25th April 1964

R.C.T.S. (West Riding Branch)
The North Yorkshireman Rail Tour

Locos Used 61435, 44790, 67646, 42639, 60855

Route : 1Z02 throughout

Loco(s) Route
61435 Leeds City - Horsforth - Arthington - Weeton - Pannal - Harrogate
44790 Harrogate - Starbeck - Knaresborough - Copgrove - Boroughbridge - Boroughbridge Goods (3)
44790 (4) Boroughbridge Goods - Boroughbridge
44790 Boroughbridge - Copgrove - Knaresborough - Starbeck
61435 Starbeck - Ripley - Ripon - Pickhill - Northallerton (5) - Castle Hills Inner Jn - Ainderby - Bedale - Redmire - Aysgarth - Hawes (6)
61435 Hawes - (reverse of outward route) - Castle Hills Inner Jn
67646 + 42639 Castle Hills Inner Jn - Castle Hills Jn - Eryholme - Darlington - Darlington North Road - Winston - Barnard Castle - Tees Valley Jn - Middleton-in-Teesdale
67646 + 42639 Middleton-in-Teesdale - (reverse of outward route) - Darlington
60855 Darlington - (via ECML) - York - Church Fenton - Micklefield - Leeds City

Notes:
(1) This was a most adventurous tour to a number of far flung ex-North Eastern branch lines. Passenger services had been gone from Boroughbridge since September 1950, the service from Northallerton to Hawes had last run in April 1954 and Darlington would send its last passenger service to Middleton-in-Teesdale on November 30th 1964. This would be the last passenger train to visit Hawes. This tour suffered from a multitude of minor problems, including unrealistic scheduling, leading to pathing problems, slow running due to indifferent track condition and plenty of Yorkshire rain.
(2) Dave Groves comments : Many of the problems seem to have arisen from the late strengthening of the train (from 5 to 6 coaches?) without adequate thought. Whilst the engine changes may have been on the tight side, there was adequate timing on the dubious sections.
(3) Engine unable to run round at the Goods and had difficulty in reversing train back to Boroughbridge to do so (poor rail conditions, sharp curve adverse gradient).
(4) Loco propelling.
(5) Dave Groves comments : I recall we had to shunt to bay for engine change to clear Main Line.
(6) Train was too long for the loop and had to be split for run-round.

Sources : David Hills (compiled from contemporary reports) & Dave Groves

Photo Review


61435 leaving Leeds City (believed old platform 4) (photo: Paul Barrett)


44790 at Boroughbridge (photo: The Bob Mitchell Collection)


67646 & 42639 at Middleton-in-Teesdale (photo: Mike Morant Collection)

 
From The John Debens Ticket Collection.


Timings (Booked Only)
(from
Dave Groves, Roy Lambeth & John Debens)

M.C Location Booked
0.00 Leeds City South 08.38d
9.22 Arthington 08/55
18.21 Harrogate 09L06a ~ 09L16d
22.09 Knaresborough 09/26
25.55 Copgrove 09/44
29.26 Boroughbridge Goods 10.02a ~ 10.17d
36.43 Knaresborough 10/56
38.20 Starbeck 11L01a ~ 11L09d
49.25 Ripon 11/28
63.07 Northallerton 11L45a ~ 11L53d
66.03 Anderley 12/05
80.51 Leyburn 12/47
88.02 Aysgarth 13.06a ~ 13.16d
97.00 Hawes 13.40a ~ 14.06d
113.29 Leyburn 14.40a ~ 14.48d
125.03 Leeming Bar 15/18
130.48 Castle Hill Jn 15L33a ~ 15L43d
143.79 Darlington 16/00
155.04 Winston 16/26
160.56 Barnard Castle 16.38a ~ 16.48d
169.40 Middleton-in-Teesdale 17.06a ~ 18.38d
178.24 Barnard Castle 18/58
183.76 Winston 19/09
195.01 Darlington 19L32a ~ 19L40d
209.16 Northallerton 19/57
239.11 York 20.33a ~ 20.35d
249.70 Church Fenton 20/50
264.55 Leeds City South 21.09a


Back to "The Railtour Files"