The Spin Doctor

Maybe I'm getting old, but every time I have to get up pre-5am for a railtour these days I start to question my sanity! Saturday morning was no exception as off I set by car to London, arriving at Victoria just in time to see the tour stock arrive at platform 2 behind 47572 "Ely Cathedral". Bit of a wait before train loco 58024 rolled into view, but time enough for a few photo's before boarding the train. General disappointment in my coach (front one, coach A) as this 58 was not required haulage for most people (was by me though...).

Departure was a couple of minutes down at 0827 and we ran via the Down Stewarts Lane and Battersea Reversible lines to Longhedge Jn and Latchmere No.3 Jn then passed through Kensington Olympia and Mitre Bridge Jn to join the WCML at Willesden. A few signal checks slowed us then we rolled to a halt at Wembley Central with a decidedly quiet "bone" on the front. What was the problem? Was it terminal? Would those joining at Watford be denied the haulage? Would they care? A few minutes later and the loco was restarted and our journey continued. Various rumours as to the cause of the problem circulated around our coach but I never find out exactly what it was (probably as I wasn't really bothered).

Watford came and went and we ran to Bletchley on the slow line. With "load 12" there was nothing much to tax the 58. After a crew change at Bletchley we set off for Bedford and our first loco change. This took place at Bedford St. Johns when 58024 was removed in favour of 31420 and 31467 (both definitely not required). A track circuit problem delayed the change-over and departure was not until 1058, 28 minutes down. The 31's performed well on the Sharnbrook climb which we took on the bi-directional slow line. Our route now took us via Kettering, Wigston South Curve, Nuneaton and Saltley (another crew change). Still nearly half an hour late, reasonable running through Tyseley and Henley-in-Arden coupled with slack timing gave an 11 minute early arrival at Stratford-Upon-Avon. A two-hour layover was planned here, chance for a culture-bash (or fish and chips plus pub visit....). Have to say it was not exactly a cool day and wandering about amongst all the foreign tourists was not my idea of fun! Still, did find a chippie selling fish and chips for 99p (and survived to tell the tale)!!

Departure from Stratford was at 1550 with Loadhaul liveried 56055 (required by me) in charge. Booked route took us via Leamington Spa, Banbury and High Wycombe towards London. By now the drinks on board were distinctly warm and time spent at a window was being rationed out so everyone got a chance to cool down. As we were now the rearmost coach I can't really comment on the performance of the 56, though it was heard accelerating hard on a couple of occasions. In one or two places the speed was quite respectable too.

Timekeeping was reasonable until Greenford then things began to go wrong (don't they always on railtours....). First we stopped at Drayton Green Junction as the road was wrongly set for West Ealing. This corrected we set off, got about 1/4 mile, then stopped again as we approached Hanwell Junction. 20 minutes later and no further movement - time to start questioning if the "grid" had expired. Soon after however we found out a points failure at the junction ahead was the cause. By now the drinks had run out (or were too warm to be of any use) and we soon reached the "I want to go home" stage of the day (by now it was about 7pm and we still had to run to Reading for our last loco change and then return to Victoria). At least those near the front of the train could watch the passage of trains on the GWML. Those of us in the rear coach had the Plasser factory on one side (nothing to see, wall in the way) and houses on the other (nothing to see, trees too high). Sounded as though one household was having a lively party in the back garden though!

After about 40 minutes we were on the move again but an unscheduled stop was made at Slough to drop off some passengers for whom the day had become too much (something about missing last trains home was mentioned). Arrival at Reading (platform 4) where 73106 and 73138 were waiting to take over was 48 late. The onset of dehydration meant that many spent the 13 minutes loco change in a queue in the buffet, rather than photographing the E-D's! Another check in the book revealed both were required! Not bad, 4 out of 6 required haulages for the day.

Departure (on diesel power) was at exactly 8pm and once over the Reading Spur line we changed to electric power for the remainder of the run home via Wokingham, Ascot, Staines and Barnes. Getting dark by now, and not much to report on this stage of the journey. From Clapham Junction we took the Up Ludgate and from Longhedge Junction our route to Victoria retraced that taken in the morning. A slack schedule from Reading resulted in only a 22 minute late arrival at Victoria (2117 to be precise). total mileage for the day (taken from HRT booklet) was 340 miles and 14 chains.

Route, Distances & Timings (Booked & Actual)

Railtour Operator : Hertfordshire Railtours
Train reporting number : 1Z62
Stock : Set BN94 (12 vehicles, air-braked)

58024 : Victoria to Bedford St. Johns (via Longhedge Jn, Kensington Olympia, Willesden and Bletchley)
31420 + 31467 : Bedford St. Johns to Stratford-upon-Avon (via Kettering, Wigston South Curve, Nuneaton, Saltley, Tyseley, and Henley-in-Arden).
56055 : Stratford - Reading (via Warwick, Banbury, High Wycombe, Greenford Loop and Slough)
73106 + 73138 : Reading - Victoria (via Wokingham, Ascot, Staines, Richmond and Barnes).

