Six Bells Junction

Loco(s)	Route
85039	London Euston - Watford Junction - Weedon - Rugby - Coventry
31187 + 31273	Coventry - Stechford - Proof House Jn - Birmingham New Street - Bescot - Stafford - Norton Bridge - Stone - Stoke-on-Trent
25059 + 25218	Stoke-on-Trent - Stoke Jn - Leek Brook Jn
25059 + 25218	Leek Brook Jn - Stoke Jn - Stoke-on-Trent
31273 + 31187	Stoke-on-Trent - Etruria - Kidsgrove - Macclesfield - Cheadle Hulme - Stockport
45104	Stockport - Hazel Grove - Disley - Furness Vale - Buxton
45104	Buxton - Furness Vale - Disley - Hazel Grove - Stockport
40082 (1)	Stockport - Heaton Norris Jn - Denton Jn - Ashton Moss Jn - Baguley Fold Jn - Park
40155 (2)	Park - Ashburys
40155	Ashburys - New Mills South Jn - Edale - Dronfield - Chesterfield - Ambergate Jn - Derby - Stenson Jn - Burton-on-Trent - Wichnor Jn - Water Orton - Landor Street Jn - Proof House Jn - Birmingham New Street
86254	Birmingham New Street - (reverse of outward route) - London Euston

A right time 0755 departure saw us settling into our 9 coach compo consist with 85039 in scream mode once past Willesden. 85039 lived up to her "Concorde" nickname by holding speeds well in excess of 100 mph from Tring Summit to Hanslope, apart from the 90 mph totter through Linslade tunnel. Once at Hanslope our driver eased off yet we were still 5 early through Rugby.

At Coventry the train filled and our speeds dropped as goyle power in 31273/31187 took us North. Personal jubilation followed at Stoke as 25218 and 25059 backed on. 25059 was my 100th rat for haulage. The rats took an unfamiliar left turn for a trundle to Leek Brook Jn of sand train fame. Here we all leapt off for a half hour photo stop whilst the rats ran round. In open the semi moor land here we could wander to scenic heights to phot our rodents.

The rats returned us to Stoke, for the goyles onward to Stockport. Here 45104 was onward power to Buxton and back. A photo stop at Chapel-le-Frith on the outward run was spoilt by grey skies. Once back at Stockport hordes of 40 bashers gathered as the rare 40082 replaced the EH peak. A thick black clag hinted all was not well up front and after passing 40063 on chemical tanks near Ashton Moss 40082 finally failed at Park. The whole train was now leaning out of the window in and the atmosphere tensed a bit as rumours of a 47/4, or even the nasty nose (45104) again, to the rescue circulated. Newton Heath, to their credit, kicked out a sound rescue engine to their credit in 40155 which took the tour and dead 40082 to Ashburys where 40082 was detached.

Timekeeping by now was also out of the window as we left Ashburys 100 minutes down and with a long lost path more time was lost as 40155 slogged over through the Hope valley and back to New St. The last tour power in 86254 forward from New St disappointed us, 85039 no doubt being borrowed for higher priority duties. I leapt at Watford, the tour now 120 down as a virtually empty train headed back to Euston.

Location	Booked
Bescot	?
Bushbury Jn	?
Stafford	?
Norton Bridge	10/44
Stone	10/49½
Stoke Jn	10/58½
Stoke-on-Trent	11L00a ~ 11L10d
Stoke Jn	?
Milton Jn	?
Leek Brook Jn	11.45 ~ 12.15
Milton Jn	12/38
Stoke Jn	12/54
Stoke-on-Trent	12L55½ ~ 13L05
Etruria	13/07
Kidsgrove	13/12½
Macclesfield	13/25½
Cheadle Hulme	13/37½
Edgeley Jn	13/39½
Stockport	13L41 ~ 13L45
Edgeley Jn	13/54
Hazel Grove	13/59
Disley	14/09
Furness Vale	14/20
Chapel-en-le-Frith	14p30a ~ 14p45d
Buxton	14.58a ~ 15.28d
Chapel-en-le-Frith	15/38
Furness Vale	15/45
Disley	15/49
Hazel Grove	15/53
Edgeley Jn	15/58½
Stockport	?
Heaton Norris Jn	?
Denton Jn	?
Ashton Moss North Jn	?
Baguley Fold Jn	?
Park	?
Ashburys	?
New Mills South Jn	?
Edale	?
Grindleford	?
Dore South Jn	?
Dronfield	?
Chesterfield	?
Clay Cross South Jn	?
Ambergate Jn	?
Derby	?
Peartree	?
Stenson Jn	?
Burton-on-Trent	?
Wichnor Jn	?
Tamworth	?
Water Orton	?
Landor Street Jn	?

Location	Booked (out)	Booked (rtn)
Euston	07.55d	?
Watford Junction	?	?
Bletchley	?	?
Rugby	?	?
Coventry	?	?
Stechford	?	?
Birmingham New Street	?	?