11th September 1966

Stephenson Locomotive Society (Midland Area)
Farewell to the G.W.R. Pannier Tanks

Locos Used 9610 & 9630
Stock Used 8 coaches

Route :

Loco(s) Route
9610 + 9630 Birmingham Snow Hill - Handsworth Jn - Old Hill - Halesowen
9610 + 9630 Halesowen - Old Hill
9610 + 9630 Old Hil - Dudley - Wolverhampton Low Level
9610 + 9630 Wolverhampton Low Level - Birmingham Snow Hill - Tyseley - Henley in Arden (1) - Bearley - Stratford-upon-Avon
9610 + 9630 Stratford-upon-Avon - Bearley - Hatton - Leamington Spa
9610 + 9630 Leamington Spa - Hatton (2) - Lapworth
9610 Lapworth - Knowle & Dorridge - Tyseley - Birmingham Snow Hill

Notes :
(1) The two locos reached a top speed of 63mph after Henley-in-Arden.
(2) On the ascent of Hatton Bank 9630 blew the front of one of the cylinders off and was removed at Lapworth. Recalling this incident Carl Ford comments: Unfortunately I was the fireman on 9630 which blew the left hand cylinder on Hatton Bank, it was a scary thing I thought we had jumped the rails as the engine shook and rolled violently at the time. We had to be towed back to Tysley by a Brush type 4 diesel while 9610 took the train back to Snow Hill. The driver later had a telling off as the train was supposedly to heavy for a single pannier tank to take up the steep incline of Snow Hill tunnel.

Source : George Woods

Photo Review


9610 & 9630 wait to depart Wolverhampton LL (photos: Robert Darlaston)


9630 & 9610 at Bearley Jn (photo: John Goss)
John Goss comments: I would appreciate if anyone can provide any further
information on this location (i.e. which Bearley Jn?).


9630 & 9610 at Hatton (photo: John Goss)


9630 & 9610 on Hatton bank (photo: John Goss)
John Goss comments: I would appreciate if anyone can provide any further
information on this precise location.


9630 & 9610 pass Shrewley (photo: Terry Dorrity)


From Bob Mitchell's ticket collection.


Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from George Woods & Ian Clark (SLS/Robert Darlaston)

Location Booked Actual
Birmingham Snow Hill 10.30d 10.30
Handsworth Jn 10/36 ?
Old Hill 10/47 11/30
Halesowen 10.57a ~ 11.20d 11.35 ~ 12.00
Old Hill 11.30a ~ 11.55d 12.07 ~ 12.10
Dudley 12.10a ~ 12.45d 12.20 ~ 12.50
Wolverhampton Low Level 13.00a ~ 14.20d 13.02 ~ 14.27
Birmingham Snow Hill 14/40 17/48
Tyseley 14/46 14/55
Henley-in-Arden 15/04 15.14 ~ 15.22
Bearley 15/10 ?
Stratford-upon-Avon 15.17a ~ 16.05d 15.33 ~ 16.14
Bearley 16/12 ?
Hatton 16/23 ?
Leamington Spa 16.30a ~ 17.15d 16.42 ~ 17.16
Hatton 17/26 17.26 ~ 17.30
Lapworth ??/?? 17.55 ~ 18.25
Knowle & Dorridge 17/35 ?
Tyseley 17/43 18.55 ~ 19.05
Birmingham Snow Hill 17.50a 19.12


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