22nd September 1979

BR
(Day Excursion)

Route :

Source : David Hills (On train from/to Alfreton)

Tour Review
(by David Hills)

The regular autumn day trip to Edinburgh appeared on the radar screens so it was down to the booking office for three tickets. Again it was off up the A61 to Alfreton in the pre-dawn hours to join the train there, rather than have an even earlier departure to allow for a bog to Nottingham and of course the reverse action at some unseemly hour at the end of the trip. The town of Alfreton mostly slept as we awaited on the platforms, passing through were 45140/145, 47175 before our train arrived behind 45006. The outward route was not yet confirmed though the time available in Edinburgh suggested we were going via the Settle & Carlisle. Amongst the usual diet of Tinsley shunters Sheffield produced 46038 & 47447, whilst Rotherham fielded just 20060. Permanent way activity at Cudworth was in the hands of 08172, 40169 & 47287. By now on the road to Leeds we found 25318, 31167, 40175, 45055, 46023 & 47245 lurking at Holbeck.

With the crew changed at Holbeck it was off up the well trod Midland route to the border. Skipton produced 08498, 25201 & 31123, then all went quiet as we yet again enjoyed the grandeur of the rolling West Yorkshire countryside. At Appleby 25131 was parked north of the station. Carlisle came and went, around the station and out at Kingmoor 25006, 27030, 40107, 47203, 47352, 47411 were noted amongst many others. A slow roll through Beattock found 40010 & 87001, though there were no sign of the bankers, perhaps off on a tea-break somewhere. Swinging around the broad curve at Carstairs little was noted on the stabling point, only 47210 & 47706 went 'in the book' here.

With fine weather greeting us at Edinburgh it was decided a leisurely day was in order, i.e. sit in Princes Street gardens and point the camera at the trains. This was done with the greatest of success, amongst all those that went in front of the camera lens were 25046/084/086, 26015, 40050/061, 40101/058, 46017, 55009/015 amongst the usual Class 47's and the E&G Class 27's. All too soon it was back to the station to await our stock for the long ride home. Surprisingly Haymarket provided us with 47040, whatever became of 45006 was not known. And so off we went, into the gathering gloom, returning the way we came. Beattock, to make up for the lack of bankers earlier during the day now had 20102/115/124/146 on hand! Little of significance was noted at Carlisle, just 25230 & 47411 amongst many Class 86's. And so yet again it was another moonlit jaunt south up the Eden valley. And the further we went the less were the pinpoints of light from the occasional farms and villages. Of course all was swallowed up in Blea Moor tunnel, then across the darkened magnificence of Ribblehead Viaduct, and on south to civilisation, well Skipton at least where 25201 & 40192 were stabled.

The last observations of the day were at Leeds where 31225, 40006, 40169 & 46021 were noted. The rest just fell by the wayside before returning to a sleepy Alfreton, then the frenzied thrash through sleepy towns along the A61 to home.

David Hills

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