1st December 1979

Lea Valley Railway Club
The St Mungo & Son of Mungo

Route : 1Z80 throughout (St Mungo)

Route : (1) 2Z80 throughout (Son of Mungo)

Notes :
(1) LASERman comments the tour itinerary stated the headcode as 2Z90 (but maybe a typing error?).

Sources : David Hills & LASerman (both on train throughout), Clive Barlow &
Alan Osborn (on main train plus Son of Mungo)

Tour Review
(from David Hills)

The reason for this long distance, mid-winter cruise around the Central Lowlands of Scotland has long since been erased from the memory, but for whatever reason we rode this thing from beginning to end and survived to report the details. Have slogged across London from Sydenham we were greeted by the ever warm and friendly Euston station, descending down the ramp to the catacomb like platforms and their attendant silent electric locomotives, at this early hour only members of Classes 86 & 87 were present. Having checked out our motive power, 86223, it was a welcoming sight to note 25051 over on the parcels platforms and to enjoy that unmistakable sound of its idling Sulzer six cylinder engine. With a journey encompassing most of the WCML ahead of us there was certainly a great variety to look forward to. Naturally The Class 25's were prominent at first, Willesden had 25099 & 25190, Bletchley: 25250 & 25314, Wolverton was host to 37231, more electrics at Rugby and an ex-works 08067 at Nuneaton! Crewe was its usual self, highlights were 24081, 47711 & 87001.

North of Crewe the first members of the Class 40 went 'in the book' with 40133/166/180 at Springs Branch. The northern fells presented no problem this day for 86223 with an on-time arrival at Carlisle where 40069 & 46041 were in the station. Kingmoor was filled with numerous delights including 25146/149, 26008, 40011, 40105/119. Across the border the Beattock bankers were 20011 & 20137, definitely not needed by us this day. Carstairs included 20113 & 83013, but it was at Motherwell/Mossend where the true Scottish flavour was encountered with 20138/149, 27002/024/042, 37056 amongst many others. At Mossend our Class 86 was removed in favour of 40065 for the jaunt around the lowlands. A failing memory (or lack of sleep) has blurred the exact route of this trip, but in the Glasgow area a good many Class 08's and electric multiple units were noted. Taking the southerly route across to Edinburgh allowed time for a lunch break, arriving via the suburban loop we found four Class 08's and 47712 at Waverley. A speedy roll by of Haymarket included 25026/035, 26046, 40165/168 before we turned north for a trip over the Forth Bridge. Not much on British Railways can overshadow the bulk of a Class 40, however with the Forth Bridge it was no contest.

Rolling around the countryside of Kinross & Fife there seemed to be a lack of locomotives, or was it getting dark? 20111 & 20206 were noted at Thornton and 20117 & 47469 at Stirling. Now pointing south it was back to Mossend, saying farewell to 40065, with 86223 standing by to wend its weary way south with a trainload of dozing travellers. By now well and truly dark little was noted as our Class 86 like a true thoroughbred soon had us rattling & rolling southward. Carlisle had 40181 & 47539, Shap disappeared into the night, Preston was very quiet with only 85026 observed. Crewe was its usual bustling self, with the passengers mostly gone for the day its was now left to the postal staff to fill the station with activity. Mostly there were electrics, but 25152 & 25185 were seen & heard. With the approach of the sandman and back on very familiar territory, we fell asleep, and as we had left Euston many hours earlier, so we found it full of electrics and a solitary 25326 on parcels duty.

David Hills

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Clive Barlow, Alan Osborn & LASERman)

Son of Mungo

Timings continue in first table.

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