28th April 2001

Pathfinder Tours
The Napier Neptune

Locos Used 60078, D9000 "Royal Scots Grey"

Route :

Loco Route
D9000 Crewe - via WCML - Warrington Bank Quay - Winwick Jn - Earlestown - Newton-le-Willows - Eccles - Manchester Victoria - Miles Platting - Ashton Moss North Jn - Stalybridge - Marsden - Huddesfield - Horbury Jn - Wakefield Kirkgate - Calder Bridge Jn - Hare Park Jn - South Kirkby Jn - Adwick - Doncaster - via ECML - Kings Cross
D9000 Kings Cross - (via ECML) - Newark North Gate - Boultham Jn - Lincoln Central - Market Raisen - Wrawby Jn - Habrough - Cleethorpes
60078 (1) Cleethorpes - Habrough - Ulceby
D9000 Ulceby - Brocklesby - Wrawby Jn - Gainsborough Central - Trent Jn - Bessacarr Jn - Decoy South Jn - Doncaster - (reverse of outward route) - Crewe

Notes :
(1) D9000 on rear.

Source : David Clark
(joined/left the train at Doncaster)

Tour Review
(by David Clark)

When Pathfinder announced that they were running a Tour from Crewe to Cleethorpes via Kings Cross with a DPS Deltic I quickly booked the tour for the January 13th but due to Gauge Corner Cracking this tour was postponed to April 28th. I originally booked on the tour from Crewe, but due to recent events I’ll not get up at ridiculous times unless I have to. So I decided to get on at Doncaster.

With the tour being on this particular weekend, there was the North Yorkshire Moors Diesel Gala with 55019, and the Severn Valley Railway diesel gala. So, people had too many choices. Oh, there was also the Goth weekend in Whitby. So plenty of choices, and as a result the tour was not exactly a successful sell out. As a result EWS staff were able to travel on the tour in first class for free. Some people at work could not believe that I had paid to travel on the tour. I pay to make sure that these tours run, and so the locos are able to be used again, for which some people did not understand.

Anyway rant over. The traction had changed to D9000 due to the fact that the contract for 55019 was not acceptable. The timings were back, and 3 hours were allocated to Kings Cross from Doncaster with pathing stops at Retford and Claypole Loop. The Return was from Kings Cross to Crewe via Cleethorpes.

SATURDAY 28TH APRIL 2001
A fairly good morning saw us arrive in to Doncaster with 158771 and met numerous colleagues. 66505 passed through, as did 56110 (ex Croft). Lovely!!!!1 90225 was on the 0730 GNER service to the Cross. And then at 0755 “that sound” was heard. Hummmmmmmmmm. Platform 3 erupted in to life with D9000 moving down the platform. We boarded our coach near the back, but Pathfinder had allocated my Coach A Seats 1 and 2 originally!!!!!!


D9000 at Doncaster (Photo by Steve Sumners)

We departed Doncaster at 0811 and after Hexthorpe Bridge smoke erupted out of the Deltic. My Lords!!!!!!!

A GNER Leeds to London service passed us on the Up Fast, and we were routed on to the Up Slow. Doncaster Carr, RMT were passed as we picked up speed, and arrived at Retford at 0830. The GNER service passed, and we set off again 7 early and picked up speed…..And a pathing stop at Claypole was not required and so we continued………..

By Grantham we were 18 early, Peterborough 40 early due to us having 14 minutes engineering time. 66705 was seen at Peterborough yard, as well as various units. The centre road was graced as we continued our quest South. At this point Railtrack had looped a 365 on a stopped to Kings Cross. And we just carried on, and on, and on……….. By Hitchin we were 44 early, and finally arrived at Kings Cross at 1027 (45 early!!!!). Pathfinder, with tongue in cheek, decided to apologise for the early running!!!!!!

So with 3 ˝ hours to spare, various options were considered. To go to Camden shopping, the Head of Steam at Euston, but instead we walked down to Leicester Square via Theatreland with Mr Bound for a lovely and full lunch.

