23rd September 1978

Wirral Railway Circle
Watercress Express Tour

Locos Used at least 20156, 20175, 47012 & 84002

Route :

Loco(s) Route
84002 Liverpool Lime Street - Wolverhampton
20175 + 20156 Wolverhampton - Birmingham New Street - Coventry - Leamington Spa - Banbury - Oxford - Didcot North Jn - (1) Didcot Parkway [P4] - Reading West Jn - Oxford Road Jn - Basingstoke (2)
????? Basingstoke - ????? (service train)
steam ????? - ????? (Mid hants)
steam ????? - ????? (Mid hants)
47012 Winchester City - Basingstoke - (reverse of outward route) - Banbury
20??? + 20??? Banbury - Birmingham - ?Wolverhampton?
????? ?Wolverhampton? - Liverpool Lime Street

Notes :
(1) Originally shown as running via Didcot avoiding line however Ian Jenkins confirmed it in fact went through platform 4 at the station. It was reported than on starting off from Didcot the brakes on the front bogie of the leading loco remained on, causing the whole loco to "lift". This may explain the later failure at Basingstoke.
(2) 20's were failed at Basingstoke. Passengers going forward by service train.

Sources : John Clifford (joined at Birmingham, left at Banbury),& Kerry Parker & Ian Jenkins
Photo Review


84002 on arrival at Wolverhampton (photo: T. Baxendale)


The failed class 20's at Basingstoke (photo: Kerry Parker)


Back to "The Railtour Files"