Me and young Ian left the house just before eight on a cold grey but dry Saturday Morning. The Mrs had been claiming there had been bad snow in the West Midlands but back then we just went out, our Railway never let us down….
321446 was a good start as we headed North crossing what we later realised was 1M16 being dragged South by 31110 somewhat late. At the Keynes there was a hint of trouble ahead as all up Inter Citys were delayed. We joined 87011 on the 0805 Euston – Brum the train very busy with youngsters bound for the Clothes Show Live, many dressed to impress rather than for warmth!
Theres the snow claimed Ian as heavy snow set in over Hanslope Jn (a location renown for its cold by railway staff) and by Weedon we were storming through a white wilderness. We couldnt see the M1 for the snow at Watford Gap but Desperate Dave was to later advise as he drove North that there was virtually no Southbound traffic on the M1 at all!
We were checked for a long 95 minutes just South of Rugby where the flyover joined and announcements re no trains running in the West Midlands due “6 inches” of snow caused much concern amongst the Clothes show brigade.
Bailing at Rugby it was absolutely freezing with a fierce wind howling down the main platform. 87011’s was first advised as cancelled then it was to return to Euston. We believe 87011 ran round and headed South an hour or so later.
The earlier down trains had become stuck in unsheltered wilder snows but 90014 eventually returned from Rugby North with the Clansman stock to form a 1210 additional to Euston. We continued to fester mainly in the waiting room but when 31519 arrived dragging the stock of the 0740 down Salop with a very dead snowed up 86236 on the back as a 1250 Relief to Euston we piled on what was a freezing cold train, 86236 succumbing to the snow an hour earlier. The 31 went well , rare haulage, but we a bit disappointed on passing Wolverton there was no snow. Also we had crossed no down trains, not good for a move back to Rugby! We were later to find out that another down service had been turned back at Rugby with 31102 powering South.
We watched the 31 leave the Keynes snow covering the stock and rear loco in an otherwise snowless Milton Keynes. Announcements that all services had been suspended North of Milton Keynes still came as a shock, The 80’s railway would have battled on, the 90’s railway opting to throw in the towel.
A long wait saw 321434 returning us back to Leighton where again there was no snow the Rugby blizzard scenes still fresh in our minds though!
With the snow blowing around, 87011 awaits instruction at Rugby with the cancelled 0805 Euston – Birmingham
This is either 31207 or 31307 we think looking a picture on Rugby’s then down freight line with a stranded engineers train
31519 with a posse of staff at Milton Keynes with the 1250 Rugby – Euston Relief
What a sight, a snow battered 86236 and stock leave for Euston with 31519 up front and not a flake of snow in Buckinghamshire!
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Leighton Lists 