26th April 1997

D-Tours
The Overnight Bag

Route : 1Z49 throughout

Notes :
(1) Overnight mini-tour prior to a full daytime railtour, The Classic Crompton.

Source : Richard Hughes & David Bellamy (both on the train throughout)

Tour Review
(by Mike Broom)

Why oh why oh why.... That was our first thought, when we stood at Finsbury Park, North London at half past midnight. The whole idea of doing a tour round Kent whilst most (sensible) people are hard fast asleep, is something which did not come easily. But it's one of those things that had to be done just for the sheer "riot" value.

The 0008 from Kings Cross arrived with about 150 bashers on it.. The station was already more or less full before we arrived. 300+ bashers on an island platform is a sight to be seen. The screen at Finsbury Park said "Waterloo International" which I suppose is a bit optimistic for a pair of Class 33's.

Our engines for the night were 33051 + 33030. 33116 was at Hither Green having a well earned rest from tour duties.

I can imagine the scene at Stewarts Lane. Driver clocks on, looks at roster and sees he's got a pair of 33's for the night. Driver thinks "nice saunter with a ballast". Driver looks for Headcode 6X bizarre... finds1Z49. Driver thinks "What the F#%#!!!"

The poor driver finding he's got over 300 plus bashers behind his engines.. Must have given him heart failure!! Anyway, he got our coaches to FP in plenty of time for our departure.. We made progress towards Kensington Olympia for a crew change at 0132.. God knows where the crew went from there, but I would guess a taxi may have been needed. Next stop Dover Priory. We passed rather uneventfully through areas like Brixton (were I quite expected bricks through windows and things). Dover was reached at 0322 for a "Photo-Stop". A bloody photo stop at half three!! What use is that?? Anyway for most it was a chance to get some doss while nowt was happening. We were there for 55 minutes, during which the only action was a RES train heading north bound and a couple of southern unit things shunting in the tunnel.

The run along the south coast was interesting in the fact there was a lot of stuff passing us. Several huge freights including a 92 hauled monster and a couple of double duffs. Dollands Moor was host to several 47s and about 8 class 92s of which none could be noted due to the fact a Ford train was sat in front of the stabling area.

The run back inland saw me scratch a bit of track, but other than that it was uneventful. Kenny O was reached on-time, where we detached our partners for the night and exchanged them for a clapped out tatty looking 33026.

33026 was minus it's nameplates, depot plaque and BR logo. All in all it looked worse than some of the ones that are in the scrapline at Stewarts Lane. Anyway it was a scratch for me (A clawback on Ian!!)

The class 33 was the "Mystery Engine" mentioned on the booking form. I think if they'd said 1 x Class 33 on the booking form I doubt there'd have been 300+ people on this tour... Once we got to Waterloo, we had the usual photo's taken, and then left to go unit bashing (sad I know). It was better than sticking with the train and having Cromptons to Exeter and back... (The boredom factor on that train must have been intolerable).

In summary, a tour that was worth doing just for the hell of it and to have a day in London. Other than that, it was nothing special (despite the scratch).

Review by Mike Broom.

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(From David Bellamy & Peter Finan)

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