29th September 1984

Hertfordshire Railtours
The Pennine Summits

Route : 1Z69 throughout

Sources : Alan Costello, LASERman & Harry Harper

Tour Review
(by Mark Honey)

Having started my bashing life following anything with 16 wheels, the chance to bag a  chance of a couple of 40's or four could not go unmissed.  Especially when there were months to go. The day dawned well weather wise and idiot here thought he would go down to Rugby to grab what he thought would be a Roaring Device.  Oh how wrong I was!  However in those happy carefree, gullible, non mobile phone days, you went out and hoped for the best.  That was what made it fun!  However, I did know that 40028 and 155 had been assembled for the run and I'd missed 028 that many times that I was going to make damned sure I got her this time!

So, back to Rugby and 86324 (what is it worth now!) to Nuneaton.  I resolved not to go back to Rugby that night!  This tour was a sell out and 600 plus were jammed into it.  Apart from the 12 Mk 1's the other two were Manchester Pullmans in the new Exec livery to make up the numbers.  Arrival on time saw the pair, 40028 and 155 that had, I believe, wandered down from Crewe, back on the other end.  We whistled out towards Leicester and at Knighton South Junction, crossed over onto the switchback Burton line via Coalville.  Back then, the line was well used and Coalville still had  Mantle Lane depot.  It held 20's, 56's and a new 58 in the then new Railfreight livery.

We squealed along towards Burton and took the route to Derby.

40028 & 40155 power non-stop through Derby (photo: Craig Simmons)

A good run along the Midland saw us arrive at Chesterfield where we stopped briefly to change crews and left off the gatecrashers who had jumped on at Nuneaton.  At least they were sold tickets for the run to Chesterfield.  We turned right at Tapton Junction along the 'Old Road'.  This took us past Tinsley and a view of the rack of 20's parked up on the bank- out of view actually.  The route took us through Rotherham Central and Swinton.  We swung towards Wakefield Kirkgate. How scruffy it was - not changed much!  The highlight for me was the run over Copy Pit.  The light did not carry passenger trains apart from the Blackpool-Sheffield Syphon-hauled service on summer Saturdays.  This brought us into Blackburn where we ran round.

40's were always synonymous with the S & C and with the line's future hanging in the balance in 1984, a trip over it and the ailing Ribblehead Viaduct was too good to miss.  We screeched over the line to Hellifield, which was then a disaster area.  How many people remember that in 1984, the  S & C had just two trains a day each way?  These were sets of 4 Mk1's and any old machines going spare which meant some real prised scalps if you could get up there to grab 'em.

The S & C was old jointed track with most signalboxes switched out and signals left clear.  This meant lots of flange squealing and rusty rails.  Quite sad really.  Ribblehead Viaduct had most people at the open windows and it was still double track.  We passed through Blea Moor Tunnel and through Dent to Garsdale where we were booked for a photo-stop.

40155 now leading, the pair pause at Garsdale (photo: Michael Croxford)

A wander round the two battered machines made me realise that these old warriors were just workhorses - nothing special, just machines that would do any job they were asked to.  I hid a smile that at least I'd bagged 'Samaria' for some good mileage. 40155 had been smartened up a little with white headcode surrounds.

Under way again, we topped Ais Gill and dropped down into Carlisle.  It was here that rumours circulated as to the replacements.  The reason was that it was unclear whether there would be enough machines that would be available to put together a second pair.  40152 and 192 had been seen hanging around Kingmoor, but '192 couldn't multi-up by then, so that ruled that one out.  In the end 40099 and 40104 (both dud, but welcome) backed on to the other end for a straightforward thrash down the West Coast Main Line to Rugby.  Interesting with 14 on and they went extremely well.  Just what the doctor ordered.

At Crewe, we met up with those who had made their way from Chesterfield to Crewe as a crew change was to take place.  This was done centre road which put paid to the gatecrashers!  They also let us out in front of the 18.27 Blackpool-Euston which for some reason never kept time between Crewe and Nuneaton, even though it was given enough time AND more there!

Arrival at Nuneaton was on time at around 20.45 and the 'box put us into Platform 4, which put the Blackpool in to Platform 5 with some irate bashers who had gone out to Crewe! Standing on Platform 1 was one of those surreal experience for a spotty 15 year old as I watched the old pair pull out.  The brakes came off, the controller was opened a fraction and the whistles move up the scale a fraction.  Then, as the train was got under way, the pair we opened more until full power as applied on the main line, which could be heard on that still evening for a good mile or two.  Magic!

No, I didn't go to Rugby and no I didn't suffer 31257 solo on load 14 to drag itself into London 40 late.  I did read that it managed a top speed of 82mph and got over Tring bank at 55mph!  I would LOVE to know who diagrammed that one!

Mark Honey

Memories of the Day
(by Craig Simmons)

I’d just bought my first house in 1984 so class 40 farewell railtours were financially out of the question.  As such I stood forlornly on Derby station awaiting the arrival of the “Pennine Summits” – if I couldn’t travel behind a pair, I could certainly still photograph them!  Unfortunately I’d only just arrived when 40028 and 40155 powered through, non stop.  I watched the coaches disappear out of sight, and accepted the fact that never again would I cop a 40 for haulage.  I strolled to platform one to photograph the incoming 10.11 (09.00 SO Bradford to Weymouth) – the last one of the summer season …. and in it came behind 40086!  A quick pic then back over the bridge, for a ride behind ‘86’ to BNS!  So I did get my 40 after all!

40086 arrives into Derby (photo: Craig Simmons)

p.s. – it is indeed astonishing how time flies – whilst 40086 is long gone, that mortgage is still with me, but only just, and 24 years on that too is about to bite the dust – so getting old does have some benefits!!!

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from LASERman)

Timings continue in first table.

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