relief
Known relief power that 1985 Spring bank holiday weekend:
20121/20157
25211
31202, 31466/31467
33117
45017, 45019, 45066, 45069
45107, 45108, 45112, 45115, 45127, 45135, 45142, 45144
47091, 47094, 47140, 47159, 47275, 47352
47401, 47441, 47513, 47524, 47525, 47556, 47598
50023
85017, 85028
86324
Real railway, real power…………………
If anybody has any more May 85 relief train gen and or memories, would be very welcome
Leighton Lists 