15th May 2004

Green Express Railtours
The Fenland Cathedral and Seaside Express

(G.E.R. train no. 209)

Loco Used 57601
Stock Used 5487+5032+4905+4984+4951+99311+4960+21266+3136+3143+99121+99192

Route:
1Z72 : Mills Hill to Ely
1Z73 : Ely to Great Yarmouth
1Z74 : Great Yarmouth to Mills Hill

Loco(s) Route
57601 Mills Hill - Rochdale - Todmorden - Hebden Bridge - Milner Royd Jn - Brighouse - Mirfield East Jn - Horbury Jn - Wakefield Kirkgate - Calder Bridge Jn - Hare Park Jn - Adwick - Doncaster - (via ECML) - Peterborough - Whittlesea - March - Ely West Jn - Ely North Jn - Ely
57601 Ely - Thetford - Wymondham - Trowse Jn - Trowse Swing Bridge Jn - Wensum Jn - Brundall - Reedham - Berney Arms - Great Yarmouth
57601 Great Yarmouth - (reverse of outward route) - Ely North Jn - Ely West Jn - (reverse of outward route) - Mills Hill

Notes :
(1) Route confirmation required.


57601 at Great Yarmouth (photo: Steve Perryman)

Sources : various including David Garnett & Steve Perryman

Tour Review
(from Steve Perryman)

The cancellation of the "Caerwent Cavalier" gave me another opportunity to try out one of our “local” operators (q.v. MCRUA on the 15th).

This time I had some company, the traction was unlikely to be required although I suppose renumbered, rebuilt provides an element of new. The new track was going to be the Mid Norfolk railway at Wymondham and a local pick up; set down should take the heat of being out of bed to early.

Well two out of three isn’t bad. The tour left Littleborough where I joined prompt at 05.46 through the Calder Valley picking up at Todmorden 05.58, Hebden and Sowerby Bridges 06.06-06.18, Brighouse 06.32 and Wakefield Kirkgate 07.08 then through Hare Park junction to Doncaster for an East Coast thrash to Peterborough. At Peterborough we passed the Nenta tour from Dereham to Canterbury diverted off it’s booked route due to a suicide near Cambridge and top n tailed by 47709 and 47355. Ely was reached at booked time 10.09 and the wrinklies departed for a walking tour of the town.

I hadn’t noticed when I booked that a two hour fester in Ely was envisaged so as the Mid Norfolk was only offering a D.M.U. run I abandoned that option for an Anglia day ranger to take in some of the last 86’s and E.W.S 90’s before they depart for Immingham. (86230,32,46 were out with 90011,18,24,29,39,40,) A unit to Great Yarmouth for an excellent fish supper then join the train home via the Wensum curve (a consolation new bit of track).

Once again time was kept with a slightly early arrival in the Calder valley. I can see why G.W. went for an up rated version because 601 whilst competent seemed through out the day slower accelerating than a Class 47 and early on we did note some wheel slip.

The stock on this train was beautifully turned out, decorated with posters of the destinations and other regular “Green”, destinations. Stewarding was efficient, friendly and unobtrusive with a very regular trolley service and reasonable buffet. For the market it is aimed at I would describe this as an above average offering. For me I was winsome at Wensum.

Steve Perryman
Timings (Booked & Actual)

Location Booked Actual   Booked Actual
Mills Hill 05.30d 05.30   23.06a 23.06
Rochdale 05.40a ~ 05.42d 05.39 ~ 05.42   22.54a ~ 22.56d 22.53 ~ 22.57
Rochdale Jn 05/43 ?   22/52 ?
Littleborough 05.47a ~ 05.49d 05.47 ~ 05.50   22.46a ~ 22.48d 22.46 ~ 22.48
Todmorden 05.56a ~ 05.58d 05.57 ~ 05.59   22.37a ~ 22.39d 22.37 ~ 22.39
Hall Royd Jn 06/00 06/00   22/36 22/36
Hebden Bridge 06.04a ~ 06.09d 06.06 ~ 06.07   22.28a ~ 22.31d 22.28 ~ 22.30
Sowerby Bridge 06.15a ~ 06.20d ?   22.19a ~ 22.22d ?
Milner Royd Jn 06/22 06/20   22/18 22/17
Greetland Jn 06/24 ?   22/14 ?
Brighouse 06.28a ~ 06.33d ?   22.01a ~ 22.09d ?
Bradley Wood Jn 06/40 06/33   21/57 21/57
Heaton Lodge (East) Jn 06/46 06/34   21/54 21/55
Mirfield East Jn 06/50 ?   21/50 ?
Thornhill LNW Jn 06/51 ?   ? ?
Horbury Jn 07/00 06/45   21/40 21/43
Wakefield Kirkgate 07.07a ~ 07.09d 06.51 ~ 07.08   21.34a ~ 21.36d 21.37 ~ 21.39
Calder Bridge Jn 07/14 ?   21/32 ?
Crofton West Jn 07/19 ?   21/30 ?
Hare Park Jn 07/24 07/18   21/28 21/29
Hemsworth D&UPL   21.10a ~ 21.23d ?
South Kirkby Jn 07/29 07/24   21/08 21/09
Adwick Jn 07/32 ?   21/04 ?
Adwick 07/33 07/28   21/03 21/04
Doncaster 07.40a ~ 07.42d 07.35 ~ 07.35   20.55a ~ 20.58d ??.?? ~ 20.58
Decoy South Jn 07/47 ?   ? ?
Loversall Carr Jn 07/50 07/49   20/50 20/45
Retford 07/59 08/05   20/39 20/36
Newark Northgate 08/13 08/21   20/24 20/23
Barkston South Jn 08/23 08/28   20/17 20/15
Grantham 08/28 08/32   20/14 20/11
Stoke Tunnel 08/35 08/37   20/10 20/07
Tallington Jn 09/08 08/50   19/54 19/54
Helpston Jn   19/51 19/49
Peterborough 09/25 09/25   19/46 19/41
Peterborough East Jn 09/27 ?   19/40 ?
Whittlesea 09/33 ?   19/32 ?
March 09/44 09/40   19/24 19/25
Ely West Jn ? ?   19/08 ?
Ely North Jn 10/05 09/56  
Ely 10.09a ~ 12.34d 09.59 ~ 12.34  
Ely North Jn 12/39 12/36   19/04 19/06
Brandon 12/53 ?   18/45 18/47
Thetford 13/00 ?   18/37 ?
Attleborough 13/15 ?   18/23 ?
Wymondham 13.21a ~ 13.23d ?   18.14a ~ 18.16d ?
Trowse Jn 13/35 13/36   18/05 18/08
Trowse Swing Bridge Jn 13/36 ?   18/04 ?
Wensum Jn 13/44 ?   ? ?
Whitlingham Jn 13/46 13/47   17/58 17/59
Brundall 13/50 ?   17/52 ?
Reedham 13/58 ?   17/43 ?
Great Yarmouth 14.13a 14.13   17.30d 17.30


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