30th August 1981

Lea Valley Railway Club
Churnet Charger / Churnetrail

DMU Used 56359+51200+51197+56339+51578+59380+51587

Route : 1T18 throughout

DMU Route
as listed Crewe - Kidsgrove - Etruria - Stoke-on-Trent - Stoke Jn - Leekbrook Jn
as listed Leekbrook Jn - Cheddleton
as listed Cheddleton - Leekbrook Jn
as listed Leekbrook Jn - (reverse of outward route) - Crewe

Notes :
(1) Described as "the LVRC's first railtour by BR Scheduled and Excursion Trains". Passengers from London used the 08.35 service train from Euston, arriving at Crewe at 11.55 & hauled by 86235 - the return was from Stoke-on-Trent (departing 18.52 and using 86260) to Euston (arriving 20.53). It appears the whole day was described as the "Churnet Charger" and the above DMU journey as "Churnetrail" and which was manned by stewards from the North Staffordshire Steam Centre. The tour brochure apologised for the lack of buffet, raffle and sales stand, but the organisers regarded that as better than cancelling the train.

Source : John Broderick (joined at Preston/left at Crewe)

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from John Broderick)

Location Booked Actual   Booked Actual
Euston 08.35d ??.??   20.53a ??.??
Crewe 11.28a 11.31  
Stoke-on-Trent   18.52d 18.52½

 

Miles Location Booked Actual   Booked Actual
0 Crewe 11.55d 11.58½  
8¾ Kidsgrove ??.??a ~ 12.13d 12.14 ~ 12.15½  
12 Longport ??.??a ~ 12.20d 12.21 ~ 12.22  
13¾ Etruria 12/23 12/25  
14¾ | 38¾ Stoke-on-Trent 12.26a ~ 12.28d 12.27½ ~ 12.30   18.30a 18.17
? Stoke Jn 12/30 ?   18/28 ?
? Milton Jn 12/48 12/40½   18/08 18.01 ~ 18.02
22 Endon 13/02 ?   17/54 ?
26 Leekbrook Jn 13.15 ~ 13.19 12.59 ~ 13.04½   17.37 ~ 17.41 17.40 ~ 17.45
26¾ Cheddleton 13.26a 13.11   17.30d 17.33½


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