14th - 15th September 2001

Pathfinder Tours
The Blythe & Tyne Meanderer

Locos Used 56089, 58037, 58050, 66142 & 92014
Stock Used 4963+5040+4927+5009+1863+21272+3098+3140+3112+1692+3122+6310 (1)

Route :
1Z27 : Newport to York
1Z28 : York to Newport

Date Loco(s) Route
14/09-15/09 58037 Newport (1) - Severn Tunnel Junction - Pilning - Bristol Parkway - Westerleigh Jn - Charfield - Standish Jn - Barnwood Jn - Cheltenham Spa - Abbotswood Jn - Stoke Works Jn - Bromsgrove - Barnt Green - Kings Norton - Bordesley Jn - St Andrews Jn - Proof House Jn - Birmingham New Street - Soho South Jn - Dudley Port - Wolverhampton - Bushbury Jn - Stafford - Norton Bridge - Madeley - Crewe
15/09 92014 (2) Crewe - (via WCML) - Carlisle
15/09 56089 Carlisle - Tyne Yard
15/09 66142 (3) Tyne Yard - Newcastle - Morpeth - Hepscott Jn - Newsham North Jn
15/09 56089 (4) Newsham North Jn - Bedlington Jn - Ashington Jn
15/09 66142 (3) Ashington Jn - Marchey's House Jn - Winning Jn - Freemans LC
15/09 56089 (4) Freemans LC - Winning Crossing Jn - Bedlington Jn - Newsham North Jn - Benton North Jn - Newcastle - King Edward Bridge - Greensfield Jn - Pelaw Jn - Boldon West Jn - Tyne Dock
15/09 66142 (3) Tyne Dock - Pelaw up sidings
15/09 56089 (4) Pelaw up sidings - Jarrow
15/09 66142 (3) Jarrow - Pelaw
15/09 56089 (4) Pelaw - Sunderland - Hartlepool - Seaton Snook Jn - Seaton-on-Tees
15/09 66142 (3) Seaton-on-Tees - Hartlepool
15/09 56089 (4) Hartlepool - Stockton - Eaglescliffe - Longlands Jn - Thirsk - Skelton Jn - York Yard North - Holgate sidings
15/09 66142 (3) Holgate sidings - York
15/09 56089 York - Milford Jn - Castleford - Altofts Jn - Wakefield Kirkgate - Mirfield East Jn - Hebden Bridge - Rochdale - Manchester Victoria - Eccles - Newton-le-Willows - Winwick Jn - (via WCML) - Crewe
15/09 58050 Crewe - Stafford - Bushbury Jn - Darlaston Jn - Bescot Stadium - Aston - Birmingham New Street - Selly Oak - Kings Norton - (reverse of outward route) - Newport

Notes :
(1) Train delayed at Newport due to sticking brakes on the generator car. The offending vehicle was removed by 66203 (though this was not "had" for haulage by any of the tour participants).
(2) plus 56089 dead-in-tow.
(3) 56089 on rear.
(4) 66142 on rear.

Source : David Clark (joined/left the train at Birmingham New Street) & Kevin Stroud

Tour review :
 (by David Clark)

This was another tour postponed from June due to pathing problems and timing problems.  So this was another tour hoping for 2nd time lucky.  The tour was from Newport with a 58 to Crewe, for a 92 to Carlisle (with 56 DIT), and then across to Tyne Yard (to attach a 66), and then around the freight lines in the Blyth and Tyne areas.  Like many Pathfinder tours the itinerary was to change over the months.

The timings appeared a few weeks before the tour, and I was pleasantly surprised to see that the tour getting back to Birmingham New Street for tea time.  Friday morning, I found out that 58037/56089/92014 were allocated to the tour.  Doh!!  58037 again, that's only twice this year for the loco.  56089 worked the Weaving Weasel from Sheffield to Oxford a few years ago.

After a mad rush to get things sorted at home, we left Scunthorpe Friday night at 6pm and set off on 158906 to Sheffield.  From Doncaster it was clear that there had been the races at the racecourse as numerous people got on the train in quite a bad state.  At Sheffield we caught 1V66 with 43068/43098 down to Birmingham New Street in the company of a lovely young lady who got off at Tamworth HL (shame!).  The Central Rivers Depot at Burton on Trent was seen, with numerous Virgin Voyagers seen.

