Six Bells Junction

Notes :
(1) 66714 on rear.
(2) Booked via Shortlands Diveunder but went via Down Chatham Slow.
(3) Tour was booked Kilby Bridge Jn - Wigston South Jn - Glen Parva Jn but wrongly routed, necessitating a run round in the U&DL between Wigston North Jn and Knighton Jn.
(4) Booked route was in via Proof House Jn.
(5) Booked route was via Galton Jn and Wolverhampton.

Sources : various including Alan Sheppard, 'Geordie' & Nick Bartlett (on the tour from/to Nuneaton)

Tour Review
(from Andrew Wilson)

Nearly a full days railtouring (18 hours) was promised as the tour tickets arrived. Crewe depart 6.10 and return at 00.06, it was going to be a long, hot, steamy day with not many opportunities to stretch your legs or take photos as most of the engine changes were booked to change engines in yards to avoid blocking platforms for 20 – 30 minutes.

I arrived at approximately 5.55 and although the stock was in the platform the engines were still on the other end so I dumped my bag in the coach and got the camera out and waited and waited. I cannot understand why it now takes so much time to perform a simple run-round when there is minimal traffic in the station. I have since found out that there was no train person to unhook the engines (why? they knew the time that the train was coming!).

The engines finally arrived and were hooked on and we were finally ready to depart at 6.30. After a few minutes Chris Brooks voice was heard over the tannoy announcing that the booked EWS guard hadn’t turned up but they had procured a female guard from Arriva Trains Northern to work the tour to Birmingham. We waited some more and the tannoy burst into life again informing us that the ATN guard had arrived but needed a refresher on locos + stock therefore she couldn’t now work the tour. The feeling in our coach was that the tour was now in grave danger of being cancelled (although if we could have swapped our loco + stock for 7 x Class 142’s we would have at least got to Birmingham!!).

Finally, after stealing the guard from the Preston – Paignton Class 67 hauled holiday train (67014) we departed at exactly RST (1 hour late) with 37669 + 37689 at the sharp end thrashing well. Bescot was passed and it was sad for me to see the multitude of characterless Class 66’s on shed that had replaced the beloved older traction. We traversed the ‘new’ Nuneaton Flyover, which was new track for me. In their wisdom Railtrack closed the flyover a few years ago and ripped the track up but some bright spark obviously realised that this would eliminate conflicting movements on the WCML so they put it back again but it only cost a few million. There was a 10 minute pathing stop at Nottingham but we were booked centre road so couldn’t get out for some fresh air.

We arrived at Grantham, where we expected our first engine change to take place in the goods loop, but we were platformed which gave everyone a chance for a leg stretch and chance for a photograph of our next engine 66555.

The leg stretch was short however as the engine change was accomplished in just 10 minutes, which was very impressive, and we left shortly after. We were now just forty late passing Stevenage and as there was some slack in the timings people weren’t unduly worried about the lateness. We traversed the Hertford Loop and at Finsbury Park our two tractors were noted being held at a signal. These would run light to Acton Yard ready to pick the tour up in the evening as another fresh pair was out of the question with only 24 examples now left in service with EWS. After a stagger around North London we reached Wembley Yard where 92033 and 66714 were waiting to take over. The gen on Tuesday was that 92010 was assigned N/SPT (Special Tests) which sometimes means that the loco has been pencilled in for a railtour. By Thursday night it had lost it’s assignment and I was worried that a dud would appear. 92010 had in fact gone to France on the morning of the tour and I was relieved to hear that 92031 had also arrived at Wembley that morning but had been sent back to Mossend pronto. 92033 is an SNCF owned engine and was therefore a big bonus to the disappointment of 92010. 92033 was bolted on the front and 66714 was bolted onto the back but there seemed to be a problem with 66714 as it was surrounded by orange jackets and the train kept shunting back slightly towards 66714 so it may have been a brake/coupling problem. I was more than happy that it was clawback 66714 as I missed it at Barrow Hill last year as it was due to work at the end of the day but Barrow Hill were testing the crashworthiness of Class 66’s and Class 37’s that day so unfortunately I didn’t get it. We were finally under way at about RST again and later I was anticipating more new track at the new Shortlands dive under. We missed it however and went normal line and Chris Brooks apologised over the tannoy saying that there was a points failure which meant that we couldn’t use it. I was considering going to Dollands Moor but I didn’t require any track so I decided to bale at Ashford for a break as the conditions on the train with the heat was not good.

