The Rhins & Machars Crompton (17th) - 18th May 2002

Over 5 years since our last tour (the Robin Reliant of 15/02/1997), I was rather hoping to hang up my hat where 33111 Charters were concerned - other people in our Class 33/1 Preservation Society had other plans! 

I agreed to look into the planning & timing side of things but passed the advertising/bookings & seating plan operations over to Dave Fry (thanks Dave). 

We were taking the opportunity to use one of our own loco's (33108, on hire to Fragonset) on the tour which would feature a pair of class 33's from the Fragonset mainline pool with Riviera stock from Crewe CS. As I had been involved in the Epic that was the "Skirl o'the Bagpipes" in 1995 which took Crompton's North of the Border for the first time, we would take the chance to turn left at Gretna Jn & bash all new track for class 33's all time!

To achieve this end an overnight start was required to give us the time we needed once in the South West of Scotland, so not wanting to leave anyone behind (& to get enough Punters for the train to run) we planned to run South to Birmingham International via Rugeley, Cannock (as new track for Crompton) & Stechford, returning with pick ups at New St, Wolves, Stafford & Crewe (again). 

We would run via the WCML to Wigan then via Blackburn, Clitheroe & Hellifield for a trip over the S&C to Carlisle.

Oh yes & an additional pick-up was then requested at Dent (yes - Dent!) more on that later!

Then we would run via Dumfries & Annbank to Falkland Yard, attach a class 56 for a run to Stranraer for the Crompton's to then work all the way through to Glasgow Central.

Our main break would be in Glasgow & at a sociable time for lunch/beer etc.

Then a blast down the WCML with the two 33's, over Beattock & Shap, before dropping off at stations through to New St & finally back up to Crewe. A nice little 28 hour trip! 

I timed the train & no real problems came to light, however the line from Ayr to Stranraer didn't open until 6am & due to issues with passing service trains on the single line sections we'd have to sit in Falkland Yard until approx. 06.30 to get a path. I got the Quail atlas out & found that the line to Largs (more winner track for 33's obviously) was open so I came up with a plan for the 2 Crompton's to work to Largs with the class 56 on the rear, this would then haul us down to Stranraer and we still made our intended path South.

A request was made to ask for Shields Junction via the non-passenger track round the back of Smithy Lye sidings on our way into Glasgow Central as several Tour Operators had previously requested this but had all been told NO! Time would tell on that one. 

As I was the Tour Manager (again) I shall hand you over to an excellent report of the day(s) events written by Gary Thornton, which you can find on his www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk top website.

Timings were interesting in that the train started at Crewe and called there again later on it's way after heading to Birmingham and back. A similar choice of leaving time was offered by the reverse move on the way south.
So it was that I found myself in Crewe late on the Friday afternoon, ready for 18.32, the first departure time. The 33's (021 "Eastleigh" and 108 "Vampire") were viewed in process of fuelling on the adjacent diesel depot. 

33021 & 33108 fuelling on Crewe DMD. Flickr photo used with courtesy of Gary Thornton (Six Bells Jn)

By the time they wended their way over to the carriage sidings it was looking likely that an on-time departure wasn't to be.
It wasn't! Crewe station was rather busy so the 33's had to wait it out for a path to scurry across the layout into platform 12 and then to run-round. 

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The ECS finally arrives on Platform 12. Flikr photo used with courtesy of Jon Piesing.

