17th October 1999

Past Time Rail
The Slate Miner

Locos Used 80079, 80098 & 86426
Stock Used included 99041

Route :

Loco(s) Route
86426 London Euston - (WCML, via Northampton & Trent Valley) - Crewe
80079 + 80098 Crewe - Chester - Llandudno Junction

Train split, 1st portion:

Loco(s) Route
80079 Llandudno Junction - North Llanrwst - Betws-y-Coed - just after MP 18½ (near Pont-y-Pant, stalled) (2)
80079 set back to ???
80079 ??? - MP 19 (near Pont-y-Pant, stalled) (2)
80079 (1) MP19 - Blaenau Festiniog

Train split, 2nd portion:

Loco(s) Route
80098 Llandudno Junction - North Llanrwst (2)
80079 + 80098 North Llanrwst - Betws-y-Coed - Blaenau Festiniog

Whole train:

Loco(s) Route
80079 + 80098 Blaenau Festiniog - Betws-y-Coed - North Llanrwst - Llandudno Junction
80079 + 80098 Llandudno Junction - Chester - Crewe
86426 Crewe - (via Trent Valley) - Rugby - (WCML via Weedon) - London Euston

Notes:
(1) 80098 on rear.
(2) Terry Jackson comments: the train split at Llandudno Junction with 80079 taking the first portion and 80098 taking the second portion. 80079 stalled near Pont-y-Pant. 80098 left its train down the line and assisted 80079 to Blaenau with the first portion. Both engines then returned for the second portion which they took to Blaenau. Finally the two engines took the combined train from Blaenau back to Llandudno Junction. Mike Harries adds: As to the slipping, I noted that we were starting to slip at MP 18¼ (at about 13:40); and that we slipped to a stand just after  MP 18½ (these refer to what I could see from my position in the third coach of the train).  We set back, and tried again; the loco apparently got through Pant Tunnel, but I did not see MP 19¼. We then set back so that no-one was in the tunnel, and called for assistance. This would have been about 14:20. We were told that 80098 left its train in the loop at North Llanrwst; it reached us at 15:23. We were on our way very soon; I believe that this is the first time that a steam train was assisted in the rear by another steam loco on the main line in the preservation era. Both locos watered at Blaenau Ffestiniog, then departed about 16:15 to fetch Train 2, which had arrived by 17:35 (when I returned from Tan y Bwlch on the Festiniog Railway). 80079 was coaled, then while 80098 was coaled 80079 shunted the stock and took water. Finally 80098 ran round and took water before the entire train set off double headed.


80079+80098 departing Crewe (photo: The Bob Mitchell Collection)

Sources : Terry Jackson (joined/left train at Watford Junction) & Mike Harries

Timing's (Booked & Actual)
(from Terry Jackson & Mike Harries)

Miles Location Booked (out) Booked (rtn) Miles
0.0 Euston 07.10d 23.25a 158.0
1.5 Camden Jn 07/17 23/17 156.5
5.3 Willesden West London Jn 07/20 23/14 152.7
11.4 Harrow & Wealdstone 07/25 23/10 146.6
17.4 Watford Junction 07.30a ~ 07.33d 22.52a ~ 22.54d 140.6
31.7 Tring 07/48 22/43 126.3
46.6 Bletchley 08/01 22/33 111.4
49.8 Milton Keynes Central 08.04a ~ 08.07d 22.26a ~ 22.29d 108.2
56.6 Hanslope Jn 08/13 22/21 101.4
65.8 Northampton 08/28  
75.5 Long Buckby 08/38    
  Weedon   22/13 89.9
84.8 Rugby 08.53a ~ 08.56d 22.00a ~ 22.03d 75.5
99.4 Nuneaton 09.08a ~ 09.11d 21.42a ~ 21.45d 60.9
112.4 Tamworth 09/21 21/33 47.9
118.6 Lichfield Trent Valley 09.26a ~ 09.30d 21.23a ~ 21.37d 41.7
129.4 Colwich 09/38 21/19 30.9
135.8 Stafford 09.44a ~ 09.47d 21.05a ~ 21.09d 24.5
141.2 Norton Bridge 09/50 21/01 19.1
152.2 Madeley 10/03 20/52 8.1
160.3
0.0
Crewe 10L13a ~ 10L33d 20L21a ~ 20L44d 0.0
65.7
1.5 Crewe Steel Works 10/37 20/15 64.2
10.8 Beeston Castle & TSB 10/49 20/05 54.9
21.1 Chester 11w05a ~ 11w35d 19w17a ~ 19w49d 44.6
23.0 Saltney Jn 11/40 19/08 42.7
31.6 Rockliffe Hall 11/48 19/00 36.1
37.9 Holywell Jn 11/56 18/53 27.8
51.1 Rhyl 12/11 18/38 14.6
61.6 Colwyn Bay 12/22 18/26 4.1
65.7 Llandudno Junction 12w32a 17w28a ~ 17w48d 0.0
27.5

Train 1

Miles Location Booked Actual
0.0 Llandudno Junction 13.05d 13.03
11.1 North Llanrwst 13/28 13/25
? Betws-y-Coed ? 13/33
? MP18 ? 13/39
? MP18¾ ? 13.55 ~ 14.15
? wait for assistance ? 14.20 ~ 15.23
? MP19½ ? 15/25
27.5 Blaenau Ffestiniog 14w16a 15.46

Train 2

Miles Location Booked (out)
0.0 Llandudno Junction 13.47d
11.1 North Llanrwst 14/20
27.5 Blaenau Ffestiniog 15w08a

Combined Train

Miles Location Booked Actual
0.0 Blaenau Ffestiniog 16w23d 18.47
16.4 North Llanrwst 17/05 19.25 ~ 19.26
27.5 Llandudno Junction 17.28a 19.52

Timings continue in first table.

Back to "The Railtour Files"