The Waverly tour, Oct 84

The Waverly Railtour remembered, 131084

A 0630 Saturday start from New St, meant an overnight. The fatal Wembley crash involving 310067 and 4D62 liner meant a very restricted WCML service south of Coventry.

Gen from Bletchley PSB was that most Liverpool/Manchesters were being diverted to St Pancras with West Midlands services diverted to Padd. A limited unit only rush hour from Harrow/Watford was expected with just a few services being diverted via the Euston – Watford “DC” which was unaffected by the crash

Friday October 12th 1984

095} 1820 Watford-Rugby L.Buzzard – Rugby

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thought this would be a horrendous wedge but it seemed most commuters had opted

for the day off after the previous evening’s nightmare journey. Plus 2 x 310 offered a good

few seats anyway. No hauled “Cobblers” tonight.

312201 1955 Rugby-Birmingham Rugby – Coventry

Rancid unit power would much rather have had a 310 or 304.

47281 1V16 1728 Manchester-Padd Coventry – Banbury

47078 1830 Padd-Wolverhampton Banbury – Leamington

“nb” but was hoping for something better on this diverted train..

47469 1M41 1848 Brighton-Derby Leamington – New St

Other Gen

47509 1F40 1733 Padd-Twyford (ext Birmingham)

86225 1V16 1728 Manchester-Padd

47336 1800 Padd-Wolverhampton

classic “nb” kick out on a WCML diversion.

47453 1M40 1703 Poole-Liverpool

47279 1620 Holyhead-Padd

47365 1949 Shrewsbury-Padd

47592 1V19 1902 Manchester-Padd

47620 1900 Padd-Wolves

Saturday October 13th 1984

85004 1S19 2124 Bristol-Glas/Edin New St – Crewe

Happiness is a “roarer” like 85004 on an overnight. Bit of a struggle being woken and having to leave the cosy warmth of a MK ii for a cold Crewe station.

81002 1G00 0350 Crewe-Birmingham Crewe – New St

G00 was normally in Crewe some hours before departre and the lead coaches were often

well filled with sleeping bashers by 3am.

47238 1D02 0238 Crewe-Holyhead

47507 1V01 0204 Crewe-Cardiff

86319 1S25 2240 Euston-Inverness

31417 1E62 0530 Wolverhampton-Harwich

56088 0625 Wolverhampton-Padd

The RESL “Waverly” tour, Saturday October 13th 1984

We were happy with front coach seats and an 81 at the business end. There were howls of anguish when the rumoured 56088 passed with a Wolves- Padd WCML diversion. Departing at 0625 there was no chance of making the tour at New St off the 56. A Contol “wind up” we were later told, certainy worked. Once 40181 and 40079 were up front for a mileage move to Carstairs via the S n C, much of Kingmoor yard and Beattock. The run was a good one. 37139 replaced the 40’s at Carstairs with a run via the Edinburgh surburban and main line to Springburn. Here the booked visit to Eastfield depot saw a good few 27/37’s viwed on this top shed.

Back at Springburn 20137/20039 headed the tour South through Gartcosh to Moss End where just 40079 was waiting. 40181 had failed needing replacement brake blocks apparently. The single 40 slogged over Beattock but i succumbed to sleep from Carlisle southwards. I was awoken by “its a rancid can” being bellowed in my face! With no obvious “roarer” on service trains as a substitute home it was lovely 86214 to New St. 310’s powered me home including using the 0015 Birmingham – Euston, a useful, popular train lost to the wanders of privisation a few years later..

81020 1Z37 0630 Birmingham-Edinburgh Railtour New St Crewe

40079} 1Z37 0630 Birmingham-Edinburgh Railtour Crewe – Carstairs (via

40181} S n C, Kingmoor yd)

37139 1Z37 0630 Birmingham-Edinburgh Railtour Carstairs – Springburn (via Edin)

20137} 1Z37 1412 Edinburgh-Birmingham Railtour Springburn – Mossend

20039}

40079 1Z37 1412 Edinburgh-Birmingham Railtour Mossend-Crewe

86214 1Z37 1412 Edinburgh-Birmingham Railtour Crewe-New St

087} 2321 Birmingham-Northampton New St – Northampton

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Sunday October 14th 1984

095} 0015 Birmingham-Euston Northampton – L.Buzzard