24th February 1979

British Rail
(Day Excursion)

Route :

Notes :
(1) Howard Parker comments: A connecting service ran from Burton on Trent calling at Derby and Long Eaton to Nottingham in the morning and return in the evening, apart from Long Eaton passengers who went forward by special bus on the return, presumably from Nottingham.

Sources : David Hills (on the train to/from Alfreton) & Howard Parker

Tour Review
(by David Hills)

The first long distance BR excursion of the year was the regular jaunt from the East Midlands to Edinburgh. Again we were lucky that it called at Alfreton so the use of the trusty Hillman Hunter was required for the first leg. Our brief stay at Alfreton produced 20006 & 20171, 45135 and 47490 passing through prior to the arrival of our rake of familiar Mark 1 stock, this time with a Cricklewood machine, 47202 being our train engine for the day. It was again to be another thrash up the ECML, much preferred by the anorak brigade as there tended to be more numbers on this route and a longer time available north of the border. After joining the train our first sightings were at Hasland with 20209 & 37053. On through the Sheffield area with its myriad Tinsley shunters, a quiet spell ensued until York was reached, here 25101, 31111, 40078, 40193, 44008, 45006/009/037 were noted amongst the crowds.

Once clear of York 47202 sang a fine tune eating up the miles across the Vale of York, Darlington rolled by revealing 08006/054, Ferryhill had 37198 & 45045 whilst our brief respite at Newcastle included 03069, 03111, 37242 & 40085. With the crew changed it was off into deteriorating weather (well what should one expect in February - January had already proved to be a snowy month). Heaton included 03059, 08176, 31202 & 40173, around Morpeth were 37003/074 & 37193 whilst repelling invaders at Berwick were 03170, 08747, 37164 & 40148. With our fine Cricklewood 47 making good time and an early arrival expected in Waverley it was felt that a foray should be made to Polmadie and Eastfield, something not done for quite a while on these trips. Standing guard at Waverley were 40160/172 whilst waiting to whisk us off to Glasgow was 27205 & 27105

Our dash past Haymarket revealed a well stocked depot full of Scottish delights, but we were not to be disappointed in the choice we had made. At Queen Street a taxi was commandeered and set in the direction of Eastfield which to our delight held almost seventy locomotives. Amongst the crowd were veterans 20007, 24006, 25002/005/028, 26024/034, 27009/014/017. With the light failing the compass was pointed south for our trek to Polmadie, made somewhat easier by the capture of another taxi. Over thirty locomotives here went 'in the book' including 27042 which had fallen victim to the natives having rolled through the buffers and been derailed, a common event we had witnessed here on other visits. With the late afternoon closing in a mad dash was made back to Queen Street, where the same two 27's were waiting to return us to Waverley, which they did in fine fashion with that characteristic Sulzer sound. By now well & truly dark we were greeted by 47202 and our stock ready for departure to points south. Another successful foray north of the border and one more return journey that would be completed without incident.

David Hills

Timings (Advertised Only)
(from Howard Parker)

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