19th April 1969

R.C.T.S. (West Midlands Branch)
The Forester Rail Tour

Motive Power Used 50304+59115+50338

Route :

DMU Used Route
as listed Coventry - Bedworth - Nuneaton Trent Valley - Abbey Jn
as listed Abbey Jn - Hinckley - Narborough - Enderby
as listed Enderby - Narborough - Knighton South Jn - Desford - Coalville - Gresley - Swadlincote Jn - Cadley Hill Colliery
as listed Cadley Hill Colliery - Birmingham Curve Jn - Branston Jn - Burton-on-Trent
as listed Burton- on-Trent - Stenson Jn - Chellaston Jn - Worthington
as listed Worthington - Chellaston Jn
as listed Chellaston Jn - Castle Donington - Sheet Stores Jn - Trent - Nottingham Midland - (1) Netherfield Jn - Netherfield West Jn
as listed Netherfield West Jn - Trent Lane West Jn - Weekday Cross Jn
as listed Weekday Cross Jn - (1) Nottingham Arkwright Street - Ruddington - Loughborough Central - Leicester Central - Ashby Magna - Lutterworth - Rugby Central
as listed Rugby Central - Lutterworth - Ashby Magna - Leicester Central
as listed Leicester Central - Saffron Lane Jn - Knighton South Jn - Wigston North Jn - Hinckley - Nuneaton Trent Valley
as listed Nuneaton Trent Valley - Bedworth - Coventry

Notes :
(1) The timing sheet shows an arrival time into Nottingham Midland and a departure time from Nottingham Arkwright Street implying the DMU movement between the two was empty stock however John Broderick has supplied actual timings for the reversal points suggesting at least some (or all?) of the passengers were on the unit between the two points "unofficially". Kevin Driscoll clarifies: The move from Nottingham Mid to Arkwright St was booked ECS - BR had specifically refused to allow a loaded train to reverse in Weekday Cross Tunnel, despite strong representations. However, on the day, local staff were persuaded to "look the other way", and we all stayed on. We had to close all windows, in case photos were taken of the train en-route, and not publicise what had happened (Webmasters note: I guess it being well over 30 years ago it's OK to publicise now?). The extra mileage, reversing at Netherfield & Colwick, was approx 6m65ch.


From Andrew Fairholm's ticket collection.

Sources : David Hills, John Broderick & Kevin Driscoll

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from John Broderick)

Location Booked Actual
Coventry 10.00d 10.00
Nuneaton Trent Valley 10.17a ~ 10.20d 10.24 ~ 10.25
Abbey Jn 10*25a ~ 10*28d 10.29 ~ 10.31
Hinckley 10/36 ?
Narborough 10*48a ~ 10*50d 10.52 ~ 10.53½
Enderby 11.06a ~ 11.18d 11.03 ~ 11.19
Narborough 11*34a ~ 11*36d ?
Wigston North Jn 11/41 11/37½
Knighton South Jn 11/47 ?
Saffron Lane Jn 11/49 11/41½
Desford Jn 12/02 ?
Bardon Hill 12/17 ?
Coalville 12.22a ~ 12.32d 12.10 ~ 12.25
Swadlincote Jn 12*55a ~ 12*57d 12.51½ ~ 12.54½
Cadley Hill Colliery 13.07a ~ 13.17d 13.01½ ~ 13.14
Swadlincote Jn 13*27a ~ 13*29d ?
Birmingham Curve Jn 13/35 13/25
Branston Jn 13*42a ~ 13*47d 13.28½ ~ 13.42
Burton-on-Trent 13/52 13.47a ~ 13.49d
Stenson Jn 14/04 13/58
Chellaston Jn 14*14a ~ 14*16d ?
Worthington 14.32a ~ 14.35d 14.27 ~ 14.37½
Chellaston Jn 14*51a ~ 14*53d ?
Trent North Jn 15/17 15/23½
Nottingham Midland 15.27a ~ ??.??d 15.33 ~ 15.36½
Netherfield Jn ? 15.42a ~ 15.43d
Weekday Cross Jn ? 15.50a ~ 15.52d
Nottingham Arkwright Street ??.??a ~ 15.53d 15.53½ ~ 15.57
Leicester Central 16/21 16/21½
Rugby Central 16.48a ~ 16.58d 16.45½ ~ 16.57½
Leicester Central 17.23a ~ 17.33d 17.18 ~ 17.29
Leicester Chord 17/35 17/35
Saffron Lane Jn 17*40a ~ 17*44d 17/36½
Knighton South Jn 17/46 17/41
Narborough 17/56 ?
Nuneaton Trent Valley 18.11a ~ 18.18d 18.02½ ~ 18.13½
Coventry 18.35a 18.28


Back to "The Railtour Files - 1969"