25th - 28th August 1995

Hertfordshire Rail Tours
The Race to the North

Locos Used 47722, 47787, 86239, 86417, 90016 & 90020

Route : ECML train : 1Z45 throughout

Date Loco Route
25/08 90020 London Kings Cross - (via ECML) - Newcastle
25/08 86417 Newcastle - (via ECML) - Edinburgh Waverley
25/08 47787 Edinburgh Waverley - Haymarket - Dalmeny - Inverkeithing - Kirkcaldy - Thornton North Jn - Cupar - Tay Bridge South - Dundee Central Jn - Dundee - Arbroath - Montrose - Stonehaven - AberdeenAberdeen

Route : WCML train : 1Z54 throughout

Date Loco Route
25/08 90016 London Euston - (via WCML, Weedon & Trent Valley) - Carlisle
25/08 86239 Carlisle - (via WCML) - Law Jn - Holytown Jn - Mossend East Jn - Mossend Yard
25/08 47722 Mossend Yard - Whifflet North Jn - Coatbridge Jn - Garnqueen North Jn - Greenhill Lower Jn - Stirling - Dunblane - Hilton Jn - Perth - Dundee Central Jn - Dundee - Arbroath - Montrose - Stonehaven - Aberdeen

Route :

Date Loco(s) Route
26/08 ????? Dyce - Aberdeen - Stonehaven - Montrose (2)
26/08 ????? Montrose - Stonehaven - Aberdeen - Dyce

Route :

Date Loco(s) Route
27/08 ????? Dyce - Inverurie - Keith - Forres - Millburn Jn - Rose Street Jn
27/08 ????? Rose Street Jn - Muir of Ord - Dingwall - Achnasheen - Kyle of Lochalsh
27/08 ????? Kyle of Lochalsh - (reverse of outward route) - Rose Street Jn
27/08 ????? Rose Street Jn - (reverse of outward route) - Dyce

Route : return working : 1Z54 throughout

Date Loco Route
28/08 47787 Aberdeen - Stonehaven - Montrose - Arbroath - Dundee - Cupar - Thornton North Jn - Kirckaldy - Inverkeithing - Dalmeny Jn - Winchburgh Jn - Polmont Jn - Falkirk Grahamston - Carmuirs West Jn - Greenhill Lower Jn - Garnqueen North Jn - Coatbridge Jn - Whifflet North Jn - Mossend Yard - Holytown Jn - Law Jn - (via WCML) - Carlisle - Petteril Bridge Jn - (via S&C) - Settle Jn - Hellifield - Keighley - Apperley Jn - Engine Shed Jn - Altofts Jn - Turners Lane Jn - Hare Park Jn - South Kirkby Jn - Moorthorpe - Aldwarke Jn - Wincobank Station Jn - Sheffield - Dore Station Jn - Chesterfield - Ambergate Jn - Deeby - Spondon - Trent South Jn - (via MML) - London St Pancras

Notes :
(1) This 'tour' consisted of two 7 coach trains, 'racing' each other up the WCML & ECML and on to Aberdeen on the Friday to see which arrived first. As both trains were timetabled to arrive at the convergence of the two routes (Dundee Central Jn) at the same time, from there to Aberdeen each train had two possible sets of booked times; one for the 'winner' and the other for the 'loser'. Confirmation is required as to which train won the race! The trains returned to London as one single train on the Monday however there were also outings on the Saturday and Sunday (confirmation is required as to the traction and stock for these trips; presumably all fourteen coaches to accommodate all passengers).
(2) For visit to either Glamis Castle or the Caledonian Railway.

Sources : Derek Sneddon & John Broderick

Timings (Booked Only)
(from John Broderick)

25th August

M.C Location Booked
0.00 Kings Cross 12.04d
2.41 Finsbury Park 12/08
4.78 Alexandra Palace 12/10
12.57 Potters Bar 12/17
20.25 Welwyn Garden City 12/27
23.73 Woolmer Green 12/29
27.45 Stevenage 12/32
31.74 Hitchin 12/34
44.10 Sandy 12/42
58.70 Huntingdon 12/50
69.26 Holme (Admiral Wells) 12/57
76.29 Peterborough 13.03a ~ 13.06d
84.64 Tallington 13/11
99.61 Stoke 13/20
105.38 Grantham 13/27
109.56 Barkston South Jn 13/29
120.08 Newark Northgate 13/35
138.49 Retford 13/46
152.00 Loversall Carr Jn 13/54
155.77 Doncaster 13/57
160.16 Shaftholme Jn 14/00
169.16 Temple Hirst Jn 14/05
174.75 Hambleton North Jn 14/09
182.79 Colton Jn 14/17
188.40 York 14/23
190.11 Skelton Jn 14/25
198.00 Tollerton 14/30
210.56 Thirsk 14/38
218.36 Northallerton 14/43
232.50 Darlington 14/56
244.57 Ferryhill South Jn 15/06
247.33 Tursdale Jn 15/08
254.53 Durham 15/14
268.02 King Edward Bridge South Jn 15/29
268.56 Newcastle 15L33a ~ 15L53d
270.50 Heaton South Jn 15/57
285.26 Morpeth 16/11
303.45 Alnmouth 16/26
319.13 Belford 16/38
335.56 Berwick-upon-Tweed 16/50
345.78 Reston 16/56
351.78 Grantshouse 17/00
364.07 Dunbar 17/08
375.32 Drem 17/15
386.77 Monktonhall Jn 17/24
389.53 Portobello Jn 17/26
393.12 Edinburgh Waverley 17L35a ~ 17L54d
394.31 Haymarket 17/57
395.40 Haymarket West Jn 17/59
402.47 Dalmeny 18/05
406.24 Inverkeithing 18/18
413.22 Burntisland 18/24
419.02 Kirkcaldy 18/31
423.36 Thornton South Jn 18/35
423.74 Thornton North Jn 18/36
432.20 Ladybank 18/50
437.62 Cupar 18/55
444.00 Leuchars 19/00
449.48 Tay Bridge South 19/06
452.03 Dundee Central Jn 19/11

