19th December 1981

British Rail
Deltic Broadsman

Route : 1G10 throughout

Notes :
(1) This railtour suffered from the severe winter weather that had plagued the country since December 8th. Delays were such that the booked run from Norwich to Lowestoft was omitted, yet the final arrival at Liverpool Street was still over two hours late.

From Modern Railways Pictorial, April 1982 issue: "...no sympathy should be offered to BR for its total ineptitude in the organisation of the 'Deltic Broadsman' rail tour from Kings Cross to Lowestoft via Sleaford on 19 December last. Although there had been heavy snowfalls earlier in the week, the participants endured nearly 12 hours of suffering. In the first place there was no heat and so ice formed on the insides of the windows of a rake of dingy Mark 1 coaches. Enthusiasts were herded off the Kings Cross platforms like cattle and departure was behind time. There was a lengthy and unscheduled delay at Sleaford and a stop of over an hour at Spalding in freezing conditions while BR found a guard for the special. This stop was in some ways fortunate because the first organised photo-stop was at 14.30 in the afternoon, six hours after departure, but at least the cold hour in the snow at Spalding enabled hundreds of shutters to be clicked. The special was over two hours late at Norwich and consequently Lowestoft was arbitrarily axed from the itinerary. Stewards, not only casually dressed but impolite, told bewildered enthusiasts of the change of plan after the train left Norwich without even a hint of apology. Then the train was looped outside Ipswich in the dark, with no heat and little light during which time numerous service DMU's went about their business. Over an hour elapsed before the entombed passengers entered Ipswich station for the 'run-round'. Then there was no vacuum on the train brake and further delays were encountered while officials bumbled about their business. Finally, now over two hours late but having missed Lowestoft, the special disappeared into the darkness towards Cambridge and Liverpool Street. Few of the participants had paid £14 each to be treated in such a disgraceful manner. John A.M. Vaughan"

55009 passes Black Bank near Ely on a very cold day (photo: Roger Geach)

Sources : David Hills, Andy Pullar & PRAR (from contemporary reports)

Timings (Booked Only)
(from The DPS)

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