16th October 1965

R.C.T.S. (West Midlands Branch)
Midlands Locomotive Requiem Rail Tour

Locos Used 43953 & D8613

Route : 1X20 throughout

Loco(s) Route
43953 Nuneaton Abbey Street - Market Bosworth - Donisthorpe - Gresley - Burton-on-Trent
43953

Burton-on-Trent - Burton-on-Trent South Box
43953 Burton-on-Trent South Box - Burton - Dove Jn - Eggington Junction - Willington Jn - Stenson Jn - Castle Donington - Sheet Stores Jn - Trent - Beeston - Lenton South Jn - Lenton North Jn - Annesley - Mansfield Town - Elmton - Staveley Town - Barrow Hill & Staveley Works - Seymour Jn
43953 & D8613 Seymour Jn - Glapwell Colliery Sidings
43953

Glapwell Colliery - Seymour Jn - Hall Lane Jn - Barrow Hill Jn - Chesterfield Midland - Riddings Jn - Butterley - Crich Jn - Ambergate - Derby North Jn - Derby South Jn - Sawley Junction - (via north curve) - Trent North Jn - Trent - Leicester London Road - Wigston North Jn - Wigston Central Jn - Blaby - Narborough - Nuneaton Midland Jn - Nuneaton Abbey Street

Notes :
(1) This tour commemorated the virtual end of the once numerous fleet of Midland 0-6-0 tender locomotives. The six coach train visited numerous lines in the heart of the Midland system, where the 0-6-0's were once so common. Such was the rarity now of the 4F's that 43953 had to be brought in from Workington shed to power the train. This machine would in fact prove to be the last Midland 4F in service, retirement coming about three weeks later on November 6th. Whilst prepared to the highest standard for the rail tour it became obvious towards the end that all was not well with 43953, with time being lost and the speed rarely exceeding 30mph. Perhaps the 50 mph streak on the Ambergate to Derby section overstretched the forty-four year veteran.

Source : David Hills, Terry Jackson & Ted Prince (courtesy of Kevin Prince)

Photo Review
(From Terry Jackson/Ted Prince)


From Stuart Gamble's ticket collection.


43953 at Mansfield (photo: Don Boydon/The John Debens Collection)


43953 during the tour (photo: Alan Short courtesy of Phantasrail Galleries)


43953 pauses at Ambergate (photo: Mike Morant collection)


Timings (Booked Only)
(From Terry Jackson/Ted Prince)

Location Booked
Nuneaton Abbey Street 10.45d
Market Bosworth 11/03
Measham 11/18
Moira West Jn 11/26
Gresley 11/32
Leicester Jn 11/38
Burton-on-Trent 11.40a ~ 11.51d
Burton Station South 11.52a ~ 11.53d
[Goods Line]
North Stafford Jn 11/58
[Main Line]
Dove Jn 12.05a ~ 12.20d
Eggington Jn 12/24
Stenson Jn 12/30
Chellaston Jn 12/41
Sheet Stores Jn 13/01
Trent 13/03
Beeston 13.09a ~ 13.11d
Lenton South Jn 13/15
[Goods Line]
Lenton North Jn 13/19
[Main Line]
Radford 13/22
Hucknall Byron 13/32
Kirkby 13/42
Mansfield Town 13w50a ~ 13w58d
Shirebrook West 14.05a ~ 14.10d
Elmton & Creswell 14/23
Seymour Jn 14.52a ~ 15.02d
Glapwell 15.22a ~ 15.32d
Seymour Jn 15.52a ~ 16.02d
Hall Lane Jn 16/11
Barrow Hill 16.18a ~ 16.20d
Tapton Jn 16/27
Chesterfield 16/29
Clay Cross 16/36
Morton Sidings 16/43
Pye Bridge 16/58
Ambergate Station 17.18a ~ 17.33d
Derby North Jn 17/46
Chaddesden South Jn 17/51
Spondon Jn 18/07
Sawley Jn 18/18
Trent 18.23a ~ 18.33d
Loughborough 18/46
Leicester London Road 19w02a ~ 19w07d
Wigston North Jn 19/13
Wigston Central Jn 19/15
Glen Parva Jn 19/17
Narborough 19/23
Hinckley 19/36
Nuneaton Midland Jn 19/42
Nuneaton Abbey Street 19.45a


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