14th April 1962

Stephenson Locomotive Society (Midland Area)
Tour of Seven Branch Lines

Locos Used 1247, 40026 & 40646

Route : 1X47 throughout

Loco(s) Route
40646 Birmingham New Street - Whitacre Jn - Nuneaton Abbey Street - Nuneaton Trent Valley - Bedworth - Three Spires Jn - Humber Road Jn - Rugby - Long Buckby - Northampton Castle
40646 + 40026 Northampton Castle - Northampton Bridge Street - Hardingstone Jn - Ravenstone Wood Jn - Olney - Bedford
40026 Bedford - Shefford - Hitchin
1247 Hitchin - Stevenage - Hertford North - Cole Green - Welwyn Garden City - Hatfield
1247 Hatfield - Welwyn Garden City - Luton Bute Street
40646 Luton Bute Street - Dunstable North - Leighton Buzzard - Bletchley - Hanslope Jn - Weedon - Daventry - Marton Jn - Leamington Spa Avenue - Kenilworth - Berkswell - Stechford - Birmingham New Street

Notes :
(1) Route confirmation required - above is from booked timings. Train ran over the Northampton to Bedford line (via Olney) which was the last day it was open.

Sources : Andrew Fairholm, Chris Harley, Kester Eddy, Mel Holley, Rob Tibbets & Ian Clark (SLS)

Photo Review


The tour paused for a photostop at Olney (photo: Robert Darlaston)


1247 taking on water at Hatfield (photo: Robert Darlaston)


1247 arriving at Luton Bute Street (photo: the Bob Mitchell collection)


From Andrew Fairholms ticket collection.


Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Ian Clark (SLS))

Location Booked
Birmingham New Street 10.00d
Whitacre Jn 10/15
Nuneaton Trent Valley 10.34a ~ 10.36d
Three Spires Jn 10/50
Humber Road Jn 11/05
Rugby 11/25
Northampton Castle 11.57a ~ 12.02d
Olney 12/25
Bedford 12.42a ~ 12.50d
Shefford 13/11
Hitchin 13.23a ~ 13.33d
Stevenage 13/44
Hertford North 14.12a ~ 14.22d
Welwyn Garden City 14/54
Hatfield 15.02a ~ 15.47d
Welwyn Garden City 15/54
Luton Bute Street 16.56a ~ 17.06d
Dunstable North 17.19a ~ 17.24d
Leighton Buzzard 17.39a ~ 17.46d
Bletchley 17.59a ~ 18.00d
Weedon 18.40a ~ 18.45d
Braunston 19.03a ~ 19.08d
Leamington Spa Avenue 19.34a ~ 19.36d
Berkswell 19.56a ~ 19.58d
Birmingham New Street 20.20a


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