The Railtour Files

Loco	Route
44113	Derby - London Road Jn - Spondon Jn - Spondon
44113 (1)	Spondon - Spondon Jn - Derby South Jn - Derby North Jn - Little Eaton Jn - Kilburn - Denby
44113 (2)	Denby - Marehay Crossing
44113	Marehay Crossing - Denby - Kilburn - Little Eaton Jn
44113 (1)	Little Eaton Jn - Duffield Jn - Wirksworth
44113	Wirksworth - Duffield - Derby - Melbourne Jn - Chellaston Jn - Worthington
44113 (2)	Worthington - Chellaston Jn
44113	Chellaston Jn - Sheet Stores Jn - Trent - Beeston - Nottingham Midland

Notes :
(1) Running tender-first.
(2) Loco propelling.
(3) Ed Grummitt comments: Although it's very difficult to identify the location as the area has changed considerably, I suggest that Alan Sainty's shot of the trip is not Marehay Crossing but Denby South. The tour notes indicate that the loco was to run round at Denby and the train was to be propelled to Marehay. As far as Denby the loco hauled the train tender first. Alan's shot appears to be of the loco again running round; I have a similar shot which shows 44113 a few minutes later, on the Derby end of the train. I suspect that the loco also ran tender first to Worthington, as it ran round there. Later, the train stopped at Chellaston Jn. for about 20 minutes while the engine ran round again at Stenson Jn. There were all sorts of problems previous to the tour; patronage was very poor and the LCGB didn't meet the required numbers. Therefore anyone cancelling didn't get a refund! Also, the timings had to be amended because of rationalisation in the area and other operating difficulties. In spite of all this several passengers travelled from St Pancras at special fares on a group ticket, there was a snacks service (tea 6d, Whitbread brown & pale ale 1/6d, Carlsberg 2 bob) and a tour of Derby Works. No full printed itinerary was sent out; instead we got some sheets of typed foolscap with timings etc. and a hand drawn map. I have kept all this for 46 years (oh dear), which is how I know about photo stops, run rounds and LCGB tea and beer prices. I'm certainly not able to remember this esoterica unaided, unlike some gricers of my acquaintance! I do remember though that the tour was extremely enjoyable, and cost under a fiver. In fact it was one of the best railtours I have ever patronised; I only wish today's were as laid back (and cheap) as that one. The poor old 4F went like the wind, particularly from Long Eaton to Nottingham Midland.

Sources : Terry Jackson, Vic Smith, Ed Grummitt & Paul Spencer

Photo Review

44113 at Wirksworth (photo : Graham T V Stacey - courtesy of www.30937.co.uk)

M.C	Location	Booked	Actual
0.00	Derby Midland	13.35d	13.46
0.13	London Road Jn	13/36	?
2.07	Spondon Jn	13/40	?
2.50	Spondon	13.42a ~ 13.57d	13.53 ~ 14.01
3.13	Spondon Jn	13/59	?
4.36	Chaddesden South Jn	14/02	14/05
5.59	Derby North Jn	14/07	14/08
8.33	Little Eaton Jn	14.12a ~ 14.25d	?
12.17	Kilburn	14/40	?
14.09	Marehay Crossing	14.45a ~ 15.00d	14.46 ~ 14.57
16.01	Kilburn	15/07	?
19.65	Little Eaton Jn	15.20a ~ 15.35d	15.16 ~ 15.27
21.66	Duffield Jn	15.41a ~ 15.43d	15.33½ ~ 15.40
30.15	Wirksworth	16.00a ~ 16.15d	16.03 ~ 16.17
38.44	Duffield Jn	16.32a ~ 16.34d	??.?? ~ 16.36½
43.64	Derby Midland	1645a ~ 1648d	16.44½ ~ 16.50½
45.27	Melbourne Jn	16/53	16/54
48.48	Chellaston Jn	17/01	17/00½
54.47	Worthington	17.21a ~ 17.36d	17.17½ ~ 17.32
60.46	Chellaston Jn	17.56a ~ 18.06d	17.50 ~ 18.13
68.57	Sheet Stores Jn	18/22	18/29
69.15	Trent	18/24	18/31½
75.78	Nottingham Midland	18.35a	18.35