17th July 1999

Hertfordshire Rail Tours
The Friar Tuck

Route :
1Z39 : Euston to Nottingham
1Z40 : Nottingham to Euston

Source : Gary Thornton (joined/left train at Bletchley)

Tour review
(by Gary Thornton)

Another Saturday when it was difficult to decide what to do - despite several other railtours on offer, I had already booked on this offering from Hertfordshire Railtours so I decided to stick with it. The days highlights included three freight lines : Leicester to Burton-on-Trent, the Castle Donnington line and the Corby line. In the case of the first line this would be the first passenger train over the route for quite a number of years.

From my perspective it was a good tour to do as it I needed all 29 miles of the freight line from Leicester to Burton-on-Trent - another reason I decided to stay booked on this trip despite the later attractions.

Pick-up point for me was Bletchley so I got there in time to view the 08.50 departure to Bedford which as it turned out had 31601 at the Bedford end and 31468 at the other. The WCML was quite busy with expresses and also 47334, 66013, 90142 and doubleheaded 90147 + 90149 all heading through on freight workings. Just a couple of minutes before our tour arrived I got a Rail-gen message to my mobile phone to say 66121 was in charge of the train. Mixed feelings about that - not an exciting piece of traction but at least I needed it for sight and haulage. Sure enough, our train soon appeared and whispered by with shed 121 up front.

Our route took us along the Marston Vale line to Bedford - en-route we passed 31602 and 31452 with the lines other passenger train (a two train diagram is used) - unusual that both diagrams were 31 hauled and maybe even the first day this has happened? As we approached Bedford Midland we past a "binliner" bound for Forders Sidings with 66100 at the helm (another required sight!). With the pick-up at Bedford made we headed northwards along the slow line, passing through Sharnbrook Tunnel and Wellingborough on our way to Kettering where we had a crew change. To do this we were routed onto the down slow at Kettering South Junction and, once on our way again, back on to the Midland Main Line (MML) at Kettering North Junction - probably quite an unusual move.

Our run along the MML brought us into the Leicester suburbs but before getting to the station we reached Knighton Junction where we curved off onto the freight line towards Coalville and Burton--on-Trent. The 29 miles were a real drag as we trundled along at around 20mph all the way - with occasional areas where the speed was even less! As we reached the main line near Burton-on-Trent we were held awaiting our path (although we were 20 minutes late we had a 32 minute pathing stop). Once on the move again we headed through Burton-on-Trent station and seven miles further on we reached Stenson Junction and the second freight line of the day (actually third if you count the slow line through Sharnbrook). At least this one was far faster than the Coalville line. We soon reached Sheet Stores Junction and re-joined the MML.

Soon enough and we were rolling into Nottingham station a few minutes ahead of schedule. For some on board there were busses to take them to Barrow Hill depot where there was an open weekend. In my case I had decided on an exploration of Nottingham, which turned into a long walk along the canal towpath towards (and beyond) Mansfield Junction. Walking back to the station I also noticed a Central Trains Turbostar on the new maintenance depot to the east of the station so I carried on walking for a closer look. It was 170501 which I didn't require, having seen it on the test track at the Adtranz Litchurch Lane site a couple of weeks before!

66121 was our motive power for the return leg which left Nottingham bang on time. The route was the same as far as Trent East Junction from where we carried on down the MML through Loughborough to Syston North Curve. Here we took the line to Peterborough but only as far as Manton Junction at which point we took the freight line towards Corby. Still quite a well used line, but no passenger trains - even though some years ago there was an experimental service between Corby and Kettering. As it was a hot afternoon I was nodding off so don't remember so much about the remainder of the journey home - though I was alert enough to enjoy passing over the impressive Harringworth Viaduct just north of Corby.

At Bedford 31601/31468 were waiting our passage onto the Bletchley line and I noticed a few of our passengers hopping off our train and onto the 31 hauled service - had it been 31602 at the head I dare say I'd have done the same as it's the only one of the four I need for haulage. The run to Bletchley lost us a lot of time - we seemed to have been given 60mph timing along a line that is mostly 40mph with numerous 20mph slacks! Arrival into Bletchley was just over 20 minutes down. I walked off the station to the sound of 66121 pulling out of the station towards London (and it did sound a little louder than other sheds I've heard close-up).

Gary Thornton.

Timings (Booked & Actual)

All distances, in miles and chains (M & C), are taken from the timing sheet given out on the train. No attempt has been made to verify the mileages given. That said, the mileages for Sharnbrook Junction (in brackets) are obviously incorrect.

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