17th September 1967

Ian Allan
(A Castle from Kings Cross...to Leeds) (1)

Locos Used 7029 'Clun Castle'
on Middleton Railway: Bagnall 0-4-0ST (Works No. 2702 of 1943)
& Hunslet Engine Co. 0-6-0 diesel 1697 of 1932 - 'John Alcock' (ex-LMS 7401 & 7051)

Route :

Loco(s) Route
7029

London Kings Cross - (via ECML) - Doncaster - Wakefield Westgate - Leeds City
see (2)

Middleton Railway rides
7029 Leeds City - (reverse of outward route) - London Kings Cross

Notes :
(1) Also referred in other paperwork as 'Kings Cross to Leeds Rail Tour' and 'Excursion to the Middleton Railway'. One of two outings for 'Clun Castle', the other being booked for 1st October 1967. Reported as the first time a Castle Class loco had worked out of Kings Cross since the locomotive exchanges of 1925.
(2) For visits to the Middleton Railway & Leeds. On the Middleton Railway passengers were transported in a brake van (in groups of 12 for insurance purposes - so who says "insurance requirements" are something new!) and several trips were made to accommodate everyone between 14.50 and 17.00 - runs were lettered A to ?. The locos ran in top-n-tail mode with the Bagnall 0-4-0ST on the Balm Road end of the train and 7401 'John Alcock' on the other.

Gordon Jakes comments: I cannot recall how the train passengers were taken to the Middleton Railway. Apart from 'Clun Castle', the only other steam locomotives seen in BR traffic were No's 42141 and 42251. These engines were working the Bradford portions of through express trains between Leeds City and Bradford Exchange.

As recorded in the Ian Allan excursion documents:-
“Today is an historic occasion. Although a Great Western locomotive worked out of Kings Cross during the locomotive exchanges of 1948, (King class no. 6018), 7029 is the first Castle to follow in the footsteps of her illustrious sister 'Pendennis Castle', which operated over this route with such distinction and with such far-reaching results in 1925. Today’s train is relatively light and the timings comparatively easy”.

Sources : Terry Jackson, Gordon Jakes & John Debens

Photo Review


from The John Debens' Ticket Collection.


7029 waits to leave London Kings Cross (photo: Gordon Jakes)


7029 pauses at Peterborough (photo: Gordon Jakes)


Crew change for 7029 in the centre road at Doncaster (photo : John Law)


7029 on the approach to Leeds (photo: Gordon Jakes)


Bagnall 2702/1943 on the Middleton Railway (photo: Gordon Jakes)


7029 passes Bullpit Crossing, Newark (photo: Gordon Lacy)


Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Terry Jackson & Gordon Jakes)

M.C Location Booked Actual   Booked Actual
0.00 Kings Cross 10.05d 10.05   21.45a 21.55
2.40 Finsbury Park ? 10/11   ? ?
9.20 New Barnet ? 10/26   ? ?
12.60 Potters Bar 10/32 10/31   21/29 21/38
17.60 Hatfield ? 10/38   ? ?
20.20 Welwyn Garden City ? 10/46   ? ?
31.60 Hitchin 11/04 11/05   21/10 21/20
44.00 Sandy ? 11/16   ? ?
58.60 Huntingdon ? 11/29   ? 20/50
76.20 Peterborough 11w52a ~ 12w25d 12.00 ~ 12.50   19w34a ~ 20w23d 19.51 ~ 20.24
105.40 Grantham 12/57 13/30   19/03 19/17
120.00 Newark 13/11 13/43   18/48 19/03
138.40 Retford 13/28 13/58   18/31 18/47
156.00 Doncaster 13c47 ~ 13c47 14.23 ~ 14.25   18c07 ~ 18c07 18.28 ~ 18.28
175.60 Wakefield Westgate 14/19 14/49   18c07 ~ 18c07 18/01
185.60 Leeds City 14.45a 15.07   17.15d 17.40


Back to "The Railtour Files - 1967"