23rd March 2002

Vintage Trains
(E.W.S. Crew Trainer)

Route:

Notes:
(1) 47776 on rear - train banked by 47776 between Bromsgrove & Blackwell Summit.

Sources : Mark Honey (on the train throughout) & Stuart Buffery

Tour Review
(by Mark Honey)

This was to be a run round the Midlands with A4 60009 'Union of South Africa' to break some fresh blood into the retiring ranks of EWS passed steam drivers. Usual messing about beforehand about the route saw changes galore. We were to run from Snow Hill to Worcester to pick up No.9 and head back over Old Hill Bank to Smethwick, Soho Junction, Walsall, Sutton Park to Water Orton. The on to Nuneaton, Leicester, Peterborough and back. No so - the route was altered to run us direct through Birmingham (how they were going to get away with that without setting the smoke alarms off beats me) and via Water Orton, Leicester and Castle Donnington. To top that, a day or two before that, we were advised that the run from Worcester would operate over the Lickey instead of over Old Hill. Make up your minds, Railtrack!!

Hmmm...How do we get over the Lickey, then??? Answer, leave the Duff on the back that had brought us in from Snow Hill. Oh, alright. Predictable, but boring!

So...up at some disgusting hour. I wish, wish, wish I hadn't been to the local pub the previous evening. No I hadn't got a hangover, but it acted as a catalyst for a trip to the local curry house which was fighting back the following morning.

So it was that I picked a mate up and we headed to Tyseley where we were guaranteed parking at the museum. We then found that the first train did not leave for Snow Hill until 7.15 and the tour was due off Snow Hill at 07.20.

Doh!

Salvation came in the shape of a taxi pulling up outside the station with the tour guard (a Bescot EWS driver). No, we didn't bag the taxi, but the EWS chappie suggested a walk back to the museum where the stock would leave from and 'see what he could do' So we were able to hitch a lift on the ECS to Snow Hill. Result! As it turned out, it wasn't quite ECS as the train was full of training staff from EWS and tour stewards. We were escorted to the stock which was literally being created from scratch. There seemed to be all sorts of commotion going on about hooking up and checking ETS connections, but at least 47776 was ticking over on the front. Ugh!

So we crawled out of the yard and headed into Snow Hill, picked up the rest of the tour participants and headed down Old Hill Bank. A non-descript run to Worcester followed where No.9 backed on. We were close to the front (and freezing as all the ETS connections weren't plugged in on the stock -what was all that about?) but steam heat put that right. Very nostalgic, with leaks on the stock and all. Instead of staying on the back, the Duff left in front of us. Why?

We diverged towards Bromsgrove and stopped to allow the 47 to buffer up and of course conversation turned to how much effort the Duff put in to assist us on the climb. The driver at Nuneaton was later heard to say that he could have got over if he'd had a flying start. The weather was dry and bright and the load was only 8, so it wasn't insurmountable. Not to put a damper on it, that's what they all say, isn't it? Anyhow, we topped Blackwell at just under 40mph (so I'm told) and we turned right at Lifford to count the washers, three piece suites and fridges in the cutting towards St Andrews. We then sat for ages outside Saltley letting everything and his cousin go past. Why? We weren't late!

We took the road to Nuneaton and climbed to Arley Tunnel without problem and skated down the bank to Nuneaton where we crossed over into platform 4 to allow No.9 to take water. Useful having the WCML shut between Rugby and Stafford! While No.9 detached and ran to the hydrant we legged it to Asda for a quick breakfast and to stock up on some liquid refreshment of the Worthington White Shield variety.

The exit out to Leicester was cracking and a good run ensured from Leicester to Sheet Stores Junction. However, there was not a lot of scope for good running, although the run through Tamworth was good enough. We stopped at Water Orton to drop those off for Nuneaton and threaded our way to Saltley, Camp Hill and Lifford Junction where we were checked to let us on to the main line. By this time we were 20 minutes early, it had to be said! It was then brakes on wall the way to Bromsgrove as we were heavily checked coming down the bank. We rolled in to Worcester 15 minutes early where 47776 took us back over Old Hill and a run through Galton Bridge to Snow Hill. Still novel to run into Snow Hill by loco! We then got treated to a run to Tyseley and into the yard. New mileage by Red Duff was obtained as we traversed the turntable road across the turntable itself, right to the buffer stops! Try getting that on a railtour!

Not a bad day, all over by quarter to five which allowed an early finish and a night out. Makes a change from crawling in in the early hours....

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Stuart Buffery)

Timings continue in first table.

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