Six Bells Junction

Loco	Route
45???	Chesterfield (06.00) - Sheffield
40065	Sheffield - Barnsley - Wakefield Kirkgate - Normanton - Engine Shed Jn - Whitehall Curve - Keighley - Settle - Ribblehead - Carlisle - Beattock Station DPL - Carstairs - Wishaw - Holytown - Mossend - Gartsherrie South Jn - Gartcosh Jn - Springburn - Cowlairs West Jn - Cowlairs North Jn - Knightswood North Jn - Dumbarton Central - Balloch Pier
40065	Balloch Pier (19.22) - (reverse of outward route) - Chesterfield

To set the scene picture Manchester Piccadilly at 02.00 with 40065 whistling away at the head of the 02.10 Newspapers to Cleethorpes with me savouring the atmosphere in the warmth of the BSK. A thrash up the Hope Valley and arrival at Sheffield sees the 40 replaced by a 31 and me escaping to the open all hours buffet (they existed in those good old days). Fast forward to my buying a ticket for the soon to arrive Adex to Balloch Pier for the novelty factor (I required the paddle steamer - Maid of the Loch - for thashage around Loch Lomond included in the price). Rumour had it that a class 40 was to feature but with no 40 bashers in sight I dismissed this as a malicious rumour to send me away from where the action was.

The adex duly arrived headed by a class 45 and I resigned myself to some staggering over the Settle and Carlisle. Just as I took my seat cursing my luck a clank from the front end announced the departure of the Peak but not the train. And there she was back from Tinsley filling the air with the familar whistle loved by all 40 fans. 40065 was attached and ready for the off.

I got off the train at Carlisle intending to travel south on an overnight to get home for work. However the offer of a forward view of the Settle and Carlisle line met with the thought of "sod work" and off I went as far as Hellifield (last stop before a crew change). It was most amusing to claim my seat back in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night. There was nothing for it but to travel to Chesterfield and fester. My luck was in as the platform staff kindly opened the waiting room for me to doss in and woke me up in time to get the midnight five off St. Pancras back to Sheffield. Oh the joys of the past. The following day was spent sampling the whistling machines on the North Wales coast before I deemed it wise to turn up for work after 600 miles of 40 thrash in one day.