19th - 21st November 1976

D.A.A. Railtour Society
The Granite City

Route :

Notes :
(1) Originally advertised to start at Brighton this was swapped to Hove due to the train length exceeding the permissible limit for Brighton station. The tour offered Edinburgh, Dundee or Aberdeen as options with a service train being used if the participant wanted to visit a second city (as Alan Osborn did - using the 07.18 York to Aberdeen which was hauled by 47546).
(2) Train delayed at Crewe to rectify a lighting fault in one coach, then delayed further en-route to Warrington due to a reported object seen on the line.
(3) 47491 failed at Carnoustie. Alan Osborn comments: 47491 was suspect on leaving Aberdeen and I recall we stopped soon after departure, hence taking 50 minutes to pass Stonehaven.
(4) Class 40 - 40160 or 40166 (confirmation required of which one is required as Les Kent had it as 40166 but Alan Osborn recorded 40160) - assisted to Edinburgh, with the failed 47 believed to have been removed at Dundee - with no train heat in sub-zero temperatures Alan Osborn recalls: BR staff met the train at Edinburgh with a tea trolley to warm us up, alas milk was in short supply so it was black however my fellow passengers in the compartment had bought some Whisky, so Whisky was substituted for milk - must admit it was the best BR cup of tea I have tasted and is my Excuse for limited timings en-route via Carlisle and Settle!

Sources : Les Kent & Alan Osborn (on Three Bridges to Dundee & Aberdeen to Horsham)

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Alan Osborn)

Back to "The Railtour Files - 1976"