With the loss of all day validity on Sunday's from 9th January 1983,
'the Potter' ticket appeared to have little use for someone who's main
interest in the Railway scene was now haulage 'Bashing' and
photography. The ticket was only valid on trains booked to run
after 1745 (time off Stoke) and with the area covering the lines
between Crewe - Uttoxeter and Stafford - Congleton, the haulage
potential seamed rather limited.
A further selection of personal accounts of ‘Potter’s’ follow:
Thursday 29th November 1984.
There had been increasing instances of loco and stock vice Class 120 DMU's substitutes over the Crewe - Derby route
during the year. Especially during the Autumn months. It
was 2K53 15:25 Derby - Crewe and the 2P28 17:20 Crewe -
Derby that seemed to be most often effected, especially on Fridays for
some reason (and that clashed rather badly with 'The Tube', a C4 music
show, featuring some of the bands that i liked at the time). On
this day I'd already seen by chance 45142 with a short load 3, work the
2K49 13:20 Derby - Crewe, then returning with the 2E51 15:23 Crewe -
Lincoln,
(presumably replaced at Derby by DMU?) so decided to check out
2K53. There would be no gen available to me, so I have to wait
around in the cold and fast falling darkness just in case. Often
when I made this lonely vigil, I had waited in vane as the booked unit
then appeared, or, if it was a loco it would be ETH or dud or
both. On this occasion I was rewarded by the sight of 25244, also
on load 3, working 2K53. Well, the word was spread, and there was
a small gathering waiting for 2P28. As we were about to join, our
old mate Steve was about to bale, but upon seeing his reception
committee, he elected to stay. Once in a nice, warm compo, Steve
explianed how he had carried out his 'standard move' of a weekly rover,
used at the weekend, then each afternoon after working earlies.
He'd gone out this time and had little luck, made worse once he found
out he'd missed 45142 on 2K49. Deciding to call it a day, went
for the unit home and found load 3 + 'Rat'! Typical of his luck -
always dropping on things!
1985.
The DMU situation settled down somewhat early in 1985, far less hauled
substitutes were recorded, and thus, little need for a 'Potter'.
But a change to motive power requirements in far off East Anglia, would
have a knock on effect that would revive the usefulness of our
favourite local 'piece'.
In order to free up some electric locos for the newly electrified
London Liverpool Street - Ipswich section of the main line to Norwich a
number of cross county turns that had previously been electrically
hauled between the West Midlands and Northwest were now through
diesel. Two such trains passed Stoke and these were : 1M88 06:25 SX/06:33 SO Poole - Manchester Piccadilly ( from Reading) and 1V16 17:25 Manchester Piccadilly - London Paddington.
In those days, pre A50 / Britannia Stadium / Palisade Fencing days, you
could get some surprisingly scenic shots, just south of Stoke in the
Sideway area, and so, when ever possible, I would combine photing the
6M72 China Clay's with viewing the northbound 1M88 (due Stoke
1144). What worked 1M88 should come back on 1V16 (1811 off Stoke)
and could be covered on a 'Potter', although it should be said, that
the diagram didn't always stick. During the period of the 'Crewe
blockade' (02/06/85-21/07/85), once the Stoke - Llandudno
started, loco and stock would be provided by Derby. This would
not be the usual solid 47/4 and the return working could also be
covered on a Potter.
Monday 24th June 1985.
That morning 47257 worked 1M88, 45070 turned up on the clay and
departmental Class 40 97408 was a bonus phot on a southbound spoil
train. A 'Potter' move was on, because 47362 had worked 1D32
(Llandudno) and 47318 1P90 Blythe Bridge - Blackpool additional, both
on top of the expected 47257 on 1V16. Whenever you did 1V16,
there was always an anxious wait until you knew for sure that the
engine had not been switched... thankfully 47257 did produce as
expected. 1V16 was taken to an unusually busy Stafford.
