The rare sight of 33207 arriving at Marylebone with the main tour from Worksop on September 5th 2009
Ran by fledgling “Joint Line railtours” this was a “Mini tour” using the stock and power off “Joint Line’s” “Merry-Le-Bone” main tour from Worksop via the Joint and Chiltern main lines to Marylebone. The tour probably saw the first ever 33 hauled passenger train at Marylebone. This is unless a 33 off their booked Thame oil turns dragged a failed DMU to the “Bone” in the 70/80’s as they certainly rescued loco hauled power on the Birmingham-Risboro-Paddingturn loco hauled turns more than once.
Anyway back to the Aylesbury Vale Venturer which for a bargain £10 allowed some decent local loco hauled mileage We left Marylebone right time with 37516 up front, a sit where you want policy on a busy train (load 8 plus BG, van) allowed us to enjoy the sounds from 37516 in the tight confines of Lords Tunnel. This proved too much for one younger enthusiast, perhaps he was more used to 37’4’s for mileage as he was evicted at Wembley Stadium for his behaviour, game over for this chap.
Thrashing through Wycombe then Saunderton bank, Marsh and Aylesbury (non stop) in good sun was great fun before the usual stagger out Waddesdon way. A Quainton (£2 ching) visit or staying on to Claydon were the tour options. We bailed at Quainton and the 40 minute stop on a now grey Saturday afternoon was more than enough!
The highlight for many was to follow on the return South with the unlikely sight of a “slim” 33207 curving through Aylesbury and lonely Marsh Crossing before some excellent thrash on the short sharp climb to Saunderton. A burst of wrong line working at Wycombe saw us get round the up local for a good run back to Marylebone. Great fun and well done to “Joint Line Tours” for getting a “slim” into one of the few London termini they hadn’t previously done on passenger. 37516 (the former 37086) as a North Eastern 37’er was also a well received
Big tractor, 37516 will shortly thrash through Lords Tunnel with the Aylesbury Vale Venturer tour on September 5th 2009
Tour Name: Aylesbury Vale Venturer Organiser: Joint Line railtours
Date: Sat Sep 5th 2009 Headcode: 1Z37/1Z38
Power 37516 o/w, 33207 r/t
Load 8 n BG/ Van – 5032, 4905, 5035, 99317, 4994, 1201, 3360, 99304, 6312
Route o/w – Marylebone – High Wycombe – P.Risborough – Aylesbury – Quainton Rd – (Claydon) –
Route r/t – (Claydon) – Quainton Rd – Aylesbury – P.Risborough – High Wycombe – Marylebone
Destination Quainton Rd/Claydon
Timekeeping 10L, Ching £10,
Highlights 1/Familiar faces as stewards. 2/ Non stop Tractor thrash through Aylesbury. 3/Quainton Crompton. 4/ 33207 thrashing Risboro – Saunderton bank. 5/ Local route.
Farces 1/ low load factor on inbound main tour from Worksop. 2/ evicting some twat at Wembley Stadium station
Rating…9…..Weather ..Sunny am, Grey pm…..Photo stops. Marylebone, Quainton Road
We didnt know this at the time but due HS2 construction this would be lifted track in a year or so’s time, 33207 arrives back at Quainton with the atmospheric return mini tour on September 5th 2009
end
Leighton Lists 