21st October 1978

D.A.A. / D.E.G.
Lindisfarne

Locos Used 25208, 25218, 40013, 40015, 45058, 45074, 45142 & 85038
Stock Used 25735+25748+26023+25785+16174+35305+13229+25739+25983+26002+25986

Route :

Loco(s) Route
25208 + 25218 London St Pancras - (via MML) - Trent - Sheet Stores Jn - Derby
40013 + 40015 Derby - Ambergate Jn - Clay Cross South Jn - Chesterfield - Dore South Jn - Edale - Ashburys - Philips Park No1 - Manchester Victoria - Bolton - Blackburn - Hellifield - Settle - Carlisle
85038 Carlisle - Preston - Crewe
45074 Crewe - Stoke on Trent - Stenson Jn - Sheet Stores Jn - Trent - Loughborough - Syston South Jn - Leicester - Market Harborough - Kettering - Wellingborough - Irchester (1)
45142 (2) Irchester - Sharnbrook - Bedford North Jn
45058 (3) Bedford North Jn - (via MML) - London St Pancras (4)

Notes :
(1) 45074 failed at
Irchester with traction motor fire.
(2) 45142 propelled the train from the rear, 45074 was dead on the front.
(3) Return loco originally reported as 45053, but since confirmed by several people as 45058.
(4) Arrived in London about 4 hours late as original assisting engine at Bedford derailed. David Harlott comments : "When the Tour eventually arrived at St Pancras those who could not get home could sleep in the stock, this was left in the platform with the shore supply connected".

Sources : Trevor Cockram (on the train throughout), Andy Pullar, John Guyatt & LASERman

Short Review & Comments
(by Alan Osborn)

Whilst we were marooned at Irchester the final InterCity service train to St Pancras passed us on the goods line (i.e. routed via Sharnbrook Tunnel). We were subsequently pushed onward to Bedford North Jn. I recall 45142 was actually in charge of a parcels train and the whole ensemble pushed over Sharnbrook summit, however we also were stopped at Sharnbrook by the signalman due to a tail-light problem, so whether the parcel wagons were uncoupled and someone forgot to provide a tail-light on the pushing loco I am unsure. At Bedford a replacement loco was to be provided but derailed in the process of reaching our train.

"The good news is another loco is available, but the bad news is the derailed loco has damaged point rodding so cannot reach our train" !!  Consequently an engineer was called for to manually adjust the points. Subsequent onward journey to St Pancras was further hampered by engineering works this been the BedPan electrification works.

This still holds my personal record of a late return of a charter train 251 minutes! However rather than spend the rest of the night I walked across London to Victoria and caught the morning newspaper train 0445 Victoria-Horsham so a bonus of some rare loco haulage on the Southern on a scheduled service and an interesting shunt manoeuvre at Three Bridges.  Train arrived on Down Fast (Platform 5) for unloading which has no access to Horsham line. Continued south then propelled back on Up Fast passing non-stop through (Platform 4) we then reversed again and I recall went via Platform 2 (wrong line Up Slow) or maybe Platform 1 which is Up Slow loop but reversible signalled for Horsham - Three Bridges shuttles.

Alan Osborn

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from LASERman & Alan Osborn)

M.C Location Booked Actual   Booked Actual M.C
0.00 St Pancras 07.55d 08.20   22.30a 02.41 642.08
3.44 Finchley Road 08/02 08.33 ~ 08.33½   22/23 ? ?
? Hendon ? ?   22/17 02/15 ?
19.71 St Albans 08/17 08/53   22.00 01/56 ?
30.20 Luton 08.26a ~ 08.28d 09.03 ~ 09.04   21.47a ~ 21.49d 01.39 ~ 01.41 ?
30.18 Flitwick ? ?   21/38 01/21 ?
? Bedford North Jn 08/46 09/25½   21/30 23L23 ~ 01L08 ?
56.61 Sharnbrook 08/51 09/33½   21/23 (22.29 ~ 22.44) ?
62.60 Irchester ? ?   ? (21.30 ~ 22.20) ?
65.18 Wellingborough 08/58 09/41   21/13 21/28 ?
71.78 Kettering 09/04 09/52   21/08 21/22½ ?
78.45 Desborough North 09/10½ 10/00½   21/03 ? ?
83.09 Market Harborough 09/14½ 10/06   20/57½ 21/09½ ?
89.09 Kibworth 09/20 10/11   20/53 ? ?
96.07 Wigston North Jn 09/30 10/17   20/45½ ? ?
99.22 Leicester 09.34a ~ 09.36d 10.22 ~ 10.23   20.37a ~ 20.40d 20.49½ ~ 20.52 542.66
104.13 Syston South Jn 09/43 10/30   20/33 20/43 ?
111.71 Loughborough 09/49 10/35   20/26 20/35½ ?
119.38 Trent Jn 09/57 10/41   20/19 20/27 ?
119.75 Sheet Stores Jn 09/58 10/42   20/17 ? 522.13

