1st December 1979

Lea Valley Railway Club
The St Mungo & Son of Mungo

Locos Used 40065 & 86223
Stock Used 16191+25597+25584+24884+16122+35069+1500+3132
EMU's Used 303041 & 303051

Route : 1Z80 throughout (St Mungo)

Loco Route
86223 London Euston - (via WCML, Weedon & Nuneaton) - Motherwell - Mossend Yard
40065 Mossend Yard - Coatbridge Central - Gartsherrie Jn - Gartcosh Jn - Springburn - Cowlairs - Anniesland - Hyndland - Partick Hill - Glasgow Queen Street LL - Bellgrove - Airdrie - Westcraigs - Bathgate Upper - Newbridge Jn - Haymarket West Jn - Craiglockhart Jn - Niddrie West Jn - Portobello Jn - Craigentinny - Lochend Jn - Edinburgh Suburban - Haymarket - Dalmeny - Inverkeithing - Burntisland - Kirkcaldy - Thornton South Jn - Thornton West Jn - Townhill Jn - Kincardine Jn - Alloa - Cambus - Stirling - Larbert Jn - Greenhill Lower Jn - Garnqueen Jn - Coatbridge Central - Mossend Yard
86223 Mossend Yard - (reverse of outward route) - London Euston

Route : (1) 2Z80 throughout (Son of Mungo)

EMU Route
as listed Motherwell - Glasgow Central LL - Finnieston East Jn - Partick Hill

Notes :
(1) LASERman comments the tour itinerary stated the headcode as 2Z90 (but maybe a typing error?).

Sources : David Hills & LASerman (both on train throughout), Clive Barlow &
Alan Osborn (on main train plus Son of Mungo)

Tour Review
(from David Hills)

The reason for this long distance, mid-winter cruise around the Central Lowlands of Scotland has long since been erased from the memory, but for whatever reason we rode this thing from beginning to end and survived to report the details. Have slogged across London from Sydenham we were greeted by the ever warm and friendly Euston station, descending down the ramp to the catacomb like platforms and their attendant silent electric locomotives, at this early hour only members of Classes 86 & 87 were present. Having checked out our motive power, 86223, it was a welcoming sight to note 25051 over on the parcels platforms and to enjoy that unmistakable sound of its idling Sulzer six cylinder engine. With a journey encompassing most of the WCML ahead of us there was certainly a great variety to look forward to. Naturally The Class 25's were prominent at first, Willesden had 25099 & 25190, Bletchley: 25250 & 25314, Wolverton was host to 37231, more electrics at Rugby and an ex-works 08067 at Nuneaton! Crewe was its usual self, highlights were 24081, 47711 & 87001.

North of Crewe the first members of the Class 40 went 'in the book' with 40133/166/180 at Springs Branch. The northern fells presented no problem this day for 86223 with an on-time arrival at Carlisle where 40069 & 46041 were in the station. Kingmoor was filled with numerous delights including 25146/149, 26008, 40011, 40105/119. Across the border the Beattock bankers were 20011 & 20137, definitely not needed by us this day. Carstairs included 20113 & 83013, but it was at Motherwell/Mossend where the true Scottish flavour was encountered with 20138/149, 27002/024/042, 37056 amongst many others. At Mossend our Class 86 was removed in favour of 40065 for the jaunt around the lowlands. A failing memory (or lack of sleep) has blurred the exact route of this trip, but in the Glasgow area a good many Class 08's and electric multiple units were noted. Taking the southerly route across to Edinburgh allowed time for a lunch break, arriving via the suburban loop we found four Class 08's and 47712 at Waverley. A speedy roll by of Haymarket included 25026/035, 26046, 40165/168 before we turned north for a trip over the Forth Bridge. Not much on British Railways can overshadow the bulk of a Class 40, however with the Forth Bridge it was no contest.

Rolling around the countryside of Kinross & Fife there seemed to be a lack of locomotives, or was it getting dark? 20111 & 20206 were noted at Thornton and 20117 & 47469 at Stirling. Now pointing south it was back to Mossend, saying farewell to 40065, with 86223 standing by to wend its weary way south with a trainload of dozing travellers. By now well and truly dark little was noted as our Class 86 like a true thoroughbred soon had us rattling & rolling southward. Carlisle had 40181 & 47539, Shap disappeared into the night, Preston was very quiet with only 85026 observed. Crewe was its usual bustling self, with the passengers mostly gone for the day its was now left to the postal staff to fill the station with activity. Mostly there were electrics, but 25152 & 25185 were seen & heard. With the approach of the sandman and back on very familiar territory, we fell asleep, and as we had left Euston many hours earlier, so we found it full of electrics and a solitary 25326 on parcels duty.

