From the Front Coach
It’s been a long time coming, and for the first time in nearly 45 years, a BR blue Class 52 Western should return to the main line hauling a passenger train on September 25. The Diesel Traction Group’s D1015 Western Champion is due to haul Pathfinder Tours’ ‘Champion Torbay Express’ from Gloucester to Kingswear and back. The trains starts at Eastleigh hauled by a GB Railfreight Class 66 and runs via Reading West, Swindon and the Golden Valley route via Stroud where the ‘shed’ gives way to D1015 which will have run light from its base at nearby Kidderminster.
But aside from the livery – which D1015 was painted into in 2018/19 for the first time in nearly 40 years, this will be the first time a ‘52’ has worked on the main line since December 2016 when D1015 suffered a major engine failure. The failure was caused when a small piece of steel mesh, which had been shaken loose from its original spot weld, was picked up resulting in a small hole being punched through one of the inspection doors, resulting in loss of oil pressure.
This kept the locomotive out of the main line limelight and then the pandemic has further delayed its return. During its period out of use, it was also repainted.
Since D1015 returned to main line in February 2002 – nearly 20 years ago – it spent its first five years in golden ochre livery – unique to D1015 – and was then repainted into British Railways maroon in 2007, later having full yellow ends applied.
But for many, who only remember the 52s in their final few years by which time all 74 were painted in BR blue, this is the livery that most people have waited to see. D1015 has small yellow warning panels; a feature only seen on D1017/30/36/37/43/47/57 from the late 1960s in BR days.
The outward journey of the trip the Devon coast is routed via Highbridge, Taunton, Exeter and along the famous Dawlish Sea wall before arriving in the Torbay area for an afternoon visit to either Torquay, Paignton or Kingswear. The return journey between Taunton and Bristol will be via Bruton, Trowbridge and Bath for some added variety.
A birthday special!
A special birthday charter for ROG employee Alan Spencer has been planned for October 2 hauled by a ROG a Class 37 (37510 requested) and a Class 57/3 in top-and-tail model
The train starts at Derby and the requested route is via Kingsbury Junction to the freight terminal at Hams Hall (subject to on the day requirements), then on via the Sutton Park line to Walsall and the Dudley Turnback Siding for a reversal.
It then continues via Walsall, Sutton Park, Camp Hill, Bromsgrove and Cheltenham Spa to Gloucester for an hour break.
The return is via Cheltenham (High Street Loop), Worcester Through Siding, the Lickey
Incline, Water Orton, Leicester, Toton Centre, Barrow Hill, Sheffield and then back to Derby. The Class 37 will lead from Derby in the morning, and from Gloucester on the return. Tickets cost £110 (child fare £65) and the train is all First Class seating. Catering will be available onboard.
ROG shuttles for Barrow Hill
Rail Operations Group is partnering with the Barrow Hill Roundhouse to provide a shuttle service to the 2021 Rail Ale Festival on September 10/11.
The morning departure will travel via Sheffield and the ‘Old Road’ to Barrow Hill [provisionally] hauled by 37510 on the Friday and 37800 on the Saturday subject to their availability on the day. A Class 57 will be at the rear for train supply.
The train leaves Derby on Friday at 10:48, 14:03 and 17:00, picking up at Chesterfield, and arrives at Barrow Hill at 12:17, 15:02 and 17:45. They return from Barrow Hill at 12:53, 15:53 and 21:04, arriving back at Derby at 13:52, 16:55 and 22:00
On the Saturday there are two trains, both from Derby, at 11:48 and 15:18 – arriving at Barrow Hill at 13:15 and 16:35 and returning at 13:54 and 21:44, arriving back at Derby at 14:50 and 22:10
You can pay to travel on each train only or to also have access to Barrow Hill. The former is £30 and the latter £36, or from Chesterfield the prices are £25 or £31.
Bookings can be made via Retro Railtours, via www.retrorailtours.co.uk and for further information about the Real Ale Festival, please visit www.railalefestival.com
Retro returns…!
Retro Railtours has, like so many promoters, been forced to shelve its main line charter activities for over a year, but is planning to return to the fold on August 28 with its ‘Retro Cumbrian Coaster II’ special using Rail Operations Group Class 37s.
