Its Christmas Eve 1983 and just 3 bored faces are in the mess room at Euston. These 3 Northampton men had resisted calls to join their off duty colleagues in the “head of steam” as they were rostered home working 1B24 2335 Euston-Northampton. Guard Jones picked up a tatty “STN” and quipped ” nobody told me it was a hauled set tonight, I hope the heaters works!”.
At 2330 the train crew trudged down Euston’s platform 8 with many calls of “merry Christmas” from platform staff waiting to book off. Late night commuters with silly hats and cans in hand were still piling aboard, some compos in the BSK had streamers up. “Well I’m not gripping tonight” laughed Jones.
Driver Hartson and second man Evans clambered aboard their loco 85024. “Well we won’t need to stir our tea tonight” joked secondman Evans. In true Euston tradition 1B24 was flagged off a minute or so early and the crew hoped they would be booked off by 1am on this hated “midnight turn”.
On emerging from the shelter of the station’s roof the “roarers” wipers were soon busy as snow fluttered around as the 85 shot up Camden Bank on a light load 5. “White bloody Christmas is all we need” joked driver Hartson. On calling at Watford the platforms the platforms were now white with snow as was the track bed.
Looking back for the tip Evans noticed the guard wading through the snow, ignoring “its Father Christmas” jokes he advised of a special stop order for Leighton Buzzard as some commuter had missed his last train.
No comments were needed, as with a swish from the brakes and a deafening roar 85024 was notched up aggressively.
She slipped a little before going into “whack amps” mode on the dryer rails inside Watford tunnel. Passing the Kings Langley Ovaltine factory just visible through the swirling snow was the time flashing 2359 and the temperature a cool minus 4.
As the 85 stormed over “Tring Summit” the driver remarked “she’s a good un” the secondman “shame she rides like a pig!” Approaching Ledburn the first double yellow pegs seen since Euston and with claxons blaring 85024 was brought to a sharp stop at Leighton Buzzard’s snow covered, deserted platforms.
A tap on the cab window saw a passenger who handed Evans a half bottle of Bells to “keep you warm boys”. The peg at Leighton platform remained red and Evans without hesitation struggled down the platform to ring the box. On picking up the phone all he could hear was Christmas carols.! After a few expletives re “silent night” the bobby advised the road was now clear and the peg went to green.
Again the 85 surged forward in Linslade tunnel and a wave on passing Bletchley PSB. A brief stop at the Keynes and still a few minutes early they roared out of Wolverton. Climbing up to Hanslope the weather was now wild with snow swirling around and blowing in through numerous gaps in the cab’s seals. The 85 again slipped a little, her pan arcing to illuminate deep drifts along the side of the tracks. “Come on old girl” remarked the driver as her speed began to drop as she slipped on the snow on passing the neutral section.
“Not a good night to call out the plough engine” joked Evans but driver Hartson was deep in concentration on keeping his charge moving. Speed dropped to near walking pace as milepost 61 approached, “we need Santa’s reindeer” quipped Evans to an expletive back from Hartson. Then with an arc from the pan that lit up half of Northamptonshire and molten metal from down below, 85024 topped the summit and then literally flew through Roade cutting and into Northampton the final destination.
“Job done” they dismounted as passengers slithered home unaware of how close they had been to spending Christmas in Hanslope “the coldest place on earth…”.
The railmen’s names are fictional, the rest,, well I’ll leave that up to you..Happy Christmas from the list’s team.
Leighton Lists 