See below the Euston to Aberdeen booked times for the 'winner' & 'loser' booked times and remaining mileages.

M.C Location Booked
0.00 Euston 11.35d
5.65 Willesden Jn 11/41
11.30 Harrow & Wealdstone 11/45
17.35 Watford Junction 11/50
31.53 Tring 11/56
38.16 Ledburn Jn 12/03
46.46 Bletchley 12/09
49.65 Milton Keynes Central 12/13
56.47 Hanslope Jn 12/16
69.56 Weedon 12/24
82.40 Rugby 12/37
97.10 Nuneaton 12.48a ~ 12.50d
110.12 Tamworth 13/00
116.23 Lichfield TV 13/06
121.31 Armitage 13/07
127.08 Colwich Jn 13/10
133.43 Stafford 13/15
138.72 Norton Bridge 13/20
149.74 Madeley 13/27
156.16 Basford Hall Jn 13/30
158.00 Crewe 13c38 ~ 13c41
165.41 Winsford 13/48
175.20 Weaver Jn 13/52
180.24 Acton Grange Jn 13/56
182.11 Warrington Bank Quay 13/57
185.47 Winwick Jn 14/00
192.42 Springs Branch Jn 14/09
193.71 Wigan North Western 14/10
201.42 Balshaw Lane Jn 14/19
203.45 Euxton Jn 14/20
209.01 Preston 14/27
229.79 Lancaster 14/53
231.71 Morecambe South Jn 14/54
236.19 Carnforth 14/57
249.07 Oxenholme 15/05
262.20 Tebay 15/14
281.19 Penrith 15/25
299.08 Carlisle 15L43a ~ 15L55d
307.65 Gretna Jn 16/02
309.21 Quintinshill 16/03
324.74 Lockerbie 16/12
338.48 Beattock 16/20
348.72 Beattock Summit 16/27
356.78 Abington 16/33
372.61 Carstairs 16/44
375.16 Lanark Jn 16/46
383.17 Law Jn 16/52
388.56 Holytown Jn 17/00
389.53 Mossend East Jn 17/02
390.41 Mossend Yard 17L05 ~ 17L15
392.51 Whifflet North Jn 17/19
393.15 Coatbridge Jn 17/21
394.30 Cartsherrie South Jn 17/23
395.51 Garnqueen North Jn 17/25
405.21 Greenhill Lower Jn 17*35 ~ 17*49
407.42 Carmuirs West Jn 17/51
408.07 Larbert Jn 17/52
416.70 Stirling 17/58
421.65 Dunblane 18/07
431.74 Blackford 18/16
447.63 Hilton Jn 18/35
449.71 Perth 18c39 ~ 18c51
450.66 Barnhill 18/55
460.16 Errol 19/04
470.55 Dundee Central Jn 19/11

'Winner' & 'loser' booked times from Dundee onwards, and remaining mileages;

M.C from
Kings Cross
M.C from
Euston
Location Booked ('winner') Booked ('loser')
452.27 470.79 Dundee 19/12 19/35
453.05 471.57 Camperdown Jn 19/15 19/42
463.19 481.71 Carnoustie 19/36 19/51
469.29 488.01 Arbroath 19/41 19/56
480.63 499.35 Usan 18/52 20/08
482.78 501.50 Montrose 19/57 20/11
493.18 511.70 Laurencekirk 20/07 20/20
507.33 526.05 Stonehaven 20/19 20/35
523.46 542.18 Aberdeen 20.38a 20.59a

26th August

M.C Location Booked (out) Booked (rtn)
0.00 Dyce 08.30d 15.44a
6.20 Aberdeen 08.40a ~ 08.42d 15.31a ~ 15.34d
22.33 Stonehaven 09/06 15/15
36.48 Laurencekirk 09/30 15/00
46.68 Montrose 09.45a 14.50d

