NE-SW TRAINS

In reply to the letters from Anthony Mallon and Graham Bell in TRACTION 264 and 268 regarding NE/SW summer Saturday trains in 1973-1975, I would like to add the following information. I have the public timetables for those years and the normal route from York was via Church Fenton, Burton Salmon, Pontefract Baghill (where most of the trains stopped), Moorthorpe, Swinton and Rotherham Masborough, then Sheffield. They did not pass Altofts Junction or Normanton as these places were on the route from Burton Salmon to Wakefield Kirkgate. Other routes taken were as follows:

1973: 18:20 FO Newcastle - Penzance - Durham, New St, Gloucester Eastgate

21:20 FO Newcastle - Newquay - Hartlepool, Camp Hill, Gloucester avoiding line

09:07 SO Newcastle - Paignton - Durham, Camp Hill, Gloucester avoiding line

09:00 SO Paignton - Newcastle - Gloucester avoiding line, Camp hill, Durham

10:05 SO Newquay - Newcastle - Gloucester avoiding line, Camp Hill, Hartlepool

1974: 18:22 FO Newcastle - Penzance - Durham, New St

21:20 FO Newcastle - Newquay - Hartlepool, Camp Hill

09:08 SO Newcastle - Paignton - Durham, Camp Hill

09:00 SO Paignton - Newcastle - Camp Hill, Durham

10:05 SO Newquay - Newcastle - Camp Hill, Hartlepool (All trains via Gloucester avoiding line)

1975: 21:00 FO Newcastle - Newquay - Hartlepool, Camp Hill

22:10 FO Newcastle - Paignton - Durham, Camp Hill

09:11 SO Newcastle - Paignton - Durham, Camp Hill

11:58 SO Newcastle - Paignton - Durham, New St

09:00 SO Paignton - Newcastle - Camp Hill, Durham

10:05 SO Newquay - Newcastle - Camp Hill, Hartlepool (All trains via Gloucester avoiding line)

I would also like to correct an error in Graham’s letter in which he states that ‘The Newquay – Newcastle train was through Billingham at 17:10’. It was actually booked at Billingham at 20:23 (1973), 20:22 (1974 and 20:26 (1975)! The only trains stopping there between 17:00 and 17:30 were a Middlesbrough to Newcastle local and a Darlington to Newcastle local.