David Hills

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Clive Barlow, Alan Osborn & LASERman)

Location Booked Actual   Booked Actual
Euston 07.15d 07.15   23.39a 00.26
Willesden Junction 07/21½ 07/21½   23/32 00/18
Watford Junction 07.31a ~ 07.32d 07.31 ~ 07.33   23.12a ~ 23.14d 00.07 ~ 00.09
Tring 07/43½ 07/43   23/02 23/52
Bletchley 07/54 07/54   22/52½ 23/33
Hanslope Jn 08/01 08/00½   22/46½ ?
Weedon 08/10 08/09½   22/38½ ?
Rugby 08/21 08/19   22.27a ~ 22.29d 22.59 ~ 23.00
Nuneaton 08/31½ 08/29   22/13½ 22/48
Tamworth 08/40½ 08/39   22/05½ 22/40
Lichfield 08/45 08/43   22/01½ 22/36
Armitage 08/48½ 08/46½   21/57½ ?
Colwich 08/52½ 08/50   21/54 ?
Milford 08/54 08/52   ? ?
Stafford 09/00½ 08/56   21/49 22/23
Norton Bridge 09/04½ 09/00   21/45½ 22/20
Madeley 09/12 09/11½   21/39 ?
Crewe 09.21a ~ 09.23d 09.21 ~ 09.23   21.29½a ~ 21.31d 22.03 ~ 22.05
Coal Yard SB 09/25½ 09/25   21/27 22/00
Winsford 09/31 09/30   21/19 21/55½
Weaver Jn 09/38½ 09/41   21/14½ 21/50½
Acton Grange Jn 09/40 09/44½   21/11 21/47
Warrington Bank Quay 09/41½ 09/46   21/09½ 21/45½
Winwick Jn 09/44 09/48½   21/07½ 21/43½
Springs Branch Jn 09/49½ 09/53½   21/02½ ?
Wigan North Western 09/50½ 09/55   21/01½2 21/38
Balshaw Lane Jn 09/58½ 10/00½   20/56½ ?
Euxton Jn 10/00 10/03   20/55 21/31
Preston 10/07½ 10/11   20/50½ 21/28
Lancaster 10/23½ 10/30   20/33½ 21/11
Carnforth 10/28 10/37   20/29½ 21/07
Oxenholme 10/37 10/47   20/21½ 20/58
Tebay 10/47½ 10/56½   20/12 ?
Penrith 11/02 11/10½   19/58 20/33
Carlisle 11.20a ~ 11.22d 11.25 ~ 11.27   19.41a ~ 19.43d 20.18 ~ 20.20
Gretna Jn 11/30 ?   19/33½ 20/07½
Quintinshill 11/31½ ?   19/32 ?
Lockerbie 11/42½ 11/47   19/18 19/57½
Beattock 11/52 11/56½   19/08½ 19/48½
Beattock Summit 12/00½ 12/07   19/02 19/39½
Abington 12/06½ 12/13   18/56 19/33½
Carstairs 12/16½ 12.28 ~ 12.30   18/45 19/23
Lanark Jn 12/18 12/34   18/43 19/21
Law Jn 12/27½ 12/54½   18/36 19/15
Shieldmuir 12/30½ 12/58  
Motherwell 12.33a ~ 12.34d 13.01 ~ 13.02½  
Holytown Jn   18/31 19/08
Mossend East Jn   18/29½ 19/06½
Mossend South Jn 12/39 13/07  
Mossend North Jn 12/41 13/08   18/28 19/05
Mossend Yard 12L43a ~ 12L53d 13.09 ~ 13.19½   18L16 ~ 18L26 18.55 ~ 19.03½
Coatbridge Jn 12/57 13/26½   18/12 18/50
Gartsherrie Jn 12/59 13/28½   18/10 18/48

 

Location Booked Actual
Gartcosh Jn 13/01 13/31½
Sighthill Jn 13/09 13/41½
Cowlairs Box 13.11a ~ 13.21d 13/44
Maryhill Park 13/24 13/49½
Hyndland 13/27 ?
Partick Hill 13.30a ~ 13.31d 14.04 ~ 14.05
Queen Street LL 13/38 14/10
Bellgrove 13/41 14/16
Shettleston 13/45 14/23
Coatbridge S/S 13/57 14/34
Airdrie 14/01 14/39
Westcraigs 14/19 14/53
Bathgate Upper 14/28 15/02
Newbridge Jn 14/56 15/18½
Haymarket West Jn 15/07 15/29
Craiglockhart Jn 15/12 15/31½
Niddrie West Jn 15/22 15/43
Portobello Jn 15/25 15/46
Craigentinny 15/29 15/49½
Lochend Jn 15/33 15/52
Edinburgh Suburban 15p39a ~ 15p49d 15.58 ~ 16.05
Haymarket 15/52½ 16/09
Dalmeny 16/01 16/19
Inverkeithing 16/06 16/24
Burntisland 16/15½ 16/34
Kirkcaldy 16/24 16/46
Thornton South Jn 16/31 16/55
Thornton West Jn 16/34 16/57
Townhill Jn 16/53 17/20
Oakley 17/06 17/34
Kincardine Jn 17/22 17/47
Alloa 17/27 17/51
Cambus 17/32 17/56
Stirling 17/42 18/08
Larbert Jn 17/52 18/24
Carmuirs West Jn 17/53 18/25
Greenhill Lower Jn 17/56 18/27½
Garnqueen Jn 18/06 18/46

Son of Mungo

Location Booked Actual
Motherwell 12.37½d 13.10
Finnieston East Jn 13/01 ?
Partick Hill 13.03a 13.47

Timings continue in first table.

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