The train starts at Chesterfield and runs via the Hope Valley, Stockport, Reddish South, Huddersfield, Brighouse, Blackburn and Preston and then heads to Ravenglass, Whitehaven and Workington.
The Standard Class fares are £79 or £59 for children. At present, First Class is sold out, but it is hoped to add an extra coach to add more capacity in this class.
…and so does Hastings Diesels!
Hastings Diesels Limited has announced its first post-lockdown charter for August 7 with the ‘Sussex & Kent Explorer’; its first railtour for 18 months.
In view of the effects of the pandemic, the group has planned a local excursion which avoids passengers being inside the train for very long periods of time.
The train will start and finish at Eastbourne, and the six-coach Class 201 DEMU will operate four separate journeys between Eastbourne/hastings and Tonbridge.
The intention is that passengers from further afield can join the train at Tonbridge. However, passengers are welcome to travel for certain sections of the tour, or for the whole day.
At both Tonbridge and Hastings, the train will be withdrawn from service and shunted to sidings for servicing/cleaning.
The trains starts at Eastbourne at 09:29 and calls at Bexhill and St Leonards Warrior Square before arriving at Hastings at 1011, It then runs to Tonbridge via Robertsbridge, Etchingham and Tunbridge Wells, it returns to Hastings, back to Tonbridge and finally to Eastbourne
Fares at £25 single or £35 return (£30 single, £40 return from Eastbourne) while all day travel is £50 and there is a Motor Coach Supplement to any fare.
For more details, please e-mail bookings@hastingsdiesels.co.uk or phone 07942 906311.
BLS raises £60,000 for charity
A series of four charters promoted by the Branch Line Society over the weekend of July 2-5 raised over £60,000 for its chosen charity Martin House Hospice, but the trains were not without many challenges, including failures, a derailment and crew issues. Operated by DB Cargo and using the Scottish Railway Preservation Society’s Mk 1 coaches, the ‘Europort Explorer’ set of from Edinburgh with 66044/053 top-and-tailing via the Glasgow Sou’ Western route. At Carlisle, DRS’S 37419 Carl Haviland and 37423 Spirit of the Lakes were added to pilot 66044 but sadly 37419 failed en route and had to be dumped at Kirby Thore. The train visited Wakefield Europort but was still several hours late arriving at York. Saturday’s train, the ‘Sinfin Syphons’ started at York with 37422 Victorious and 37423 top-and-tailing the 11-coaches. However, due to the late arrival the night before, and the need for the DBC driver to have sufficient rest, on arrival at Retford the train could not take the direct line as booked to Sheffield due to route knowledge of the relief driver so the solution was to reach Sheffield via Doncaster. The train continued to visit the new East Midlands Gateway railhead, the Marks & Spencer Distribution Depot at Castle Donnington, the Sinfin branch, Chaddesden, Stanton Gate and Toton depot, with 60065 added to pilot for a ¼ of a mile at the latter. The train returned via Pinxton and the South Yorkshire Joint line.
Sunday’s train, the ‘Cromford and High Peak Explorer’, was in real doubt of running at one stage as on the Saturday night, one coach in the empty train derailed due to track spreading at Holgate Sidings. Luckily it was just one coach bogie that came off the rails, and both locomotives remained on the track, so after an hour’s late start the train was able it run with 10 coaches and 37422/423 still top-and-tailing. This trip visited the Penistone to Huddersfield line, then was diverted to run via Standedge instead of Hebden Bridge to claw back some time. It then went to Rose Hill Marple, Glossop and Hadfield, before heading to Crewe Basford Hall Yard.
Freightliner’s 70011/019 were added to pilot the 37 from Heaton Norris Junction to Crewe. 37423 then led the train into the DB Cargo depot at Crewe and 37422 was piloted by 90039 on the return to Crewe.
On the final leg home, 37423 developed a relay fault, but the train was diverted to Manchester Piccadilly to reverse. 37422 duly led over the Hope Valley but it too failed at Earles and 66066 Geoff Spencer was sent from Peak Forest to rescue the train, which by was now three hours late, although by omitting a visit to Attercliffe sidings it had clawed some time back and it was just 1¾ hours late into York.
On the Monday it was decided not to risk either 37, so 66041/066 top-and-tailed to Carlisle via a visit to Hartlepool Docks. 66137 replaced 66066 at Carlisle for the final run back to Falkirk Grahamston.