“DAYTRIP TO HONITON BEACH” 22/09/1991.
I arose early
(ie: before lunch!) on Sunday 22nd September 1991, trying to work
out why I’d set my alarm clock as work was not looming large on the horizon.
Then I remembered that I’d spent the previous day bashing Cromptons on the Mule
(33202 & 33103 in a pair, to be exact!) and we had figured out that the
08:15 Basingstoke to Paignton was a likely candidate to drop the following
morning.
So up with, if
not the larks, then last night stragglers coming home, for a DEMU from Reading
West to Basingstoke. I arrived at Basingstoke to be greeted by 4 other fellows, to-wit:
a well known shovel wielding Geordie from Bristol, a New Forest raised
Salisbury fitter, friend of all 50 bashers, who would always have a few words
to say to him when he removed their fine machines from trains, a fine chap from Duffield currently residing in Woking and well known for his Cannine impressions over the tannoy at that station whenever I was spotted loitering on the platform and finally a ginger
haired mess from Woking (I myself being notorious for my sobriety and smart
attire).
“Five men stout
and true” if ever there were.
Why so few, you
ask? All other “Crompton bashers” were making their way to Victoria for 33050
& 33051 on the BRCW Type 3 Group trips (for Brighton Depot Open Day) to Brighton. Not a
service train, you say! Quite so! (But not a bad back-up move!)
It soon became
apparent that the move was top, the empties from Eastleigh duly arriving with
33114 at the helm. Celebrations were the order of the day, much patting of
backs and other scenes of fellowship and good cheer followed ie : we boarded
the train.
Our Geordie
companion was soon opening his bag to reveal….. what? A map of required track
for Crompton's on service train! Surely one with such an accumulation of moves
and mileage could put his hand on heart and say, “I’ve had a Crompton to
Paignton”? Not so, he said, “but today’s the bloody day Mon!”
We departed
Basingstoke with the loco emitting large volumes of thrash, billowing clag and
copious amounts of traction motor whine. Bodies in train 5, heads in train 0.
Down to Worting Jn on the first leg of our journey, then off under the up main
line flyover (where I personally always tried to bellow) and we stormed toward
Salisbury. The Hampshire countryside sped by and we soon rolled into Andover,
home of another of our brethren (he supports the wrong footie team, saieth the
mess#).
The climb out of
Andover then afforded us another chance to savour the fine emissions of 114,
the train being so lightly scattered with normals that no protests arose from
any members of the fresh air police. A fine run
followed and then we reached Porton bank, which we descended with some aplomb
and gratifying speed. We rolled down to Laverstock North Jn, with the usual
timely application of brakes, then through Salisbury tunnel and out towards the
infamous Signal SY43.
Many pints have
passed under the bridge since then, dear reader, and I for one cannot remember
the colour of that fine peg on the day in question!
We approached
Salisbury with only a little apprehension, our friend the fitter already
possessing info that we were allocated through to Paignton on TOPS (that
antiquated computer system…..which is still with us today!). The man with the
gloves was NOT present as we rolled in, so with little or no delay we departed
Central City. The weather was set fair, blue sky and sunshine were predominant,
so a nice day “beside the seaside” was on the cards!
There could be
little so relaxing as a Sunday morning trip down to Exeter, especially safe in
the knowledge that the loco wasn’t going to get ripped on arrival, so we
settled down and enjoyed. On departure from Axminster we regained our window
positions, once again the statistics read:
Bodies in train
5, heads in train 0!
We got a good
run down to the bottom of Honiton bank (no speed restrictions in those days),
and the climb up to the summit began in earnest, the thrash gaining volume and
the speed diminishing as we went.
It was at this point, that there came upon my
shoulder a tap, which in the circumstances I ignored. There then came another
and though annoyed, I got the old head back inside the train – the gripper
again, surely he knew of our validity (frog wise!). Then he said, “we are going
to terminate at Honiton”. Umm, err, consternation on my part – “how so, my good
man?” I asked. So he replied “All the BR technicians & S&T men,
couldn’t put Exeter St.Davids together again! ” Overrunning engineering works!!
How to break the
news to the others? I knew three of them would comprehend this startling
development but what about our Geordie friend – there was only one thing for
it, once I’d persuaded him to get his head back in the coach, I got the guard
to repeat his message.“What do you mean Mon, I’ve got my map with me and I
need the track!” was the reply. So as we passed the summit, we were all feeling
withered!
On arrival at
Honiton, the train duly terminated so we got off and took a few phots, then
milled about in a disorganised fashion whilst the loco was run round. The
traincrew were good enough to tell us that
a) No buses to
take the public to Exeter & b) No buses to bring punters up from Exeter to
Honiton.
B.R. were trying
to rustle some coaches up, but no joy yet!
