9th February 2002

Pathfinder Tours
The Mersey Yardmaster

Route :
1Z28 : Cardiff Central to Oakleigh Sidings
1Z29 : Oakleigh Sidings to Cardiff Central

Notes :
(1) 56109 on rear.
(2) 60033 on rear.
(3) originally advertised to cover Newton-le-Willows - Earlestown - Warrington Bank Quay - Frodsham - Chester (reverse) - Frodsham - Runcorn - Allerton - (via through siding at Edge Hill) - Edge Hill (Down Wapping) but routing changed by the day of the tour.
(4) was booked to Trafford Park Freightliner Terminal but didn't do it on the day.

Source : Matthew James
(joined/left the train at Manchester Piccadilly)

Tour review
(by Matthew James)

WEATHER:
Forecast was rain with 60mph winds, however it turned out to be a nice fine albeit blustery winter’s day.

Main route:
Covered in full

 Edge Hill Through Siding:
Not covered.  Was removed from the itinerary after the tour was advertised, but before the date of running.  No reason given.

 Crown Street Headshunt:
Covered in full.

 Winnington Yard to Railtrack limit:
Covered in Full.

Trafford Park Freight Terminal EWS limit: Not covered in full.  Train reversed on reception line whilst still running parallel to Liverpool and Manchester Line.  No reason given.  On the positive side, the train entered the freight terminal via Trafford Park West Junc, and left by running through the Manchester United Football Club platform.

 PUNTUALITY:
 Train was on time departing from and arriving back Manchester Pic, slack timings had us sat waiting time at Winnington and Sandbach.

VERDICT: 7/10
On the whole a largely successful tour, the only disappointment being that a lot of people were disappointed that the biggest track of the day, Trafford Park, was left largely uncovered without an explanation given from Pathfinder.  It must be said though that people are grateful that Pathfinder take the time and trouble to operate tours over the rarer parts of the network, especially as most other operators have cowered away from the challenge.

 OTHER NOTES:
S+C drags on due to booked engineering work.  All drags worked by ETH 47's.

HRT to Cleethorpes was hauled by 67012, but that burst on the return and 66050 rescued and returned the tour to London KX.

PT to Brighton was hauled by a kettle and 47798, but the kettle burst and it was replaced by 73129.

1M35 was booked to be dragged back on arrival at Derby by 08899 due to engineering work but in the event the train was just hauled by 47839 directly into the platform.

by Matthew James who join/left at Manchester Pic.

And a review by David Clark :

After last weeks excellent Spiders Web and the frolics of the Midlands, Lincoln, East Anglia, London and the Great Western, it was the turn of a little jaunt to the North West area.  Well the traction was to be provided by a Class 56 and a Class 60, both of which have proved popular with railtourers.

 Friday saw locos 56109 and 60033 quoted for the tour, both of which were winners (Empty book award?).

Saturday came, and for the first time this year the departure time for me was after 6pm!!!  Well there is always the first time for everything.  Well the train from Scunthorpe was at 0639, and with it came one of my normal travelling companions who was heading to work.  Shame!  I think I might have spoilt her journey to work.  She even went on to say I should get out less.  Now where have I heard that before?  No more tours for me.  At Sheffield a few more railtour regulars joined our unit (158772).  During the journey through the Hope Valley, a SMS from a friend told me of problems with the Hertfordshire tour to Cleethorpes.  No doubt Daniel will tell us or someone else about them!

At Piccadilly two locos were seen for which I require for haulage (90003/86251) and so it was decided to finish off our normal behaviour and score both out to Stockport.  Further proof of my empty book, thus 90003 was done to Stockport, 158768 return to Piccadilly, for 86251 to Stockport for 323236 back to Piccadilly.  Both units were dud!!

A more subjects were seen in the Manchester Piccadilly area, before I nearly suffered three mini collisions.  One on exiting Manchester Piccadilly, one out in the street forcing me to put out my hands to “buffer” any collision!  More regular tourers were seen at Ian Allan Bookshop, and I just stood there admiring the “York Races” painting.  Was there a tour in Manchester today??

 After suffering a further near on collision, it was back to the platform to await the grid.  Inter City livered (Swallow) 47826 was seen departing Piccadilly after working a Cross Country service in, and then just as someone said the tour was 20 late (and during the inward journey it never was) the tour approached Platform 14, from where a scramble ensued to get a table / or seats!

 Piccadilly was departed at 1152, and from where we were, we couldn’t hear the front, but no doubt the grid sounded superb (as they always do).  We headed out to Deansgate, Ordsall Lane, Eccles, Newton Le Willows (the home of proper Type 5s) and arrived at the picturesque city of Liverpool at 1235 (sorry Edge Hill Wapping).  Here, 60033 was waiting for us, and was duly attached to the rear of the train.    It was interesting (and may be sad) to witness the variety of the litter sat next to our coach.  It looked like something out of Stig of the Dump.  May be he would do something with all this litter.  Well it was more interesting to look at the litter, than the BLS members who went to the front of the train.