The stock came in to Kings Cross with 90026 at 1350, and we departed at 1404 with our coach now near the front. For which windows were opened for some smoke out of Gasworks Tunnel. We were informed that we needed to be 30 early in to Cleethorpes due to the route opening hours on the Brigg Line.

We departed, and once inside Gasworks Tunnel, white fumes were smelt in the coach…… Now someone had requested one of the windows to be shut. However, pressure saw that turned down. And D9000 stormed through North London until a TSR at Alexandera Palace where 3003 / 3004 were seen.

As a result Potters Bar was 6 late, but a storming run to Peterborough saw us turn the heads on the station platforms with the superb traction at the helm. We stormed away, and by Newark we moved across on to the platform which would take us round to Lincoln line the scene of the ECML drags of August. By Newark Crossing East Jct we were 17 early again, due to some engineering allowance not used.

We picked up speed and approached West Holmes Jct 18 early. We approached the lovely city of Lincoln, with the university spreading across the left and right for whose famous graduates included me!!!!!! Much studying was evident as no-one was looking, and we crawled over East Holmes and High Street Crossings, annoying the locals in the process.

We arrived at 1608 and departed at 1611, after exchanging drivers and headed towards Cleethorpes, the first time a deltic had gone to the resort for 20 years. The line To Wrawby Jct was my old starring ground for when I was at uni, and it’s a pretty good line for speeds. Due to the slack in the schedules we past Barnety at 1640 (45 early) passing the ludicrous new footbridge. On passing Brocklesby 60078 was seen coming off the triangle to assist us from Cleethorpes to Ulceby.

At Grimsby we were held and the local brats came out to see a proper train. The hum was evident all the way passing Grimsby Docks, passing New Clee, Blundell Park (yuk) and arrived at Cleethorpes at 1717.

WELCOME TO THE COSTA DEL CLEETHORPES.

And guess what, it started to rain. And it rained……. The Trans Pennine Express was delayed (typical) and this delaying the arrival of 60078. The rain stopped and we were due to depart at 1745, but we awaited a further 158 from Manchester Airport.

By 1800, 60078 glided the train out of Cleethorpes. Not the first time a 60 has hauled a charter train out of Cleethorpes. We passed through Grimsby Town (again) and arrived at Ulceby at 1836 and departed at 1841 with the Napier At the helm. With time ticking away, we passed 60003 with some Iron Ore Hoppers which had come from South Wales. Are we to see 3x37 or 2x56 on these trains then??? (I would prefer the latter).

We passed Wraby Jct at 1854 and headed down the line to Gainsborough Central. Now there were two people who required the branch. Its been done by me on 114s, 153s and a 47. At Gainsborough we took the line to Doncaster, another line which has been done on a previous Deltic tour (05/12/81 the Hadrian Flyer with 55015).

The journey to Doncaster was slow, and boring, but the banter was plentiful, as it had been all throughout the day. With numerous banter about NYMR, Whitby and SVR as well as the banter getting personal about yours truly!!!!!!

We passed Bessacarr Jct at 1953 and came over the flyover, in to down Decoy and arrived at Doncaster at 2001 (33 early).

We alighted and gathered around the Green God, while on Platform 4 at GNER HST turned up, and I think the Deltic driver wanted to show the HST what was missing from the East Coast Main Line. At 2007 both the Deltic and HST departed northwards from Doncaster, for which must have been the best photo that anyone could get from the North Bridge. HELLFIRE!!!!!!

Back to normality prevailed and we boarded out 150228 to Scunthorpe (the same unit took me through the Perth Carriage Wash). We arrived back home at 9pm to find Everton beaten Bradford, Yorkshire beaten Kent and Scunthorpe United seasons over!!!!!!!