Arrival at Birmingham New Street was greeted with the scene that appears at numerous Night Clubs on Friday nights.  And lots of lovely young ladies were heading out for the night (obviously the better option one thought!!!).  While looking at the TV screen I noticed someone I knew, and so it was case of chatting and getting a nice hot drink and observing the movements to / from the station concourse.  At 2230 we decided to find out if the tour was on the board.  Yep the 2256 to Newcastle was shown, and an arrival time of 0000 was expected!!  Rumours circulated that the generator car had dragging brakes.  In the words of a missing friend - Marvellous!!!

So, with a few more suspects we stood around talking, including rumours that Virgin due to lack of luggage space on their wonderful voyagers (not my words) that they will have to have vans travelling across the country to take the luggage!!!  What a ridiculous idea.  How long, before HST’s are brought back due to increased luggage capability and all round greatness compared to plastic.  However, at 2343 the bone appeared through the Tunnels at Birmingham New Street.  We departed at 2345 (50 late) with the counter increasing on 58037.  At Stafford the noise trebled (not due to 37's being on the tour) but the Retford contingent joined on the table opposite.  We arrived at Crewe to find 37038 sat on a Freightliner service.  The 58 came off the train, and disappeared back to Bescot while 92014 came on to the train with 56089 DIT.  However, the platform we were on (P12) had very little lighting, and so it was quite dark wandering up the platform.

We departed Crewe at 0106 (36 late) and the driver set off in a bit of a hurry.  By Wigan NW the train decided to accelerate in to the oblivion.  By that time I decided sleep was the best option (or lack of it!).

The train arrived at Carlisle just 4 minutes late (0310).  The 92 disappeared to Crewe, the 56 ran round the train, and the Royal Mail staff appeared awaiting the Willesden to Carlisle TPO (1C00).  We departed Carlisle at 0342 (6 late) and arrived at Tyne Yard at 0520 (11 down).  Although we did not grice the RM terminal at Low Fell.  Even though someone kicked me in the shins at Gateshead Metro Centre to wake me up just in case!!!! (thanks Jim!).

66142 was attached to our end of the train thus resulting in a nice quiet journey!!  We departed Tyne Yard at 0535, passed through Newcastle Central, and took the ECML up to Morpeth (0609 7 late).  From here the track gricing started properly for me anyway.  We came off the ECML and took the freight line down to Hepscott and Newsham.  From there, the train reversed and set out to Ashington Junction (0658/0701) (22 late on Dep).  From Ashington Junction the charter took the Line towards Blyth Cambois arriving at the limit at 0715 and departed at 0722 (28 late).  The area would have been a vast freight area in the past, but unfortunately there was very little now.  At Freemans Junction we then made our way back to Newcastle (via Benton Junction) (39 late), Newcastle Central (38 late), King Edward Bridge Junction, passing Gateshead depot and took the Sunderland Line to Pelaw.  The First Branch south of the Tyne was to be the Tyne Dock branch, even though the Jarrow Branch is first!!  We arrived at Tyne Dock 0839 and departed at 0849 and set back to Pelaw (Up Sidings).  From there we took the Jarrow branch, which followed the Tyne and Wear Metro to Jarrow (0929/0934) and arrived back at Pelaw at 1004.

At Pelaw we set off again at 1009 (56 late) down the Durham Coast passing through Sunderland, Seaham, Hartlepool and going on to the Seaton on Tees Branch. The branch leads to the Nuclear Power Station at Hartlepool (arrival at 1106 and departure at 1109 (31 late).  We reversed at Hartlepool and dropped off what seems to be the shunter.

From departure at Hartlepool (1137 31 late) we were on 1Z28 and this was the train headcode all the way back to Newport.  We departed Hartlepool via Stockton, Eaglescliffe through the lovely town of Northallerton.  From which a few of us would be going through next week on another tour!!!  Some of the places were recognised as we passed, and passed Longlands Junction at 1211 (15 late).  The slow lines was taken to Thirsk, from where we took the fasts all the way to Skelton Junction, and took the York Avoiding line where numerous Thrall Wagons, 56111 and 66203 were seen.  66203, was the loco which carried out the shunting at Newport for the dragging brakes incident.  At Holgate Sidings we reversed, and went back in to York Station at 1252.  Lunch time!!!!!

