9th December 2007

Railway Touring Company
Lincoln Christmas Fayre

Route:
1Z70 : York to Lincoln
1Z71 : Lincoln to York

Notes :
(1) 47847 on rear.

Source : Mike Harries

Tour Review
(by Mike Harries)

The train was originally advertised as to be hauled by 71000, and then this was changed to 45407+ 76079. In the event, 45407 hauled the train, with 47847 at the rear essentially providing electric train heating – and possibly occasional assistance if required. It was said that there were gauging problems with 76079.

I travelled for part of the journey only, and am told that the train started late from York, and that it was not held outside Leeds even though it did not arrive until after the 10:00 Cross Country to Exeter had left – it then used the same Platform – 8. The train left Leeds about ten minutes late, and seemed to lose time gently throughout the run. There were odd pauses at junctions, probably because the train was late and out of path, and of course each stop and then re-start cost time compared with running steadily. The Class 5 was probably somewhat overloaded, especially if the Class 47 at the rear was not contributing tractive effort even for its own weight; I think there were 11 coaches including the support coach. Arrival at Lincoln was some half an hour late.

Before arrival at Lincoln, passengers in the leading coaches were warned that the train would run through the platform (so that the rear coaches would clear the level crossing), and since the train was longer than the platform, those at the front must walk back. In the event, the locomotive stopped at the end of the platform, and passengers left the train with no further ado. Onward progress was blocked by another charter train, drawing out of the sidings and into the platform, and thus blocking the path of this train. The level crossing was blocked for some appreciable time, since until the other train pulled forward – thus itself blocking the crossing – 1Z70 could not move. I do not know what the other train was; it was hauled by a DRS Class 47 loco.

Mike Harries

Timings (Booked Only)
(from Mike Harries)

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