11th - 13th September 1981
9th - 11th October 1981

L.C.G.B. (North West Branch)
The West Highlander No.5 Rail Tour

Originally planned to run over the second weekend of September, the tour was postponed to this weekend in October at the insistence of British Rail for reason(s) unknown.

Locos Used

37011, 37021, 37026 'Loch Awe', 37033, 37111, 37112, 47137, 47298 & 47407
Stock Used [1] : load 13
[2] : load 8

Route:

Date Loco(s) Stock Route
09/10 47137 [1] Liverpool Lime Street - Earlestown - Manchester Victoria
09/10-10/10 47137 [1] Manchester Victoria - Bolton - Darwen - Blackburn - Rose Grove - Leeds - York - (via ECML) - Newcastle (1)
10/10 47407 [1] Newcastle - (via ECML) - Edinburgh Waverley - ??? - Cowlairs East Jn - Cowlairs North Jn
10/10 37033 + 37112 [1] Cowlairs North Jn - ??? - Craigendoran Jn - Crianlarich - Oban
10/10 37011 [1] shunt release move at Oban
10/10 37033 + 37112 [1] Oban - Crianlarich
10/10 37111 (2) [1] at Crianlarich
10/10 37033 + 37112 [1] Crianlarich - Fort William
10/10 37026 [2] Fort William - Mallaig
10/10 37021 [2] Mallaig - Fort William
10/10 37033 + 37112 [1] Fort William - Crianlarich - Craigendoran Jn - ??? - Cowlairs North Jn - Cowlairs West Jn
10/10-11/10 47407 [1] Cowlairs West Jn - Springburn - Sighthill East Jn - Stepps - Gartcosh Jn - Gartsherrie South Jn - Coatbridge Central - Mossend North Jn - Motherwell - Law Jn - Carstairs - Midcalder Jn - Slateford Jn - Haymarket - Edinburgh Waverley - (via ECML) (3) - Newcastle
11/10 47407 [1] Newcastle - Park Lane Jn - Pelaw Jn - Washington - Tursdale Jn - (via ECML) - York - Leeds (4) - Methley Jn - Normanton - Wakefield Kirkgate - Horbury Jn - (4) Thornhill LNW Jn - Greetland Jn - Hall Royd Jn - Copy Pit - Gannow Jn - Blackburn - Darwen - Bolton - Manchester Victoria
11/10 47407 [1] Manchester Victoria - Wigan North Western
11/10 47298 [1] Wigan North Western - Liverpool Lime Street

Notes :
(1) 47137 was failed (near Ferryhill) with a defective boiler, being swapped at Newcastle for 47407.
(2) 37111 believed used for shunt movement only (to release 37033 & 37112 for the run-round as well as letting a service train through).
(3) Booked route was via Morpeth North curve & Bedlington.
(4) Booked route was via Morley & Dewsbury.
(5) Much time was lost on the return leg due to engineering works (resulting in diversions and waiting paths on areas of single-line working).

Sources : Gary Thornton, Malcolm Best & Kenneth Aaron

Advertised Times

Date Location Advertised Booked Actual
09/10 Liverpool Lime Street 18.15d ? 18.45d (and/or booked time)
??/10 Leeds ? ? "arrived 10mins early, left booked time"
10/10 Newcastle ? ? "arrived 15mins late, left about 30mins late"
10/10 Edinburgh Waverley ? ? "still 30 down"
10/10 Oban 07.30a ~ 10.00d ?06.50a? ~ 09.40d 07.00 ~ 09.40
10/10 Fort William 14.00a ~ 14.25d    
10/10 Mallaig 16.40a ~ 17.20d    
10/10 Fort William 19.05a ~ 21.00d    
11/10 Edinburgh Waverley ? ? "nearly an hour late"
11/10 York ? ? "an hour late"
11/10 Leeds ? ? " a few minutes regained"
11/10 Thornhill LNW Jn ? ? 70mins late
11/10 Hall Royd Jn ? ? 120mins late
11/10 Blackburn ? 10.14a ~ ??.??d 12.00 ~ ??.??
11/10 Wigan North Western ? ? 13.41 ~ ??.??
11/10 Liverpool Lime Street "noon" ? ?


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