17th January 2004

Pathfinder Tours
The Joint Line Jester

Locos Used 56062 & 47853 'Rail Express'
Stock Used 17105+3122+3140+3107+21272+1863+5322+5009+5040+4902+5309

Route:
1Z56 : Reading to Harworth RJB Mining
1Z57 : Harworth RJB Mining to Reading

Loco(s) Route
56062 Reading - Didcot Parkway - Oxford - Banbury - Leamington Spa - Kenilworth - Coventry - Birmingham International - Stechford - Aston - Four Oaks - Lichfield City - Wichnor Jn - Burton-on-Trent - Stenson Jn - Derby
56062 (1) Derby - Spondon - Sheet Stores Jn - Trent - Toton Centre - Trowell Jn - Pye Bridge Jn - Kirkby Lane End Jn - Mansfield - Shirebrook - Woodend Jn - Shireoaks West Jn - Brancliffe East Jn - Dinnington Jn - Maltby Colliery - Firbeck Jn - Harworth RJB Mining
47853 (2) Harworth RJB Mining - Firbeck Jn
56062 (1) Firbeck Jn - St Catherine's Jn - Decoy North Jn - Bridge Jn - Hexthorpe Jn - Mexborough - Thrybergh Jn - Aldwarke Jn - Rotherham Central - Tinsley South Jn - Shepcote Lane East Jn - road crossing (161m 10ch) (3)
47853 (2) road crossing (161m 10ch) - Shepcote Lane Jn - Broughton Lane Jn - Woodburn Jn - Deepcar F.D.
56062 (1) Deepcar F.D. - Woodburn Jn - Woodhouse Jn - Beighton Jn - Barrow Hill North Jn - Tapton Jn - Chesterfield - Clay Cross South Jn - Morton
47853 (2) Morton - Clay Cross South Jn - Chesterfield - Barrow Hill South Jn - Barrow Hill headshunt
56062 (1) Barrow Hill headshunt - Barrow Hill Roundhouse Halt
47853 (2) Barrow Hill Roundhouse Halt - Barrow Hill headshunt
56062 (1) Barrow Hill headshunt - Barrow Hill South Jn
47853 (2) Barrow Hill South Jn - Barrow Hill North Jn
56062 (1) Barrow Hill North Jn - Tapton Jn - Chesterfield - Clay Cross South Jn - Ambergate Jn - Derby
56062 Derby - (reverse of outward route) - Reading

Notes :
(1) 56062 on rear.
(2) 47853 on rear. 60021 was the loco allocated but this was changed at the last minute owing to problems with the generator car, requiring a loco with ETS to heat the train.
(3) Train was booked to reverse at Tinsley TMD but was unable to do so due to a points failure.

Sources : Gary Thornton (joined/left the train at Birmingham International)
& Nick Bartlett (joined/left the train at Didcot Parkway)

Tour Review
(by Gary Thornton)


56062 approaching Conisborough (photo : John Jarman)

With only two locos on offer (a class 56 and 60) and only about 5 chains of required track I didn't originally plan to be on this tour but after a call a couple of weeks before it to join a block booking I succumbed and got a ticket. Pre-tour gen suggested the class 56 would be either 56091 or 56104 and the 60 was to be 60021. That lasted until Friday when the 56 changed to 56062 - choice of three and all three were "dud" for me. At least 60021 "stuck" as this was a winner.

I joined at Birmingham International a little after 07.30 and walked into coach A to join my colleagues only to find it was somewhat "fresh" - a problem with the train heating apparently, the generator car kept cutting out. With forecast temperatures only a few degrees above freezing that did not bode well for a comfortable day out.