On reflection, it was a really good, well organised and an excellent performance from D9000, EWS and all parties concerned for which Railtrack must take some credit for the clear run from Retford to Kings Cross and Kings Cross to Cleethorpes.

David Clark (2001)

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(by David Clark)

Train Reporting Codes:
1Z41 : Crewe to Kings Cross
1Z42 : Kings Cross to Cleethorpes
1Z43 : Cleethorpes to Crewe

M C Location Booked Actual   Booked Actual M C
0 00 Crewe 05.09d 05.16   23.26a 22.57 152 60
8 66 Winsford S.B. 05/19 05/25   23/14 22/45 143 74
16 22 Weaver Jn 05/28 05/31   23/07 22/37 136 38
20 24 ActonGrange Jn 05/32 05/36   23/01 22/32 130 36
24 11 Warrington Bank Quay 05.34a ~ 05.37d 05.38 ~ 05.41   22.55a ~ 22.58d 22.26 ~ 22.29 2128 49
27 38 Winwick Jn 05/43 05/46   22/51 22/22 125 13
29 03 Earlestown 05/45 ??/??   22/49 ??/?? 123 57
29 75 Newton-le-Willows 05/46 05/57   22/48 22/19 122 65
36 69 Astley 05/54 06/02   22/40 22/08 115 71
41 74 Eccles 05/58 06/08   22/35 22/03 110 66
44 53 Ordsall Lane Jn 06/06 06/10   22/31 21/59 108 07
?? ?? Deal Street Jn 06/11 ??/??   ??/?? ??/?? ??? ??
45 65 Manchester Victoria 06.13a ~ 06.16d 06.17 ~ 06.20   22.25a ~ 22.28d 21.49 ~ 21.53 106 75
46 15 Miles Platting Jn 06/20 06/24   22/22 21/44 105 45
?? ?? Phillips Park West Jn 06/20 06/25   ??/?? ??/?? ??? ??
?/ ?? Baguley Fold Jn 06/21 06/26   ??/?? ??/?? ??? ??
50 27 Ashton Moss North Jn 06/25 ??/??   22/14 ??/?? 101 34
53 37 Stalybridge 06.30a ~ 06.33d 06.34 ~ 06.38   22.06a ~ 22.09d 21.30 ~ 21.32 99 23
58 31 Greenfield 06/41 06/44   21/59 ??/?? 94 29
60 44 Diggle Jn 06/44 06/47   21/57 21/20 92 16
64 39 Marsden 06/48 06/52   21/52 21/14 88 21
71 45 Huddersfield 06.57a ~ 07.04d 06.59 ~ 07.04   21.39a ~ 21.42d 21.00 ~ 21.02 81 15
?? ?? Heaton Lodge East Jn 07/11 07/11   21/32 20/51 ?? ??
77 33 Mirfield East Jn 07/13 ??/??   21/26 ??/?? 75 27
78 05 Thornhill LNW Jn 07/14 ??/??   ??/?? ??/?? ?? ??
83 48 Horbury Jn 07/24 07/22   21/13 20/39 69 12
85 72 Wakefield Kirkgate 07.26a ~ 07.29d 07.26 ~ 07.29   21.06a ~ 21.09d 20.33 ~ 20.35 66 68
86 38 Calder Bridge Jn 07/31 ??/??   21/01 ??/?? 66 22
88 79 Hare Park Jn 07/38 07/39   20/59 20/23 63 61
94 78 South Kirkby Jn 07/44 07/43   20/52 20/17 57 62
100 07 Adwick Jn 07/50 ??/??   20/46 ??/?? 52 53
??? ?? Adwick 07/51 07/49   20/45 20/12 ?? ??
104 75 Doncaster 08.00a 07.57   20.34d 20.07 47 65

 