The train was
going to form the first Exeter – Waterloo once the normals arrived, so at least
a run up to the Capitol awaited us. In the meantime we went for a wander around
Honiton “beach” to see if any food or drink could be attained, but a Sunday morning
in the U.K. only offered us a paper shop, so we meandered back to the station
to see if any buses had arrived. No.
The traincrew
had arrived from Exeter in a taxi to relieve the men who had brought the train
down from Salisbury, so we wandered up to the front of the loco to tell the
driver that the engine was cleared to run at 85mph (as most 33’s were 60mph at
the time) and he replied “ I take it that’s the minimum speed you want me to
go!”
We had a natter and found that he was a link two man who’d moved down from
Sheffield and was rather more keen than the usual link one Exeter “Gnome” to
which we were more accustomed! A few photo’s followed including several of four of us perched atop the loco, all taken by Duffield.
The “normals”
eventually arrived on a few ramshackle coaches, so we departed to the wondrous
sound of Crompton
thrash once more. We had a good run down Honiton bank, followed by a very good
run up to Salisbury. As I’ve already said, all the other Crompton bashers were
en-route to Brighton so no one else joined us at Central City, or for that
matter on our way up to Waterloo.
On arrival at
Waterloo we were able to take a well-earned break, we partook of the
hospitality of the Hole in the Wall tavern.
NOT the Hole in the Wall and NOT taken in 1991. Booger & Duffield both with far less hair than back in the day. Apologies for showing someone actually in a Pub!
33114 was then
working back down to Exeter on the 16.55 departure, a train on which we were
joined by all the hardy souls who had leapt back from Brighton for a quick
“fill-in” trip to Basingstoke. They were
somewhat non-plussed as to how 114 could possibly have ended up in London - but
that didn’t stop them adding a bit of mileage for the old book!
They bailed at
Bas, along with Duffield, to return to London for 33116 on an addl service from Victoria via Horsham back to Eastleigh, with we four hanging out bellowing at them all whilst the loco piled it on. I
myself maintained my position until we left the mainline, as was my wont. The
scenery and thrash combined for an excellent trip down the “Mule”, two of our party bailed at Salisbury, to return to the New Forest & Bristol respectively, myself and Mess ventured ever onward!
As ever when
cranks are gathered together, spinning began! We were not going to get to
Exeter in time for the last Up train, but what if said departure was hauled by
a member of the now sadly withdrawn “Hoover” class? On arrival at Gillingham we
enquired of the local sage – Kenny, platform staff
/shunter/ticket-office clerk combined – as to how he saw the evening
developing. He said the 50 due to work the last Up had been out all week, he
felt there was more chance of it doing the last ECS to Laira than the last Up,
so our engine should run-round and come back to Basingstoke. This was just the
news we were waiting to hear!
It didn’t stop
us spinning though. To bail or not to bail, that was the question! In the end, we
were both too scared of the Rancid Log than of not getting to work the next
day, so we stayed with 114. It was at this point that a well-known 47 basher
from Newton Abbot (Neil Dodd) appeared at the business end of the train and made his views
felt. “ Log on the Up, NB 47 on the last ECS to Laira which I’m on, Crompton to
the fuel point”. He was a popular chap at this point but we decided to stick
with “King Kenny’s” gen.
There was still
no sign of the Up so as we pulled into Exeter Central our 47 bashing chum hung
out the window and shouted to the platform bert “Where’s the Up mate?” and the
reply came “You’re on it!” Excellent!
Down the hill to
St.Davids, where there was no time to fuel 114, as they wanted to do a set swap
for the return. Eastleigh had failed to top 114 up overnight, so she was
perilously low on juice. Whilst this was going on, Mess ran to the Red Cow for
a 4 pint carry-out of Ale and I legged it to the Chinese for fodder. This
helped keep our energy up during the return run!
The Salisbury
man at the helm decided the best way to conserve fuel was to get back to
Central City (Salisbury) as quickly as possible i.e.: thrash the engine to death all the
way! A novel concept for fuel preservation but we weren’t complaining! A great
run back ensued, 114 performed well and only started coughing outside
Salisbury.
So elated and knackered
we bailed into a DEMU, which was provided to complete our journey to Basingstoke.
Todays Moves:
33114 Basingstoke - Honiton 0815 Basingstoke - Paignton 106m 79ch
33114 Honiton - London Waterloo 0928 Exeter St.Davids - London Waterloo 154m 60ch
33114 London Waterloo - Exeter St.Davids 1655 London Waterloo - Exeter St.Davids 172m 12ch
33114 Exeter St.Davids - Salisbury 2035 Exeter St.Davids - Basingstoke 88m 49ch
DEMU Salisbury - Basingstoke 2035 Exeter St.Davids - Basingstoke 35m 62ch
522 miles on one
Crompton on a Sunday!
I leave you
here, dear reader, cast your mind back to those heady days when you could go
out and “bash” your favourite class of BRCW loco.
Article written
by Poodle.
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ReplyDeleteGreat stuff mate and top mangle for a Sunday
ReplyDelete