Thanks to the Crewe blockade, a number of trains were changing engines
here rather than at Crewe and as a result, there were a number of
engines stabled, mostly in the yards to the south. Our next move
was to take the 'Dino', 304001 on this occasion, to Kidsgrove to await
1K90 Blackpool - Blythe Bridge Additional (running for 'Potter's
fortnight') on which we expected 47318. As 47362 was a few
minutes behind on the return ex Llandudno and also required, the
already sad mileage would need to be split, with 47318 taken for the 3
'bus stop' miles to Longport, for 47362 onwards to Stoke. Three
NB's scored in an evening, albeit for sad mileage, but at least they're
now 'in the book'.
Tuesday 25th June 1985.
On this day, 47362 was once again 1D32 (Llandudno) with 45068, a big
surprise working 1P90 (Blackpool), also very unusual was 47318 out
again, this time with an additional Llandudno. 45076 worked the
China Clay, then came 'massive' 47299 with 1M88 - so another 'Potter'
just had to be done!
As I rushed to the station that evening, I bump into Rob. I pass
on 'the gen' : 47299 - 1V16 ; 47362 1K38 ; 45068 1K90 ; 47318 on the
additional, and he needs all four! Can he get them
all in, he asks? Yes, I explain, but it means he must bale
at Kidsgrove, Longport & Etruria - even worse than my move the
night before! The anxious wait for 1V16 was even more
anxious that usual. For me, the main objective of the evening was
47299 - a massive
machine at the time, even more so due to the mystery of just why it was
renumbered from 47216. Thankfully, 47299 stuck and came back with
1V16 as booked. The move to Kidsgrove was with 304007.
86314+86319 passed through Kidsgrove with a Southbound liner - very
rare in daylight then. Rob (and no doubt other's) left Kidsgove
with 47318 on the relief ex Llandudno, while I waited for the Peak on
1K90, which I did to Stoke (Looking at it now, I can't recall why I
didn't go to Blythe Bridge)?
Wednesday 26th June 1985.
And this is getting to be a habit! 47403 is 1D32, 47334
1P90, later its 45046 on the China Clay and a disappointing 47449 on
1M88. Still, two required engines out, and you never know, the
loco for 1V16 is yet to be switched this week, could this be the first
swap of the week? Well... no, because, to everyone's further
disappointment 47449 comes back on 1V16. Then, its 304027
to Kidsgrove and I then take 47334 to Longport (1K90) for 47403
to Stoke (1K38).
Tuesday 9th July 1985.
With the Crewe blockade still on, loco and stock for 1D32 is still ex
Derby and it produces 47128. 'Potter's Fortnight' is behind us
now, so no Blackpool today.
45013 is the China clay, 47002 works 1M88. That evening 47002
works 1V16 as expected and 47128 returns with 1K38 ex Llandudno and I
take it to Stoke. I find out later, that 1K38 was extended to
Derby after I'd left. Anyway, two more lines in the book.
Thursday 11th July 1985.
47437 was a bit of a dull choice of power for 1D32, but later that
morning I was quite pleased to phot 45022 on the China Clay, while
large logo / Stag 47467 off Inverness was on 1M88. We
were not aware of the engine off 1M88 being swapped and thus not
working 1V16 in some time. I wanted 47467, and felt that this
would be my best chance of getting it. On this occasion the
anxious wait would result in a disappointment of the highest order when
it was 47432 that returned on 1V16 and not 47467. One stroke of
minor luck though, 1V16 'made the minus' at Stafford into 1H38 1750
Birmingham New Street - Manchester Piccadilly for once, but it was only
86208 and not the always hoped for Roarer that 1H38 often
produced. 47437 came back on 1K38 as expected. This evening
declared A no-score bore!
Tuesday 16th July 1985.
47326 works 1D32, 47029 does 1M88, and 45004 was the China Clay phot of
the day. Two 'Biggies' expected out, so it's another Potter!
