6th July 1991

Branch Line Society
The Donnington Farewell

Locos Used 37070 & 37430
Stock Used 10 coaches

Route :

Loco(s) Route
37430 Manchester Piccadilly - Crewe - Stafford
37430 (1) Stafford - Oxley Chord- Wellington through line
37070 (2) Wellington through line - Donnington
37430 (1) Donnington -  Wellington through line
37070 (2) Wellington through line - Wolverhampton - Portobello Junction - Pleck Junction - Walsall - Sutton Park - Landor Street - Camp Hill - Lifford East Jn - Lifford West Jn - Birmingham New Street - Aston - Bescot Curve Jn - Wednesbury Town Jn - Bilston
37430 (1) Bilston - Wednesbury - Walsall - Brereton sidings - Rugeley Power Station
37070 (2) Rugeley Power Station  - Brereton sidings
37430 (1) Brereton sidings - Rugeley - Rugeley North Jn
37070 (2) Rugeley North Jn - Lichfield Trent Valley Jn - Lichfield Trent Valley Jn -Wichnor Jn -  Derby
37430 (1) Derby - Stoke - Crewe - Manchester Piccadilly

Notes :
(1) 37070 on rear.
(2) 37430 on rear.
(3) Trevor Cockram comments: the last pickup was Stafford, so we did a ticket check before Wellington, one person did not have a tour ticket, but had a day return Stafford to Derby. On being told that it would be six hours before the train set down at Derby he said that would be OK. Too suspicious, and he didn't want to pay the tour fare, he was removed in the centre road at Wellington (before having 37070) to the station supervisors office to await the BTP. No one escapes the heavy mob grip!

Sources : Trevor Cockram & Paul Griffin (both on the train from/to Crewe)

Photo Review


37070 rounding the curve from Wednesbury Town Jn & Wednesbury
Central Jn (photo: David Miller)


37430 at the front of the tour back at Crewe (photo: David Miller)


Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Martin Barnsdall, Howard Harrison, Ian Umpleby & David Miller)

Location Booked Actual
Manchester Piccadilly 08.00d 08.19
Slade Lane Jn 08/04½ 08/24½
Heaton Norris Jn 08/07½ 08/27½
Stockport 08.09a ~ 08.10d 08.30 ~ 08.31½
Edgeley No.1 08/11½ 08/24
Adswood Road 08/18 ?
Cheadle Hulme 08/19½ 08/36
Wilmslow 08/26 08/40
Alderley Edge 08/29 08/41½
Sandbach 08/38½ 08/51½
Crewe 08.46a ~ 08.53d 09.00½ ~ 09.03
Madeley 09/03½ 09/15
Norton Bridge 09/13½ 09/24
Stafford 09.18a ~ 09.28d 09.31 ~ 09.39
Bushbury Jn 09/44 09/58
Stafford Road Jn 09/54 10/04
Cosford 10/05 10/13
Wellington Telford West 10.20a ~ 10.35d 10.26 ~ 10.36
Donnington 10.45a ~ 11.00d 10.57 ~ 11.07
Wellington Telford West 11.10a ~ 11.25d 11.34 ~ 11.45
Cosford 11/36 12/02
Wolverhampton North Jn 11/49 12/12
Wolverhampton (UGL) 11/51 12/14
Portobello Jn 11/55 12/21½
Darlaston Jn 11/59 12/25
Pleck Jn 12/02 12/27
Walsall 12/04 12/28
Ryecroft Jn 12/06 12/31
Park Lane Jn 12/27 12/53
Castle Bromwich 12/30 12/55
Landor Street Jn 12/34 13/03
St Andrews Jn 12/35 13/05
Bordesley Jn 12/36 13/06
Lifford East Jn 12/44 13/13½
Lifford West Jn 12/47 13/15
Selly Oak 12/50 13/18½
Birmingham New Street 13/00 13/28
Proof House Jn 13/04½ 13/31½
Aston 13/07½ 13/35
Perry Barr North Jn 13/10½ 13/37½
Bescot 13/16 13/54
Bescot Curve Jn 13/24 13/55
Wednesbury Town 13/29 14/05
Bilston (Loxdale Sidings) 13.43a ~ 13.58d 14.19 ~ 14.22
Wednesbury Town Jn 14/12 14/35
Bescot Curve Jn 14/17 14/38
Pleck Jn 14/18 14/39½
Walsall 14/20 14.42a ~ 15.04d
Ryecroft Jn 14/22 15/07
Hednesford 14/40 15/26
Brereton Sidings 14/50 15/39
Rugeley Power Station 15.00a ~ 15.15d 15.51 ~ 15.54
Brereton Sidings 15.25a ~ 15.40d 16.09 ~ 16.10
Rugeley North Jn 15.45a ~ 16.00d 16.18 ~ 16.20
Lichfield Trent Valley 16/08 16/32
Lichfield TV Jn 16/11 16/33
Wichnor Jn 16/17 16/40
Burton-on-Trent 16/23½ 16/46
Stenson Jn 16/29½ 16/51
Derby 16.35a ~ 16.50d 16.57 ~ 17.05
Stenson Jn 16/57 ?
North Stafford Jn 16/58 ?
Uttoxeter 17/15 17/31
Stoke Jn 17/40 ?
Stoke-on-Trent 17.42a ~ 17.44d 17.56 ~ 17.58
Etruria 17/46½ ?
Kidsgrove 17/54 ?
Alsager 17/58 ?
Crewe 18.09½a ~ 18.12d 18.22 ~ ??.??
Sandbach 18/20 ?
Alderley Edge 18/31½ ?
Wilmslow 18/33 ?
Cheadle Hulme 18/40 ?
Edgeley No.1 18/43 ?
Stockport 18.45a ~ 18.46d ?
Heaton Norris Jn 18/48 ?
Slade Lane Jn 18/51 ?
Manchester Piccadilly 18.55a ?


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