2nd June 1957

The Railway Correspondence and Travel Society (London Branch)
The Mercian
(Midland Counties Rail Tour)

Locos Used 43018, 45091 & 45511
Stock Used ?10x? mixed, mainly LMS, coaches

Route : W685 (throughout?)

Loco Route
45511 London Euston - Watford Junction - Bletchley - Northampton Castle
45091 Northampton Castle - Lamport - Market Harborough - Great Bowden Jn - Welham Jn - Hallaton Jn - Marefield South Jn - Marefield North Jn - John O'Gaunt - Sysonby Jn - Melton Mowbray - Stathern Jn - Saxondale Jn - Rectory Jn - Colwick North Jn - Daybrook - Leen Valley Jn - Basford North - Awsworth Jn - Ilkeston - Stanton Jn - Derby Friargate - Mickleover - Etwall - Eggington Junction - Dove Jn - Stretton Jn - Dallow Lane Wharf - Shobnall Jn - Leicester Jn - Birmingham Curve Jn - Swadlincote Jn - Swadlincote - Woodville - Woodville Jn - Moira West Jn - Moira South Jn - Shackerstone - Market Bosworth - Shenton - Ashby Jn - Nuneaton TV - Bedworth - Three Spires Jn - Gosford Green - Humber Road Jn - Rugby - Weedon - Blisworth
43018 Blisworth - Duston West Jn - Bridge Street Jn - Northampton Bridge Street - Hardingstone Jn - Ravenstone Wood Jn - Olney - Turvey - Oakley Jn - Bedford - Luton - London St Pancras

Notes :
(1) Reporting code W685 visible on photographs of 45091. Was this used throughout?

Sources : David Davis, Stuart Gamble, Peter Darke, John Debens & Howard Cook

Photo Review


45511 waits to leave London Euston (photo: The John Debens Collection)


45511 & 45091 sit side by side at Northampton Castle station.
(Photo: Copyright David Lawrence courtesy of Stuart Gamble)


45091 paused at Market Harborough (photo: The John Debens Collection)


Coach destination board (photo: The John Debens Collection)


From Andrew Fairholms ticket collection.


From The John Debens Ticket Collection.


Timings (Booked Only)
(from Stuart Gamble)

Miles Location Booked
0.0 Euston 09.40d
5.4 Willesden 09/51
8.1 Wembley 09/56
17.4 Watford Junction 10/07
31.7 Tring 10/27
46.7 Bletchley 10/46
59.9 Roade 11/06
65.8 Northampton (Castle) 11.17a ~ 11.25d
83.6 Market Harborough 11.54a ~ 11.59d
87.1 Welham Jn 12/05
99.1 Marefield Jn 12/26
100.2 John O'Gaunt ??/??
107.1 Melton Mowbray 12/40
115.8 Stathern Jn 12/55
123.0 Saxondale Jn 13/08
125.3 Radcliffe-on-Trent ??/??
126.2 Rectory Jn ??/??
127.5 Colwick Jn 13/17
131.2 Daybrook ??/??
132.2 Leen Valley 13/30
133.2 Basford (N) ??/??
137.0 Awksworth Jn 13/39
139.1 Ilkeston Jn ??/??
148.0 Derby Friargate 13.59a ~ 14.04d
155.7 Egington Jn 14/19
157.2 Dove Jn 14/22
158.8 Stretton Jn (Burton) 14.26a ~ 14.28d
160.7 Shobnall Jn 14/38
161.1 Leicester Jn (Burton) 14.47a ~ 14.48d
163.9 Swadlincote Jn 14/55
166.3 Swadlincote 15/02
168.0 Woodville 15/12
170.9 Moira West Jn 15.23a ~ 15.28d
171.0 Overseal 15/30
174.4 Measham 15/38
178.4 Shackerstone Jn 15/48
180.9 Market Bosworth ??/??
189.1 Nuneaton TV 16.13a ~ 16.15d
195.7 Three Spires Jn 16/30
197.5 Gosford Green ??/??
199.2 Huber Road Jn 16/37
209.5 Rugby 16.55a ~ 16.57d
222.4 Weedon 17/16
229.3 Blisworth 17.27a ~ 17.35d
234.0 Northampton (Bridge Street) 17.45a ~ 17.47d
234.5 Hardingstone Jn 17/52
245.1 Olney 18/12
249.6 Turvey 18/21
253.9 Oakley Jn 18/31
255.7 Bedford 18/35
275.2 Luton 19/15
285.6 St Albans 19/31
298.5 Hendon 19/49
304.0 Kentish Town 19/57
305.5 St Pancras 20.00a


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