19th February 1972

B.R.
(Merrymaker Excursion)

Locos Used 1616 & 6578
Stock Used 11 coaches (90mph vac-brake)

Route : 1Z69 throughout

Loco(s) Route
1616 Derby - Trent - Nottingham
1616 Nottingham - Trent - Loughborough - Leicester - Kettering - Wellingborough - Bedford (station avoiding line) - Luton - Brent Jn
6578 Brent Jn - Acton Wells Jn - Kew East Jn - Barnes - Clapham Junction - Herne Hill - East Croydon - (via Quarry line) - Three Bridges - Keymer Jn - Lewes - Eastbourne
6578 Eastbourne - Brent Jn
1616 Brent Jn - (reverse of outward route) - Kettering - Corby - Manton Jn - Melton Mowbray - Leicester
1616 Leicester - (reverse of outward route) - Nottingham
1616 Nottingham - (reverse of outward route) - Derby

Notes :
(1) Gordon Lacy comments: This train was notable in that it arrived Wellingborough some 35 min early (being allowed to run Fast Line as booked possessions had not yet been taken)!  It was still 23 min early at Nottingham, despite 4 signal stops around Trent.

Sources : John Gordon (joined/left the train at Kettering) &
Gordon Lacy (on train Loughborough - Eastbourne - Nottingham)

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Gordon Lacy)

Location Booked Actual   Booked Actual
Derby 07.45d ?   00.45a ?
Nottingham 08.10a ~ 08.20d ?   00.10a ~ 00.20d 23.47 ~ ??.??
Loughborough 08.42a ~ 08.43d ??.?? ~ 08.45   23.47a ~ 23.48d 23.18 ~ 23.20
Leicester 08.59a ~ 09.00d 08.58½ ~ 09.00   23.20a ~ 23.33d 22.50 ~ 23.05
Kettering 09.33a ~ 09.34d 09.32 ~ 09.33   22.19a ~ 22.21d 21.45 ~ 21.48
Wellingborough 09.43a ~ 09.44d 09.44 ~ 09.45   22.07a ~ 22.08d 21.32 ~ 21.34
Brent Jn ??L?? ~ ??L?? 10.59 ~ 11.14½   ??L?? ~ 20L28 20.02 ~ 20.30
Clapham Junction ??c?? ~ ??c?? 11.45 ~ 11.46   ??c?? ~ ??c?? 19.29 ~ 19.33
Eastbourne 13.30a 13.21½   17.48d 17.48½


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