No matter, once the stock arrived I found a seat in a four-bay in coach L amongst our group. Three colleagues Stuart, Paul & Miggy were to be joining me at Birmingham International, Stafford and Crewe (second time round) respectively. Nice to find our coach was the leading one out of Crewe - OK that would put us at the rear for the run north (overnight, so at least quiet enough to let us get some kip) then at the front for the 56 which would haul the train from Largs to Stranraer.
We finally got away at 19.07 against the booked 18.32 - 33021 & 33108 made plenty of noise as we headed off southwards to Birmingham. The route was via Stafford and Rugeley then Cannock Chase, Bescot and Aston to Birmingham International. Our time keeping took a further knock at Hednesford as we got stuck behind a local train - all too soon we'd achieved "Railtour Standard Time" (RST) i.e. an hour late!
Various exchanges of phone calls and text messages helped keep those yet to join abreast of our progress, or rather, lack of! After a much enjoyed thrash we finally arrived into International station at 21.29, 63 minutes late. The run-round managed to take longer than planned so we departed yet a few more minutes late! Never mind, it was a long night and day ahead of us, plenty of time for things to improve, deteriorate, improve etc.
About New Street Stuart I received a text message from Miggy - he was taking orders for kebabs! Our requirements were duly texted back and we arrived at Crewe to be greeted by Miggy complete with our order - top marks that man!! A couple of beers, one kebab and another couple of beers later and I left the land of the awake around midnight, somewhere north of Wigan. By dawn tomorrow we should have travelled via the Settle & Carlisle and the Glasgow & South Western lines and be somewhere around Ayr.
My recollections of the dark hours were quite limited - but the best was waking as we pulled into Dent where we had a short stop booked to extend the Drivers hours & pick up 2 Desperadoes - this being at a little before 1am I hasten to add! In the event it was on the approaches to 2am (01:54 to be exact!). I wandered to a door for a look out, opened the window and discovered it was blowing somewhat of a gale outside! The fact punters actually joined the train at Dent too must make for one of the more unusual joining points for an enthusiast railtour! I'll bet they had a cold wait for us too!!

Editors note: the story of the Desperadoes was thus: It was Ian Kapur who requested the additional pick-up point, he & Maaate (Simon) thought a day taking in the delights of Dent, the Sun Inn in particular, would be a sociable replacement for the missed Crompton miles on the tour!

The Landlady of the Sun Inn gave them a lift at 00:15 the 4 miles to the station, where they found out we were an hour down (RST). The owner of station house had somehow found out they were coming  and had made the newly refurbed Down waiting room inviting for them. Not only that, she then saw them onto the train with a great big lamp!

Dent, England's highest station is 4 miles from anywhere... Flickr photo used with courtesy of Anthony Roberts.

I vaguely remember Carlisle, then I came too as we were getting close to Ayr, having travelled over the line through Annbank.  We were routed into the yard at Falkland where 56106 was duly appended to the back end of our train. 

56106 about to attach to the stock in Falkland Yard. Flickr photo used with courtesy of Gary Thornton.

Being as it wasn't required for a while yet the driver shut down the engine. We carried on northwards towards Glasgow, but turning off to take the "commuter" branch to Largs. A nice move that as I required that side of the triangle onto the Largs line.

2 of the Class 33/1 Preservation Society members enjoy the thrash from 33021 & 33108 en route to Largs! Flickr photo used with courtesy of Steve Thorpe (Duffield)

Being at the back of the train we never actually saw Largs station, the train being much too long for the platforms. It was now around 6.30am and things got a bit louder again for us as 56106 chugged into life and proceeded to cover Largs in a cloud of white exhaust as we set off again.

I should point out at this stage that the grid was my second required loco on this tour, 33108 being the other. It should also be commented that both 33's had performed well to this point - a surprise to some I suspect, but probably not to those involved in their restoration and return to mainline use. I have to admit those of us in coach L had organised a sweepstake based on predicting when each of the 33's might fail...many of us having lost our money already!

We retraced our steps towards Ayr, then continued southwards all the way to Stranraer Harbour. I pity anyone who missed the thrash along this stage of the tour - I spent most of it in the front vestibule with an ear at the window (me, hang out of a window...no, never...). Being a wet morning the many stops we had to endure for the single line working meant quite a bit of wheel-slip and careful driving was required. On the long climbing stretches the 56 really got going - though a strange heavy beat to the engine led some to comment they thought we had a steam loco up front!!

56106 at journeys end Stranraer. Photo from Gary Thornton's report on www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk

33021 & 33108 at Stranraer on the rear of the class 56 hauled leg from Largs. Flickr photo used with courtesy of Jon Piesing.