M C Location Booked Actual
104 75 Doncaster 08.11d 08.11
108 72 Loversall Carr Jn 08/17 08/17
122 23 Retford High Level 08*29a ~ 08*45d 08.30 ~ 08.38
140 64 Newark North Gate 09/01 08/54
145 45 Claypole Loop 09*06a ~ 09*13d 08/57
151 16 Barkston South Jn 09/18 09/00
155 34 Grantham 09/22 09/04
161 11 Stoke Tunnel 09/27 09/08
176 02 Tallington 09/54 09/18
184 43 Peterborough 10/03 09/24
191 54 Holme Jn ??/?? ??/??
193 57 Connington South Jn 10/11 09/32
202 02 Huntingdon 10/17 09/38
216 62 Sandy 10/29 09/47
228 78 Hitchin 10/40 09/56
233 25 Stevenage 10/45 10/03
236 79 Woolmer Green Jn 10/48 10/05
240 47 Welwyn Garden City 10/51 10/08
248 15 Potters Bar 10/58 10/13
255 74 Alexandra Palace 11/06 10/19
258 31 Finsbury Park 11/08 10/21
??? ?? Belle Isle 11/10 10/24
260 72 Kings Cross 11r12a 10.27
0 00 Kings Cross 14r04d 14.04
? ?? Belle Isle 14/06 14/06
? ?? Holloway South Jn 14/07 14/07
2 41 Finsbury Park 14/09 14/09
4 78 Alexandra Palace 14/11 14/12
12 57 Potters Bar 14/15 14/21
20 25 Welwyn Garden City 14/22 14/26
23 73 Woolmer Green Jn 14/25 14/30
27 47 Stevenage 14/27 14/34
31 74 Hitchin 14/32 14/37
44 10 Sandy 14/40 14/46
58 70 Huntingdon 14/52 14/55
67 15 Connington South Jn ??/?? ??/??
69 12 Holme LC 15/00 15/02
76 29 Peterborough 15/11 15/10
84 70 Tallington 15/17 15/18
99 61 Stoke Tunnel 15/33 15/29
105 38 Grantham 15/38 15/32
109 56 Barkston South Jn 15/43 15/36
120 08 Newark North Gate 15/50 15/45
120 59 Newark Crossing East Jn 16/05 15/48
135 25 Boultham Jn 16/21 16/03
??? ?? West Holmes Jn 16/23 16/05
136 43 Lincoln Central 16*25a ~ 16*33d 16.08 ~ 16.11
??? ?? Pelham Street Jn 16/34 16/12
142 56 Langworth 16/44 16/19
147 28 Wickenby 16/50 16/23
151 27 Market Rasen 16/59 16/26
156 70 Holton-le-Moor 17/10 16/31
165 26 Wrawby Jn 17/25 16/40
165 70 Barnetby 17/27 16/42
170 47 Brocklesby Jn 17/33 16/49
172 27 Habrough 17/38 16/52
180 34 Grimsby Town 17/49 17/09
183 51 Cleethorpes 17Lr55a 17.17

 

M C Location Booked Actual
0 00 Cleethorpes 18Lr23a 18.00
3 17 Grimsby Town 18/34 18/09
11 24 Habrough 18/46 18/28
13 00 Ulceby 18Lr53a 18.36

 

M C Location Booked Actual
0 00 Ulceby 19Lr03a 18.41
1 03 Brocklesby Jn 19/07 18/45
5 60 Barnetby 19/13 18/52
6 24 Wrawby Jn 19/14 18/54
9 35 Brigg 19/20 19/01
14 16 Kirton Lime Sidings 19/34 19/09
15 51 Kirton Lindsey 19/41 19/10
18 22 Northope 19/49 19/13
25 74 Gainsborough Central 20/03 19/22
27 24 Gainsborough Trent Jn 20/08 19/26
44 27 Bessacarr Jn 20/28 19/53
47 65 Doncaster 20.34a 20.00

Timings continue in first table.

Key;
a : arrival time
d : departure time
L : Loco change or add/detach engine(s)
r : reverse direction
/ : passing time
* : operational stop
a time or distance in brackets is approximate.

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.

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