13th April 1991

The Growler Group
The Solent Growler

Locos Used 37032 & 37272

Route : 1Z37 throughout

Locos Route
37032 + 37272 Manchester Piccadilly - Stockport - Northenden Jn - Altrincham - Norwich - Middlewich - Sandbach - Crewe - Stafford - Rugeley North Jn - Walsall - Bescot Stadium - Aston - Proof House Jn - Birmingham New Street - Soho East Jn - Perry Barr North Jn - Bescot Yard - Bescot Curve Jn - Wednesbury Town Jn - Kingswinford Jn - Stourbridge North Jn -  Stourbridge Junction - Kidderminster - Droitwich Spa - Worcester Shrub Hill - Evesham - Charlbury - Oxford - Didcot Parkway - Reading West Jn - Oxford Road Jn - Basingstoke - Winchester - Eastleigh - Northam Jn - Southampton Boat Train Terminal (1)
37032 + 37272 Southampton Boat Train Terminal (1) - Northam Jn
37032 + 37272 Northam Jn - Southampton Central - 1 mile outside Southampton Central (2)
37032 + 37272 1 mile outside Southampton Central (2) - Southampton Central - Eastleigh - Winchester - Basingstoke - Oxford Road Jn - Reading West Jn - Didcot Parkway (3) - Oxford - Banbury - Leamington Spa - Solihull - Birmingham New Street - Wolverhampton - Stafford - Crewe - Manchester Piccadilly

Notes :
(1) Gary Blyth comments: a bit of a farce on the day, original destination was the Eastern Docks, then BR stated that they were blocked so we had to go to the Western Docks instead. By the time we reached Southampton, BR changed their minds and we could actually visit Eastern Docks! When we did there were lorries blocking the line after the liner terminal so the whole line couldn't be traversed.
(2) There was an intended photo stop at Southampton but BR/Police wouldn't allow us to stop as football fans were alighting in the station at the time and they thought there would be trouble! The train carried on for a mile then the locos ran-round the stock!
(3) Due to the cancellation of a photo stop at Southampton and spending less time at the docks, a photo stop was hastily arranged at Didcot where the train sat for about an hour!


The 37's pause at Didcot Parkway (photo: Simon Cresswell)

Sources : Gary Blyth (joined/left train at Birmingham New Street) & Glenn Ford

Timings (Booked Only)
(from Simon Cresswell)

M.C Location Booked
0.00 Manchester Piccadilly 05.20d
5.70 Stockport 05.29a ~ 05.31d
10.01 Northenden Jn 05/38
14.50 Altrincham 05/48
27.49 Northwich 06/05
32.71 Middlewich 06/22
36.51 Sandbach 06/35
41.19 Crewe 06.46a ~ 06.48d
65.58 Stafford 07.12a ~ 07.14d
74.62 Rugeley North Jn 07/24
90.21 Walsall 08/17
91.72 Bescot Jn 08/20
98.54 Aston 08/32
101.30 Birmingham New Street 08.42a ~ 08.44d
103.31 Soho South Jn 08/50
106.22 Perry Barr North Jn 08/59
111.22 Bescot Curve Jn 09/04
112.69 Wednesbury Town Jn 09/07
116.15 Dudley 09/15
122.10 Stourbridge Junction 09/31
128.65 Kidderminster 09/41
138.25 Droitwich Spa 09/52
144.04 Worcester Shrub Hill 09c58 ~ 10c04
157.39 Evesham 10/18
172.38 Moreton-in-Marsh 10t33 ~ 10t34
200.53 Oxford 11.13a ~ 11.15d
211.04 Didcot Parkway 11.26a ~ 11.28d
227.18 Reading West Jn 11/44
228.54 Southcote Jn 11/47
242.31 Basingstoke 12/00
261.09 Worting Jn 12*10 ~ 12*15
268.05 Eastleigh 12c40 ~ 12c42
273.65 Northam Jn 12/49
274.49 Southampton 12/52
276.41
0.00		 Southampton Western Dock 13p08a ~ 13p40d
1.52 Southampton 13/58
2.56 Northam Jn 13/59
8.36 Eastleigh 14/10
15.48 Romsey 14/25
30.62 Laverstock South Jn 14/43
47.02 Andover 15/00
65.40 Basingstoke 15c15 ~ 15c16
78.17 Southcote Jn 15/35
80.53 Reading West Jn 15/38
96.67 Didcot Parkway 16p05a ~ 16p45d
107.18 Oxford 17.04a ~ 17.06d
124.59 Aynho Jn 17/22
128.20 Banbury 17/30
148.11 Leamington Spa 17/47
160.79 Dorridge 18/00
170.41 St Andrews Jn 18/11
172.12 Birmingham New Street 18.18a ~ 18.21d
174.13 Soho South Jn 18/26
181.41 Bescot 18/42
188.23 Bushbury Jn 18/52
202.00 Stafford 19.04a ~ 19.06d
207.29 Norton Bridge 19/11
226.37 Crewe 19.35a ~ 19.37d
231.07 Sandbach 19/45
245.22 Wilmslow 20/01
251.38 Stockport 20.14a ~ 20.15d
257.28 Manchester Piccadilly 20.24a


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