I had lost a few cups of tea due to the erratic DC mode of the engine and I bet there were also a few gallons of beer on the floor. The tour was retimed 15 minutes later than booked to compensate for the earlier delays therefore I had time for a wander round Ashford town centre which was surprisingly like a ghost town on what should have been a busy Saturday afternoon. The journey back to Acton with 66714 was quite uneventful as we perambulated the London suburbs and it was now crash out time. We crawled into Acton TC after several red signals and more lost time and 37669 + 37689 were waiting to take over the train. The rostered EWS guard had again not appeared at Acton and it was extremely lucky that a person was found from the railtour who signed the route and big thanks must go to him for volunteering on his day ‘off’. In the event he wasn’t needed however as he only signed the route as far as Bedford and it would have been impossible to acquire a further guard late on a Saturday night. The Yard Supervisor at Acton agreed to act as trainman as far as Kettering where he could be relieved for another trainman forward. When we departed Acton we were late again but there was some hope as there were a few pathing stops later in the journey that could be eliminated. I got into track basher mode at Brent Curve Junction as I needed the Hendon freight only flyover which we did and this made up for the disappointment of missing the Shortlands diveunder earlier. Due to the lateness Pathfinder had organised an SSO (special stop order) at Bedford for punters to alight at, if they wished, and quite a few took advantage of this. A one minute crew change at Kettering then what came next was classic railtour farce what we have all experienced (not for a few years though!)

I was just dozing when the chap opposite who had a Quail shouted that we had taken the wrong road at Wigston Junction and were now travelling towards Leicester. I didn’t take much notice and thought he must have his book upside down but then the brakes suddenly slammed on. The tannoy burst into life again and Chris Brooks announced that we had taken the wrong road due to either the wrong road being set by the panel or a track circuit failure of our booked route to Hinckley. We could have propelled back to save time if it was the wrong road set but I think this is not permitted. He said we would now travel to Leicester and 37669 + 37689 would run round and we could regain our booked route at Glen Parva Junction. Some EWS/NR head scratching must have occurred after this however as the next announcement was that we would run round where we were and continue our journey from there. It wasn’t the fastest run round however and we were edging towards RST again but finally the tractors were coupled and we were on our way home again. Tannoy announcement said that people who wanted to get back to Leicester but would miss the last unit from Hinckley due to our lateness, could bale at South Wigston station, as another SSO had been issued, to pick the last train up from there instead. We stopped and the passengers alighted and we watched them walking over the bridge but just as we departed the unit shot past us leaving the passengers stranded on the bridge and stranded at South Wigston!

We were at this point about RST again and we hoped that there wouldn’t be any further problems. Some passengers left the train at Nuneaton and we proceeded towards Birmingham but at Landor Street Junction we diverged left instead of right and the relative short distance to New Street. We found out that the line from Landor Street Junction to the Black Hole was now closed for an engineering possession. We were diverted via the Lifford Curve but when we arrived at New Street we would have had to run round again in order to regain our booked path via Wolverhampton but the decision was taken to send us via Bescot again but lines would start closing soon for engineering possessions that couldn’t be delayed. We trundled past Bescot and I was very surprised to see that there wasn’t an engine in sight on the depot therefore there must be a lot of engineering work tonight (Due to our lateness it was now tomorrow though!)

We got to Stafford and word went round that the direct route to Crewe was now closed and we would have to go via Stoke. If Stoke was closed when we reached it the only route still open was back to Wolverhampton then via Shrewsbury or failing that buses back to Crewe from Stafford! Happily the rumours were unfounded and we took the direct route from Stafford and arrived at Crewe approximately one hour nine minutes late.

Verdict
It was disappointing that Rolling Riot couldn’t get much hot water therefore tea and coffee were in short supply. It was worrying however that they ran out of soft drinks after Ashford on a blistering hot day with nowhere for patrons to get off and buy a drink if they wished, perhaps in future they should anticipate this and take on large stocks on the morning of the tour.

The planning was absolutely shambolic by EWS regarding train crew rostering/cover and it was extremely fortunate that certain individuals helped out with this or the train was in great danger of being cancelled or held for a long time awaiting cover. Perhaps instead of the six months notice that they require advance notice for planning railtours they should now change this to five years notice!

