On the Mid, Aug 16-18 1985

On the “Mid”, August 16-18th 1985

Friday August 16th

Awaiting the last “Cobbler” we looked forward to 25 “roarer” miles to Northampton as

the last “Cobbler” was a solid roarer turn, especially on a Friday. It s a “rancid can” went the shout as an 86 approached, “perhaps its a 0” (86’0) somebody commentated, when 86325 whined in, it was off down the pub in disgust.

310056 took us North an hour later to Coventry where we leapt for that equally “solid” roarer turn in the 2130 Coventry – Preston which tonight was 86260! It wasnt until near 2330 that our first decent haulage in 81017 produced back to New St and then, as per diagram onwards on S19. 45004 was viewed arriving with 1M81 1807 ex Harwich presumably meaning a “ped” had burst on this train and may produce the next morning.

16/8/85 Fr

86325 1B09 1815 Euston-Northampton

056 1902 Euston-Birmingham LB-CO

86260 1P51 2130 Coventry-Preston CO-NS

86235 1D82 2030 Euston-Holyhead NS-WO

47365 2F86 2220 Birmingham-Leicester

81017 1V40 2130 Manchester-Newquay WO-NS

47056 1V40 2130 Manchester-Newquay

47142 1S19 2124 Bristol-Glasgow

81017 1S19 2124 Bristol-Glasgow NS-CR

45140 1S23 2140 Bristol-Glasgow

85031 1S23 2140 Bristol-Glasgow

45004 1M81 1807 Harwich-Wolves

Saturday August 17th

On arrival at Crewe around 1 am we were suprised to see 47066 dragging a failed 85007 on a 170 late 1V42 2156 (16/8) Liverpool – Penzance. Within 10 minutes the 47 had removed the failure and 85004 was roaring South with us all aboard! Backat New St it was time to view the early morning down procession with 45135, 47543 and 47571 working. The later was taken to Wolves to cover 1E62 Harwich which wasnt 45004 or anything interesting like the night before but 31430 which was flagged. 85010 wasn’t far behind on 1V62 with a mileage move to New St with a diversion via Bescot.

A good doss on a warm DMU to Derby for that solid “nb” big Ped turn, namely 1E83 0723 Chesterfield – Yarmouth. 31462! produced on this but had to be taken to Beeston to make 20121/20157 on the Leicester – Skegness. A DMU back to Long Easton where we crossed the expected dud 20007/20180 on the Derby – Skegness. A dull 31425 later took me from Leicester to Hinkley for a winning 31263 and 31229 on the 1020 Birmingham – Yarmouth back to sunny Leicester.

A tram back to Derby comfortably made the rumoured and very required Eastern monster in 37058 on the 1030 York – Penzance relief. From New St old Western steamer 47142 was taken from New St to Wolves leaving me very out of position for 20099/20116 as rare forwarding power on the 0915 Glasgow – Bristol relief from New St!

However i was happy enough with a late afternoon roarer bash on 85022, 85032 and 85034 before 87009 screamed down the Trent with us homeward bound exhausted and sweaty!.

17/8/85 Sat

47066} 1V42 2156 Liverpool-Penzance (170L)

85007 (d)}

85004 1V42 2156 Liverpool-Penzance (180L) CR-NS

47193 1V42 2156 Liverpool-Penzance

86432 1V58 2215 Glasgow-Paignton

45004 1V58 2215 Glasgow-Paignton

45135 1E43 2100 Penzance-Leeds

47543 1E61 2035 Penzance-Newcastle (40l)

47571 1M05 2215 Penzance-Liverpool NS-WO

31430 1E62 0530 Wolverhampton-Harwich

85010 1V62 2020 Aberdeen/2355 Edinburgh-Paignton WO-NS (via BS)

DMU 0635 Birmingham-Derby NS-DE

31462 1E83 0723 Chesterfield-Yarmouth DE-BE

20121} 1E89 0816 Leicester-Skegness BE-NO

20157}

DMU 0915 Nottingham – Derby NO-LG

20007} 1E85 0929 Derby-Skegness

20180}

43056} 0925 Sheffield-St Pancras LG-LE

43055}

31425 1M37 0735 Norwich-Birmingham LE-HI

31263} 1E72 1020 Birmingham-Norwich HI-LE

31229}

43081} 1030 St. Pancras-Sheffield LE-DE

43058}

37058 1030 York-Penzance Relief DE-NS

47192 0940 Poole-York Relief

31230 1M80 0935 Norwich-Birmingham

47199 1E22 1246 Portsmouth-Leeds

47142 1S84 1020 Paignton-Glasgow NS-WO (via BS)

85028 1S84 1020 Paignton-Glasgow (ex Wolves)

47229 1E22 1246 Portsmouth-Leeds

20099} 0915 Glasgow-Bristol Relief

20116}

85022 1G72 1311 Lancaster-Birmingham WO-NS

47449 1030 Poole-Wolverhampton Relief

47187 1M22 1128 Paignton-Manchester

85032 1M22 1128 Paignton-Manchester NS-CR

47608 1O23 1550 Liverpool-Poole

33039 1V06 1417 Bangor-Cardiff

85022 1P70 1620 Birmingham-Preston

86314 1M06 1100 Stranraer-Euston

81011 1D64 1510 Euston-Holyhead

85034 1M42 1030 Inverness-Euston CR-ST

87009 1A78 1620 Holyhead-Euston ST-RU

86325 1G75 1752 Preston-Coventry

056 1921 Birmingham-Euston RU-LB (via WG)

Sunday August 18th

Although we didnt know it at the time our first haulage was the best of the day! 310053 screaming along the “old line” through Weedon and Watford Gap at speeds well in excess of its regulation 75mph was great fun in the noisy power car. The main drags this Sunday were Stafford-Stoke-Manchester but everything we covered was eh. G06 produced a reasonable 47119 for a Stoke – Birmingham NS move for 81008 back to Wolves but after that it was all very average power to finish off.

As our gang headed home on 87017 the usual claims of what the next “bonk holiday” weekend would bring were beginning!!

18/8/85 Su

053 0915 Euston-Rugby LB-RU (via WG)

87004 1H30 0950 Euston-Manchester RU-ST

47443 1H30 0950 Euston-Manchester ST-STO

47598 1O74 1140 Manchester-Gatwick

47441 1A21 1245 Manchester-Euston

47119 1G06 1310 Manchester-Birmingham STO-NS

81008 1P70 1620 Birmingham-Preston NS-WO

47143 1E77 1717 Birmingham-Norwich

86314 1O23 1550 Liverpool-Poole WO-NS

85009 1H38 1750 Birmingham-Manchester