Our route to Derby was via Stechford, Aston, Lichfield and Burton-on-Trent. At Derby we arrived to see 60021 running away from the station - presumably to make way for 56062 to run-round as booked. Ah, actually no... Although it was a difficult decision to make, it had been decided to use Riviera Trains 47853 (which was at Derby as on a route-learning contract) as assist loco. 60021 could, in theory, still have been used except that the EWS safety case precludes a loco in the formation with its engine running without a competent member of EWS staff on board. Attempts were made to find a suitable candidate but to no avail so it was 60021 and no train heating all day, or 47853 and a warm train. 47853 was duly attached to the rear - disappointing as that was my winner out the window, but a correct decision in my opinion as otherwise it would have been quite an uncomfortable day for those on board.

From Derby we headed southwards then north past Toton and on to the line via Shirebrook and on to the South Yorkshire Joint line.


56062 and train exit Whitwell tunnel between Shirebrook & Shireoaks
(photo: Roger Geach)

One of the days highlights for many was the run to Harworth Colliery and this was accompanied by the usual attempt to invade coach A by those determined to get as close to the front of the train as physically possible. Meeting a trolley coming the other way caused a few problems!


Harworth Colliery - 56062 leads & 47853 follows (photos: Roger Geach)

Reversing to Firbeck Jn we then went on out way northwards, neatly avoiding Doncaster by way of the Bridge Jn to St James Jn curve. Mexborough, Thrybergh Jn and Rotherham Central behind us and we turned towards the former Tinsley depot. Unfortunately a points failure scuppered the plan and a reversal at the road crossing just after Shepcote Lane East Jn was made. Blocking the crossing for several minutes it was amusing to watch a couple of disgruntled car drivers to do multi-point turns and head off....at which point we promptly moved off ourselves, clearing the crossing!


47853 passing Valley Centertainment in Sheffield (photo : John Jarman)

Being at the back we couldn't judge how well 47853 was performing however on the run to Deepcar 56062 did provide some assistance so maybe the 47 wasn't coping too well with the weight on the uphill climb. Despite that we had been gaining time and soon were not too far shy of an hour EARLY. This continued as we now ran via Beighton Jn towards Barrow Hill, though reversal was at Morton south of Clay Cross South Jn owing to local area rules (or lack of...) on reversal of passenger trains.

The days highlight for me was traversing the connection into Barrow Hill itself. After reversing in the "headshunt" we then pulled into the short platform for a short visit....our early running having been largely dwindled away. I think many would have preferred longer but as it was almost dark I think not much would have been gained by doing so. A morning visit had been requested but this was not possible due to Network Rail planning and the need to avoid engineering possessions. This was my first chance to visit the new Deltic Preservation Society shed and it is certainly a tribute to the society and those who have worked to get it.

The run home was straightforward with a short pause at Derby to lose 47853. Arrival back at Birmingham International was a few minutes early, though as I left for home it was looking like the tour was being held to let various service trains past. A day that was not as "profitable" as I'd hoped but enjoyable nonetheless.

Gary Thornton

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Gary Thornton & Nick Bartlett)

M.C Location Booked Actual   Booked Actual M.C
0.00 Reading 05.34d 05.34   21.34a 21.28 162.00
17.12 Didcot Parkway 05.51a ~ 05.54d 05.51 ~ 05.54 [P3]   21.14a ~ 21.17d 21.11 ~ 21.13 144.68
27.43 Oxford 06.06a ~ 06.09d 06.07 ~ 06.09   20.56a ~ 20.59d 20.57 ~ 21.00 134.37
50.18 Banbury 06.34a ~ 06.36d 06.34 ~ 06.38   20.31a ~ 20.33d 20.33 ~ 20.35 111.62
70.27 Leamington Spa 06/55 06/59 [DM]   20/09 20/13 [UM] 91.53
79.61 Coventry 07.13a ~ 07.15d 07.13 ~ 07.15 [P3]   19.46a ~ 19.51d 19.48 ~ 19.55 [P4] 82.19
90.37 Birmingham International 07.26a ~ 07.34d 07.29 ~ 07.35 [P2]   19.27a ~ 19.34d 19.21 ~ 19.34 [P5] 71.43
94.70 Stechford 07/40 07/42   19/20 19/14 67.10
97.63 Aston 07/51 07.49 ~ 07.50 [P1]   19/14 19/09 [P2] 64.17
104.09 Four Oaks 08/04 08/01   18/56 18/53 57.71
111.35 Lichfield City 08/17 08/16   18/42 18/43 50.45
117.79 Wichnor Jn 08/32 08/29   18/20 18/32 44.01
123.42 Burton-on-Trent 08/37 08/36 [P1]   18/15 18/25 [P2] 38.38
129.59 Stenson Jn 08/44 08/42   18/09 18/19 32.21
134.43
0.00
Derby 08L52a ~ 09L24d 08.48 ~ 09.27 [P2]   17L48a ~ 18L02d 18.03 ~ 18.14 [P4] 27.37

