anroar53

Some of the better known ones were :- Down 1S49 Leeds to Glasgow 1S64 St. Pancras to Edinburgh 1S68 St. Pancras to Glasgow 1S67 St. Pancras to Glasgow (Saturdays Only) 1S20 St. Pancras to Glasgow (Fridays Only) 1S24 St. Pancras to Glasgow 1S22 St. Pancras to Edinburgh Up 1M98 Glasgow to St. Pancras 1M82 Edinburgh to St. Pancras 1M85 Glasgow to St. Pancras (Saturdays Only) 1M86 Glasgow to St. Pancras 1M88 Edinburgh to St. Pancras 1M91 Edinburgh to St. Pancras Andy.

There were still two each way operating between St. Pancras and Manchester in 1976 weekdays, although by 1980 the two each way were only operating on Sundays.

Ahh ! I see. You mean something more like this ? (What the finished article doesn't see )

20189 December 2013. Pink Undercoat before going into LT Red. 20901 St. Leonards 05.12.14 20901 St. Leonards 05.12.14 20901 the other end. 20901 St. Leonards 08.12.14 paired with 73107.

The 'short' Sleeper services were always an interesting operation. Particularly at Euston where it wasn't possible to leave Sleeping Cars on their respective workings in the platforms off all services until 'chucking out' time at 0730. The solution was to have the Sleeping Cars on the back of the Barrow, Holyhead, Liverpool and Manchester services. On arrival they would be shunted off, usually to platform 15, and made up into one train, which could then remain in the platform until all the occupants had gone after 0730. The remainder of the incoming trains 'day coaches' were despatched to Willesden after the Sleepers had been detached. This freed up the platforms for the long distance overnighters. The return Manchester and Liverpool trains were worked back with the 'day coaches' combined and dividing at Stafford? The Sleeping Cars were likewise combined and left in the early hours to divide at Stafford (something tells me this was done at Crewe for a time?). The Barrow and Holyhead return workings went back with the mixture of 'day' and Sleeper coaches. Andy.

Just as a bit of light relief perhaps the Croxley Link might have helped Wrong era too Andy.

Just a bit of a heads up. My layout will be featuring in the next issue (240-October) of Model Rail magazine. Should be out around 15 September. Just finished a quick look at the proof article and it gives a fairly balanced overview with what could be fitted in over five pages. Andy.

05.05.06 47355. SERCO train visits St. Leonards 05.05.06 47355. 73205 and 66721 in the background 05.05.06 47145 05.05.06 47145 47145 takes the SERCO train into the Shed 47355 bringing up the rear

Cricklewood 06.04.68 D5401 D134 and D125.

07.12.04. 67003 becomes the first 67 to visit St. Leonards Unfortunately the other end 67s number escapes me for now 67003 bringing up the rear on the Serco train on its departure. The 67s only briefly became visitors along the coast, when their services were required elsewhere the 47/37/73s took over.

Due to service frequency it was more likely that a failed DEMU would be assisted by one of its own kind rather than a loco. It was also easier to have through control when reversing direction than having to run round at certain places. From about 1990 a spare DEMU could sometimes be found sitting in the old 'Crane Roads' at Hastings and would be the preferred weapon of choice if another DEMU got into trouble. If you wanted Loco assistance you would have to get it from Tonbridge or Ashford Depots, as Hastings crews were not trained on locos anymore, also making a DEMU to assist DEMU more likely. Unfortunately the spare unit became a scarce commodity as time went on, especially when 'Route branding' came along and 'Oxted Line' branded units were only on extreme circumstances allowed to venture onto 'Marshlink' duties. An assisting move showing three kinds of DEMU types in use. 207017 had failed at Eastbourne, and is seen being propelled by a 202 + 205 Power car combo. Although 207017 was 'failed' it was still possible to drive from the leading cab. The sometimes seldom recorded combinations. In this case 205205 sets out on its last journey from its onetime home depot. Hauled by 33202, 73204, and 73206. The 73s were part of the consist to return them to Tonbridge with 33202 providing the power on its own. To save running round at Hastings the convoy made the run via Ashford, fittingly giving 205205 its last run across the Marshes. Farewell 205205.

During one 'Leaf Fall Season' it was decided to add a 33/2 to the front of the first 'up' train (0540 Hastings-Charing Cross). However it turned out even more time was lost, with the 0555 Hastings to Tonbridge catching it up, and Loco Assistance was dispensed with thereafter. Another experiment was running a 33 in front of the first Hastings to Ashford service 'dropping' sand in places (before Sandite trains came along), this fell out of favour after a little too much sand was dropped on one occasion, and the next train 'disappeared' off the Track Circuiting! Sometime after this plastic containers of sand with a nozzle started to appear in brake vans so the Guard could get out and sprinkle under the wheels 'as required'.

33206 assisting DEMU 1013 into Hastings c.1983. If one end had shut down Loco assistance was usually added. In this case the leading Power Car had shut down between Charing Cross and Tonbridge. 33206 had been added at Tonbridge. This picture was hastily snapped from the old Parcels Bridge that ran between the old station building and platforms 1&2. The Power Cars had a set of Extension Air Pipes in the Brake van to connect between the High Level DEMU Pipes and the Low Level Loco connections. These incidents were not frequent but did happen, mainly in the summer months due to overheating. The only other incident that comes to mind was when 205012 suffered a seized Axle at Snailham between Winchelsea and Doleham (sometime around 1989-91), and was assisted by another Unit eventually. Not exactly a failure, as this was at St. Leonards moving 205014 which wasn't in running order. Andy.

