30th January 2010

UK Railtours
The Wellington Boot

Route :
1Z51 : Woking to Donnington Rail Freight Terminal
1Z52 : Donnington Rail Freight Terminal to Woking

Notes :
(1) 67026 on rear.
(2) 67006 on rear.

Sources : David Clark, Nicholas Braddick, Neil Green & Pete Drury

Tour Review
(by David Clark)

When this tour was advertised originally not only did it include the recently opened branch to Telford International Railfreight Terminal (Donnington Branch), but also Lichfield HL to Lichfield LL, Oxley Curve, Lifford Curve, Wigston to Glen Parva Curve, Crewe BH to Crewe Gresty Lane Jn amongst other bits of track quite rare to passenger services.  This made booking the tour quite easy to justify.  In the end, the Lichfield HL to Lichfield LL curve we were unable to traverse due to engineering work preventing access.

 On the day we were going to be part of a group of 12 on the tour, so an enjoyable day was in prospect.  The day before I made my usual way “Up North” via the delights of West Wales, Bristol Parkway to Leeds where my parents picked me up (after spending time with two of their grandchildren).  We headed across to Scunthorpe to watch the excellent BBC Comedy “Rock and Chips” (as well as Christmas cake and chocolate cake – Even though my mother keeps telling me to watch my weight).

 Anyway Saturday morning saw my dad depart Bottesford about 05.45 expecting some minor hiccups down to Bedford.  Anyway, needless to say we arrived at Bedford with over an hour to spare!  So with that in mind I treated my dad to breakfast.  News came that the tour was running slightly late due to a points problem on the North London Line.

 After viewing 66606, a DBS 66, EMT 222s and EMT HSTs the tour arrived in to Bedford with 67006 in the lead.  It departed Bedford (Platform 3 U&DPL) at 09.32 and took slow line to Bedford North Jn where we took the Fast lines through to Trent picking up our final member of the party at Kettering.  By Trent South Jn we were 15 late, and took the route through Sheet Stores Jn to Stenson Jn and joined the main Derby to Birmingham Line through Burton, Tamworth HL but at Kingsbury Jn (now 10 late) we took the route to Whitacre Jn passing Hams Hall and Coleshill Parkway through to Water Orton and Water Orton West Jn.

 We took the Sutton Park line through to Walsall (P2), Pleck Jn, Darlaston Jn, Portobello Jn (West Mids.), Bushbury Jn and got to Stafford at 1228 (Platform 6) for a brief leg stretch.

 Stafford departure came at 12.36 via the Slow Lines and passed Crewe BH Jn at 12/59 taking the independent to Crewe Salop Goods Jn.

 Locos viewed on Basford Hall were as follows: 66540 / 66616 / 66047 / 70006 / 66549 / 66569 / 86614 / 86605 / 90049 / 86639 / 86621 / 86609 / 66576 / 66577 / 66516 / 66531 with 37059 / 37601 at Crewe South yard.

 We were held at a signal to let a 158 on the 1230 Manchester Piccadilly to Milford Haven disappear down to Nantwich and Shrewsbury and set off from Gresty Lane at 13/13 and 66431 / 66427 were seen on the DRS Shed.

 At Shrewsbury we took the UML which takes you right round the back of the station at 13/54 and took the route to Wellington before entering the Donnington Branch.

 The only previous tour to do this was Pathfinder in 2009.  I expected to be a little short stub, but in fairness it seemed quite long.  After negotiating a few crossings, gates we came in to the main group of sidings (From L to R in facing direction, we were on the far right hand side).  Here we stopped from 14.30 and we were all thinking, is that it?

 It was mentioned that UK Railtours were excellent on their communication, and just a few minutes later we were informed that we were having the kitchen car tanked up.  Quite a few staff were out on the ground to see us arrive.

 We departed at 14.53 and the main group of sidings ended and there was a LH and RH (in facing of direction of travel) siding. We took the LH siding to buffer’s end arriving at 1456.

 67026 was duly warmed up for its first duty of this tour.  We departed at 1508 (and were now officially 1z52 Donnington to Woking).  Where the two sidings joined and the main span of sidings came we were on the 2nd from the right (In facing direction of travel).  Donnington Jn was passed at 15/39 and we came in to Wellington station at 15.41.

 We departed at 15.48 with 006 leading (Delaying the 1330 Aberystwyth to Birmingham Int’l service in the process)  and passed through Madeley Jn 15/56, Oxley SB 16/09, and took the Oxley Curve through to Bushbury at 16/16 for a very spirited run up to Stafford arriving Platform 6 (again) at 16.28.  Some of the local people were out at Bushbury Oxley Jn to view us and gave us some signs of how they viewed a train stood).

 The departure from Stafford came at 16.39 with 026 in the lead and after Stafford No4 we were on the FL through to Colwich at 16/48, where we took the Slow Lines to Rugeley North Jn passing through at 16/53 and took the line through Hednesford / Bloxwich passing Ryecroft Jn at 17/21 and passed through Walsall on the Up Fast at 17/22, Pleck Jn 17/24, Bescot Stadium 17/25 with 66088 / 66081 / 66174 / 08886 at Bescot noted.

 We were slightly late coming through Aston due to regulation, and after navigating Duddeston to Proof House Jn arrived Birmingham New Street at 17.55 on platform 9.

 After Birmingham New Street where we departed at 18.01 it was a slow journey back to Bedford.  At Lifford West Jn we were held due to the signalman having routed us to Kings Norton and Not Lifford East Jn.  At Landor Street we joined the man Birmingham to Derby line, and at Water Orton we took the line to Whitacre Jn, Nuneaton (19.00 – 19.02 for a crew change), Hinckley, Croft Jn, Glen Parva JN at 19/19 and joined the Midland Main Line at 19/21.  We arrived Kettering at 19.51 on P2, and departed at 19.54 (now 15 late) but at Sharnbrook Jn we were routed on to the US with a few EMT trains passing us on the Up, before getting to Bedford North Jn at 20/24 20 late arriving Bedford P3 at 20.27 21 late.

 We bode farewell to our party, and made our way over to the car park meeting someone I hadn’t seen for a few years.  My dad and I departed Bedford in the car at 20.45 and were back in the house about 23.30 after a brief stop at a service station at Peterborough.  Usually at this point, I would have gone to sleep, but not on this occasion, as I was the nominated driver!  So with a few CD’s for entertainment we got home in good time!

 Sunday saw me depart Scunny again for South Wales enjoying a crowded 185, 220, and a slightly less crowded HST and a 150.

 Many Thanks and a well done to all those people whose hard work made the tour possible and on the day made things go pretty smoothly.

David Clark

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from David Clark & Pete Drury)

Timings continue in first table.

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