Six of us griced KFC, and had the tables moved to accommodate is.  We left KFC, got back to the station to find, that 58050 (according to official gen) was to take the tour back from Crewe to Newport.  Another reason not to get off at York and head home for some decent kip.

We departed York at 1417 (28 late) due to having the departure time moved to accommodate a break, and the tanking of the stock.  The journey back to Crewe, across the Pennines was via Milford Junction, Castleford, Altofts Junction (where a Freightliner 47 was seen), Wakefield Kirkgate (another Freightliner 47 was seen!) (16 late), Mirfield East Junction (17 late), and took the line up to Hebden Bridge from where we griced with a grid back in January on the Mancunian Marauder.

We passed through Rochdale 6 late, and found out that in our company was a Wimbledon fan!!!  Yes, the rumours are true, there is one!!  It was interesting talking about the club, the results (FA Cup Liverpool), annoying the Premiership teams, but more importantly their 3-2 defeat at Everton which resulted in Everton not being relegated!!

OK, enough of the football and back to the more mundane issues of the railtour.  We passed Manchester Victoria on time, took the line out to Eccles, Newton-le-Willows and joined the West Coast Main Line at Winwick Junction.  A crew change was had at Warrington Bank Quay (1625-1627) and departed one early.  We arrived at Crewe 1656 (7 early) and the 56 came off for 58050 on!! Marvellous!!!!

The bone set off from Crewe at 1711 and by the time we arrived at Stafford we were 15 early.  The members of our party alighted at Stafford, and the tour departed Stafford 14 early and headed down towards Birmingham New Street via Portobello Junction (14 early), Darlaston Junction (19 early), Bescot Stadium (19 early), but at Witton we were held from 1807-1813.  Even though of the stop, we passed Aston 15 early, and arrived at Birmingham New Street 19 early!!  We alighted, and let the tour carry on down to Newport (from which it arrived 34 early).

The next part was to try and find a train to get us to Derby.  But with Birmingham New Street the centre of farces (apart from Leeds and Connex) we found a 150 to take us.  We departed with 150108, saw a duchess at Central Rivers Depot, got to Derby to take 43072/43082 to Doncaster.  At Doncaster, another conductor problem for Arriva made the train a few minutes late departing Doncaster with 158776 and arrived back at Scunthorpe at 2300.  WE departed the station to listen to Jerusalem being played in the car…..

It was a enjoyable tour, even though the 58 and 56 were dud.  The amount of track required was good, even though there were parts I guess from which some people would have wanted to go down further.  So again, thanks to all concerned

David Clark

Timings & Mileages (Booked & Actual)
(provided by David Clark)

M.C Location Booked   Booked M.C
0.00 Newport 20.22d   21.32a 160.19
9.69 Severn Tunnel Junction 20/33   21/18 150.30
16.65 Pilning 20/40   21/09 143.34
20.31 Patchway 20/46   21/04 139.68
21.53 Bristol Parkway 20.48a ~ 20.51d   20.39a ~ 20.44d 138.46
26.23 Westerleigh Jn 20/58   20/32 133.76
27.75 Yate 21/01   20/25 132.24
34.36 Charfield 21/07   20/19 125.63
47.61 Standish Jn 21/18   20/08 112.38
53.71 Gloucester Yard Jn 21/25   20/03 106.28
54.58 Barnwood Jn 21/26   20/02 105.41
60.21 Cheltenham Spa 21.32a ~ 21.36d   19.53a ~ 19.56d 99.78
67.32 Ashchurch 21/45   19/45 92.67
78.19 Abbotswood Jn 21/53   19/36 82.00
89.36 Stoke Works Jn 22/03   19/27 70.63
91.49 Bromsgrove 22/05   19/25 68.50
95.12 Barnt Green 22.15a ~ 22.18d   19.18a ~ 19.20d 65.07
97.69 Longbridge 22/24   19/13 62.32
100.20 Kings Norton 22/29   19/06 59.79

 

