14th April 1957

Railway Enthusiasts Club
The Charnwood Forester /
Bedford & Hitchin Branch Centenarian

Locos Used 43728, 58209, 60032 'Gannet', 67357 & 67380
Stock Used 5 coaches (BR mark 1 plus Cafeteria Car) (4)

Route : Reporting Number 980 throughout

Loco Route
60032 London Kings Cross - Hitchin - Huntingdon - Holme
67380 Holme - St Mary's - Ramsay North
67380 Ramsay North - St Mary's - Holme
67357 Holme - Fletton Jn - Peterborough North - Werrington Jn - Essendine
67357 Essendine - Ryhall & Belmisthorpe - Stamford - Luffenham - Seaton - Rockingham - Drayton Jn - Welham Jn - Market Harborough
43728 Market Harborough - Wigston - Knighton South Jn - Saffron Lane Jn - Kirby Muxloe - Desford Jn - Desford
58209 Desford - Desford Jn - Glenfield
58209 Glenfield - Desford Jn - Desford
43728 Desfrod - Coalville Jn - Coalville Town - Swannington
43728 Swannington - Coalville Town - Coalville Jn - Charnwood Forest Jn
43728 Charnwood Forest Jn - Coalville East - Whitwick - Shepshed
43728 Shepshed - Whitwick - Coalville East - Hugglescote - Heather & Ibstock - Shackerstone - Market Bosworth - Shenton - Nuneaton Abbey Street
43728 Nuneaton Abbey Street - Nuneaton Trent Valley - Hinckley - Narborough - Wigston - Market Harborough - Kettering - Bedford (3) - Hitchin
60032 Hitchin - London Kings Cross

Notes :
(1) Route confirmation required (above is as booked). Outward leg with 60032 was with driver Hoole. Ran as 'The Charnwood Forester' from Kings Cross to Bedford.
(2) Conflicting reports as to the loco which hauled the return trip from Holme to Ramsay North and back - 67357 or 67380, however Howard Cook has confirmed the above to be correct..
(3) At Bedford the tour became the 'Bedford & Hitchin Branch Centenarian'.
(4) Photographic evidence suggests that 5 coaches of LNER corridor stock may also have been used - seen behind 60032 at Kings Cross & Holme, and also behind 67380 at Holme.

Sources : John Clifford, Chris Harley, Stuart Gamble, Peter Darke & Howard Cook

Photo Review


A tour name roof board (photo: The John Debens Collection)


60032 at Holme (Photo: Stuart Gamble/© David Lawrence)


58209 at Desford (Photo: Stuart Gamble/© Kenneth Hunt)


67357 at Seaton (Photo: Stuart Gamble/© Hugh Davies)


43728 running round at Swannington (Photo: Stuart Gamble/© Ron Hemsley)


43728 at Shackerstone Junction (Photo: J.J. Davis/John Debens Collection)


(From Andrew Fairholm's ticket collection)


Timings (Booked Only)
(from Stuart Gamble)

Location Booked
Kings Cross 09.00d
Holme 10L13a ~ ??L??d
Essendine 11.53a ~ ??.??d
Seaton ??p??a ~ ??p??d
Market Harborough 13L04a ~ ??L??d
Desford ??L??a ~ ??L??d
Desford ??L??a ~ ??L??d
Swannington ??p??a ~ ??p??d
Hugglescote ??p??a ~ ??p??d
Heather & Ibstock ??p??a ~ ??p??d
Shackerstone ??p??a ~ ??p??d
Bedford ??L??a ~ ??L??d
Kings Cross 20.58a


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