19th May 2007

Railway Touring Company
The Hadrian

Route:
1Z64 : Cleethorpes to Morpeth
1Z65 : Morpeth to Cleethorpes

Notes :
(1) Confirmation required if train ran along 'Down Leamside Line' between Ferryhill South Jn & Tursdale Jn.

Source : Mike Harries

Tour Review
(by Mike Harries)

The first station which I could reach from home that morning before the steam train was due to arrive there was Hatfield and Stainforth – the timings suggested that there should be a stop there, and it would have to be a platform stop; but it was unclear when I rang up whether or not I would be able to join there. I decided to try – with, as my “plan B,” to take the next service train to Doncaster and thence to York, where I would join during the water stop.

The day started well. When I arrived, there were a number of photographers, and then local people arrived to catch the Doncaster train which was due a few minutes ahead of the special. In fact it did not appear – 60009 came into view, duly stopped, and I hopped on. I felt this was a good beginning to the day.

It continued well, and finished with a sparkling run from Durham to York – I actually caught an earlier train there than I had expected to be able to achieve, so I got home as early as I had hoped. According to the National Rail Timetable it is 66 miles (to the nearest quarter) from Durham to York; this was covered in 64 minutes start to stop – and we were checked just before Thirsk when catching up with the Trans-Pennine Express from Middlesbrough which had run ahead of us from Northallerton. It was standing in the adjacent platform when we reached York. Given that the stretch starts with the severe climb out of Durham, this accords well with the reported sustained 75mph reported by a passenger with a GPS.

Mike Harries

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Mike Harries)

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