More disappointment... 47274 comes back on 1V16, everyone else is
pleased by this, as it's seen to be even better than 47029 and is
scored by
everyone (except by me) including a couple of lads who didn't need
47029 anyway. We all do 274 to Stafford, then it's off to
Kidsgrove again by Dino.
During the fester there, one of the Kidsgrove lads, notices his mate
'Charlie' is on duty at the box. 'Charlie' makes a call as to the
whereabouts
of 47326 and we are now informed that 47326 has been removed at
Llandudno and it is 47069 that is now working 1K38. More
disappointment
for me then, but at least there were a couple of NB's out and recorded in the moves book.
Wednesday 17th July 1985.
47069 worked 1D32, required 47188 does 1M88 with the China clay a 'no
show'. Another day, another swap that's not to my advantage...
47623 comes back with 1V16, while 47069 sticks and works back with 1K38.
There appears no further 'Potter' moves in my records for 1985, it's
all rover's and other trips much further afield. With the end of
the Crewe remodelling, the Llandudno turn became a regular 47/4 turn
once again, and by the end of that summer, 1M88 & the 1V16 return
working had become a near 'solid' 47/4 turn too. If they couldn't
find a 47/4, they tended to dig up a 31/4 from somewhere instead.
All the same, in the new year, a few of us would gather to view 1M88
and record it's passage for history, occasionally going out of an
evening to catch 1V16 if it looked promising...
Friday 10th January 1986.
In the 'moves book' appears the entry "85038 Stafford - Stoke 16.25 1H38 1750 Birmingham New Street - Manchester Piccadilly".
I have no memory of this at all...
Thursday 16th January 1986.
...unlike this occasion. By chance I saw 1M88 on this day and was
extremely surprised to see it was hauled by 33115! With no gen to
be had, with regard 1V16, quite a few of us had gathered to await the
1V16 service, not ever really believing that the massive Crompton would
come back, but not wanting to miss out if it did! In the event it
was 47450 that did the honours on 1V16 rather than the Crompton, but
better safe than sorry and at least we made the minus onto 1H38 that
night, which was 85021.
Monday 17th March 1986.
Immingham's 31451 had worked 1M88 that morning. So I covered 1V16
only to find 47610 in charge, by chance, a score. We didn't make
1H38 as usual, but it was only 86219 anyway.
Tuesday 22nd July 1986.
20029+20147 worked the 1525 Nottingham - Crewe (possibly after a Derby
start?), the same train had been 45115 the day before, while 31224 had
worked the 0840 Crewe - Nottingham on this morning. The word was
soon out and a number of us made sure we were on the next Crewe bound
service and waiting at Kidsgrove (back again) for the Choppers on
the 1737 Crewe - Derby. Once onboard, it was only as we
passed our local park and spied Ade walking his dog that we realised no
one had called him. All we could do was wave... and he, gestured
back at us, too!!! Then came anti-climax in the shape of Plastic
back from Uttoxeter. Thursday 11th September 1986.
We knew this was going to be the last year of the hauled Stoke -
Llandudno, and this was to be the last week We had found out,
well in advance, that last remaining English Electric Class 40, D200,
was to be rostered for the final two weeks. The penultimate week
went well with D200 performing the full diagram each and every
day. The last week did not go quite so well. On Monday the
8th D200 set off as planned, but the return working was cancelled due
to a derailment at Llandudno. Tuesday saw 47453 working instead,
but D200 was back on diagram and in action on the turn by
Wednesday. We also now knew that D200 WOULD NOT now be made
available for the last day of the Stoke - Llandudno, it's last
appearance, and therefore the last ever appearance of a Class 40 on
1D32 & 1K38 would now take place on September the 11th! That
night there was a very large Stoke contingent on the Sprinter to
Crewe. Others were already on the train when we joined
it... There were quite a few of the local lads whom we had not
seen on the railway for several years, while still others were making
there first appearance of the year.... Needless to say, 'the
Reunion tour' was to prove quite rowdy, but good natured (even the
apparent punch-up going on in one of the compos was only 'in fun' and
there were no lasting injuries!).
