Tuesday June 21st 1983
85019 1B06 1714 Euston-Northampton
86322 1B07 1718 Euston-Northampton
86261 1B08 1745 Euston-Northampton LB-BY
86316 1M06 1038 Stranrear-Euston
86007 1B09 1815 Euston-Northampton BY-MK
85008 1A76 1730 Birmingham-Euston MK-LB
25189/25076 – 4E78 Forders – Kings X Goods “Bricks”,
86329/86311 – 7A31 1104 Arpley – Wembley “Sand empties”
Leaping off the Leyland National bus that had returned me from work in Dunstable to Leighton Buzzard on the service 69 there was still 20 minutes or so before the first “Cobbler”. Can’t remember whether a LB-MK ticket was bought that evening or “grubbed”(one discarded by a returning passenger from MK earlier) from the subway.
Neil Evans as usual produced and we weren’t happy when 85019 roared through non stop with 1B06 as this meant our train, the following 1B07 was more likely to be a “can” as 1B06/1B07 back in 83 rarely both roared.
To howls of anguish a “can” was viewed on approach with 1B07 so obviously 86322 was flagged in the hope of something better on the next Cobbler. To be honest 1B08 was even worse, we spotted the “Zebedee” axleside springs on approach so 86261 was joined (with much disgust) for the 6.4 miles to Bletchley.
Here yet another 86’3 was out on 1M06 up daytime Stranny (another reasonable roarer turn) but it hardly mattered to us as it didnt stop at Bletchley anyway. The regular class 115 Aylesbury DMU passed on the flyover with the ECS from Aylesbury to Bletchley TMD for maintenance, looking good in the late afternoon sun
With 25145 stabled on the holding sidings, a class 115 DMU crosses Bletchley flyover with an Aylesbury – Bletchley TMD ECS working on June 21st 1983
A rare view of 86007 at the Keynes with 1B09 1815 Euston – Northampton “Cobbler” on June 21st 1983
When “yet another can” was seen approach with 1B09 there were more howls of anguish and mental muttering before we realised it was an 86’0! Instant change of mood, by 1983 86’0s were rare on daytime passenger work especially the tightly timed Cobblers. 86’0s were nominally restricted to 80mph but as this Cobbler was only a few minutes down i assume Control had sanctioned 100 mph running. So 86007 was bashed for a massive 3.19 miles from Bletchley to Milton Keynes where we leapt for 1A76 which was, as usual 5 late.
1A76 the 1730 Birmingham – Euston was a lightweight load 5 or 6 Mk I’s that ran for 3 years as a vice 310 EMU turn stopping at the likes after Coventry of Rugby, Long Eaton, Northampton, Wolverton, Milton Keynes, Bletchley, L.Buzzard, Berko, Hemel, Watford and finally London Euston.
2 years later we were still at the Keynes awaiting 1A76 1730 Birmingham – Euston with 85011 seen here on May 10th 1985
1A76 was a reasonable, but not solid bet for a “roarer” and on that late Summer afternoon delivered for us with 85008 producing on 1A76. So an enjoyable 9.59 miles followed from M.Keynes to L.Buzzard.
Back at Leighton the usual hour was spent hanging around the station/car park watching the non stop loco action. 4E78 Forders- Kings X Goods was the undoubted highlight of the evening with 2 hard working “rats” on a heavy brick train storming South at good haste, tonight 25189 and 25076 delivered the thrash!…
86329 and 86311 head South through Leighton with Arpley – Willesden sand empties on June 21st 1983
The “brickies” was the highlight of many evenings, passing Leighton around 2020 25189 and 25076 thrash South with 4E78 Forders – Kings Cross Goods on June 21st 1983
Happy Days!
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