4th-6th May 1984

D.A.A. Tours
The Anglo-Scottish Freighter

Route : 1Z11 throughout

Notes :
(1) Following a failed attempt at York (replacing heating/lighting fuses), coach 13522 was replaced with 13455 at Newcastle. LASERman comments: I recall no heat in our coach but body heat had just about got it to a reasonable temperature on the first night when some fool decided it needed to be changed at Newcastle for a coach that seemed far colder and took the next day to warm up.
(2) Was booked via the Blythe & Tyne but a circuit of bridges at Newcastle reported to have a been done as compensation for loss of Blyth & Tyne section (lost due to the miners strike).
(3) Was booked to go to the Ore Terminal, but didn't (miners strike again?).
(4) A query from Adrian Nicholls: I'd like to understand exactly what happened on arrival at Barassie Jn from Hunterston. The train was booked to wait for the 10.20 Euston to Stranraer Harbour to clear the single line to Kilmarnock but this train was late and seeing as the tour was load 10 plus 2x class 20's I am sure the train reversed in Barassie Reversing Sidings (i.e. clear of the mainline and on the formation of the old Troon avoiding line). I have sought advice from two friends on the tour with me and neither can confirm what I suspect took place. Barassie Down Loop adjacent to the mainline is 1180ft long 'now' but was it then as the whole route was modernised with the Ayrshire Coast electrification in the mid 1980's. This is the response from Andy Pullar: my notes indicate the tour reversed in the Barassie Down Passenger Loop not on the formation of the old Troon avoiding line.

Sources : Nick Ross & LASERman

Tour Review
(from Nick Ross)

The tour began with 2 mysteries 1/ how to find the unfamiliar haunt of Maylebone from nearby Baker St and 2/ was 25316 required as it was not in our books having been a recent reinstatement. The consist of 13 Luxury early Mk II's of the FK variety made the prospect of 2 overnights aboard more bearable. An on-time 1015 departure soon saw us thrashing through the Chilterns to Aylesbury where the ever keen barrier gripper was most concerned as hundreds of tour participants passed through, apparently ticket less, to phot the rats from the main footbridge North of the station.

Our compo consist contained a keen track basher and the gentle rolling stagger from Claydon Jn - Bletchley Flyover soon had him well asleep after his early start from Brum. On him waking in the Woburn Sands area he was absolutely withered that we had failed to wake him as he could not count the Claydon-Bletchley track as scored due his slumberous state. This was despite our assurances that we had done the route and it was as dull as ever, a loud Sulzer attack on Sharnbrook ended further debate. Onto the Leicester - Coalville - Burton freight artery one of the few amusing things I was to see as a result of the miner's dispute was to see the tour pass alongside a police football match near a colliery on a break between shifts. Much bellowing of "support the Miners" raised laughter on both sides as our rats plodded North. Approaching Burton some granny was out to wave her Union Jack as the train passed, the importance people attach to big pairs of rats is incredible.

A last pick up at Burton saw large logo liveried months old 56129 pass South on tanks. At Toton the big disappointment of the tour in 47555 was attached for the heavy mileage section to Edinburgh. The requested 40 for the overnight sections had been refused because of a 40's apparent inability to heat the train. This was very ironic as some stock/loco fault meant no EH therms were available anyway. A 2 hour break at York allowed us to wander off to the stabling point, chip shop and pubs. Even on a busy Friday night the tour participants tended to stand out, the bags being a give away! The requested Blyth section was refused be cause of the Miner's dispute but some dive under South of Newcastle compensated the track bashers. An early morning hour's break at Edinburgh saw 200 people doing a move to Haymarket on 27018 on the 0630 Edinburgh-Dundee. Thick fog engulfed Haymarket station approaches as the arrival time for the return train, the 2350 Inverness-Edinburgh portion came. Some wag shouts "it's on the other platform", a few panicked until 47508 drew up at the normal platform. The fun continued with a right time departure for the regulation tour of the Thornton loop before reaching Polmont and Stirling.

Here a "big pair" in 37152/37149 were waiting to back on for the run to Grangemouth. We saw little of the branch as the only operational run round was short of the branch end. "Waste of time, that was" claimed the guard. Back on the main-line the syphons opened up for the run to Moss End. More big pairs emerged from Motherwell Depot with 20211/20212 taking us South in brilliant sun to the black hole itself, Ayr. 20110/20146 were equally well received for the return run back to Glasgow C for an early evening arrival. A third long break here saw us all going in different directions a fair few doing our move of various 303's to Dumbarton then 37081and Ethel 97251 to Queen St on the 1740 from Fort Bill. Saturday night revelry was in full swing walking down Argyll street to Glasgow Central for a 2300 departure behind the ever icy 47555. Our track bashing compo compatriot helped us to fall asleep as he advised how he done a unit to Gourock and got off for a few seconds at every station before rejoining the same service!

"It's a roarer" came the gen as 85036 backed on to replace 47555 at Crewe for a run into New St via BS and Duddeston. Engineering work enforced this devious routing and unfortunately the roarer managed to loose itself at New St rather than run round. 86215 was the last loco to do a now quiet tour back to Euston for a half eight Sunday morning arrival. 83015 backed on as ECS engine but by now we were all homeward bound. A "great tour" was all over.

Nick Ross

Photo Review
(all photos: Chris Thompson)

25316 & 25321 at London Marylebone.

47555 pauses at Worksop.

26004 & 26005 at Edinburgh Waverley.

20212 & 20211 at Ayr.

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from LASERman & Andy Pullar)

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