1Z40- The "Ten Counties" Railtour, Sat May 12th 1984
An interesting tour in that it was arranged by the Area Manager at Watford, (Graham Burling), was composed of B08’s "cobbler" corridor stock, featured many local haunts including a stop at the old Bedford St Johns on its last day of service. Also
one of our local younger bashing colleagues was an "alleged" steward on said tour!. At £13 it was also extremely good value for umpteen miles of type 2 power along a lot of freight track.
A booked 0800 departure from St Pancras meant the 0607 ex Leighton was joined with trusty 310072 as power. The 2210 Glasgow-Euston overtook us in the Berko area and it’s power, in "rancid" 86326, was given the usual reception on passing!
310089 returned us home happy on the 2000 ex Euston.
Actual Timings Summary…
Power ….31128/31116
St Pancras….0759
W.Hampstead…0808
Dudding Hill…0814
Acton Wells…0822
Reading..0901/0902
Oxford…0930 (centre road)
Claydon…1012
Bletchley Flyover…1048
Bedford St John’s…1123/1136 (reversed out?)
Sharnbrook Goods..1205
Glendon South…1234
M.Mowbray..1314
Syston E..1325
Leicester..1330/1345 power..20135/20136
Nuneaton flyover..1419
Wate Orton..1446
Sutton Park..1505
Walsall…1511/1520 power..25245/25076
BS..1525
Stechford..1540
Rugby..1609
Northampton..1629
Bletchley Flyover…1655
Claydon…1730
Quainton Rd 1741/1758 photostop
Aylesbury..1815/1828
P.Risboro..1847
H.Wycombe..1858/1859
Northolt Jn..1921
Marylebone..1942
Timekeeping was around 40 down at Marylebone although most of the delays were picked up in the Oakham area in the morning
A few not aboard, predictably slagged the tour off in view of its "average power", ie the boiled rats, but everybody aboard enjoyed a cracking day out through many local haunts. A rerun 25 years on would be nice…!
Ten Counties Tour "Phot spot"
31128 and 31116 at a very crowded Bedford St Johns with the outward leg of the tour, 120584
25076 and 25245 during a booked late afternoon photostop at Quainton Road, 120584