M.C Location Booked Actual
105.35 Bordesley Jn 22/42 ?
105.61 St Andrews Jn 22/45 ?
106.58 Proof House Jn 22/48 ?
107.32 Birmingham New Street 22.51a ~ 22.56d 23.43 ~ 23.45
109.33 Soho South Jn 23/01 23/49
111.11 Galton Jn 23/03 23/52
114.56 Dudley Port 23/09 23/55
120.16 Wolverhampton 23/17 00/02
120.59 Wolverhampton North Jn 23/19 00/04
121.70 Bushbury Jn 23/21 00/05
? Stafford No.4 23/36 00/17
135.47 Stafford 23.37a ~ 23.40d 00.18 ~ 00.20
140.76 Norton Bridge 23/47 00/26
151.78 Madeley 23/57 00/35
158.2 Basford Hall Jn 00/06 00/43
160.04
0.00
Crewe 00L10a ~ 00.30d 00.48 ~ 01.06
0.58 Crewe Coal Yard 00/33 01/09
8.66 Winsford SB 00/40 01/14
17.20 Weaver Jn 00/46 01/20
22.24 Acton Grange Jn 00/50 01/24
24.11 Warrington Bank Quay 00/52 01/25
24.22 Dallam Jn 00/53 01/26
27.47 Winwick Jn 00/56 01/28
34.42 Springs Branch Jn 01/2 01/32
35.57 Wigan South Jn 01/02 01/33
35.71 Wigan North Western 01/03 01/33
43.42 Balshaw Lane 01/1 01/39
45.44 Euxton Jn 01/12 01/40
51.01 Preston 01/27 01.56 ~ 02.02
71.79 Lancaster 01/46 02/18
73.71 Morecambe South Jn 01/48 02/20
78.07 Carnforth North Jn 01/52 02/22
91.07 Oxenholme 02/03 02/32
103.56 Tebay 02/18 -
123.19 Penrith 02/43 02/54
141.08
0.00
Carlisle 03L06a ~ 03.30d 03.10 ~ 03.42
0.53 Carlisle Road Jn 03/36 03/44
0.72 Petteril Bridge Jn 03/38 03/45
10.77 Brampton 03/39 03/58
23.05 Haltwhistle 03/54 -
31.63 Haydon Bridge 04/17 -
39.30 Hexham 04/25 -
49.50 Prudhoe 04/36 -
56.15 Blaydon 04/45 -
58.15 Gateshead Metro Centre 04/56 04/53
59.57 Norwood Jn 04/59 04/56
61.19 Low Fell Jn 05/04 05/00
61.62
0.00
Tyne Yard 05L09a ~ 05.34d 05.20 ~ 05.35
0.43 Low Fell Jn 05/39 05/42
2.48 King Edward Bridge Jn 05/42 05/47
3.22 Newcastle 05/44 05/50
5.16 Heaton South Jn 05/47 05/53
19.72 Morpeth 06/02 06/09
20.54 Hepscott Jn 06/07 06/12
24.27 Bedlington North LC 06.23a ??/??
? Newsham North Jn ? 06.30 ~ 06.34
0.00 Bedlington Jn 06.28d ??/??
3.02
0.00
Ashington Jn 06.34a ~ 06.39d 07.01 ~ 07.01
2.72
0.00
Freemans LC 06.49a ~ 06.54d 07.15 ~ 07.22
2.28 Bedlington Jn 07/00 07/34
5.25 Newsham 07/06 07/43
13.64 Benton North Jn 07/23 08/04
16.14 Heaton South Jn 07/26 08/07
18.08 Newcastle 07c29a ~ 07c33d 08/11
18.47 King Edward Bridge East Jn 07/35 08/15
18.60 King Edward Bridge Jn 07/36 08/16
18.74 Greensfield Jn 07/37 8/17
19.42 Park Lane Jn 07/39 08/19
22.14 Pelaw Jn 07/45 08/23
25.14 Boldon West Jn 07/49 08/31
26.35
0.00
Tyne Dock Automotive 07.59a ~ 08.16d 08.39 ~ 08.49
1.21 BoldonWest Jn 08/26 08/59
4.21
0.00
Pelaw Jn 08.30a ~ 08.33d 09.08 ~ 09.14
3.36
0.00
Jarrow Oil Terminal 08.40a ~ 08.49d 09.29 ~ 09.34
3.36
0.00