Although we were given time at Stranraer to photograph the locos, the location wasn't exactly one of the better ones. Some people used the opportunity to get off the train to walk up to the buffet car and get the days first beer in. We departed at 09.07 (I hasten to add, my first beer wasn't until sometime later, though not that much later!).

Another case of retracing our steps, as far as Falkland Yard where we detached 56106. A late arrival but a booked fester of almost one hour meant we actually departed "right time" - the first time on this tour that we'd not been late! Our Crompton thrash to Glasgow was such that an early arrival was secured, and that after a small diversion at Shields Junction over the non-passenger track round the back of Smithy Lye sidings - required track for quite a few on board I'd guess (including me).(Editors note: Mr Kapur (who requested the track) was indeed very happy!)

33108 & 33021 arrive at Glasgow Central on the leg from Stranraer. Flickr photo used with courtesy of Steve Wakefield.

On the blocks at Glasgow Central. Flickr photo used with courtesy of Jon Piesing.

We had about two and a half hours in Glasgow. Time for a fodder break (it was lunchtime by now!).

The Crompton's stabled inside Polmadie CS where the stock was serviced & watered. Flikr photo used with courtesy of TWR12 (JC).

The tour stock came back into the station behind 90016, a required loco for haulage for me. As I'd been told, the stock had been reversed by taking the train via Shields Road to Polmadie where it had been serviced. 

This was done to keep the 33's at the end where the share holders and hangers-on of 33111 Charters and The Class 33/1 Preservation Society were sat. A shame for those of us in the rear of the train - we'd have to wait until Birmingham New Street another 300-odd miles away before we'd get the Crompton's back on our end of the train. (Editors Note: sorry about the stock "Fix"!)

Worth giving credit to those (volunteers from said preservation society) who serviced the train - they did a much better job than those on many railtours I travel on, several blocked toilets for example having been unblocked and thoroughly cleaned during the layover at Polmadie. Other railtour operators please take note!!!

Ready to depart Glasgow Central. Flickr photo used with courtesy of Jon Piesing.

The run south was a simple one straight down (sorry, up) the West Coast Main Line. Carlisle brought the amusement of three railtours in the vicinity at the same time. We passed Deltic D9000 in the yards to the north, it was on a Carlisle to Cleethorpes railtour, then we arrived to see a steam-hauled tour just leaving. D9000 rolled in with the stock for the Cleethorpes tour then we followed the kettle tour out along the WCML.

All credit to the locos concerned (4936 "Kinlet Hall" and 4965 "Rood Aston Hall") as we never caught them up, nor seemed to be slowed for them much at any stage.

Our next bout of amusement was at Carnforth where we were pathed into the loop to allow a Virgin service past - the kettle-ex being already looped on the other side of the mainline to us. Some friendly banter was shouted across the gap between the trains. We departed first so quite a bit more banter was exchanged (though I didn't hear that much coming from the steam tour participants now I come to think of it) as we left them still sitting. (They were on a planned stop to water the two locos.)

A cheer went up as we passed through Wigan North Western - the infamous "spinning dog" was seen on the platform, doing exactly as it's name suggests!!
Despite having been on the train some 24 hours by now I was still quite perky so decided to "go the whole hog" and stay on for the run to Birmingham and back. On leaving Crewe I noticed the acceleration away was somewhat lack-lustre. It soon became evident why, 33021 had been shut down to affect a technical repair. All being well it was anticipated the loco would be restarted at Stafford.

It was (thanks JC). Acceleration away towards Wolverhampton was somewhat more swift than the attempt to escape from Crewe! Our routing to New Street was the "usual" railtour one after a Wolverhampton stop of going via Bescot, Aston and Proof House Junction. We pulled into New Street about on time. 

The tour pauses at Birmingham New Street. Flickr photo used with courtesy of Jon Piesing.

Here the Cromptons were booked to run round because engineering works were restricting our options. With no apparent activity to get them run-round we soon realised we were in fact heading homeward via Soho and Bescot. Bags were grabbed and we made for the other end of the train - after about 600 silent miles we wanted to hear some more thrash from the pair! Seats were available in the second coach and 33021/33108 performed well all the way back to Crewe - time saved by not having the run-round meant we were 15 early home too! We were though held at Bushbury Junction for a couple of minutes as a pair of Fragonset 31's passed us, hauling the already seen (and commented on) kettle-ex on it's way homeward.

