23rd April 1973

B.R.
(Merrymaker Excursion)

Locos Used 271 & 364
Stock Used mix of maroon & blue/grey TSO's & SK's

Route :

Loco Route
271 Darlington - Newcastle - (via ECML) - Edinburgh Waverley
364 Edinburgh Waverley - (reverse of outward route) - Darlington

Notes :
(1) Date confirmation required, believed to have been Easter Monday (23rd April).

Mark Harrington comments: This was my first ‘Merrymaker’ at the age of 15. I recall seeing a former BR Class 14 at Seaton Burn just north of Newcastle, which worked at the now closed Brenkley Colliery from the exchange sidings. Edinburgh was amazing; particular memories of 25s and 27s on the push-pulls to Edinburgh (a return to Haymarket was 20p!), also a Green Class 100 DMU, and a fabulous selection of locos, including Class 50 417, only the second I had seen, and a pair of Inverness 24s working the afternoon train north. Our outward loco, 271, worked south from Edinburgh on the Aberdeen – London Fish train, probably after replacing a failure, so we has Haymarkets 364 for the return trip, which I think cost all of £2-50p!

Source : Mark Harrington

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