 

M.C Location Booked Actual
8.59 Sheet Stores Jn 09/35 09/39
9.22 Trent 09/37 09/41
14.42 Trowell Jn 09/43 09/47
23.22 Pye Bridge Jn 09/55 09/57
27.60 Kirkby Lane End Jn 10/11 10/09
37.13 Shirebrook East Jn 10/27 10.28 ~ 10.30
46.26 Shireoaks West Jn 10/38 10/44
47.47 Brancliffe East Jn 10/42 10/47
50.64 Dinnington Jn 10/52 10/54
56.78 Maltby Colliery SB 11t06 ~ 11t11 11/11
58.67 Firbeck Jn 11/19 11/16
(61.68)
0.00
Harworth RJB Mining 11.30a ~ 11.40d 11.33 ~ 11.41
(3.01)
0.00
Firbeck Jn 12.13 ~ 12.17 11.56 ~ 12.02
3.77 St Catherine's Jn 12/25 12/13
5.21 Decoy North Jn 12/30 12/17 [Dn Fly]
(5.61) Doncaster sig. D249 12c33 ~ 12c42 12.19 ~ 12.26 [DWS2]
6.46 Bridge Jn 12/46 12/29
8.24 Hexthorpe Jn 12/55 12/33
13.29 Mexborough 13/01 12/40
15.60 Thrybergh Jn 13/07 12/46
16.36 Aldwarke Jn 13/10 12/47
18.73 Rotherham Central 13/13 12/52
21.31 Tinsley South Jn 13/17 13/07
21.74 Shepcote Lane Jn 13/19 13.08 ~ 13.17
??.?? road crossing (161m 10ch) ? 13.18 ~ 13.20
(22.34)
0.00
Tinsley TMD 13.34a ~ 13.44d DIV
0.40 Shepcote Lane Jn 13/52 13/21
1.07 Broughton Lane Jn 13/53 13/26
2.45 Woodburn Jn 13/56 13.28 ~ 13.31
(11.39)
0.00
Deepcar F.D. 14.26a ~ 14.31d 13.54 ~ 13.57
8.64 Woodburn Jn 15/01 14/16
13.11 Woodhouse Jn 15/07 14/22
14.79 Beighton Jn 15/10 14/26
25.27 Chesterfield 15/22 14/47 [UG]
29.37 Clay Cross South Jn 15/28 14/58
(32.61)
0.00
Morton 15.40a ~ 15.48d 15.12 ~ 15.21 [U&DG]
? Coney Green Jn ? [DG]
3.24 Clay Cross South Jn 16/00 (15/27)
7.34 Chesterfield 16/06 15/42
10.10 Barrow Hill South Jn 16/11 15/48
(11.33)
0.00
Barrow Hill L.I.P. 16.16a ~ 16.56d 16.11 ~ 16.59
(1.00)
0.00
Barrow Hill South Jn 17.01 ~ 17.06 17.08 ~ 17.18
(0.40)
0.00
Barrow Hill North Jn 17.09 ~ 17.14 17.22 ~ 17.23
3.26 Chesterfield 17/20 17/31
7.36 Clay Cross South Jn 17/27 17/42
17.44 Ambergate Jn 17/35 17/52

Timings continue in first table.

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