14th December 2002

Pathfinder Tours
The Merry Widow

Locos Used 37712, 37798, 56056, 60051, 66241 & 92025 'Oscar Wilde'
Stock Used 4902+5029+4963+5040+4927+5009+1863+21272+3098+3140+3112+3122+6310

Route:
1Z27 : Gloucester to Leeds
1Z28 : Leeds to Gloucester

Loco(s) Route
56056 Gloucester - Barnwood Jn - Cheltenham Spa - Ashchurch for Tewkesbury - Abbotswood Jn - Norton Jn - Worcester Shrub Hill - Droitwich Spa - Stoke Works Jn - Bromsgrove - Barnt Green - King's Norton - Selly Oak - Birmingham New Street
92025 (1) Birmingham New Street - Proof House Jn - Aston - Perry Barr North Jn - Bescot Stadium - Darlaston Jn - Portobello Jn - Bushbury Jn - Stafford - Norton Bridge - Madeley - Basford Hall Jn - Crewe Sorting Sidings North
37712 + 37798 Crewe Sorting Sidings North - Salop Goods Jn - Crewe Sydney Bridge - Sandbach - Wilmslow - Heald Green - Slade Green Jn - Manchester Piccadilly - Manchester Oxford Road - Deansgate - Salford Crescent - Moses Gate - Bolton - Darwen - Blackburn - Accrington - Gannow Jn - Copy Pit - Hall Royd Jn - Hebden Bridge - Milner Royd Jn - Greetland Jn - Brighouse - Bradley Wood Jn - Heaton Lodge East Jn - Dewsbury - Whitehall Jn - Leeds
66241 (2) Leeds - Engine Shed Jn - Woodlesford - Methley Jn - Altofts Jn - Normanton - Wakefield Kirkgate - Horbury Jn - Barnsley - Meadowhall - Nunnery Main Line Jn - Sheffield 
60051 (2) Sheffield - Dore Station Jn - Chesterfield - Clay Cross South Jn - Ambergate Jn - Derby [Up Goods] - Spondon - Sheet Stores Jn - Trent - Toton Jn - Toton Centre
37712 + 37798 Toton Centre - Toton Jn - Trent - Sheet Stores Jn - Castle Donington - Stenson Jn - Burton-on-Trent - Wichnor Jn - Tamworth HL - Kingsbury Jn - Water Orton - Landor Street Jn - Proof House Jn - Birmingham New Street - Selly Oak - King's Norton - Barnt Green - Bromsgrove - Stoke Works Jn - (direct) - Abbotswood Jn - Ashchurch for Tewkesbury - Cheltenham Spa - Barnwood Jn - Gloucester 

Notes:
(1) plus 56056 dead-in-tow.
(2) 37712 + 37798 on rear, providing some assistance in places!

Sources : Gary Thornton (on the train from/to Barnt Green), Mike Tetlow
& Nick Bartlett (on the tour from/to Cheltenham Spa)

Tour Review
(by Gary Thornton, including all photos)

Hard to believe another year has basically gone and time has come round once again for the annual Pathfinder Christmas "spinner"! This is one of the tours I basically book on regardless of where it's going or what the traction is - it's just a damn good day out and a chance to catch up with loads of friends and acquaintances.

Stuart arrived at my place at about 6.30am, complete with a good quantity of mince pies....but no cream! A diversion in Coventry to a Safeway garage saw us fail to get any cream but we did collect another colleague, Andy, who we'd arranged to collect there. We had plenty of time to get to Barnt Green, and a good job too....we rolled off the M42 only to find the back road to Barnt Green closed for roadworks! A (very) lengthy diversion through the suburbs of Birmingham ensued, not made any easier by the absence of diversion signs at at least one vital left turn! We commented that this could catch out some if they were leaving their arrival to the last minute...