Caledonian Railway;

Location Booked (out) Booked (rtn)
Bridge of Dun 10.45d (13.15a)
??? ? ??p??a ~ ??p??d
(to include 'a run-past or two')
Brechin 11.15a 12.15d

27th August

M.C Location Booked (out) Booked (rtn)
0.00 Dyce 08.50d 21.30a
10.59 Inverurie 09/00 21x09 ~ 21x18
21.27 Insch 09/11 20/59
26.51 Kennethmont 09/17 20/54
34.47 Huntly 09/25 20/45
46.79 Keith 09/38 20/32
65.13 Elgin 09t58 20t12
77.31 Forres 10x10 ~ 10x21 18t58
86.77 Nairn 10t36 19t46
101.25 Millburn Jn 10/52 19/33
101.76 Rose Street Jn 10L54 ~ 11L15 19L07 ~ 19L30
103.27 Clachnaharry 11/18 19/03
114.61 Muir of Ord 11t39 18t46
120.35 Dingwall 11x48 ~ 12x00 18x24 ~ 18x34
132.23 Garve 12t28 17t59
148.30 Achnasheen 12t52 17t27
166.22 Strathcarron 13t24 16t53
178.60 Plockton 13t53 16t24
184.22 Kyle of Lochalsh 14.14a 16.10d

28th August

M.C Location Booked
0.00 Aberdeen 07.35d
16.13 Stonehaven 07/53
30.28 Laurencekirk 08/06
40.48 Montrose 08/14
42.63 Usan 08/17
54.17 Arbroath 08/28
60.27 Carnoustie 08/35
70.41 Camperdown Jn 08/43
71.19 Dundee 08c45 ~ 08c47
73.78 Tay Bridge South 08/53
79.46 Leuchars 08/59
85.64 Cupar 09/05
91.26 Ladybank 09/11
99.52 Thornton North Jn 09/21
100.10 Thornton South Jn 09/22
104.44 Kirkcaldy 09/27
110.24 Burntisland 09/40
117.22 Inverkeithing 09/49
121.32 Dalmeny Jn 09/55
125.61 Winchburgh Jn 10/07
130.59 Linlithgow 10/11
135.55 Polmont Jn 10/16
138.55 Falkirk Grahamston 10c21 ~ 10c26
140.34 Carmuirs East Jn 10/34
140.74 Carmuirs West Jn 10/35
143.15 Greenhill Lower Jn 10/38
152.65 Garnqueen North Jn 10/48
154.06 Gartsherrie South Jn 10/50
155.21 Coatbridge Jn 10/52
156.04 Whifflet South Jn 10/54
157.75 Mossend Yard 10c57 ~ 10c59
158.63 Mossend East Jn 11/02
159.60 Holytown Jn 11/03
165.19 Law Jn 11/08
173.20 Lanark Jn 11/14
175.55 Carstairs 11/16
191.38 Abington 11/28
199.44 Beattock Summit 11/34
209.68 Beattock 11/42
223.42 Lockerbie 11/53
239.15 Quintinshill 12/10
240.51 Gretna Jn 12/12
249.28 Carlisle 12.21a ~ 12.43d
250.20 Petteril Bridge Jn 12/46
259.16 Armathwaite 13/00
264.62 Lazonby & Kirkoswald 13/10
269.09 Langwathby 13/18
280.10 Appleby 13/34
290.72 Kirkby Stephen 13/51
308.73 Blea Moor 14/13
322.72 Settle Jn 14/33
326.17 Helllifield 14/39
336.11 Skipton 14/54
345.26 Keighley 15/08
351.41 Shipley 15/20
355.33 Apperley Jn 15/27
362.10 Engine Shed Jn 15c43 ~ 15c44
371.30 Altofts Jn 16/07
374.52 Turners Lane Jn 16/13
377.63 Hare Park Jn 16/27
383.62 South Kirkby Jn 16/33
384.39 Moorthorpe 16/35
394.46 Aldwarke Jn 16/48
399.34 Wincobank Jn 16/57
402.46 Sheffield 17c03 ~ 17c06
406.36 Sore Station Jn 17/11
414.66 Chesterfield 17/21
418.76 Clay Cross South Jn 17/24
429.04 Ambergate Jn 17/32
438.77 Derby 17c44 ~ 17c45
441.47 Spondon 17/50
448.18 Trent South Jn 17/56
455.68 Loughborough 18/04
463.36 Syston South Jn 18/10
468.27 Leicester 18.16a ~ 18.18d
484.40 Market Harborough 18/35
495.33 Kettering 18/46
502.23 Wellingborough 18/51
510.69 Sharnbrook 18/58
517.36 Bedford North Jn 19/08
527.10 Flitwick 19/17
537.15 Luton 19/28
547.43 St Albans 19/39
560.35 Hendon 19/50
567.34 St Pancras 20.07a


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