The North Midlander Railtour, Feb 85
23/2/85 Sat Gen and moves
86314 2A23 0350 Euston-Bletchley (flagged!)
090 0525 Bletchley-Euston LB-EN
25034} 1Z26 0730 St.Pancras-Stafford Railtour SP-ST(Via Ox)
25044}
45048 1Z26 1248 Stafford-St.Pancras Railtour ST-NO
25044} 1Z26 1656 Nottingham-St.Pancras Railtour NO-SP (Via Ox)
25034}
85011 1S39 0734 Poole-Glasgow
45139 1E63 0940 Poole-Newcastle
47538 112 1640 Nottingham-Barrow
85005 1K06 1703 Euston-Crewe
056 2330 Euston-Bletchley EU-LB
1Z26 Tour Itinerary
St Pancras – Cricklewood E – Acton Wells – Didcot – Oxford – Claydon – Bletchley Flyover – Weedon – Nuneaton – Stafford – Lichfield E Curve – Castle Donnington- Derby – Nottingham
Nottingham – Leicester – Wigston N – Nuneaton flyover – Water Orton – Walsall – Bescot – Aston – Coventry – Oxford – Didcot – Acton Wells – Cricklewood E – St Pancras
Tour Ching £15-95
North Midlander Tour review
25034 and 25044 wait departure time with the tour from St Pancras
I met up with messrs Ewer and Smith on the concourse at St Pancras around 7am. Our spirits were high, we had 800 miles plus of “rat” mileage to enjoy on an interesting route that included Bletchley Flyover. Plus would the 20s be winners for the Stafford – Nottingham leg?
The “rats” (25034 and 25044) were both steaming well, something they continued to do all day on a cold, grey February Saturday. “Rats” on the Western were always special so we enjoyed a good run from Acton to Oxford for the booked stagger along the pleasant but slow Oxford – Bletchley line.
Bletchley flyover got a good bellow and then we stormed North via Weedon and the Trent Valley. The tour atmosphere was subdued despite the power and route and perhaps was typical of RESL tours with a large spotting and London based element. The forwarding power from Stafford didn’t help the atmosphere either, no exotic 20’s, just a common boilered “wagon” 45048.
In slightly less dull weather 25034 and 25044 are seen at Stafford
Former Scottish “rat” 25231 at Stafford with a van train
45048 did take us via the Lichfield curve towards Winchnor Jn but most aboard were not impressed.
45048 at Derby with the tour which the Peak had worked from Stafford
25044 and 25034 followed from us to Derby
47364 at Derby on a down oils
Former Knottingley monster 47373 yes, at Derby
25044 and 25034 middle road at Nottingham prior to returning South with the tour
We left Nottingham in the dark at 1656 on a route that included Nuneaton flyover and Bescot with the “rats” still thrashing nicely and steaming well. Unfortunately any hope of a fast Western run were thwarted by us being pathed behind an Oxford – Padd all shacks DMU, so we lost time ending up 80 late back into St Pancras.
We went our seperate ways from here, content but not buzzing after the tour, i just made 310056 on the 2330 Euston – Bletchley for the usual power car screams and pops home.
Leighton Lists 