5th October 1963

R.C.T.S.
The Duchess Commemorative Rail Tour

Locos Used 42414 & 46251 'City of Nottingham'

Route : 1X68 throughout

Loco(s) Route
46251 (1) Crewe - Preston - Carlisle - Strawfrank Jn - Dolphinton Jn - Midcalder - Edinburgh Princes Street
46251 Edinburgh Princes Street - Dolphinton Jn - Strawfrank Jn - Carlisle - Preston - Crewe

Notes :
(1) 42414 banked from Tebay to Shap Summit.

With the increasing effects of dieselisation and the slow march north of the WCML electrification this tour represented a last chance perhaps to travel behind what once had been the flagships of the LMS steam fleet - The Duchess Class.

The train was composed of eleven LMS coaches. The intended locomotive 46251 'City of Nottingham' had been failed the previous week with a defect on the front bogie, 46251 had been re-activated from storage specially for this run and had been cleaned up for the occasion. The outward run required the use of 42414 for banking up Shap, but the enthusiastic Scottish crew that came on at Carlisle ensured that Beattock was taken un-aided, although not in the storming fashion that was expected from the locomotives when they were in front line service, receiving the best maintenance . The return trip provided the more lively running, especially between Beattock & Gretna and Thrimby Grange & Preston.


From The John Debens Ticket Collection.

Sources : David Hills (compiled from contemporary reports) & Mel Holley

Timings (Booked Only)
(from Terry Jackson)

Location Booked (out) Booked (rtn)
Crewe 08.57d 20.25a
Coppenhall Jn 09/01½ 20/20½
Winsford Jn 09/06 20/11
Weaver Jn 09/13 20/05
Acton Grange Jn 09/19 19/59
Warrington Bank Quay 09.22a ~ 09.24d 19.53a ~ 19.55d
Winwick Jn 09/29 19/48
Springs Branch Jn 09/36 19/42
Wigan North Western 09/38 19/40
Standish Jn 09/43 19/36
Euxton Jn 09/53 19/29
Preston 10.01a ~ 10.03d 19.20a ~ 19.22d
Garstang 10/13 19/05
Lancaster Castle 10/23 18/55
Carnforth 10/28 18/50
Oxenholme 10/41 18/39
Tebay 10/56 18/27
Shap Summit 11/05 18/21
Penrith 11/17 18/03
Plumpton 11/21 17/58
Carlisle Citadel 11/39 17.32a ~ 17.39d
Carlisle No.3 11/50 17/30
Gretna Jn 11/58 17/22
Lockerbie 12/15 17/08
Beattock 12/27 16/56
Beattock Summit 12/45 16/46
Strawfrank Jn 13*08a ~ 13*10d 16*21a ~ 16*22d
Dolphinton Jn 13/12 16/19
Cobbinshaw 13/23 16/11
Midcalder Jn 13/31 16/02
Merchiston 13/40 15/48
Edinburgh Princes Street 13.43a 15.45d


Back to "The Railtour Files - 1963"