jonny777 Posted June 6, 2019 Share Posted June 6, 2019 I have searched for this subject and found no obvious self contained thread, and so I thought I would start one. It may overlap with other threads, but I think it would be nice to reminisce about society tours from decades ago; and maybe add extra detail to that which can be found on the excellent SixBellsJunction (SBJ) site. (I'm hoping that photos posted here will actually be in the possession of the person who posted them - rather than just having endless links to other peoples' Flickr/Smugmug sites.) So, let me start the ball rolling. On 2nd May 1994 two rail tours were run on the same day as the Exeter Railfair event. These were 'The Big E' from Paddington by Hertfordshire Railtours, and 'The Torbay Exe-Cursioner' from York by Pathfinder Tours. Although the Big E is only listed on SBJ as running to Exeter, it must have continued west to Paignton where locos were exchanged between each tour, as the following photos illustrate. The Big E had 20131 and 20118 as motive power from Paddington, and is seen here approaching Teignmouth. The Torbay Exe-Cursioner had 37796 37799 and 37896 on the front, and once again are seen along the sea wall near Teignmouth. Having swapped motive power, The Big E returned to Paddington behind the 37s which are seen here at Teignmouth. Interestingly, the headboard has yet to be attached, which may indicate that the official start of the tour's return journey was indeed at Exeter St Davids. 14 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonny777 Posted June 6, 2019 Author Share Posted June 6, 2019 Going back 30 years from the above; on the 27th June 1964, the West Glamogan Railway Society and The Monmouthshire Railway Society combined to run a rail tour named 'The Leek'. This ran from Cardiff General to Cardiff Riverside via Machen, Pontypridd, Llantrisant, Cowbridge, Bridgend and Rhoose. Motive power was Collett 0-6-2T 56xx class, no 6614. Here the train is ready for departure at Cardiff The tour is next seen at Machen. Negotiating the curve at Tonteg Junction. Running round at Llantrisant. Taking water, also believed to be at Llanrisant. At the end of the line (with some rather 'narrow' gauge track work) at Cowbridge. Another water stop at Llantwit Major. Final destination, Cardiff Riverside. 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonny777 Posted June 6, 2019 Author Share Posted June 6, 2019 (I posted these photos on Facebook previously). Another 10 years earlier, and not exactly a rail 'tour'; but on the 20th September 1953 a special was run from Kings Cross to Doncaster for the Doncaster Works Centenary celebrations. The locos were two GNR Atlantics, nos 251 and 990 'Henry Oakley'. Two views of the train at Kings Cross. Astop for water was made at Peterborough. 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rugd1022 Posted June 6, 2019 Share Posted June 6, 2019 Great idea for a thread - apologies for the awful scans but I thought I'd post these (again) from the 'Yorkshire Pudden' railtour I was on back on 4th April 1983, a mish mash of traction from Plymouth to Yorkshire and back featuring a 50 on the first leg to Bristol (which I can't find my photos of) a pair of 33s from there to Derby, a pair of 25s from there to somewhere in Yorkshire where 40 068 took over for the final leg into Bradford Exchange... it was a bit of a marathon weekend for me and my mate, we finished our secondman turns at Stonebridge Park the day before, made our way down to Plymouth on a HST, kipped in the waiting room there until the following morning, did the tour up to Yorkshire and back down to Devon intending to bail out at Exeter rather than go all the way back to Plymouth, but we fell asleep and woke up at Newton Abbot, all these years later I have no recollection of how we got back up to London... 12 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
D1059 Posted June 7, 2019 Share Posted June 7, 2019 One of the most memorable railtour sights I shot May 8th 1982 - 40 084 and 40 057 pass through the centre road at Oxford with 1Z78 the York - London Paddington Cotswold Venturer railtour. I have never seen more immaculately prepared locos on a railtour before or since. Bulled Up to the Max by Stephen Dance, on Flickr 14 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pharrc20 Posted June 7, 2019 Share Posted June 7, 2019 I went out last Saturday to watch the UKRailtours The Curvey Weaver arrive in to Oakleigh Sidings at Northwich. Sadly all but two lines have been lifted and even these haven't been used since Winnington works stopped taking in limestone from Tunstead. Anyway 66078 and 66083 did the honours top 'n tailing a rake of Mk.1s seen here from the footbridge. Not much to see these days just bushes and trees see my photo. The tour travelled up from Euston to Garston via Arpley, Ditton and Liverpool South Parkway station then to Garston. Then off to Chester via reopened Halton curve round the triangle at Chester. Then to Oakleigh then to Crewe via Middlewich branch then back to Euston. Cheers Paul 12 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonny777 Posted June 7, 2019 Author Share Posted