Verdict : An excellent 28 hours out on the bash! Both 33's performed well and it was pleasing not to have to report one failing beyond repair on the day (33021's shutdown could best be described as a technical failure as, had it not been shut-down when it was, a failure was on the cards). 56106's performance was worth being "up front" for, just a shame maybe that those of us in L didn't get more time with the 33's at our end of the train.

Editor: on a personal note I had (after virtually no sleep all night) relinquished my duties as Tour Manager at Stranraer as planned (thankyou Mr Fry) and I WAS one of the people buying a pint before the 0907 departure! I kept a low profile and just enjoyed the Thrash (& Beers) for the rest of the trip.

Many thanks to Gary Thornton for the detailed report of the trip - Top man!

Thanks also, of course, to the many Volunteers from our Class 33/1 Preservation Society who manned the Buffet/Bar, ran the Raffle, checked tickets or just helped passengers with their enquiries throughout this epic journey.

PS: The stop at Dent was later immortalised in the Friends of Settle & Carlisle line magazine, saying that it was one of the engine's owners wanting to get on the tour at Dent having spent some time on holiday in the Dales! The article was framed & put up in the same Down waiting room for many years.

Timings (Booked and Actual)
(by Gary Thornton)

M.C	Location	Booked	Actual
0.00	Crewe	18.32d	19.07
1.64	Basford Hall Jn	18/38	19/11
8.06	Madeley	18/45	19/17
24.17	Stafford No.5	18/59	19/32
24.37	Stafford	19/02	19/33
30.72	Colwich	19/09	19/39
33.41	Rugeley North Jn	19/15	(19.44a) ~ 19.54d
33.58	Rugeley	19/20	19/55
35.28	Rugeley Town	19/24	19/59
39.18	Hednesford	19/33	20.30a ~ 20.44d
46.24	Bloxwich	19/45	20/54
48.30	Ryecroft Jn	19/51	21/00
49.00	Walsall	19/55	21/02
50.51	Pleck Jn	19/57	21/04
50.54	Bescot Stadium	20/00	21/06
55.11	Perry Barr North Jn	20/11	21/11
57.33	Aston	20/15	21/15
60.26	Stechford	20/21	21/22
64.59 0.00	Birmingham International	20.26a ~ 20.46d	21.29 ~ 21.52
4.33	Stechford	20/54	21/57
7.44	Proof House Jn	20/57	22/01
8.18	Birmingham New Street	20.59a ~ 21.13d	22.03 ~ 22.08
10.19	Soho South Jn	21/18	22/13
11.77	Galton Jn	21/20	22/16
15.42	Dudley Port	21/26	22/19
21.02	Wolverhampton	21.32a ~ 21.34d	22.25 ~ 22.28
21.45	Wolverhampton North Jn	21/37	22/29
22.56	Bushbury Jn	21/39	22/31
35.74	Stafford No.4	21/49	22/43
36.33	Stafford	21.50a ~ 21.51d	22.44 ~ 22.45
41.62	Norton Bridge	21/59	??/??
52.64	Madeley	22/08	??/??
60.70	Crewe	22.22a ~ 22.29d	23.12 ~ 23.17
61.48	Crewe Coal Yard Jn	22/32	(23.20)
68.31	Winsford SB	22/39	??/??
