RMweb Premium Blobrick Posted January 18, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 18, 2015 I wonder if anyone can help? I am looking at ECML workings around 1966 between Edinburgh and Newcastle. Gateshead had an allocation of class 46 locos for mainly working the NE/SW traffic, and l understand that these locos occasionally worked north to Edinburgh as well. However l have been looking to see if any class 45 locos possibly worked between these two point in the same period. I know class 45s were seen at Haymarket for working south over the Waverley route, so could they have worked through to Newcastle as well? I have trawled the internet and visited many of the usual site including David Hay's Photo site and Derby Sulzer's site to name but a few, so far l ve not found any photographic evidence, although the Derby sulzur site hints that some Gateshead 45s may have worked north , although its not clear if so and when. Do any RMweb members know different? I suspect the main limiting issue could have been train crew traction knowledge over the route? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenw Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 It would seem possible. Though Gateshead didn't have 45s, their peaks being all the 46 type as far as I know, they did train on both types as 45s worked through on the NE/SW trains, and as you note, Haymarket also handled that type off the Waverley route, so wouldn't appear to be a traction knowledge problem, as long as the same Haymarket men knew both the Waverley and ECML routes. It would also be possible for a Gateshead crew to work a return trip with the same loco, can recall at least one turn (late70s / early 80s) actually booked to do this. A more limiting factor could perhaps be the LMR wanting 'their' 45 back! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
45125 Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 It would seem possible. Though Gateshead didn't have 45s, their peaks being all the 46 type as far as I know, they did train on both types as 45s worked through on the NE/SW trains, and as you note, Haymarket also handled that type off the Waverley route, so wouldn't appear to be a traction knowledge problem, as long as the same Haymarket men knew both the Waverley and ECML routes. It would also be possible for a Gateshead crew to work a return trip with the same loco, can recall at least one turn (late70s / early 80s) actually booked to do this. A more limiting factor could perhaps be the LMR wanting 'their' 45 back! More than likely that it would be a superior Peak from Holbeck......... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenw Posted January 22, 2015 Share Posted January 22, 2015 The LMR were very possessive of 'their' engines. There was a Gateshead turn working a freightliner from Darlington to Carlisle, and then back light engine. It was booked for a LMR 45 which was then booked to return on a Liverpool express next morning. The LM control would almost invariably 'nick' the engine off you at Carlisle,, at about 3 in the morning leaving you to wait of the first passenger back... they weren't going to have 'their' engine going back to the ER light.... this often left the Gateshead running foreman scratching his head as to what to put on the Liverpool The Gateshead foremen then started to substitute one of their own locos which was a 'stopper' on this turn when possible... so it had to come back for repair. The situation was solved by the Penmanshiel diversion, when the train was then able to be routed mainline via Edinburgh for Glasgow Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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