By departure time the car bark at Barnt Green station looked full - to get the first loco for haulage this was the last joining point. 56056 rolled in a few minutes late and the throng joined and we were away. With seats in the middle of the leading coach we were "in the action" from the very start :-)

56056 (a winner for me) was a very loud and claggy engine....today was looking like it was going to be very enjoyable. En-route to Birmingham it was commented that one of our number was not yet on board - he had planned a Cheltenham Spa or Barnt Green join but is "famous" for his last minute arrivals...perhaps he'd fallen victim to the roadworks...


56056 & 92025, both at Birmingham New Street.

At New Street 92025 was waiting for us and this was attached on top of 56056 which was then shut down. For the New Street joiners who'd got on as soon as the train arrived there was a chance to "claim" 56056 as it moved the train about a coach-length down the platform a few minutes after arrival. Once the "hairdryer" was attached the grid as shut down (it had been asked if someone was available to work it in tandem with 92025 but this did not happen).

Still no sign of Tony but at Stafford there he was stood on the platform waiting to get on. Yes, you've guessed right - he came off the M42 with about 10 minutes to spare for the 5 minutes drive remaining to Barnt Green only to find the "road closed" signs. He'd have called me to check on the trains progress (being a few minutes late he'd probably have made it despite the diversion) except...he'd left his mobile phone at home! Oops!!

92025 took us to Crewe - we diverted into Basford Hall Yard and "lost" our locos at Sorting Sidings North to 37712 & 37798. As we continued our way via the "independent lines" which pass almost literally under Crewe station we soon realised we had at least one sick loco up front - with each acceleration there were clouds of very dense black exhaust which didn't smell anything like they had come from a diesel engine. A look out confirmed the lead loco, 37712, was the offender. The more learned amongst the leading coach declared that it was likely caused by a blown or seized turbocharger.  We enjoyed the 37's all the way to Leeds - travelling via Wilmslow, Manchester, Bolton, Blackburn, Copy Pit and Dewsbury. At various stages the clag being emitted by tractor 712 was in danger of causing the introduction of "fog working" on the railway! At various stages as we rounded curves flames could also clearly be seen coming out of the exhaust ports of 712! As the journey went on the volume of black smoke billowing down the train was also increasing somewhat!


37712 polluting the atmosphere somewhere north of Bolton.
(Note: I do not normally condone, or take, such "window hanging" photos but
have shown this one to give an impression of the amount of clag being chucked
 out by 37712. The train was almost stationary at the time the picture was
taken as it was just pulling away from a signal-stop.)

On arriving at Leeds we were met by another colleague, complete with a box of steaming hot pasties and pies - how's that for service (thanks Iain!). I chose to spend the hours or so break in Leeds finding a few of my required-for-sight class 333's, which seemed to be quite a successful session. 16.15 and we departed in the direction from which we arrived, 66241 on the front and the tractors appended to the rear, still ticking over. For one of our number a beer was called for as 66241 was also the last EWS "shed" he required for sight....but as he was only 14 he couldn't have a beer so we all had one on his behalf instead!

Although not booked to stop, we festered a few minutes at Horbury Junction. Not sure why this was but, on leaving, we felt a few tell-tale jolts and opening the window confirmed we had the 37's at the back now assisting us along....maybe there was a problem with the shed up front? At least as the 37's were behind us we could enjoy the thrash without the pollution from 37712 smothering us!

On pulling into Sheffield, where we lost the shed in favour of 60051 I commented that one of our number, Simon, hadn't been seen since leaving Leeds. I'd assumed he was in the bar but it transpires he had gone off to get another hot pie then managed to get lost and missed the train as a result. Simon was lucky, we were booked off Sheffield at 17.57 but were held to wait the arrival of a late running Vermin Voyager...one of which's passengers was Simon! he got off to a large round of applause from our coach. He declared it was a good "shed" avoidance move (though I'm not sure I would class a journey in a Voyager as preferable to scoring a loco for haulage, even if it is only a 66).

With 60051 in charge (60mph speed limit) and us being about half an hour late we now fell foul of crap regulating and soon we found ourselves approaching Derby and nearly an hour behind schedule. The sound of "all-line bibles" being hurriedly read filled the coach...

