26th April 2026

UK Railtours
The Plant

Route :
1Z31 : London Kings Cross to Doncaster Works Wabtec
1Z32 : Doncaster Works Wabtec to Hunslet Tilcon GBRf
1Z33 : Hunslet Tilcon GBRf to London Kings Cross

Notes :
(1) 66790 on rear.
(2) 57305 on rear.
(3) plus 66790, with 57305 on rear.
(4) plus 57305, with 66790 on rear.
(5) Stuart Hicks comments: An enjoyable but long day, in bright often sunny weather. Annoying NR signaller behaviour on return journey though – you can see from the timings that we were ready to leave Doncaster around half an hour early but had to wait for time, Likewise after stopping outside for around 15 minutes we were held 20 minutes in the platform 1 at Peterborough, with late running train then preceding us. Then we lost time owing to a trespasser and maintained this to London, and although we could have used the fast line from Welwyn, we crawled up the slow line behind a stopping train, and eventually (and unnecessarily) arrived around a quarter of an hour late. Formation from London (leaving 0721) was 57305, with ERS 5787, 6046, 6173, 5937, 1220, 1203, 3295 and 3285, lettered H to A. 66704 had brought in the stock. Outward route to Doncaster was via Welwyn, dive under at Werrington, Spalding (photo stop), Lincoln TL and we gained 66790 on the rear there. Several other class 66s and 69s along with stored class 60s (02/21/56/76/85/96) were noted in the GBRf sidings there. We continued forward to signal D1490 and reversed into the Wabtec works, where 08669 attached to the front (i.e. to 66790 at that point) and pulled the train almost to the end of track. Later 08724 attached to the other end (to 57305) to pull us back out again. Having left the works we continued via Skellow Junction to reverse and then diverted via Normanton and Woodlesford to pass Stourton and Holbeck. After setting down some passengers at Leeds City we continued to the Neville Hill up GBRF sidings and reversed down the Hunslet Tilcon branch, on the most easterly track through the loader and almost to the end of the track by the headshunt. After reversals there and at Neville Hill we picked up the passengers who had enjoyed an almost two hour break in Leeds and took the main line south through Wakefield to Doncaster down decoy GBRf to detach 66790. After a lengthy wait there we continued south, mostly running on the slow line and reached Kings Cross platform 5 (not 4 as advertised) late. Snowploughs were observed at Doncaster, Holbeck and Retford, 93001/3 at Peterborough, and various class 66s at Peterborough, Midland Road and Doncaster, with various 195s and 331s at Leeds and Neville Hill.

Source : Stuart Hicks

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Realtime Trains)

Timings continue in first table. Distances (where shown) are from Realtime Trains.

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