 The tour departed Edge Hill at 1256, but we were held outside the station for a while, before allowed out on to the Main Line.  We were let out in front of a Virgin 86.  At Wavertree Junction we carried on the fasts, and past relics of 08s and 47s at Allerton.  Between Allerton and Ditton Junction be passed the Jaguar plant at Halewood and Garston.  I seem to have carried out lots of timing requests for these two places, so it was good to see them!

 The 60 passed Runcorn, and we joined the WCML at Weaver Junction (4 early), and came off the WCML at Hartford Junction (also 4 early), and passed through Greenbank and headed up the Oakleigh branch to Winnington Sidings.  It was at Oakleigh that these used to be those style wagons and pairs of 37s on them.  Remember the Power Hour?  Today, it was newer wagons and probably 66s and 60s off Peak Forest / Warrington.

 The tour departed Oakleigh (22 early) but was held at Hartford East Jn from 1411-1425 before we took the line down to Sandbach.  Like on many tours, the clientele was mostly cranks, but today it seemed some cranks had taken their girlfriends, which made things more interesting.  I wonder what they thought?? The conversation meanwhile, at our table ranged from America, Australia, Railways and Women, and also members of one certain person’s family.  On, internet sites too.

 We passed the salt place at Middlewich, and also the acid plant at Sandbach, before arriving at the station at 1503.  People wanted to get off to take photos, but Railtrack declined Pathfinders request.  So, 26 minutes was spent in the cultural delights of Sandbach.  The tour departed at 1529 with the 60 at the helm.  We passed Wilmslow (1 late), and took the Styal Line, and passed Manchester Airport Junctions, and took Slade Lane Junction 2 late at 1559, Manchester Piccadilly 3 late at 1605 and normals were experiencing being shouted at by people on a train.

 Now we were heading for Trafford Park Euroterminal, and to get to it, you have to go passed the most hated football club in the world, that being Manchester United FC.  But the worst thing, is that the Railways are to blame for the creation of Manchester United FC.  Yep, please blame the former Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, as it was formerly known as Newton Heath FC.  Chants were started as we passed Old Trafford and entered the freight complex with numerous empty sidings in situ.

 The 60 was detached, and the BLS brigade set forth on their march to the front.  Oh dear, including someone I know.  Do these people want to kiss the buffers or something? Or get in to the front cab of the loco?

 We departed Trafford Park, and this time taking the line with the Old Trafford platform on (yuk) more abuse was heard, and we did another dodgy crossover at Manchester Oxford Road (it was the same heading down to Trafford Park ET too!).  BLS eat your hearts out!

 The tour arrived at Manchester Piccadilly at 1652 (15 late), and with many interesting alternative people (that Daniel Bound keeps mentioning in his tour reports) seen waiting for trains to / from various parts of Manchester including some cute chicks.

 As the grid stormed out of Manchester Piccadilly, we decided to take 153310/153330 to Manchester Oxford Road, for 156403 to Sheffield!!  The gripper was a really big woman, and you would not want to mess with her!!!!!!  The journey through the Hope Valley was made interesting by the fact our conversations carried on with topics of Building Site Cranes, Tours, America, Crewe Station and various other things.  But why Christmas cards?

 At Sheffield, some chips were taken, before taking 43055/048 to Doncaster, where we saw 47817 (someone required this too – and he showed how much of an empty book on Virgin Spoons he has!).  It stormed away heading for Birmingham….  And the news from the Hertfordshire tour was not much better, as a problem had ensued on the 67.  And as this tour report was written, the train was still sat in Newark awaiting an assisting loco.  As long as it was not a grid!  66050 was attached at Newark.  The curse of the Southampton Docker had struck again!!!!!!

 A train arrived from Hull, with more legs on show, than what you see at a Furniture showroom!!!!!  Our train arrived from Sheffield with 158768 and we departed for Scunthorpe, and sat on the table opposite was one of the best cute chicks to have been see during the day!  Well, we arrived at Scunthorpe at 2020.  Where were you Daniel?

 VERDICT:
Well it has to be said it was another interesting tour with two good locos, but also an easy arrival / departure time from somewhere accessible.  And also excellent company! Thanks lads! Well more points for my empty book award, and well done everyone with the organisation of the tour, but you have to feel some sympathy for those poor souls on the Hertfordshire Tour.  Two successive tours with major problems. 

 David Clark (2002)

Timings (Booked & Actual)

Timings continued in first table.

Key;
a : arrival time
c : crew change
d : departure time
L : loco change
/ : passing time
* : operational stop

All distances, in miles and chains (M & C), are taken from the timing sheet given out on the train. No attempt has been made to verify the mileages given.

Back to "The Railtour Files"