 

M.C Location Booked Actual
126.09 Spondon 10/08 10/48
? London Road Jn 10/11 ?
128.51 Derby 10L12a ~ 10L23d 10.54 ~ 11.08
138.46 Ambergate Jn 10/35 11/19
148.45 Clay Cross South Jn 10/44 11/30
152.63 Chesterfield 10/49 11/33
158.07 Dronfield 10/54 11/38
? Dore South Jn 10/59 ?
? Totley Tunnel East 11/01 11/45
165.50 Grindleford 11/07½ 11/49
168.77 Bamford 11p11a ~ 11p22d 11/52
175.67 Edale 11/30½ 12/02
? Chinley North Jn 11/38 12/08
184.24 New Mills South Jn 11/44 ?
190.38 Romiley 11/54 12/25
? Woodley 11/58 12/27
? Hyde North Jn 12/01½ 12/30
? Guide Bridge 12c04½ ~ 12c06½ 12.34 ~ 12.39
196.47 Ashburys 12/14 12/44
198.33 Philips Park No.2 12/23 12/48
198.60 Philips Park No.1 12/24½ 12/49
199.19 Miles Platting 12/26 12/50
200.40 Manchester Victoria 12/32 [SL] 12/53
20.06 Windsor Bridge Jn 12/37 [BOL] 12/57
203.52 Agecroft Jn 12/39½ 12/59
210.72 Bolton 12/51 13/06
213.66 Bromley Cross 12/58 13/13
220.46 Darwen 13/10 13/23
224.59 Blackburn 13c19 ~ 13c21 13.30 ~ 13.31
225.24 Daisyfield Jn 13/22½ 13/33
235.31 Clitheroe 13/38 ?
248.72 Hellifield 13p59a ~ 14p09d 14.08 ~ 14.18
253.78 Settle 14/13 14/23
? Blea Moor 14/33 ?
277.24 Ais Gill 14/46 14/55
294.52 Appleby 15/04 15/11
325.15 Petteril Bridge Jn 15/42 15.42 ~ 15.46
326.06 Carlisle 15L45a ~ 16L40d 15.48 ~ 16.43
345.24 Penrith 16/56½ 16/58
364.46 Tebay 17/11 17/13
377.39 Oxenholme 1/20½ 17/22
390.39 Carnforth 17/29 17/32
396.46 Lancaster 17/33½ 17/35
417.49 Preston 17/55 17/53
423.05 Euxton Jn 18/00 17/58
425.07 Balshaw Lane 18/01½ ?
432.59 Wigan North Western 18/07 18/06
434.01 Springs Branch Jn 18/08 18/07
441.03 Winwick Jn 18/18 18/12
444.38 Warrington Bank Quay 18/20½ 18/14
444.27 Acton Grange Jn 18/22 ?
448.17 Weaver Jn 18/31 18/20
? Winsford 18/36 ?
? Coppenhall Jn 18/43 ?
463.36 Crewe 18L47a ~ 18L57d 18.34 ~ 19.12
472.08 Kidsgrove 19/10½ 19/26
477.25 Etruria 19/18½ ?
478.37 Stone-on-Trent 19/21 19/35
478.77 Stoke Jn 19/23 19/37
485.76 Cresswell 19/44½ ?
503.06 Tutbury 19/53½ ?
509.23 North Stafford Jn 19/59 ?
509.67 Stenson Jn 20/00 ?

Timings continue in first table.

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