28th December 1984

The Steam Locomotive Operators' Association
Santa Steam Special

Locos Used 25080, 40118, 81022, 85025 & steam: 777 'Sir Lamiel' & 4472 'Flying Scotsman'
Stock Used [1] : booked for load 12
[2] : booked for load 11

Route : 1T26 throughout

Loco(s) Stock Route
85025 [1] London Euston - (via WCML, Weedon & Trent Valley) - Carnforth
40118 [1] Carnforth - Wennington - Settle Jn - Hellifield (1) - Skipton
40118 + 25080 [1] Skipton - (1) Hellifield - Settle Jn - (via S&C) - Appleby
777 [1] Appleby - (via S&C) - Settle Jn - Hellifield
4472 [1] Hellifield - Settle Jn - Wennington - Carnforth
81022 (2) [2] Carnforth - (reverse of outward route) - Stafford - Wolverhampton - Dudley Port - Soho South Jn - Birmingham New Street - Proof House Jn - Stechford - Birmingham International - Coventry - Rugby - (via WCML, Weedon) - London Euston

Notes :
(1) Route confirmation required - above is from booked timings. Booked reversal point on outward leg was Hellfield. Timings sheet gave the tour name as 'Santa Steam Pullman', the tour itinerary gave it as 'Santa Steam Special' and the ticket as 'The Santa Special'....take your pick! The layover at Appleby included a visit to Santa's Grotto...
(2) A railtour itinerary seen by the Webmaster with traction details filled in by tour participant John Broderick listed the return electric traction 'as morning' however in light of info already provided this is assumed to have been a false assumption on his part, though positive confirmation of the use of 81022 rather than 85025 would be appreciated just to close out the discrepancy.

Sources : Steven Fort, Alan Baylis, Gary Thornton, Gavin Hamilton & Ian McDonald

Photo Review


40118 & 25080 depart Hellifield for Appleby (photo: Steven Fort)


Ian McDonald's ticket.


Timings (Booked Only)
(from Ian McDonald)

Miles Location Booked (out) Booked (rtn) Miles
0.0 Euston 07.50d 21.00a 631.6
5.4 Willesden Junction 07/57 20/52½ 626.2
17.4 Watford Junction 08.06a ~ 08.07d 20.37a ~ 20.39d 614.2
31.7 Tring 08/18½ 20/26 599.9
46.7 Bletchley 08/28½ 20/15½ 584.9
56.5 Hanslope Jn 08/34 20/06 575.1
82.6 Rugby 08/54½ 19/47½ 549.0
- Coventry - 19/39 536.5
- Birmingham New Street - 19.17½a ~ 19.19½d 517.3
- Wolverhampton - 18/55 505.3
97.0 Nuneaton 09/06 - -
116.3 Lichfield TV 09/18½ - -
133.5 Stafford 09/34 18/35½ 489.3
150.1 Madeley 09/48½ ? ?
158.1 Crewe 09.57a ~ 10.00d 18/14 464.7
174.4 Weaver Jn 10/13½ 18/06 448.5
182.2 Warrington Bank Quay 10/19 17/50½ 440.7
193.9 Wigan North Western 10/27½ 17/37½ 428.9
209.0 Preston 10.44a ~ 10.46d 17.25a ~ 17.27d 413.8
230.0 Lancaster 11/02 17/09 392.8
236.3 Carnforth 11L09a ~ 11L19d 16L46a ~ 16L59d 386.5
? Carnforth East Jn ? 16/43 386.1
246.0 Wennington 11/36 16/31 376.8
252.5 Clapham 11/43 16/21 370.3
267.7 Settle Jn 11/54 16/06 361.7
264.4 Hellifield 11.59 ~ 12.15 15L45 ~ 16L00 358.4
267.7 Settle Jn 12/19½ 15/39 355.1
275.7 Horton-in-Ribblesdale 12/30½ 15/27 347.1
281.7 Blea Moor 12/37½ 15/20 340.7
286.6 Dent 12/42½ 15/14 336.2
289.8 Garsdale 12/46 15/10 333.0
292.9 Ais Gill 12/49½ 15/03 329.9
299.7 Kirkby Stephen 12/57½ 14/39 323.1
311.4 Appleby 13p08a 14p25d 311.4


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