1st March 2008

Railway Touring Company
The Cheshireman

Route:
1Z90 : Mill Hill Broadway to Chester
1Z91 : Chester to Mill Hill Broadway

Notes :
(1) 17041 only in consist when 71000 was hauling the train.

Source : Stuart Prentice (joined/left the train at Luton)

Tour Review
(by Stuart Prentice)

We picked up the train at Luton with 67001 and 12 coaches on. Some slack timings via Corby and Melton Mowbray saw us arrive at Leicester facing south a few minutes early. Here we lost the 67 for 71000 Duke of Gloucester, which was put on the north end of our train with its support coach. However the loco was not in behind the signal and had locked the route from the sidings, so before anything else could leave the station the whole train had to be shunted back to get it in clear, and free the route. All this messing about meant a 5 late start from Leicester. A steady run saw us arrive at Sheet Stores Junction only 3 down for the run to Stenson Junction and by Stoke we were back on time. Slack timings gave us a 6 minutes early arrival for water at Crewe. A 4 early departure gave us a 7 early arrival at Chester.

Departure from Chester was booked as 15.13, but that time came and went with the loco still on Chester Depot and the coaches sat in a siding. N.R. had allowed only 2 hours to turn the whole train and then fuel and water the engine, not surprisingly this was not long enough. Finally 71000 came off the shed at 15.28 to join the coaches for the shunt into the platform which was completed by 15.45. Departure was finally achieved at 16.04, but more time was lost by Crewe arriving around an hour late. However with a water stop reduced from 40 minutes down to 24, departure was only 40 minutes late.

More slack timings saw us only 20 minutes late at Sheet Stores Junction before we headed for Toton Centre (Posh name for Toton Yard!) Here we gained 67001 and said good bye to “The Duke”, which had performed brilliantly all day, a credit to all those who look after the engine. Departure from Toton was only 14 minutes down. Somehow though, even omitting the booked stop at Loughborough saw us arrive back at Leicester 20 minutes down. A protracted run round for 67001 saw us leave 35 late, which was never recovered even with the Wellingborough stop omitted, arrival at Luton was at 22.30.

A very enjoyable, if long, day with a couple of bits of unusual track thrown in for good measure, topped off with 3 very nice meals served by the efficient on board staff.

Stuart Prentice

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Stuart Prentice)

Back to "The Railtour Files"