14th April 1962

Stephenson Locomotive Society (Midland Area)
Tour of Seven Branch Lines

Locos Used 1247, 40026 & 40646

Route : 1X47 throughout

Loco(s) Route
40646 Birmingham New Street - Whitacre Jn - Nuneaton Abbey Street - Nuneaton Trent Valley - Bedworth - Three Spires Jn - Humber Road Jn - Rugby - Long Buckby - Northampton Castle
40646 + 40026 Northampton Castle - Northampton Bridge Street - Hardingstone Jn - Ravenstone Wood Jn - Olney - Bedford
40026 Bedford - Shefford - Hitchin
1247 Hitchin - Stevenage - Hertford North - Cole Green - Welwyn Garden City - Hatfield
1247 Hatfield - Welwyn Garden City - Luton Bute Street
40646 Luton Bute Street - Dunstable North - Leighton Buzzard - Bletchley - Hanslope Jn - Weedon - Daventry - Marton Jn - Leamington Spa Avenue - Kenilworth - Berkswell - Stechford - Birmingham New Street

Notes :
(1) Route confirmation required - above is from booked timings. Train ran over the Northampton to Bedford line (via Olney) which was the last day it was open.

Sources : Andrew Fairholm, Chris Harley, Kester Eddy, Mel Holley, Rob Tibbets & Ian Clark (SLS)

Photo Review


The tour paused for a photostop at Olney (photo: Robert Darlaston)


Another view at Olney with 40646 leading 40026.
(photo: W.A. Camwell / © Stephenson Locomotive Society)


40026 exiting Old Warden Tunnel (photo: A.J.B. Dodd)


1247 taking on water at Hatfield (photo: Robert Darlaston)


1247 arriving at Luton Bute Street (photo: the Bob Mitchell collection)


This shot of 40646 was provided by John Debens (from a scanned slide
 identified with 'CCQ Color Slides', & copyright; hand-numbered 1364)
(recognising copyright this image will be removed if you are the legal owner
and contact me to request its removal)
John Jennings confirms: The kodachrome original of this image was taken by
the late T E (Tom) Williams. It was taken at approx. 6.45pm in clear evening
light between Weedon and Daventry. Some of Tom’s images were copied
 with his permission by CCQ colour slides and resold in the late 1960’s


From Andrew Fairholm's ticket collection.


From Bob Mitchell's ticket collection.


From The John Debens Ticket Collection.


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

Location Booked Actual
Birmingham New Street 10.00d 10.00
Whitacre Jn 10/15 10/15
Nuneaton Abbey Street ? 10.14 ~ 10.41
Nuneaton Trent Valley 10.34a ~ 10.36d 10.48 ~ 10.50
Three Spires Jn 10/50 11/04
Humber Road Jn 11/05 11.14 ~ 11.15
Rugby 11/25 11/30
Northampton Castle 11.57a ~ 12.02d ??.?? ~ 12.15
Olney 12/25 ?
Bedford 12.42a ~ 12.50d ?
Shefford 13/11 ?
Hitchin 13.23a ~ 13.33d ?
Stevenage 13/44 ?
Hertford North 14.12a ~ 14.22d 14.45 ~ 14.50
Welwyn Garden City 14/54 ?
Hatfield 15.02a ~ 15.47d 15.20 ~ 15.47
Welwyn Garden City 15/54 ?
Luton Bute Street 16.56a ~ 17.06d 16.55 ~ 17.04
Dunstable North 17.19a ~ 17.24d 17.09 ~ 17.23
Leighton Buzzard 17.39a ~ 17.46d ?
Bletchley 17.59a ~ 18.00d ?
Weedon 18.40a ~ 18.45d 18.40 ~ ??.??
Braunston 19.03a ~ 19.08d ??.?? ~ 19.08
Leamington Spa Avenue 19.34a ~ 19.36d ?
Berkswell 19.56a ~ 19.58d 19.56 ~ 19.58
Birmingham New Street 20.20a 20.20


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