Pelaw Jn 09.11a ~ 09.13d 10.04 ~ 10.09
8.36 Sunderland 09c23a ~ 09c24d 10.22 ~ 10.25
13.52 Seaham 09/38 10/34
26.41 Hartlepool 09/52 10/51
28.10 Cliff House Jn 09/56 10/54
30.68
0.00
Seaton-on-Tees (Nuclear Electric) 10.08a ~ 10.38d 11.06 ~ 11.09
1.32 Seaton Snook Jn 10/50 11/23
4.27
0.00
Hartlepool ??.??a ~ 10.56d 11.33 ~ 11.37
7.08 Billingham 11/05 11/46
11.51 Stockton 11/12 11/52
12.41 Hartburn Jn 11/21 11/53
13.25 Stockton Cut Jn 11/30 11/54
14.55 Eaglescliffe 11/32 11/56
29.42 Boroughbridge Road LC 11/54 12/10
30.31 Longlands Jn 11/56 12/11
37.06 Thirsk 12/02 12/18
49.62 Tollerton 12/12 12/28
56.11 Skelton Bridge Jn 12/19 12/36
57.51 Skelton Jn 12/21 12/38
59.08 York Yard South Jn 12/24 12/42
59.76
0.00
Holgate Sidings 12.27 ~ 12.34 12.48 ~ 12.49
0.78
0.00
York 12L34a ~ 13L49d 12.52 ~ 14.17
5.41 Colton Jn 13/5 14/23
10.58 Church Fenton 14/05 14/30
15.07 Milford Jn S.B. 14/16 14/33
20.79 Castleford 14/23 14/40
23.57 Altofts Jn 14/27 14/44
27.50 Wakefield Kirkgate 14/35 14/51
29.74 Horbury Jn 14/39 14/55
36.12 Mirfield East Jn 14/47 15/04
38.03 Heaton Lodge Jn 14/50 15/06
46.10 Milner Royd Jn 15/0 15/15
51.56 Hebden Bridge 15/08 15/20
55.51 Hall Royd Jn 15/13 15/26
61.47 Littleborough 15/26 15/35
64.11 Rochdale 15/32 15/38
70.10 Vitriol Works 15/42 15/44
72.51 Thorpes Bridge Jn 15/47 15/48
73.36 Miles Platting 15/48 15/50
74.74 Manchester Victoria 15/53 15/53
75.32 Deal Street Jn 15/55 15/55
76.06 Ordsall Lane Jn 16/00 16/00
78.65 Eccles 16/04 16/03
83.70 Astley 16/09 16/08
90.64 Newton-le-Willows 16/17 16/16
71.56 Earlestown 16/19 16/18
93.15 Winwick Jn 16/21 16/21
95.42 Dallam Jn 16/24 16/23
96.51 Warrington Bank Quay 16c26 ~ 16c28 16.25 ~ 16.27
98.38 Acton Grange Jn 16/31 16/30
104.40 Weaver Jn 16/37 16/34
111.76 Winsford SB 16/4 16/42
113.21 Winsford 16/46 16/43
120.04 Crewe Coal Yard 17/02 16/51
120.62
0.00
Crewe 17L03a ~ 17L17d 16.56 ~ 17.11
1.64 Basford Hall Jn 17/25 17/15
8.06 Madeley 17/34 17/22
19.08 Norton Bridge 17/44 17/30
24.37 Stafford 17.51a ~ 17.53d 17.36 ~ 17.39
? Stafford No.4 17/54 17/41
38.14 Bushbury Jn 18/05 17/53
40.62 Portobello Jn 18/11 17/57
43.61 Darlaston Jn 18/19 18/00
44.79 Bescot Stadium 18/20 18/01
49.36 Perry Barr North Jn 18/28 18/05
? Witton ??/?? 18.07 ~ 18.13
51.58 Aston 18/33 18/18
53.58 Proof House Jn 18/40 18/21
54.34 Birmingham New Street 18.43a ~ 18.52d 18.24 ~ ??.??
57.65 Selly Oak 19/02 -

Timings continue in first table.

No attempt has been made to verify the mileages given and they do not allow for the change of reversal point at Newsham North.

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