Pathfinder did exceptionally well at keeping passengers aware of the delays and planning cock-ups and also arranging special stops. Chris Brooks should now be on a ‘stress relief’ course hopefully paid for by the EWS charter department or Network Rail.

It was generally a very good day out despite the events and I was extremely pleased to score three engines and a few bits of track and if things didn’t wrong there would be nothing to talk/laugh/rant about.

Andrew Wilson

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(booked timings courtesy of Pathfinder Tours)
(Actual times from various including Alan Sheppard & Nick Bartlett)

M.C	Location	Booked	Actual
0.00	Crewe	06.10d	07.11
1.64	Basford Hall Jn	06/16	07/14
8.06	Madeley Jn	06/23	07/22
19.08	Norton Bridge	06/32	07/31
24.37	Stafford	06.42a ~ 06.44d	07.37 ~ 07.40
38.14	Bushbury Jn	06/57	07/54
40.62	Portobello Jn	07/07	07/58
43.61	Darlaston Jn	07/10	08/00
44.79	Bescot Stadium	07/11	08/06
49.36	Perry Barr North Jn	07/17	08/16
52.27	Soho South Jn	07/23	08/21
54.28	Birmingham New Street	07.28a ~ 07.33d	08.26 ~ 08.33
55.73	Landor Street Jn	07/39	08/37
61.79	Water Orton	07/45	08/45
64.64	Whitacre Jn	07/51	08/49
74.43	Abbey Jn	08/03	09/01
75.28	Nuneaton	08.06a ~ 08.08d	09.02 ~ 09.07 [P7]
79.47	Hinckley	08.15a ~ 08.17d	09.13 ~ 09.14
90.76	Wigston North Jn	08/30	09/25
94.12	Leicester	08/34	09/30 [P2]
99.03	Syston South Jn	08/39	09/34
102.05	Sileby Jn	08/41	09/36
106.50	Loughborough	08/44	09/40
114.72	Trent	08/51	09/46
121.52	Nottingham	09.02 ~ 09.12	10.00 ~ 10.02 [Dn Middle]
124.23	Netherfield Jn	09/18	10/08
130.28	Bingham	09/27	10/19
135.69	Bottesford West Jn	09/33	10/25
140.77	Allington Jn	09/40	10/31
143.59	Nottingham Branch Jn	09/43	10/34
144.29 0.00	Grantham	09L45 ~ 10L05 [D/UG]	10.37 ~ 10.52 [P4]
5.57	Stoke Jn	10/11	11/00
20.48	Tallington Jn	10/32	11/12
29.09	Peterborough	10/41	11/20
38.35	Connington South Jn	10/49	11/27
46.48	Huntingdon	10/56	11/34
61.28	Sandy	11/08	11/45
?	Biggleswade	?	[UF-US]
73.44	Hitchin	11/18	11/58
77.73	Stevenage	11/22	12/03
78.72	Langley Jn	11/23	12/05
87.25	Hertford North	11/32	12/13
97.04	Gordon Hill	11/41	12/23
101.75	Alexandra Palace	11/48	12/30
104.32	Finsbury Park	11/55	12/33 [P1]
105.30	Holloway South Jn	11/59	12/36
106.09	Kings Cross Freight Jn	12/02	12/38
106.43	Camden Road East Jn	12/05	12/41
107.58	Camden Jn	12/10	12/48 [DS]
111.27	Willesden West London Jn	12/15	12/53
112.05	Harlesden Jn	12/20	12/59 [U&DHLG]
113.01 0.00	Wembley Euro Freight Ops Centre	12L30 ~ 13L00	13.07 ~ 13.40 [Sth Dep] [Recp7] [UWR]
0.71	Willesden No.7	13/10	13/46 [UWR]
1.54	Willesden West London Jn	13/13	13/49
2.16	Mitre Bridge Jn	13/15	13/50
2.53	North Pole Jn	13/16	13/51
4.41	Kensington Olympia	13/21	13/54 [P3] [UWL-DWL]
?	West Brompton	?	[P4]
7.24	Latchmere No.2 Jn	13/26	14/01 [DWL-Up Ken]
8.09	Longhedge Jn	13/28	14/03
8.46	Factory Jn	13/30	14/04 [DA]
11.07	Denmark Hill	13/35	14/10 [P2]
