31st May 1958

Stephenson Locomotive Society (Midland Area)
North Staffs Rail Tour (Part 2)

Route : reporting number W725 (throughout?)

Notes :
(1) Banked from Kidsgrove Liverpool Road to ??? by 42378. Howard Cook comments: Actual timings at Kidsgrove Liverpool Road very dubious as photo shows 42939 running round at Kidsgrove Liverpool Road with unidentified Fowler 2-6-4T (42378?) standing by and tour participants de-trained. Why not top & tail? – interesting conundrum.
(2) Train was booked to reverse at Longport.
(3) Route confirmation required. Peter Darke has photographs in his collection showing 42482 at Stafford & Market Drayton, and 42939 at Kidsgrove (London Road). Andrew Fairholm has tracked down photographs of 42482 at Market Drayton, 42378 at Kidsgrove Liverpool Road, 42939 at Kidsgrove Liverpool Road and Acton Bridge and finally, 42482 again at Trentham Gardens.
(4) Train arrived back into Birmingham New Street some 100mins late, an hour of the delay being incurred between Stafford and Birmingham in the evening resulting in many tour participants being stranded having missed last trains home. Due to concerns over the ability of the LMR to operate charters effectively, the SLS decided to cancel all future tours on the LMR until such assurances were received that passengers would not in future be stranded in the event of delays. Tours to Derby, Horwich and Crewe were cancelled on the 15th and 22nd June, but then the train on the 22nd resurrected as a test of assurances received from the LMR. Passengers booked on the 15th June tour were able simply to turn up for the 22nd June train and exchange tickets on the train, else return them for a refund if they chose otherwise.

Sources : Andrew Fairholm, Brian Halford, Peter Darke & Ian Clark (SLS)

Photo Review

From Andrew Fairholms ticket collection.

From The John Debens Ticket Collection.

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Ian Clark (SLS))

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