10th March 1962

British Rail
(Football Special)

Loco Used 46123 'Royal Irish Fusilier'

Route :

Loco Route
46123 Birmingham New Street - Water Orton - Nuneaton Abbey Street - Wigston South Jn - Market Harborough - Kettering - Bedford (avoiding line) - Luton - London St Pancras
46123 London St Pancras - (reverse of outward route) - Birmingham New Street

Notes :
(1) Brian Basterfield comments: The 12 coach train left Birmingham New Street at 8.39am, and it was a surprise when we headed out past Saltley. And even more of a surprise when we went "over the top" at Nuneaton and headed towards Leicester. I had not expected a run up the Midland Main line to St Pancras. We picked up at Castle Bromwich 8.50-8.51am, took water at Nuneaton Abbey Street 9.18-9.21am, stopped on the Wigston South curve 9.49-9.51am for a crew change. Arrival at St Pancras was at 12.05pm. The return left St Pancras, ran non stop to Wigston South curve 9.26-9.37pm (crew change), then ran non stop to Castle Bromwich, arr 10.29pm, arrival at Birmingham New Street being 10.39pm. The match was an FA Cup fixture at White Hart Lane between Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa, with Spurs winning 2-0 in front of a 63,879 crowd.

Source : Brian Basterfield

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