June 7, 2019 (edited) Excellent stuff folks. There are so many memories with railtours, but they sometimes appear to be 'Cinderellas' compared to regular workings. I am trying to dig out more of mine, but I haven't been on any for ages. This was taken from a tour train, rather than of it. 76001 has just detached from the Great Central Wanderer tour of 8th April 1978, and is about to be replaced by 37205 which for some people was such a rare loco for haulage at that time, that they were almost in tears. The tour ran from Marylebone to Sheffield, out by Crewe, Sandbach and Norwich for Godley and the Woodhead route; and back to Godley via the Hope Valley and back to Marylebone via Stoke and Birmingham. Edited June 7, 2019 by jonny777 16 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trev52A Posted June 8, 2019 Share Posted June 8, 2019 The most memorable tour I was on was the LCGB's 'The Mendip Merchantman Rail Tour' from Waterloo on 1st January 1966. This featured six different steam locos, a journey over the entire surviving Somerset & Dorset Railway line (including the Highbridge branch), a loco failure which meant were were 90 minutes late at one point and an enforced stop by an angry signalman as he protested about the impending closure of the line. What a day! A beautifully-cleaned 35011 at Bournemouth on the outward journey 35011 at Stalbridge on the S&D on its way to Templecombe, where 41307 and 41283 took over 41307 and 41283 during another photostop at Glastonbury. These two worked the train as far as Highbridge, where 92243 replaced them The 9F at Bristol. Shortly after leaving here the loco was in trouble and ground to a halt. We were assisted uphill by D864 which pushed from the rear. Eventually we stopped again and the fireman shouted to a signalman 'Oi caant get no vaccum' (I've tried to spell that phonetically!). (I since found out that the loco suffered a fallen brick arch.) Rescue came in the form of 48760 which had been waiting at Bath as part of the next leg of the tour, which dragged the special to Bath Green Park. By this time it was dark and no further photos were taken. 48760 and sister 8F 48309 then double-headed the train to Templecombe, being stopped en route at Binegar by the signalman in protest, A chap in the next window to me who had been tape recording the journey actually shouted 'Could you say that again please, I wasn't ready'!! The Merchant Navy took over again at Templecombe, eventually reaching London about 75 minutes down. Brochure signed by the crew of 35011 on the final leg Happy days! Trevor 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rugd1022 Posted June 8, 2019 Share Posted June 8, 2019 On 07/06/2019 at 13:11, jonny777 said: Excellent stuff folks. There are so many memories with railtours, but they sometimes appear to be 'Cinderellas' compared to regular workings. I am trying to dig out more of mine, but I haven't been on any for ages. This was taken from a tour train, rather than of it. 76001 has just detached from the Great Central Wanderer tour of 8th April 1978, and is about to be replaced by 37205 which for some people was such a rare loco for haulage at that time, that they were almost in tears. The tour ran from Marylebone to Sheffield, out by Crewe, Sandbach and Norwich for Godley and the Woodhead route; and back to Godley via the Hope Valley and back to Marylebone via Stoke and Birmingham. The 'rare loco' thing was massive amongst bashers of a certain persuasion back then when BR still had about three and a half thousand locos on its books. The likes of 37 205 doesn't sound 'rare' now, but for our lot living under the wires of the WCML anything off region was pounced on and the word spread around if possible. I remember one afternoon in late '82 when 37 217 turned up at Rugby on the daily Toton - Bilton Cement Works coal tripper, much frothing on platform 2 ensued while it ran round and departed north again with the empties, looking positively exotic. This was brought home to me yesterday when walking down past Crewe Diesel Depot towards Basford Hall Yard, on the shed were a 37 and a pair of 20s all in BR 'banger' blue, quite a sight these days amongst all the franchised liveries we have now. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonny777 Posted June 8, 2019 Author Share Posted June 8, 2019 I was never too worried about haulage, but rare track was much more exciting for me. I remember a returning Merrymaker from Edinburgh one dark Saturday evening in the mid-70s. We were nearing York, so I made a point of looking out of the window to see if there was anything of note in the station. We trundled along slowly for what seemed to be a long time, and then suddenly I saw the curved roof of York station in the distance to the right. The realisation dawned on me that we had been routed over the goods avoiding lines between Severus and Holgate Junctions. I was beside myself with excitement - but when I told my mates none of them believed me. Apparently no passenger trains ever went that way. I'm sure I would have noticed the platforms and station lights had we actually passed through the station. York avoiding line, at least in the up direction, is still one of my most treasured routes. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonny777 Posted June 8, 2019 Author Share Posted June 8, 2019 3 hours ago, Trev52A said: The most memorable tour I was on was the LCGB's 'The Mendip Merchantman Rail Tour' from Waterloo on 1st January 1966. This featured six different steam locos, a journey over the entire surviving Somerset & Dorset Railway line (including the Highbridge branch), a loco failure which meant were were 90 minutes late at one point and an enforced stop by an angry signalman as he protested about the impending closure of the line. What a day! <snip> Happy days! Trevor That is brilliant Trevor. You did well to get good enough conditions for those photos in the middle of winter. Also in 1966, but later in the year on September 3rd, the LCGB ran the Great Central rail tour from Waterloo to Sheffield with a Merchant Navy through to Nottingham Victoria. The loco chosen was 35030 'Elder Dempster Lines' and here it is seen at Rugby Central (according to the slide mount), although I am not totally convinced as the train was not booked to stop there, and it does not look to be moving at any speed. 35030 was replaced by 61173 and 61131 at Nottingham, and this pair are seen at the head of the train about to depart from Victoria station. Sadly, I don't have a photo of E26021 which took the train from Wath to Sheffield Victoria via Penistone. 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rugd1022 Posted June 8, 2019 Share Posted June 8, 2019 It's definitely Rugby Central Jonny, 35030 is on the down main / northbound line. Rather a lovely photo by the way! 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted June 8, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 8, 2019 3 hours ago, Rugd1022 said: The 'rare loco' thing was massive amongst bashers of a certain persuasion back then when BR still had about three and a half thousand locos on its books. The likes of 37 205 doesn't sound 'rare' now, but for our lot living under the wires of the WCML anything off region was pounced on and the word spread around if possible. I remember one afternoon in late '82 when 37 217 turned up at Rugby on the daily Toton - Bilton Cement Works coal tripper, much frothing on platform 2 ensued while it ran round and departed north again with the empties, looking positively exotic. This was brought home to me yesterday when walking down past Crewe Diesel Depot towards Basford Hall Yard, on the shed were a 37 and a pair of 20s all in BR 'banger' blue, quite a sight these days amongst all the franchised liveries we have now. The ill-fated first GW150 steam special to Plymouth produced a smashing example of haulage freaks. As we removed the 'Manor' at Exeter with its hotbox two young chaps came up and asked if we were going to put the pair of 37s on the trains - duly going into a state of ecstasy when I said we were. They then asked if they could get on the train for the 37 haulage to Plymouth so directed them to the WR Fares Officer who happened to be travelling with us and he duly 'calculated' a suitably expensive fare on the spot and relieved each of them of something in the region of £25 so they could stand up all the way from Exeter to Plymouth - which they seemed to regard as Christmas come very early. Those two were the happiest punters of the day. 5 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianusa Posted June 8, 2019 Share Posted June 8, 2019 Were there ever days like this? Days when some steam engines were still around and you could actually ride behind them hanging out the windows. Or wander around the tracks or up on signals and nobody cared. Sometimes the locos and stock were clean and presentable, other not so as seen in the prior pictures. All before the dreaded H & S and its implications were ever dreamed of. How many enthusiasts or spotters were harmed then in spite of not having all the present day safeguards that that government agency dreams up. Most of us seem to have survived! 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Ian Smeeton Posted June 8, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted June 8, 2019 The ones that didn't don't seem to be posting much! Regards Ian 4 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Simon Lee Posted June 8, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted June 8, 2019 1 hour ago, Ian Smeeton said: The ones that didn't don't seem to be posting much! Regards Ian Especially the one from the steam tour over the Britannia bridge in 1989 ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonny777 Posted June 9, 2019 Author Share Posted June 9, 2019 A pretty damp 12th December 1993, and 59002+56054 arrive at Salisbury with the 'Southern Mariner' from Temple Meads. This tour visited Worthing, Brighton and Newhaven and had 8 different locos for haulage during its trip around southern England. It even had 09026 towing it into Brighton station, with the (then) train engine 60053 on the rear. 