MRE

Had many years experience working the Cambridge Buffet trains. Headcode was 1B66 in both directions, non-buffet Cambridge fast trains also used 1B66, 2B66 was used for Cambridge stopping trains. During the 1970s all Buffets were booked a 31 except the 11.30 KX-Cambridge and return which was rostered a 47. Occasionally a loco on a test trip (normally with FP fitters on board) could be used and I have been on trains with 40, 46, and 55 on test runs. The Deltic was not really suitable for the Buffet trains, only had it for one test trip. Very rarely a 37 would appear, with Cambridge crew as KX drivers were not loco trained in the 1970s. Station stops in the 1970s were WGC, Stevenage, Hitchin, Royston, Cambridge, extra stops were added in the final days Finsbury Park and Letchworth IIRC. Running time KX-Cambridge was 90 minutes, 30 minute turnaround at Cambridge where the secondman had to uncouple and run round the train then couple up again, this was rare for KX secondmen as the only other places we had to do it was north of York, except in case of emergency such as a failure on the road. A complete round trip for KX crews was 3 1/2hours and there was one diagram with 2 trips, the 'Double Cambridge' which worked ex KX 11.30, ex Cambridge 13.30, ex KX 15.30, ex Cambridge 17.30, a long diagram but in those days was worth some mileage payment. The train did have a Gresley buffet in the 1970s, not sure exactly when it was made redundant, it could have lasted until the EMU service began but can't confirm as by that time I had moved up.