We think the driver in the 37's as also wanting to get home as we crawled past Etches Park on departing from Derby the tractors suddenly burst into life again to give a help to the "brick".

Some time was caught back at Toton where we left 60051 behind and set off southwards with the 37's. 37712 was clagging even worse than in the morning and our coach was soon filled with cloying black smoke! An entertaining ride all the way home was still however enjoyed, 37712 was not only clagging extremely but also flaming just as well, easily visible now it was dark. By Barnt Green the train was back to only about quarter of an hour late. With an engineering possession due to start immediately after our passing it was amusing to arrive to find the car park clogged up with a large truck unloading tractors (agricultural variety) and loads of other equipment lined up ready to start the nights work.

Verdict: A damn good day out - I scored five of the six locos for haulage (just 37798 being "dud") and enjoyed every minute of the 56 and 37 haulage. Roll on the next "spinner"...

Gary Thornton

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Gary Thornton, Rob Fraser & Nick Bartlett)

M.C Location Booked Actual
0.00 Gloucester 07.12d 07.12
0.77 Barnwood Jn 07/15 07/15
6.40 Cheltenham Spa 07.23a ~ 07.25d 07.23 ~ 07.27 [P2]
13.51 Ashchurch for Tewkesbury 07/33 07/34
24.38 Abbotswood Jn 07/42 07/42
25.20 Norton Jn 07/43 ??/??
28.25 Worcester Shrub Hill 07/49 07/51
28.72 Tunnel Jn 07/52 ??/??
34.04 Droitwich Spa 07*58 ~ 08*06 08.02 ~ 08.11
38.19 Stoke Works Jn 08/12 08/16
40.32 Bromsgrove 08/14 08/19
43.75 Barnt Green 08.20a ~ 08.22d 08.29 ~ 08.32
46.50 Longbridge 08/28 08/35
49.03 King's Norton 08/33 08/39
51.17 Selly Oak 08/37 08/43
54.48
0.00		 Birmingham New Street 08L46a ~ 09L01d 08.58 ~ 09.17 [P10]
0.56 Proof House Jn 09/04 09/19
2.56 Aston 09/08 09/25
4.78 Perry Barr North Jn 09/13 ??/??
9.35 Bescot Stadium 09/18 09/40
10.53 Darlaston Jn 09/19 09/41
13.52 Portobello Jn 09/24 ??/??
16.20 Bushbury Jn 09/28 09/48
29.77 Stafford 09.44a ~ 09.46d 10.02 ~ ??.?? [P6] [DS]
35.26 Norton Bridge 09/55 10/10
46.28 Madeley 10/04 10/19
52.50 Basford Hall Jn 10/13 10/26
54.34
0.00		 Crewe Sorting Sidings North 10L20a ~ 10L40d 10.31 ~ 10.57
0.30 Crewe Salop Goods Jn 10/45 11/01 [DMI]
1.42 Crewe Sydney Bridge 10/49 11.08 ~ 11.10 [DMI-DF]
5.16 Sandbach 11/02 11/16
17.67 Alderley Edge 11/14 ??/??
19.31 Wilmslow 11/16 11/36 [P1]
22.56 Heald Green 11/34 11/45
28.63 Slade Green Jn 11/40 11.48 ~ 11.50 [DS]
30.30 Ardwick Jn 11/42 ??/??
31.08 Manchester Piccadilly 11/45 11/56 [P14]
31.51 Manchester Oxford Road 11/48 11/57 [P1]
32.00 Deansgate 11/50 11/58
