'The Staffordshire Potter' remembered…

Railways around...

This page last updated: 22/04/07

Stoke-on-Trent

'The Staffordshire Potter' remembered… ...part I

The 'Staffordshire Potter' …was one of many evening rover tickets made available within the Stoke division of the
LMR during the early 1980's and there was an interesting leaflet to publicise it that advocated a pub crawl by train as
I recall!

I can't remember now just when they started, but it was autumn of 1980 when I had my first 'Potter' so it would be
a date somewhere about that period and the adult fare was then the grand sum of 50p, rising slowly during that decade to
the even grander sum of £2. At first glance, a ticket that gave validity between Crewe - Uttoxeter and Stafford -
Congleton does not seem to have a great deal of haulage bashing potential, but over the years that followed
it was to prove surprisingly useful for picking up interesting haulage's from time to time. Although strictly speaking
you were NV direct between Crewe - Stafford I don't recall anyone ever having problems, the ticket usually
being excepted, and it was only in later years that 'via Kidsgrove' was added to the piece!

Being an evening rover, during the week, the ticket was only valid on trains booked to run after 1745 (time off Stoke)
and I can remember, on many occasions, when earlier trains were running late, being kept waiting before I could book
my ticket. In the early years, the ticket was also available for all day use on Sundays and that was when they could
come in really useful, or they would have done if I had been bashing seriously that far back. At that period we were
still ‘Spotting though the appeal was on the wane. I did have the good sense to record my haulage all the same, but
not necessarily the service details, and often, we would arrive at the station only to find the hauled trains had been
diverted via Crewe and replaced by a DMU and bus shuttle. That was the case with the first half a dozen or so ‘Potter’s’
I had. We would still go to Stafford for a hour or two in the morning then Crewe in the afternoon.

For anyone who was not familiar with the railway scene in North Staffs and South Cheshire at that time, the service
between Crewe - Uttoxeter - Derby and beyond was an approximately hourly DMU service, usually Derby Class 120
Swindon's. While between Stafford - Stoke - Congleton the weekday evening turns were mostly Class 304 EMU's,
Class 310’s also appeared, with a couple of electrically hauled expresses calling at Stoke and Stafford and the one
Euston - Manchester service that called at both Stoke and Congleton. On Sundays, there were four booked services
off Manchester booked to call at Stoke and Stafford that were diesel hauled or dragged most weeks that could be covered
with two Euston – Manchester's calling at Stafford and Stoke-on-Trent.

A sequence of personal accounts of ‘Potter’s’ follow:

Sunday 04/01/81.

For the first Sunday in about a dozen attempts we arrived at the station and found that a bus or DMU had not
replaced the first hauled service to Stafford! So it was 47512 working 1G60 Manchester P - Birmingham NS
and so we took that to Stafford for a few hours spotting. The earlier 1A11 to Euston was not officially booked
to call at Stafford at that period, but usually did so to detach a diesel that would be dragging an electric more
often than not. On one occasion, a mate of mine arrived at Stoke to see a Forty dragging 1A11, so he jumped
on regardless. 1A11 did stop at Stafford for the Forty to detach, but on the centre rd. Though he considered
baling there, the presence of ‘Bert’ prevented this, so, he found himself raking in some bonus sparky mileage until
1A11 was signal checked at Watford! But back to this occasion, and it was the combination of 47468+87035(Drag)
on the 1H?? Euston - Manchester P back, the 47 being attached at Stafford after working in from Manchester earlier.

Sunday 25/01/81.

Same move again, this time it was 47443 on 1G60 and 47405+87027(Drag) on the same trains.
We were disappointed to get only ETH engines again.

Sunday 13/09/81.

This was to be my last 'Potter' of 1981 and was to be a little different. 40080 was most welcome on the
1V69 0908 Manchester P - Plymouth, which it would work as far as New Street. However due to engineering
works, 1V69 was diverted from Stone to Colwich to call additionally at Rugeley. My one and only run over
the Stone - Colwich route with a Class 40 providing lots of thrash before I leapt at a, rare for me, location,
Rugeley, then taking an EMU shuttle to get to Stafford while 40080 continued with 1V69 via Cannock. After
a quiet morning at Stafford it was back to Rugeley on the EMU and 1H?? with 86103.

Early 1982.

For much of early 1982 Sunday services via Stoke were lost due either to industrial action or engineering when
they were diverted via Crewe. Records, where they exist can be found in the following table:

Sunday 30/05/82.

The overnight 'Pope-ex' trains had all produced EMU's, as we had been informed they would, so we were glad
we hadn't bothered with them... if only we had been aware of what what had worked elsewhere...

