Six Bells Junction

Loco(s)	Route
80079	Llandudno Junction - North Llanrwst - Betws-y-Coed - just after MP 18½ (near Pont-y-Pant, stalled) (2)
80079	set back to ???
80079	??? - MP 19 (near Pont-y-Pant, stalled) (2)
80079 (1)	MP19 - Blaenau Festiniog

Loco(s)	Route
80079 + 80098	Blaenau Festiniog - Betws-y-Coed - North Llanrwst - Llandudno Junction
80079 + 80098	Llandudno Junction - Chester - Crewe
86426	Crewe - (via Trent Valley) - Rugby - (WCML via Weedon) - London Euston

Notes:
(1) 80098 on rear.
(2) Terry Jackson comments: the train split at Llandudno Junction with 80079 taking the first portion and 80098 taking the second portion. 80079 stalled near Pont-y-Pant. 80098 left its train down the line and assisted 80079 to Blaenau with the first portion. Both engines then returned for the second portion which they took to Blaenau. Finally the two engines took the combined train from Blaenau back to Llandudno Junction. Mike Harries adds: As to the slipping, I noted that we were starting to slip at MP 18¼ (at about 13:40); and that we slipped to a stand just after MP 18½ (these refer to what I could see from my position in the third coach of the train). We set back, and tried again; the loco apparently got through Pant Tunnel, but I did not see MP 19¼. We then set back so that no-one was in the tunnel, and called for assistance. This would have been about 14:20. We were told that 80098 left its train in the loop at North Llanrwst; it reached us at 15:23. We were on our way very soon; I believe that this is the first time that a steam train was assisted in the rear by another steam loco on the main line in the preservation era. Both locos watered at Blaenau Ffestiniog, then departed about 16:15 to fetch Train 2, which had arrived by 17:35 (when I returned from Tan y Bwlch on the Festiniog Railway). 80079 was coaled, then while 80098 was coaled 80079 shunted the stock and took water. Finally 80098 ran round and took water before the entire train set off double headed.

Sources : Terry Jackson (joined/left train at Watford Junction) & Mike Harries

Timing's (Booked & Actual)
(from Terry Jackson & Mike Harries)

Miles	Location	Booked (out)	Booked (rtn)	Miles
0.0	Euston	07.10d	23.25a	158.0
1.5	Camden Jn	07/17	23/17	156.5
5.3	Willesden West London Jn	07/20	23/14	152.7
11.4	Harrow & Wealdstone	07/25	23/10	146.6
17.4	Watford Junction	07.30a ~ 07.33d	22.52a ~ 22.54d	140.6
31.7	Tring	07/48	22/43	126.3
46.6	Bletchley	08/01	22/33	111.4
49.8	Milton Keynes Central	08.04a ~ 08.07d	22.26a ~ 22.29d	108.2
56.6	Hanslope Jn	08/13	22/21	101.4
65.8	Northampton	08/28
75.5	Long Buckby	08/38
	Weedon		22/13	89.9
84.8	Rugby	08.53a ~ 08.56d	22.00a ~ 22.03d	75.5
99.4	Nuneaton	09.08a ~ 09.11d	21.42a ~ 21.45d	60.9
112.4	Tamworth	09/21	21/33	47.9
118.6	Lichfield Trent Valley	09.26a ~ 09.30d	21.23a ~ 21.37d	41.7
129.4	Colwich	09/38	21/19	30.9
135.8	Stafford	09.44a ~ 09.47d	21.05a ~ 21.09d	24.5
141.2	Norton Bridge	09/50	21/01	19.1
152.2	Madeley	10/03	20/52	8.1
160.3 0.0	Crewe	10L13a ~ 10L33d	20L21a ~ 20L44d	0.0 65.7
1.5	Crewe Steel Works	10/37	20/15	64.2
10.8	Beeston Castle & TSB	10/49	20/05	54.9
21.1	Chester	11w05a ~ 11w35d	19w17a ~ 19w49d	44.6
23.0	Saltney Jn	11/40	19/08	42.7
31.6	Rockliffe Hall	11/48	19/00	36.1
37.9	Holywell Jn	11/56	18/53	27.8
51.1	Rhyl	12/11	18/38	14.6
61.6	Colwyn Bay	12/22	18/26	4.1
65.7	Llandudno Junction	12w32a	17w28a ~ 17w48d	0.0 27.5

Miles	Location	Booked	Actual
0.0	Llandudno Junction	13.05d	13.03
11.1	North Llanrwst	13/28	13/25
?	Betws-y-Coed	?	13/33
?	MP18	?	13/39
?	MP18¾	?	13.55 ~ 14.15
?	wait for assistance	?	14.20 ~ 15.23
?	MP19½	?	15/25
27.5	Blaenau Ffestiniog	14w16a	15.46

Locos Used	80079, 80098 & 86426
Stock Used	included 99041

Loco(s)	Route
80098	Llandudno Junction - North Llanrwst (2)
80079 + 80098	North Llanrwst - Betws-y-Coed - Blaenau Festiniog