32.10 Castlefield Jn 11/51 12/00
32.51 Ordsall Lane Jn 11/52 12/01
33.33 Salford Crescent 11/54 12/03
40.60 Moses Gate 12/03 12/12
41.58 Burnden Jn 12*06 ~ 12*35 12.15 ~ 12.36 [DPL]
42.24 Bolton 12/38 12/40 [P1]
45.21 Bromley Cross 12/46 12.47 ~ 12.52
52.01 Darwen 13/08 13.09 ~ 13.16
56.13 Blackburn 13*17 ~ 13*40 13.25 ~ 13.41 [GL]
56.60 Daisyfield Jn 13/42 13/44
61.39 Accrington 13/48 13/55
66.54 Gannow Jn 13/56 14/03
71.73 Copy Pit 14/04 (14/09)
76.25 Hall Royd Jn 14/14 14/21
80.20 Hebden Bridge 14/21 ??/??
85.66 Milner Royd Jn 14/26 (14/33)
87.41 Greetland Jn 14/28 14/34
92.23 Bradley Wood Jn 14/35 14/39
94.13 Heaton Lodge East Jn 14/37 14/41
95.66 Mirfield East Jn 14/40 14/43
98.02 Dewsbury 14/44 14/45 [DM]
102.47 Morley 14/50 14/50
106.45 Whitehall Jn 14/58 14/55
106.70 Leeds West Jn 14/59 14/56 [E]
107.13
0.00		 Leeds 15L01a ~ 16L15d 14.59  [P11] ~ 16.17 [P?]
0.23 Leeds West Jn 16/17 16/19
0.61 Engine Shed Jn 16/18 16/20
8.44 Methley Jn 16/27 ??/??
10.01 Altofts Jn 16/31 ??/??
13.74 Wakefield Kirkgate 16/46 16/43 [P2]
16.18 Horbury Jn 16/52 16.48 ~ 16.56
25.04 Barnsley 17/06 17/10
35.21 Ecclesfild West S.B. 17/17 ??/??
37.73 Wincobank Jn 17/23 17/32
40.48 Nunnery Main Line Jn 17/29 17/38
41.05
0.00		 Sheffield 17L31a ~ 17L57d 17.40 ~ 18.18 [P8]
3.70 Dore Station Jn 18/03 (18/26)
11.61 Tapton Jn 18/14 18/39
12.20 Chesterfield 18/15 18/40 [UG]
16.09 Clay Cross North Jn 18/21 ??.?? ~ 19.01
16.30 Clay Cross South Jn 18/22 19/02
26.38 Ambergate Jn 18/30 19/14
35.13 St Mary's Jn 18/41 19/30 [US]
36.31 Derby 18*45 ~ 18*50 [UG] 19.33 ~ 19.34 [UG]
39.01 Spondon 18/55 19/40
45.10 Sheet Stores Jn 19/01 19/50
45.53 Trent 19/04 19/52
47.10 Toton Jn 19/06 19/55
47.48
0.00		 Toton Centre 19L09 ~ 19L34 19.58 ~ 20.10
0.38 Toton Jn 19/39 20/12
1.75 Trent 19*43 ~ 19*48 20/15
2.38 Sheet Stores Jn 19/50 20/17
14.72 Stenson Jn 20/11 20/36
15.36 North Stafford Jn 20/12 20/37
21.09 Burton-upon-Trent 20.18a ~ 20.20d 20.44 ~ 20.45
26.52 Wichnor Jn 20/26 (20/51)
34.00 Tamworth HL 20/32 20/58
39.61 Kingsbury Jn 20/39 21/03
43.56 Water Orton 20/44 21/06
49.62 Landor Street Jn 20/51 21/11
50.53 Proof House Jn 20/56 21/14
51.27 Birmingham New Street 20.59a ~ 21.04d 21.18 ~ 21.21 [P9]
54.58 Selly Oak 21/12 21.28
56.72 King's Norton 21/16 21/31
59.25 Longbridge 21/19 21/34
62.00 Barnt Green 21.23a ~ 21.27d 21.38 ~ ??.??
65.43 Bromsgrove 21/32 21/44
67.56 Stoke Works Jn 21/34 21/46
78.73 Abbotswood Jn 21/45 21/54
89.60 Ashchurch for Tewkesbury 21/56 22/09
96.71 Cheltenham Spa 22.05a ~ 22.09d 22.16 ~ 22.19 [P1]
102.34 Barnwood Jn 22/17 22/26
103.31 Gloucester 22.20a 22.29


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