78.10	Weaver Jn	22/44	??/??
83.14	Acton Grange Jn	22/48	??/??
85.01	Warrington Bank Quay	22/50	23/42
95.32	Springs Branch Jn	23/01	??/??
96.61	Wigan North Western	23/02	23/57
104.32	Balshaw Lane Jn	23/09	zzz
106.35	Euxton Jn	23/11	zzz
109.11	Farrington Jn	23/13	zzz
110.08	Lostock Hall Jn	23/20	zzz
119.08	Blackburn	23/32	(00/45)
119.55	Daisyfield Jn	23/34	zzz
130.06	Clitheroe	23/53	zzz
143.34	Hellifield	00/12	zzz
146.59	Settle Jn	00/16	zzz
159.39	Ribblehead	00/34	zzz
160.58	Blea Moor	00/37	zzz
163.61	Dent	00*44a ~ 00*52d	01.54! ~ 01.56!
167.04	Garsdale	00/58	zzz
176.69	Kirkby Stephen	01/08	zzz
187.51	Appleby	01/19	zzz
195.04	Culgaith LC	01/28	zzz
210.04	Low House Crossing SB	01/43	zzz
217.41	Petteril Bridge Jn	01/53	zzz
217.60	Carlisle London Road Jn	01/54	(03/00)
218.33	Carlisle	01.57a ~ 02.52d	03.03 ~ 03.33
227.10	Gretna Jn	03/02	zzz
236.11	Annan	03/10	zzz
251.40	Dumfries	03/24	(04/06)
254.72	Holywood	03/29	zzz
265.45	Thornhill	03/39	zzz
280.72	Kirkconnel	03/55	zzz
288.28	New Cumnock	04/02	zzz
295.63	Auchinleck	04/09	zzz
300.21	Mauchline	04t16	04/54
306.78	Annbank	04/32	zzz
311.07	Newton Jn	04/41	05.17a ~ 05.19d
311.20	Falkland Yard	04L44a ~ 05L19d	05.24 ~ 05.37
313.15	Prestwick	05/23	05/46
316.43	Troon	05/26	05/49
317.58	Barassie Jn	05/28	05/51
321.39	Irvine	05/31	05/56
323.77	Byrehill Jn	05/34	05/59
324.57	Dubbs Jn	05/35	06/01
326.14	Stevenston	05/37	06/03
327.44	Saltcoats	05/39	06/04
329.27	Ardrossan South Beach	05/40	06/06
333.79	West Kilbride	05/46	06/11
336.70	Fairlie	05/50	06/15
339.76 0.00	Largs	05.55a ~ 06.00d	06.23 ~ 06.32
3.06	Fairlie	06/05	06/36
6.77	West Kilbride	06/09	06/41
11.49	Ardrossan South Beach	06/14	06/46
13.32	Saltcoats	06/15	06/47
14.62	Stevenston	06/17	06/48
15.19	Dubbs Jn	06/19	06/51
15.79	Byrehill Jn	06/20	06/53
18.37	Irvine	06/23	06/57
22.18	Barassie Jn	06/26	07/00
23.33	Troon	06/28	07/01
26.61	Prestwick	06/31	07/04
28.60	Newton on Ayr	06/33	07/07
30.06	Ayr	06/34	07/08
31.10	Dalrymple Jn	06/40	07/15
39.03	Maybole	06/46	??/??
43.33	Kilkerran	06x52a ~ 06x55d	07/27
51.32	Girvan	07t07	07.38a ~ 07.39d
63.52	Barrhill	07x32a ~ 07x44d	08/07
72.07	Glenwhilly	07t59	08/20
83.22	Dunragit	08t15	08/36
89.49 0.00	Stranraer Harbour	08.25a ~ 08.55d	08.48 ~ 09.07
6.27	Dunragit	08t41	09/17
17.42	Glenwhilly	08x56a ~ 08x58d	09/33
25.77	Barrhill	09t11	09/46
38.17	Girvan	09t35	10/08
46.16	Kilkerran	09x46a ~ 10x00d	10/20
50.46	Maybole	10/06	10/26
58.39	Dalrymple Jn	10/13	10/33
59.43	Ayr	10/16	10/35
60.42	Newton Jn	10/20	10/39
60.65	Falkland Yard	10L25a ~ 11L20d	10.41 ~ 11.20
62.58	Prestwick	11/24	11/27
66.06	Troon	11/28	11/30