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonny777 Posted June 9, 2019 Author Share Posted June 9, 2019 Also in 1993, but later in the year on July 17th, the "d.c. Green Flasher" ran from Derby to Waterloo via Birmingham, Bristol Parkway and Eastleigh. Birmingham to Eastleigh was courtesy of 56005, and newly restored E5001 took over for the run to London. 73139+73141 had charge of the train as it ran from Waterloo to Waterloo via Staines, Virginia Water and Chertsey. The pair are seen here at Waterloo after their round trip. E5001 then took the train back to Southampton. (Here seen ready to depart Waterloo). And having arrived at Southampton. Where 56005 was waiting to take the tour back to Derby. 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trev52A Posted June 9, 2019 Share Posted June 9, 2019 On Saturday 9th September 1967 Gainsborough Model Railway Society ran a special from Kings Cross to Newcastle, with 7029 Clun Castle working the train from Peterborough. This date coincided with the last day of normal steam workings in North East England. Due to clearance problems in Newcastle Central Station the 'Castle' was barred from the platforms and the final stretch was headed by K1 No 62005, which took over from 7029 on the King Edward Bridge over the Tyne (as far as my memory goes, although the Six Bells Junction site claims the changeover was at King Edward Bridge Junction in Gateshead.) Incidentally another train ran the next day, with 7029 able to start in Newcastle for the run south - presumably the restrictions did not apply as the loco only had to back on to the coaches at the end of the platform and did not have to negotiate the severe curves in the middle of the station. Here's a shot of 62005 restarting the train for the last few hundred yards into Newcastle on the northbound train And here's a modern shot at the same spot: 60103 and 61306 head the York - Edinburgh section of the Steam Dreams tour on 9th May 2019 Cheers Trevor 10 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
eastwestdivide Posted June 9, 2019 Share Posted June 9, 2019 The Southern's Hastings units got to a surprising number of places. I''m sure I've posted some of these before, but never all in one place... 14/1/84 the Kentish Katabasis on the Chatham Dockyard branch: 5/1/85 the Cymru DEMU up various Cardiff valleys - I was on board this one: 1985, an SEG tour 1006+1310, again to Chatham Dockyard, and at Cuxton: Early 1986 the Long Thin Drag - I was on this one too, a long day out from London to Carlisle: and finally in 1986, the Farewell Hastings DEMU with a wreath at Sonning Cutting: 15 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Pilotman Posted June 9, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 9, 2019 The Cymru DEMU and The Long Thin Drag are two of my favourite railtour names. Genius! 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonny777 Posted October 6, 2019 Author Share Posted October 6, 2019 (edited) Here is 4472 on her first rail tour after preservation. 20th of April 1963 sees the loco at Ruabon with the first leg of the Ffestiniog Railway Special from Paddington which ran via High Wycombe, Snow Hill, and Shrewsbury. 7827 and 7819 took over for the rest of the journey to Minffordd. My collection, photographer unknown. Edited October 6, 2019 by jonny777 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold phil_sutters Posted October 6, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 6, 2019 (edited) On 08/06/2019 at 14:13, Trev52A said: Brochure signed by the crew of 35011 on the final leg Happy days! Trevor Here we are at the Highbridge stop. and the RCTS special on 6.3.1966 Edited October 6, 2019 by phil_sutters 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold phil_sutters Posted October 6, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 6, 2019 On 06/06/2019 at 12:05, jonny777 said: (I posted these photos on Facebook previously). Another 10 years earlier, and not exactly a rail 'tour'; but on the 20th September 1953 a special was run from Kings Cross to Doncaster for the Doncaster Works Centenary celebrations. The locos were two GNR Atlantics, nos 251 and 990 'Henry Oakley'. Two views of the train at Kings Cross. Astop for water was made at Peterborough. Michael Brown's photo of former GNR 4-4-2s 990 & 521 climbing out of Leeds- 20.9.1953 I don't know my father's connection with Michael Brown, but this and a photo of A3 60074 Harvester are in the back of his 1957 - 61 album along with others by a number of photographers. Michael Brown obviously has Yorkshire connections at this time, when we had just moved to Somerset from Ripon, so I guess that they were railway enthusiasts who continued a correspondence after we moved. If Mr.Brown or the current copyright holders of these two excellent photos have any objection to me sharing them publicly, I shall remove them. My email address is in my profile. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium rab Posted October 6, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 6, 2019 On 08/06/2019 at 23:29, Simon Lee said: Especially the one from the steam tour over the Britannia bridge in 1989 ? For those of us not in the know, do please enlarge! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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