?	Crofton Road Jn	?	[DA-DCL]
12.62	Nunhead	13/39	14/14
?	Catford	?	[P2]
17.51	Shortlands Jn	13/50	14/23 [DCS]
?	Bromley South	?	[P4]
20.32	Bickley Jn	13/55	14/26
21.21	St. Mary Cray Jn	13/56	14/27
25.35	Swanley	14/01	14/31
32.57	Otford Jn	14/12	14/40
48.00	Maidstone East	14/30	14/59 [P2]
61.15	Charing	14/49	15/13
67.21	Ashford International	14.58a ~ 15.02d	15.30 ~ 15.35 [Dn Maidstone] [P6]
77.47	Saltwood Jn	15/18	15/49
78.20 0.00	Dollands Moor Sidings	15L20 ~ 16L15	15.51 ~ 16.23 [No.3 Sdg]
0.53	Saltwood Jn	16/17	16/27
10.79	Ashford International	16.30a ~ 16.33d	16.46 ~ 16.50 [P2]
21.68	Headcorn	16/45	17/08
32.23	Paddock Wood	17/01	17/16
37.46	Tonbridge	17/09	17/24 [P1]
51.49	Godstone	17/26	17/39
57.22	Redhill	17/33	17/49 [Up Thro]
63.58	Stoats Nest Jn	17/42	17/58
64.49	Purley	17/43	17/59 [P3]
66.57	South Croydon	17/47	18/02 [P3]
67.50	East Croydon	17/49	18/06 [P4]
68.59	Selhurst	17/53	18/09 [P2]
71.42	Streatham Common	18/00	18/16 [P2]
73.38	Balham	18/04	18/21 [P2]
75.33	Clapham Jn	18/10	18/25 [P16]
75.79	Latchmere Jn	18/13	18/27
78.62	Kensington Olympia	18/20	18/33 [P2]
80.50	North Pole Jn	18/24	18/37
81.07	Mitre Bridge Jn	18/25	18/39
?	Willesden SW Sidings	?	?
82.25	Acton Wells Jn	18/32	18.44 ~ 18.46
83.14 0.00	Acton T.C.	18L38 ~ 19L17	18.56 ~ 19.28 [Recp2]
0.69	Acton Wells Jn	19/22	19/35
1.29	Acton Canal Wharf	19/25	19/36
3.66	Dudding Hill Jn	19/32	19/43
4.70	Brent Curve Jn	19/36	19.45 ~ 19.50
5.65	Hendon	19/41	19/53 [DH]
?	Silkstream Jn	?	[DS]
18.57	St. Albans City	19/56	20/09
29.05	Luton	20/05	20/17 [P3]
39.10	Flitwick	20/13	20/26 [P2]
47.46	Bedford South Jn	20/21	20/34
48.51	Bedford	20/22	20.37 ~ 20.39 [P3]
49.21	Bedford North Jn	20/23	20/40
55.32	Sharnbrook Jn	2032 ~ 2055	20.48 ~ 21.13
63.77	Wellingborough	21/07	21/23
69.46	Kettering South Jn	21/16	21/31
70.67	Kettering	21c18 ~ 21c27	21.32 ~ 21.36 [P4]
72.66	Kettering North Jn	21/30	21/37
81.60	Market Harborough	21/42	21/48
92.56	Kilby Bridge Jn	21/53 [U&DS]	21/59
94.27	Wigston South Jn	21/55	22.04 ~ 22.08
?	Wigston North Jn	DIV	22.11 ~ 22.34 [U&DG]
?	South Wigston	DIV	22.42 ~ 22.42 [P1]
94.77	Glen Parva Jn	21/56	22/43
97.70	Narborough	21/58	22/49
105.54	Hinckley	22.08a ~ 22.10d	23.02 ~ 23.03
109.73	Nuneaton	22.20a ~ 22.22d	23.10 ~ 23.13 [P6]
110.58	Abbey Jn	22/25	23/14
120.37	Whitacre Jn	22/36	23/30
123.22	Water Orton	22/41	23/35
129.28	Landor Street Jn	22/47	23/43
?	Proof House Jn	?	DIV
?	Lifford East Jn	DIV	?
?	Selly Oak	DIV	?
130.73	Birmingham New Street	22.52a ~ 22.56d	00.07 ~ 00.10
132.74	Soho South Jn	23/01	DIV
134.52	Galton Jn	23/03	DIV
138.17	Dudley Port	23/10	DIV
143.57	Wolverhampton	23/18	DIV
?	Aston	DIV	?
?	Perry Barr North Jn	DIV	00/20
?	Bescot Stadium	DIV	?
?	Darlaston Jn	DIV	?
?	Portobello Jn	DIV	?
145.31	Bushbury Jn	23/22	00/33
159.08	Stafford	23.38a ~ 23.40d	00.46 ~ 00.47
164.37	Norton Bridge	23/46	00/53
175.39	Madeley Jn	23/55	01/02
181.61	Basford Hall Jn	00/02	01/08
183.45	Crewe	00.06a	01.11

