Notes :
(1) 67005 on rear.
(2) Due to late arrival of coaching stock from Old Oak Common, due to an engineering possession (approx 1 hour), the train was routed by the Trent Valley instead of Birmingham on the outward journey. Arrival at Carlisle was on time.
(3) Confirmation of route between Wigan & Golborne Jn required, timings would suggest either Up Slow or Up Goods.

67005 was caught here waiting to leave Carlisle (photo: Stuart Smith)

Sources : Robert Frise & Stuart Smith (on the train throughout)

Tour Review
(by Stuart Smith)

This tour was originally billed as UK Railtours "inaugural" tour.  However, due to exceptional bookings, a relief train ran two days prior on Tuesday 15th. (The locos for this trip were 67022 and 90027). The day was due to start at 07.28 from Euston, but it was obvious that when the stock had not arrived by 7am, things might be going wrong. Eventually news filtered through that the stock had yet to leave Old Oak common due to a Network Rail possession. (By all accounts, a similar fate had fallen upon the Tuesday tour).

Anyway, at 08.00 the stock arrived into platform 16, with 67005 "Queens Messenger" leading. So, with a quick 'all-aboard' from the station staff and tour stewards we managed to depart at 10 past. 90035 was the loco for the run to Carlisle.

Various sheds, skips and electrics were seen at Wembley, and some 350's along the way, including those stabled at Northampton. At Daventry, 2x DRS sheds were noted, although only 66401 was identified. The ubiquitous 57/3 was at Rugby. Here we took the direct route via the Trent Valley to "make up time" and indeed we were only about 10 down at Stafford, instead of the 42 minutes when leaving Euston.

At Crewe the usual assortment of heritage stock and locos were present on the right, whilst the normal, yet always-hidden, rows of 66, 86 and 90 in various shades of green or grey were down on the left. From here, we continued along the WCML all the way to Carlisle, racing through the tight curves and over the steep gradients.

An hours break was had here, just time to visit the pub and chippy.....not the same scenes as the last visit by Pathfinder, when the queues in both were back outside and round the corner. But hey, this was more of "Bert and Ada" style daytrip with the hampers, flasks and picnic baskets far outweighing the real ale glasses and cheese 'n' beetroot sarnies from the "rolling riot".

So now, we set off South with 67005 in charge (a winner for me) and along winning track also (well, at least as far as Maryport). The coast was mostly shrouded in grey damp clouds, and visibility was limited at times. At Sellafield, 20302, 20307, 37038 and 37229 were parked up, waiting their next turns on the "flasks".

Back at Carnforth, we re-joined the WCML and a quick sprint back to Preston allowed the 67 to stretch its legs after the slow dawdle down the coast. The booked hour break here had been reduced to just 35 minutes due to us being held for a freight train back at Currock Jct. So it was just a quick couple of photos, including one of 185142 and 185143, some coffee and cakes from the station buffet, and back on board.

From here it was "as you were this morning", with 90035 in charge, and a direct routing via the WCML and the Northampton Loop.

Arrival back in Euston was at 21.15 I think, around 20 minutes late.

So a final round-up... A very good first tour for UK Railtours I thought (well, actually the 2nd as it turned out) with the the added bonus of new track for me. Sensible start and finish times and good company too. I hope the other two I have booked on, continue this trend.

Stuart Smith

Timings (Booked Only)

Timings continue in first table.

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