67.21	Barassie Jn	11/30	11/32
71.02	Irvine	11/36	11/36
74.30	Kilwinning	11/43	11/40
77.68	Dalry	11/47	11/43
80.47	Glengarnock	11/52	11/45
84.53	Lochwinnoch	11/57	11/48
90.21	Johnstone	12/05	11/53
91.08	Elderslie	12/06	11/54
93.63	Paisley Gilmour Street	12/09	11/57
94.52	Arkleston Jn	12/11	11/59
99.30	Shields Jn	12/15	12.06a ~ 12.09d
101.01 0.00	Glasgow Central	12.19a ~ 14.45d	12.17 ~ 14.48
0.68	Eglington St Jn	14/48	14/50
3.75	Rutherglen East Jn	14/53	14/54
6.50	Newton	14/57	14/58
8.52	Uddingston Jn	15/00	15/00
12.69	Motherwell	15/04	15/04
14.68	Shieldmuir	15/06	15/06
18.18	Law Jn	15/10	15/10
26.19	Lanark Jn	15/19	15/18
28.54	Carstairs	15/21	zzz
28.64	Carstairs South Jn	15/22	zzz
44.37	Abington	15/34	zzz
52.43	Beattock summit	15/42	15/40
62.47	Beattock	15/49	15/47
76.41	Lockerbie	16/00	15/57
93.50	Gretna Jn	16/18	zzz
102.27	Carlisle	16*26a ~ 16*38d	16.22 ~ 16.38
120.16	Penrith	17/00	16/57
139.15	Tebay	17/24	17/18
152.28	Oxenholme	17/34	17/33
165.28	Carnforth North Jn	17/47	17/53
165.44	Carnforth UPL	17*49a ~ 18*04d	17.54 ~ 18.06
169.44	Morecambe South Jn	18/9	18/12
171.36	Lancaster	18/11	18/16
192.34	Preston	18c31a ~ 18c33d	18.36 ~ 18.39
197.70	Euxton Jn	18/41	18/46
199.73	Balshaw Jane Jn	18/43	18/48
207.44	Wigan North Western	18*51a ~ 18*59d	18/58
207.58	Wigan Station Jn	19/01	18/58
208.73	Springs Branch Jn	19/02	18/59
215.68	Winwick Jn	19/08	19/05
218.15	Dalham Jn	19/10	19/07
219.24	Warrington Bank Quay	19/11	19/08
221.11	Acton Grange Jn	19/12	19/09
226.15	Weaver Jn SB	19/19	19/14
235.74	Winsford SB	19/25	19/22
242.57	Crewe Coal Yard Jn	19/36	19/30
243.35	Crewe	19.37a ~ 19.39d	19.32 ~ 19.36
245.19	Basford Hall Jn	19/45	19/40
251.41	Madeley	19/50	19/50
262.43	Norton Bridge	20/05	20/00
267.72	Stafford	20.14a ~ 20.15d	20.08 ~ 20.12
268.31	Stafford No.4	20/17	20/14
281.49	Bushbury Jn	20/27	20/28
282.60	Wolverhampton North Jn	2/29	20/30
283.23	Wolverhampton	20.32a ~ 20.34d	20.32 ~ 20.34
285.07	Portobello Jn	20/39	20/39
288.06	Darlaston Jn	20/44	20/42
289.24	Bescot Stadium	20/45	20/43
293.61	Perry Barr North Jn	20/49	20/47
296.03	Aston	20/56	20/52
298.03	Proof House Jn	21/00	20/56
298.59 0.00	Birmingham New Street	21R03a ~ 21R22d	21.01 ~ 21.06
0.56	Proof House Jn	21/25	DIV
2.56	Aston	21/31	DIV
?.?	Soho South Jn	DIV	21/12
4.78	Perry Barr North Jn	21/36	21.17a ~ 21.19d
9.35	Bescot Stadium	21/40	21/25
10.53	Darlaston Jn	21/41	21/27
13.52	Portobello Jn	21/46	21/31
16.20	Bushbury Jn	21/49	21.34a ~ 21.36d
31.38	Stafford No.4	21/58	21/50
31.77	Stafford	21/59	21/50
37.26	Norton Bridge	22/08	21/55
48.20	Madeley	22/20	22/05
54.42	Basford Hall Jn	22/25	22/10
56.26	Crewe	22.30a	22.15