After asking around, no one was sure if the advertised train to North Wales would be hauled or not, so
we went down to see for ourselves. Again there was disappointment… It was a very sick five-car DMU
formation that finally departed Stoke and then only after fitters attention and even then, it was a departure accompanied by
a dense cloud of smoke. With an hour to kill, we paid a flying visit to Cockshute HS to see what might be stabled.
Not much, as I recall. We made it back to Stoke-on-Trent station with only minutes to wait for with 40079 to
Stafford on the 1V79 0908 Manchester P - Bristol TM. 87008 was a disappointing find on 1H30 1000 Euston -
Manchester for the return. Having witnessed the departure of that mornings North Wales service it came as no
surprise to us when we were informed (By local legend John Lovett) that 40091 and a rake of AIR CONS had
replaced the sick units en-route and would work the return. So we took an afternoon DMU service to Crewe in
good time for another good but short 40-hauled run, this time on the 1748 Llandudno - Stoke behind 40091.
The train was packed and very hot, the air inside foul, no wonder then most of us chose to flail all the way!
Mileage men we were not!

Sunday 13/06/82.

Not very exciting again!
47438 to Stafford, for 47533 back. So it wasn't all NB and boilered locos even back then.

Sunday 27/06/82.

This was the weekend that I had planed to start a rover for my first all out bash, but uncertainties over
threatened industrial action saw that plan canned, so instead, another 'Potter'. 47409 to Stafford on 1V79.
47536+87019(Drag) back. And my poor luck with dropping onto the EH locos continued

Thursday 01/07/82.

Due to this being 'Potters fortnight', (the Stoke-on-Trent area industrial holidays - if you're not local), the
1P14 0925 Crewe - Blackpool was starting back at Blythe Bridge with loco and stock provided by Derby.
Having viewed and photographed this train behind 45002 that morning and not having seen the peak return
during the day, I felt it must be worth taking a trip to Crewe to cover the return 1K04 1707 ex Blackpool,
which was A Crewe service extended to Blythe Bridge. 45002 was noted on Crewe diesel upon my arrival
so things were looking promising! 1K04 arrived behind a Roarer and 45002 backed on. It wasn't too often
you got a chance cross the always Orange(!) waters of the Trent and Mersey canal and travel up the short
but steep Kidsgrove bank behind a Peak! So sheer Hellfire novelty value then!

05/08/82.

To Crewe by DMU to bring back 40164 which was expected on the 1K38 1737 Llandudno - Stoke.
On the journey out I was introduced to Glover, who was an interesting character! I was talking to my old mate
Steve Cotton regarding the unit as a crowd of us headed for Crewe. I mentioned I liked the oval mirrors that featured
on those Swindon built Cross County units. It was around that point that, unnoticed, Glover went missing.
When he got back, he opened his coat, flasher style, revealing one of those oval mirrors! I was then informed
by Glover's mate that he was 'building a Class 120 DMU One piece at a time'! Then, Glover points at a
small square metal plate fixed to the side of the unit, beneath the window. "What's that for?" Glover asked.
"Well" said his mate "When you've nicked the ashtray that's what they cover the hole up with!"

09/08/82.

To Crewe for 40168 1K38 1737 Llandudno - Stoke. But the engines had been swapped and it was 40172 that
turned up… not that I was complaining - 172 was required as well. Despite having arrived at Crewe off the north
Wales line, 40172 arrived on what was, at that time, platform 6, since renamed platform 1 - such a movement
became impossible with the 1985 station rebuild.

Monday 13/09/82.

To Crewe for my second attempt at getting 40168 and this time it did come back on the 1K38 1737 Llandudno - Stoke.

Sunday 19/09/82.

After a Summer long absence, Sunday hauled trains had returned to Stoke-on-Trent and now, with 1A11 booked
to call at Stafford officially there were now five south bound trains to cover. 'The lads' had asked if I was up for a 'Potter', but
I def'd it in favour of taking a few phots line side. 1A11 was expected first but after half an hour there was no sign.
Instead first to appear was 40184 on 1G60 hauling the usual WR Mk I rake. When the peg again changed moments
after the 40 cleared, it went straight to Green and it was unclear if 'Bobby' was playing his usual Sunday game of 'peg it two
hours early and keep 'em guessing' or if 1A11 was now imminent. I decided to wait and moments later 1A11 did
indeed appear with the memorable combo of 25037+25044 dragging 86252! The 'Rats' would no doubt work 1A11
to Stafford as booked and should return North later. The lure was too great and I just had to go out and get them!
I had to take 1A16 1040 Manchester P - Euston to Stafford. In rolled 1A16 with 47432 dragging 86212. It was, I
noted, a 'dead time' at Stafford, but with 40 minutes allowed on a Sunday I felt sure I would still make it, but I hadn't
reckoned on stopping to pick up a pilotman at Barlaston, before setting back and stretch of single line working
to Stone. With Stafford station finally in sight the 'Rats' were already in and on the train! A 'desperate leap' followed
by a mad dash and I'd made it by the skin of my teeth onto 1H30 1000 Euston - Manchester P this time the 'Rats' were
dragging 87035. I made my way forward expecting to find the lads, but no, they were nowhere to be seen, in fact
I don't remember seeing any other bashers on board. Had pangs of hunger not got the better of me I would have
hung around for 1A21 1242 Manchester P - Euston and taken that to Stafford, but I figured, with my luck it would
be another 47/4 just like 1A16, so I went home for food. I made the mistake of viewing 1A21 and wished I hadn't
once I realised I'd been bowled out for 40027 dragging 86235!