Recalculated return mileages (courtesy of Alan Sheppard/Andrew Wilson):
...as shown to Wigston South Jn 94m 27ch then:
Wigston North Jn 94m 74ch // 0m 00ch
Glen Parva Jn 0m 54ch
Landor St. Jn 35m 08ch
Lifford West Jn 40m 62ch
Birmingham New Street 45m 58ch
Perry Barr North Jn 50m 55ch
Crewe 100m 11ch

Locos Used	37669, 37689, 66555, 66714 'Cromer Lifeboat' & 92033 'Berlioz'
Stock Used	17056+3069+3068+3066+3148+1842+5292+5366+5276+5376+5365+5850+5307

Loco(s)	Route
37689 + 37669	Crewe - Madeley - Norton Bridge - Stafford - Bushbury Jn - Portobello Jn - Darlaston Jn - Bescot Stadium - Perry Barr North Jn - Soho South Jn - Birmingham New Street - Landor Street Jn - Water Orton - Whitacre Jn - Nuneaton - Hinckley - Wigston North Jn - Leicester - Syston South Jn - Loughborough - Trent - Nottingham - Netherfield Jn - Bingham - Allington Jn - Grantham
66555	Grantham - Peterborough - Hitchin - Stevenage - Langley Jn - Hertford North - Gordon Hill - Alexandra Palace - Finsbury Park - Holloway South Jn - Kings Cross Freight Terminal Jn - Camden Road East Jn - Camden Jn - Willesden West London Jn - Harlesden Jn - Wembley European Freight Operating Centre [No.7 Recp./Dep. Line]
92033 (1)	Wembley EFOC - Willesden No.7 Jn - Willesden West London Jn - Mitre Bridge Jn - North Pole Jn - Kensington Olympia - (wrong line to Latchmere No.2 Jn) - Longhedge Jn - Factory Jn - Denmark Hill - Crofton Road Jn - Nunhead - Catford - Shortlands Jn (2) - Bromley South - Bickley Jn - St Mary Cray Jn - Swanley - Otford Jn - Maidstone East - Charing - Ashford International - Dollands Moor Yard [No.3 Export Siding]
66714	Dollands Moor Yard - Ashford International - Headcorn - Paddock Wood - Tonbridge - Godstone - Redhill - Purley - East Croydon - Selhurst - Balham - Clapham Junction - Latchmere Jn - Kensington Olympia - North Pole Jn - Mitre Bridge Jn - Willesden SW Sidings - Acton Wells Jn - Acton Reception [Up & Down Loop No.2]
37669 + 37689	Acton Reception - Acton Wells Jn - Acton Canal Wharf - Dudding Hill Jn - Brent Curve Jn - Hendon - St Albans City - Luton - Bedford - Sharnbrook Jn - Kettering - Kilby Bridge Jn - Wigston South Jn - (3) Wigston North Jn [Up & Down Goods]
37689 + 37669	Wigston North Jn [Up & Down Goods] - South Wigston - Glen Parva Jn - Hinckley - Nuneaton - Whitacre Jn - Water Orton - Landor Street Jn - (4) Lifford East Jn - Selly Oak - (4) Birmingham New Street - (5) Aston - Perry Barr North Jn - Bescot Stadium - Darlaston Jn - Portobello Jn - (5) Bushbury Jn - Stafford - Norton Bridge - Madeley - Crewe