M	C	Location	Booked	Actual
0	00	London Victoria	08.25d	08.27
0	73	Battersea Pier Junction	08/27	08/30
1	36	Stewarts Lane Junction	08/30	08/31
1	66	Longhedge Junction	08/33	08/32
2	51	Latchmere No.3 Junction	08/38	08/35
5	34	Kensington Olympia	08/44	08/42
7	22	North Pole Junction	08/49	08/48
7	59	Mitre Bridge Junction	08/50	08/50
8	08	Willesden WL Junction	08/51	08/55
14	15	Harrow & Wealdstone	08/57	09/07
20	20	Watford Junction	09.04a	09.13
--	--	-	09.06d	09.15
34	38	Tring	09/27	09/36
41	01	Ledburn Junction	09/36	09/41
49	31	Bletchley	09c44a	09.51
--	--	-	09c46d	09.49
50	48	Fenny Stratford	09/49	09/56
51	40	Bow Brickhill	09/51	09/59
53	46	Woburn Sands	09/54	10/02
54	41	Apsley Guise	09/55	10/04
56	15	Ridgmont	09/57	10/06
58	07	Lidlington	09/59	10/09
59	37	Millbrook	10/01	10/12
60	53	Stewartby	10/03	10/14
62	31	Kempston Hardwick	10/05	10/17
65	38	Bedford St. Johns	10L10a	10.29a

M	C	Location	Booked	Actual
65	38	Bedford St. Johns	10L30d	10.58
66	18	Bedford Midland Road	10.35a	11.05
--	--	-	10.37d	11.05
66	31	Bedford North Junction	10/39	11/07
72	78	Sharnbrook Junction	10/45	11/15
81	44	Wellingborough	10/53	11/27
83	33	Harrowden Junction	11/01	11/31
88	34	Kettering	11/05	11/37
99	27	Market Harborough	11/19	11/48
109	73	Kilby Bridge Junction	11/31	11/58
111	74	Wigston South Junction	11/35	12/02
112	44	Glen Parva Junction	11/46	12/06
115	37	Narborough	11/52	12/11
123	21	Hinckley	12/00	12/23
127	40	Nuneaton	12/06	12/30
138	04	Whitacre Junction	12/21	12/46
140	69	Water Orton	12/26	12/50
146	75	Landor Street Junction	12c34a	12.59
---	--	-	12c36d	13.04
147	33	St. Andrews Junction	12/38	13/06
147	59	Bordesley Junction	12/39	13/08
149	11	Small Heath South Junction	12/42	13/12
149	65	Tyseley	13/00	13/14
153	63	Shirley	13/10	13/21
163	31	Henley-in-Arden	13/20	13/30
167	74	Bearley Junction	13/37	13/34
171	55	Stratford-upon-Avon	13L50a	13.39

M	C	Location	Booked	Actual
171	55	Stratford-upon-Avon	15L50d	15.51
175	36	Bearley Junction	15/56	15/58
180	40	Hatton West Junction	16/12	16/05
186	63	Leamington Spa	16/24	16/15
198	12	Fenny Compton	16/37	16/26
206	72	Banbury General	16c45a	16.34
---	--	-	16c54d	16.54
211	76	Aynho Junction	16/59	17/01
220	78	Bicester North	17/08	17/11
239	44	Princes Risborough	17/35	17/31
247	65	High Wycombe	17/35	17/40
256	76	Gerrards Cross	17/51	17/51
262	26	West Ruislip	17/57	17/59
264	07	South Ruislip	18/01	18/03
266	59	Greenford West Junction	18/05	18/11
267	10	Greenford South Junction	18/07	18/13
268	48	Drayton Green	18/14	18/24
269	08	Hanwell	18/28	19/08
270	40	Southall East Junction	18/30	19/12
270	66	Southall	18/31	19/13
273	05	Heathrow Airport Junction	18/33	19/16
279	20	Dolphin Junction	18/40	19/20
280	16	Slough	18/42	19.22a
---	--	-	--/--	19.27d
285	79	Maidenhead	18/47	19/35
292	61	Twyford	18/53	19/41
297	58	Reading General	18L59a	19.47

M	C	Location	Booked	Actual
297	58	Reading General	19L11d	20.00
298	16	Reading New Junction	19/13	20/02
298	55	Reading Spur Junction	19/16	20/03
300	50	Earley	19/19	20/06
304	43	Wokingham	19/27	20.11a
---	--	-	--/--	20.13d
312	15	Ascot	19/46	20/25
317	79	Virginia Water	19/54	20/34
322	12	Staines	20/04	20/42
327	59	Feltham Junction	20/11	20/52
329	45	Twickenham Junction	20/13	20/54
329	72	Twickenham	20/14	20/54
334	07	Barnes	20/24	21/03
337	20	Clapham Junction	20/30	21/07
338	28	Longhedge Junction	20/34	21/11
338	58	Stewarts Lane Junction	20/39	21/12
339	21	Battersea Pier Junction	20/50	21/14
340	14	London Victoria	20.55a	21.17

Key;
a : arrival time
c : crew change
d : departure time
L : loco change
/ : passing time

All distances, in miles and chains (M & C), are taken from the tour booklet. No attempt has been made to verify the mileages given.

The Spin Doctor.

Hertfordshire Railtours.
Saturday 16th August 1997.

Route, Distances & Timings (Booked & Actual)

The Spin Doctor.

Hertfordshire Railtours. Saturday 16th August 1997.

Route, Distances & Timings (Booked & Actual)

Hertfordshire Railtours.
Saturday 16th August 1997.