Late 82.

During the last three months of the year, almost without exception, the Sunday trains before 1600hrs were diverted
leaving the DMU and bus shuttles filling the gap, while, once the Stoke - Llandudno had finished in mid September
there was, for us, no longer reason to go out on "A Potter" from awhile...

Sunday 2nd January 1983.
We let 47543 on the first Euston go. It would only drag to Stafford and then work back on 1H30, while what ever worked
the 1G60 0908 Manchester P - Birmingham New St wouldn't be seen again. So it was that we waited for 1G60 which
was to be our first move and this appeared behind 47205, which was boiler fitted, and was duly taken to Stafford. Here
we waited for the return working of 47543, which was 1H30 1000 Euston - Manchester P, this brought in by 86238.
As usual, the pan of the electric was lowered as the Brush backed on. We baled back at Stoke, then came the
move with 47502 dragging 86102 back to Stafford on 1A21 1242 Manchester P - Euston. As soon as 86208
arrived with 1H32 1200 Euston - Manchester P, Crewe based 47448 was added for the move back to Stoke again!
As can be seen, it's all getting rather repetitive, with the motive power that produced being fairly standard fare for the
period. The rest of the day continued with a DMU trip to Crewe and back, followed by a few Electric moves between
Stoke and Stafford with 47205 becoming the undoubted highlight. In fact, the only reason for this day to be noteworthy
for anyone I would think was that this was to be the last time ever that "The Staffordshire Potter" was to be available for
all day travel. From now on a "Staffordshire Potter" was strictly an "Evening Rover" available Monday - Saturday and
therefore only very limited use to us 'local' enthusiast types... in fact, it would be over eighteen months before I would next
partake... Little did we then know that for some of us, many of the best ever "Potter" moves were yet to come!

To 'The Staffordshire Potter' remembered… part II.

Does anyone else out there have any 'The Staffordshire Potter' memories? We can be contacted from here .

Additional Notes:

For many of us, the Sundays that followed produced a much more interesting selection of motive power than what was out
on the 2nd of January:

	1A11	1G60	1A16	1A21	1V98	1A26
	08:40	10:30	10:42	12:42	14:43	14:47
	Manchester P	Manchester P	Manchester P	Manchester P	Manchester P	Manchester P
	Euston	Birmingham NS	Euston	Euston	Paddington	Euston

Stoke-on-Trent time	(09:42)	(11:27)	(11:39)	(13:39)
Stafford	booked Drag		booked Drag	booked Drag	booked	booked Drag
SUNDAY DATES;	to Stafford	throughout	to Stafford	to Stafford	throughout	to Stoke-on-Trent
02/01/1983	47543+87008	47205	47448+87018	47502+86102
09/01/1983	47503+86249	40034	47533+86207	47124+86234		47356
16/01/1983	47474+86242	47090	47531+87021	47351+86235
23/01/1983	47561	40034	47434	47417
30/01/1983	47492	47196	47556	47459
06/02/1983	47274+8????	40013	47567+86239	47556+86227	47274
13/02/1983							DIVERTED?
20/02/1983	47549+8????	40086	47439+86239	47104+86227
27/02/1983		"40034"
06/03/1983	40012+87009	40034	47477+87028	47076+86245	47531	40012
13/03/1983	47453	40029	47558
20/03/1983	40104+87016	47450	47455+87027	40174+8????	47458	40104
27/03/1983	47473+8????	47415	47452+87015	47560+86217
03/04/1983	47539+87035	47444	47537+87020			"40015"
10/04/1983			40180
17/04/1983	47459	47508	47577
24/04/1983	47489	47485	47456	47460
01/05/1983		47426			47451		diverted?
08/05/1983	47???	47101	47481	47???
15/05/1983		40097	47555			"40063"
NEW TIMETABLE;

Home ] Local Index ] Main Site Index ] Features Index