3rd June 1967

The Locomotive Club of Great Britain
The Thames-Tyne Limited Rail Tour

Locos Used E3184, 4472 'Flying Scotsman', 70039 'Sir Christopher Wren' & 45562 'Alberta'

Route :

Loco Route
E3184 London Euston - (via Weedon & Trent Valley) - Crewe
70039 Crewe - Weaver Jn - Warrington Bank Quay - Wigan North Western - Euxton Jn - Farington Jn - Lostock Hall Jn - Blackburn - Daisyfield Jn - Clitheroe - Hellifield - Settle Jn - (via S&C) - Petteril Bridge Jn - Carlisle
45562 Carlisle - Haltwhistle - Hexham - Blaydon - Scotswood - Newcastle
4472 Newcastle - (via ECML) - London Kings Cross

Notes :
(1) 45562 was booked to haul the train from Crewe to Carlisle with possible Black 5 pilot from Hellifield and 70039 was booked to haul the train from Carlisle to Newcastle. On the day of the tour 70023/13 were sent light from Kingmoor to Hellifield however they derailed at Horton-in-Ribblesdale. 45562 was sent light from Holbeck to Hellifield to pilot 70039 but was then sent on light to Carlisle to haul the train to Newcastle.
(2) Rod Miebs comments: Things were not perfect in the past. The tour was planned outward via Shap. An engineers possession at Penrith caused diversion via the S&C. The derailment at Horton caused chaos to service trains, the tour train was allowed through unchecked. I recall that the weather was wet and horrible over the S&C. My contemporary Ian Allan Sectional Maps show that Hexham to Newcastle via Blaydon and Scotswood was the norm then, the current routeing being shown as non-passenger. The option via North Wylam is shown as passenger, I do not recall going that way.
(3) Roger Smith adds: I remember that day well. A friend and I went to Hellifield for the day, mainly to see the above tour. We had no idea that Hellifield would be crammed full of Britannias, or so it seemed. For some reason (possibly arranged by the LCGB) the old MPD was opened up for the day. This was where the reserve for the National Collection was kept. I remember Green Arrow, Thundersley, Kirtley 2-4-0, Johnson Spinner, Stanier 3 cyl 2-6-4 tank and the EM1 - Tommy.  Bullied BB Sir Winston Churchill must have been there, but I cannot recall seeing it!!! We jumped onto the tour at Hellifield and travelled to Carlisle. I think that was my last steam trip over the S&C.

Sources : Rod Miebs (on train throughout), LCGB/RCTS reports & John Broderick

Photo Review


70039 heads north through Hellifield (photo: Peter Whitaker)


From The John Debens Ticket Collection.


Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Rod Miebs & John Broderick)

M.C Location Booked Actual
0.00 Euston 08.25d 08.25
59.71 Roade 09/12 ?
82.43 Rugby 09/30 09/22
110.01 Tamworth LL 09/50 09/40
158.01 Crewe 10L27a ~ 10L36d 10.16 ~ 10.33
174.42 Weaver Jn 10/53 10/51½
182.11 Warrington Bank Quay 11/01 10/58
193.71 Wigan North Western 11/19 11/11
203.43 Euxton Jn 11/33 11/28
206.31 Farington Jn 11.41 ~ 11.43 11.33 ~ 11.35
206.37 Lostock Hall Jn 11/46 11/39½
215.39 Blackburn 12/00 11.55 ~ 12.03½
216.04 Daisyfield Jn 12/02 ?
226.24 Clitheroe 12/19 12/19½
239.64 Hellifield 12.39a ~ 12.49d 12.39½ ~ 12.50½
257.04 Blea Moor 13/16 13/21
268.19 Ais Gill 13/29 13/35
316.49 Carlisle 14L24a ~ 14L40d 14.30½ ~ 14.44
339.54 Haltwhistle 15/17 15/23
356.00 Hexham 15.40a ~ 15.55d 15.43 ~ 15.53½
372.65 Blaydon 16/17 16/15½
373.64 Scotswood 16/20 ?
376.68 Newcastle Central 16L26a ~ 16L35d 16.25 ~ 16.35½
377.32 Gateshead West 16/37 16/40
413.25 Darlington 17/21 17/21
457.35 York 18.16a ~ 18.20d 18.15½ ~ 18.20
489.49 Doncaster 19/00 18/58
540.08 Grantham 19/52 19/53
569.17 Peterborough North 20.28a ~ 20.30d 20.23 ~ 20.25
613.52 Hitchin 21/16 21/11½
632.69 Potters Bar 21/35 21/28
645.46 Kings Cross 21.52a 21.46½


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