Upon arrival at Stoke, everyone baled and made there way to the engine,
with much raucous banter and lots of photos being taken. Some
'normals' wandered up too, wondering what all the fuss was about but
not quite getting it. It was, after all, just another train with
just another engine... The 'normals' didn't' get it when a
big cheer went up as the shunter arrived to hook off. The
unfortunate 'Bert' was none other than local legend, Mr Alan
Pullen. Now, as part of Al's duties, he often got to hook engines
on and off the Llandudno, and, the local lads all knew he'd been
getting lots of stick for making heavy weather of it. so, as soon
as he appeared, a spontaneous round of applause broke out together with
rowdy chorus... "Alan Pullen, Alan Pullen, can you hook this engine
off!" Once the engine was hooked off and away from the consist, a
bemused Al climbs back on to the platform and instantly he's lifted
shoulder high and carried back along the stock towards the rear of the
train. All the way, the chanting and singing continues but now
it's changed to... "Alan Pullen, Alan Pullen, can you hook this engine
on!" Once the rear of the stock is reached, Al is dumped
unceremoniously off the platform onto the ballast! The chanting
and singing continue as D200 backs onto the stock and is coupled
up! More applause for Al! The chanting finally stops and Al
makes himself scarce! Not everyone present was local, but they
were all singing along just the same. One out of towner, who had
been singing and chanting louder than anyone else present then says to
me... "Who is Alan Pullen anyway!" Then, with the RA finally
given, D200 erupts beneath Stoke's overall roof, that mighty sound
almost, but not quite drowned out by the clatter of camera shutters as
the English Electric beast departed Stoke's number one platform with
the stock of the Llandudno for the final time! The crowd stays
just long enough for the sights and sounds of D200 to disappear into
the distance before dispersing into the night. The next
day, 47459 worked the last ever Stoke - Llandudno and return, not that
anyone much, cared at the time...
For further notes on the Stoke - Llandudno follow this link .
Wednesday 3rd December 1986.
With the end of the summer timetable of 1986, a season that, in many
ways had been a disappointment to me, because, despite spending more
time and
money than ever on my railway hobby, the amount of 'quality power' I
had caught up with was much less than in previous years. A
situation that I realised was almost certainly to continue... I even
'Seriously considered packing it all in', but then, it finally occurred
to me that the social side of the hobby was just as important as the
engines, and, as long as there was a 'roadshow' and some haulage to be
had, it was still worth continuing, and thus I was coaxed out
again. Well, 1V16 had been lost to us back in May, so there were
no diesels that could be covered on a 'Potter'. So what could be
done? Well, I was introduced to 'the Congleton leap' for a
start. The 1H20 1700 London Euston - Manchester Piccadilly was
the only northbound hauled service to call there and on this occasion
1H20 produced a Roarer in 85019, and so we took it Stoke - Congleton
(another big mileage move then!), this must have been my first loco
hauled leap there! Then it was back to Stoke on a unit to await
1G76 1921 Manchester Piccadilly - Birmingham New Street. Now,
where 1H20 very rarely produced a Roarer, 1G76 was a much better bet,
but not on this occasion, because 86252 turned up. It was usually
the engine of the 1M50 Brighton - Manchester Piccadilly, and that
service was also via Stoke during the afternoon, and so, if anyone was
around, it could be viewed? At Stafford off 1G76, we dropped into
another Roarer, 85003, working a 1900 London Euston - Carlisle Relief
which we took to Crewe. As it wasn't possible to get back to
Stafford in time for a hauled train home we took the last Derby service
(A Sprinter) home. Although not quite the same as the run out
with D200 in September, this had been enjoyable too
To 'The Staffordshire Potter' remembered… part I (1981-1983).
And so, onward into 1987 and more 'The Staffordshire Potter' remembered… to be continued...
Does anyone else out there have any 'The Staffordshire Potter' memories? We can be contacted from here .