40’s to Euston and beyond, March 4th and 5th 1983
Friday
Power from the Keynes was a very average 86235, the up “cobbler” crossed near Roade was much more real in 85002. After the previous day’s massive oil train derailment and “fireball” on Acton Grange viaduct, the gen was that “some services were subject to diversion” North of Crewe. At Crewe both boilered and nb 47’s were dragging most “Scotch” services North.
In the hope of 40 drag action at the North end I joined 47193. A slow journey via Stockport, Reddish, Manchester Vic and Eccles to Wigan where the 47 was detached. As hoped for, a 40 in 40012 produced, but on a down van train and then returned South on an up Vans. Spirits improved when 40060 arrived on a down drag and this was rejoined on her next turn, an up Bristol.
The 40 took the direct route South but had to reverse back to the DF at Warrington BQ station, rejoining the UF via an emergency crossover a few miles South. A leap at Crewe saw me quickly returning North behind 47088. 47199 passed us on the approach to Warrington BQ on an up drag. I leapt here anyway and watched 47199 set back down the bank once 47088 had departed. The rear coach drew level with the platform and 199 was joined unchallenged. This is the only time I have ever joined a train on it’s second departure from the same station!, a new loco for me as well!
More 47 haulage including 47326 plus an early evening run to Chester before 40034 produced on a sleeper drag. Some of the normals were complaining about the “heating going off”, we didn’t!. 40034 came off at Wigan for a burst behind train engine 85035 to Preston.
The Moves
067 0540 Euston-M.Keynes L.Buzzard-Bletchley
046 0559 Euston-Birmingham Bletchley-M.Keynes
86235 0650 Euston-Manchester M.Keynes-Crewe
47193} 0810 Birmingham-Glasgow/Edin Crewe-Wigan (via Man)
87008}
40060} 0915 Glas/Edin-Bristol Wigan-Crewe
86217}
47088} 1200 Euston-Blackpool Crewe-Warrington BQ
86229}
47199} 1115 Glas/Edin-Birmingham Warrington BQ-Crewe
86315}
47078} 1400 Euston-Carlisle Crewe-Wigan (via Man)
86240}
47326} 1727 Blackpool-Euston Wigan – Crewe (via Man)
86313}
47488 1900 Euston-Holyhead Crewe-Chester
47447 2023 Holyhead-Euston Chester-Crewe
40034} 2055 Euston-Inverness Crewe-Wigan
85035}
85035 2055 Euston-Inverness Wigan-Preston
Other Gen
85002 0736 Northampton-Euston
47326} 0600 Carlisle-Euston
86219}
47193} 0723 Glasgow-Birmingham
87008}
47089} 0745 Euston-Glasgow
87017}
47089} 1010 Glasgow-Euston
86314}
40060} 0845 Euston-Glasgow
87009}
47326} 1010 Glasgow-Euston
862xx}
47078} 1233 Blackpool-Euston
862xx}
33044 1608 Crewe-Cardiff
47290} 1703 Preston-Euston Relief
86238}
47326} 1445 Euston-Glasgow
87030}
47078} 1030 Inverness-Euston
87017}
40028 2354 Preston-Blackpool
Saturday
As if the prospect of a long Preston overnight wasn’t bad enough, I then had to flag off 40028 on the 2354 Blackpool here as there was no safe return train and then it was the lovely Preston waiting room fester for several hours. I was beginning to worry about making the tour at Huddersfield and missing a Trans Pennine thrash.
So in a flap I joined the first up overnight with dud 47089 dragging 86030 on the first up Inverness. Even the 86’0 didn’t power! This was to prove a serious “man of jelly” move as the following drags were much better in 40170 and 40157. And yes at least the following 40170 made the “dino” move to Stockport for Stalybridge. A good crowd joined 47527 at Stalybridge on the Trans Pennine.
A short wait at a cold, grey Huddersfield then the quoted steaming ER beasts in 40084 and 086 were joined on an already atmospheric “Silver Jubilee” CFPS tour. We thrashed over the hills passing , to much flailing from the “peak men” a class 46 on another Trans Pennine. We eased past the long silent lines of 76’s at Guide Bridge before I dossed out. I awoke near home and negotiated a door vestibule bellowing position for passing, well early, my home ”shack” of Leighton Buzzard.
A good crowd were waiting for us to arrive at Euston, the rumoured engine change to “some electric” at Willesden to work us into the fume free Euston being a ”wind up”. The pair looked excellent at the blocks at Euston especially so on ”suburban” platform 11.
With the stock released and the pair photted we were soon back on the move with the atmosphere enlivened as we climbed Camden bank. Being seated just 3 coaches back there was much “wall of sound” noise from up front in Watford tunnel. A storm down the Trent then a Crewe bail ,along with a fair few other Southern bashers. The tour continued to Edge Hill before returning over the Pennines whilst for me, with the drags finished, it was a can called “Josh” home on the “Clansman”.
2 enjoyable days were finally over.
The Moves
47089} 1930 Inverness-Euston Preston-Crewe
86030}
044 0750 Crewe-Altricinham Crewe-Stockport
50354} 0835 Stockport-Stalybridge Stockport-Stalybridge
56109}
47528 0805 Liverpool-Newcastle Stalybridge-Huddersfield
40084/40086} York-Euston Silver Jubilee Railtour Huddersfield-Euston 40086} (via Guide Br, Crewe, Rugby)
40086} Euston-Huddersfield Railtour Euston-Crewe
40084}
86236 1030 Inverness-Euston Crewe-Coventry
092 1921 Birmingham-Euston Coventry-L.Buzzard
Other Gen
85002 2100 Euston-Stranrear
85001 2310 Glasgow-Euston
85034 2150 Glasgow-Euston
86006 2121 Bristol-Edin/Glas
47089} 2240 Euston-Inverness
86236}
47088} 2350 Glasgow-Euston
86245}
40170} 1900 Stranraer-Euston
81011}
40157} 2030 Inverness-Euston
86038}
45144 0710 York-Sheffield
46010 0905 Liverpool-Scarborough
33025 1225 Crewe-Cardiff
81009 1600 Euston-Crewe
“Silver Jubilee” Phot spot from 050383
40084 and 40086 storm South well early at Ledburn Jn, an N.Ross collection phot
The big pair at the suburban platform’s blocks at Euston
After the stock was released the pair ran to WN for servicing
40086 and 40084 approach bridge 139 at Old Linslade as the light fades, the fast line storm from Euston to Crewe on the return “Silver Jubilee” was unforgettable…
Leighton Lists 