16.11.09 Colas Convoy Ashford to St. Leonards. 'Don't see a 47 for ages, then five turn up!' 16.11.09 47769 'Resolve' 16.11.09 47727 'Rebecca', 47805 'Talisman' 16.11.09 47739 'Robin of Templecombe' 16.11.09 Green on Green 47812/D1916 47812/D1916 10.11.09. The previous week at Ashford Loco Sidings

04.11.08 Bo-Peep Junction, West St. Leonards 31190/D5613 04.11.08 Passing St. Leonards 31190/D5613 propelling. 04.11.08 Heading east. 24.04.09. Number unrecorded. St. Leonards

73202 and 73201 14.06.10 73202 14.06.10 73202 08.10.13 About to undergo a repaint. 73202 28.10.13 Work underway 73202 12.11.13 Undercoat 73202 Painting the top coat 73202 05.12.13 73202 10.12.13 73202 10.12.13 73202 10.12.13

The 07s in green had them. (Don't know if they count though?)

Assisting the Police. Saturday 11.08.90 On a Saturday afternoon Sussex Police turned up at the Depot to ask if it was possible to search the local lineside for evidence in connection with a raid on a local Building Society the previous week. Fortunately the Carriage Washer Road ran the full length of the search area. A spare Unit was brought out, and with an extra four pair of eyes took the Police for a ride. Seen on the return the Sussex Police WDC clutches the successfully recovered dummy shotgun and evidence bag.

Sometime in 1989. 37s were rare visitors at this time. One example being trialled on the Galley Hill (Bexhill) Tanks, passing St. Leonards. In the distance the now demolished SR Concrete Footbridge in Bridgeway. Now replaced with a metal one. 13.11.08 37606. 37s suddenly became commonplace in this part of the world. 14.01.10 37610 Making part of a 73 sandwich after arrival at St. Leonards.

Would agree about Mill Hill Broadway, with the gloomy approach under the M1. It used to be my local station long ago. How it used to look in the early 1960s The new subway had just been opened, and you can just make out the old subway under the canopy with a closed sign at the top of the stairs. The Signal Box beyond the bridge and the semaphores would soon be gone. The station didn't really get the chance to fall into decay, being officially flattened long before it happened. Still remember the coal fire in the Waiting Room seen here on Platforms 2 & 3. Apart from the passing trains it was fairly peaceful, now a constant din of traffic on the adjacent Motorway.

02.07.10 73212 with 73141. After GBRfs short spell in First Group several economy alterations were made to the 73 'First' Livery. In this case the red stripe removed from the white band, making 73212 instantly recognisable at a distance. 04.07.12 73212, white stripe completely removed pending authorisation of a full repaint. 73212 from the other side 04.07.12 31.07.13 73212 being stripped down for a full repaint 14.08.13 73213 follows 73212 in being prepared for painting 27.08.13 73212 repainted into traditional GBRf colours 29.08.13 73212 has its 'Fiona' nameplates fitted 29.08.13 73213 finished and named 'Rhodalyn' coupled with 73212. Both Locos were taken to Victoria for the official naming ceremony. 30.08.13 73213 from the other side.

Found in amongst some of my old boxes of stuff which might be of interest? From Supplement 3 to the General Appendix dated June 1978. It shows the early 'double lens' type.

The timetables I have only go back as far as Sheffield/Leeds, going south of there it ran via Derby, Leicester, Bedford, Hendon, Acton Wells, Clapham Junction, East Croydon and Lewes. It would only be a guess that on the first bit of its journey it ran via Mossend, Lockerbie, Carlisle and over the Settle & Carlisle to Leeds? That's just a guess mind you. I'm still looking for that picture taken at Southerham Junction Lewes to see if I can make anything out of the consist of the train, haven't found it yet! Andy.

Unfortunately I couldn't find that working, but in one of my Midland Line timetables of 1967 (earliest I have) is a 1O81 2010 Stirling to Newhaven Harbour Motorail service which has the 'single spade' symbol in it. That would make the Mark 1 CCT eligible for inclusion at that time. I have seen a black and white photo of this working at Lewes with a '45' on the front, but the consist was not clear enough to make out.

Looking at BR Working Timetables can give a clue. In the early-mid 1960s a 'spade' symbol started to appear at the top of the train column. This meant 'Not to convey 4-wheel vehicles with a wheelbase of less than 15 feet'. Howevever this changed at the beginning of the 1970s when the 'spade' symbol was amended to 'Not to convey 4-wheel vehicles with a wheelbase of less than 18 feet'. At the same time a 'double spade' symbol appeared which stated 'Not to convey 4 or 6 wheel vehicles'. In the mid 1970s 4 wheel vehicles continued to be allowed in passenger formations as long as they fell into the 'single spade' category. One famous example being the Aberystwyth to York working. There are a number of other examples but would take to long to list.