As both
passenger and freight movements have changed beyond all all recognition
over recent years and it may come a shock to some just
how
much freight activity there was... just going back to the late 1970's
there was still Stoke yard, Cockshute sdgs, Etruria and Grange junction
yards
all in
full operation, Longport yard too, then Kidsgrove coal yard, the rail served pits in the North Staffs coalfield, Trentham and
Wolstanton collieries, the Shelton Steel works and the
rolling mill that out lived it and Meaford power station still operating and receiving coal,
not forgetting the parcels &
paper trains still in evidence... all gone now... except for the China Clay traffic to the Cliffe Vale terminal.
The
1980-81 timetable period was the last that featured all of the above,
though it should be noted that Steel making at Shelton had ended during
1978,
which left the works at Scunthorpe to provide the raw steel for the
rolling mill that still survived, bringing an increase in the appearances
of 'foreign'
motive power in the Stoke area, loco types such as Classes 31 & 37 visiting much more often that previously.
The notes below attempt to detail some of the local freight and tripworkings with reference the WTT of the period.
Shunter Duties
Crewe allocated Class
08 shunters had 6 local trip and pilot duties around Stoke in 1980 as follows :
9T01 Stoke Shunt
Class 08 diesel
06 30 to 13 30 SX
14 20 to 21 25 SX
9T02 Stoke Yard Shunt
Class 08 diesel
06 25 to 13 30 SX
14 25 to 21 30 SX
22 25 SX to 05 30 MX
Shunt Stoke yard work raft of wagons between Stoke & Cockshute Yards
Service NCL depot, Shelton Wharf, LNW yard & Stoke station.
9T03 Cockshute Yard Shunt
Class 08 diesel
06 35 to 13 20 SX
14 35 to 21 20 SX
22 35 SX to 05 20 MX
Shunt cockshute yard.work rafts of wagons between Cockshute &
Etruria and between Cockshute & Stoke yards during night turn
9T04 Etruria/Grange Shunt
Class 08 diesel
06 56 to 13 15 MO
06 36 to 13 15 MSX
23 25 SX to 05 50 MX
Shunt Etruria & Grange.
9T08 Longport Shunt
Class 08 diesel (Dual braked)
04 10 to 13 35 MO
06 39 to 13 15 MSX
07 54 to 13 50 SO
14 39 to 21 20 SX
23 31 SX to 06 56 MX
Shunt freight and parcels and service ESSO, Carless & Chatterley valley.
As may be seen above, T01-T04 were for vacuum braked examples of class 08. Any four machines from 08055/068/080/088/112/123/125/220/222/329/382/468/470/473/631/633 and no doubt others I've forgotten,
would usually be found working on the T01-T04 duties..
T08 required a duel braked example : 08737/739/913 were the most regular on that turn..
T19 was the most recent of the above duties to be introduced, commencing in the late
1970's. This turn, although booked for a
'Dual Brake' example was frequently covered by the only Air Only class 08 based at Crewe at that
time, 08390, otherwise, one
of the duel braked examples would substitute. This loco was used to assist with the loading of the
MGR coal trains at Trentham,
returning to Stoke only to change
crews..
The Remaining local trip workings detailed
These now fell mostly into the hands of Class 25's, but in
previous years the Class 24's, which had been, from the end of steam
to the late 1970's, easily the most familiar local
diesel locomotives, had been in charge. By 1980, Class 24's had being reduced
to just a solo
example, 24081, which would now make only rare appearances in Stoke, until finally withdrawn in October of that
year.
The following trip workings were booked for Class
25's. Crewe based examples would dominate, but any LMR based
example could of cause turn up :
9T09 Ballast Stoke area
Class 25 diesel
Work ballast trains as required to DCE requirments.
For all the above duties, it was not unknown for a class 40 or 47 to substitute from time to time.
T12 on returning from Cauldon, conveyed Stone, mostly in tippler type wagons, but also
conveyed large Stone blocks, two
or three loaded to a SPV 'Plate' wagon. These stone blocks were for use in the construction of the Thames flood
barrier. To
gain access to Cockshute, this service would travel
along the Down goods line almost to Etruria station, to then set back, over
Cliffe Vale Junction, all four tracks of the main line, to gain entry
to one of the through sidings closest to the main line. Upon
arrival, these
locos would be detached immediately and would either retire to
Cockshute HS for stabling or on other occasions
they would head off to the south.
Other Freight duties around Stoke-on-Trent c1980
Further details of (daytime) freight (and passenger highlights) from 1980 follow :
5K01 06:06 SX departmental ECS CM&EE Derby Etches Park - Crewe (Stoke sta 07 08)AB WTHO)
Motive Power : Something of a kick-out (classes 2x20/25/31/40/45/46/47 - class 25 & 45 most common)
Consist : Varied ECS,
could include hauled passenger, parcels , departmental and DMU vehicles
could be conveyed.
Anything from a light engine (0K01?) to 16+.
Notes : Erratic time
keeper, I have seen this service 2 or more hours after booked time.
Motive Power : Usually Classes 31/37, otherwise anything to be found at Scunthorpe (2x20s/25/45/47)
Consist : SPA type
wagons, but sometimes VB bolsters/SPV types would substitute.
Notes : Commenced
operation Spring 1978 as steel making at Shelton ended as the rolling
mills had remained operational.
6M26 04:20 MO COY Exeter - Stoke Yd (09 26a)
6M26 18:10 TO COY St Blazey - Stoke Yd (WO 08 36)
6M26 18:10 TSX COY St Blazey - Longport (Stoke Yd 08 36/09*00)(Longport 09 07a)
Motive Power : Electrically hauled (class 81-86) but diesels (class 40/47 could sometimes substitute)
(It is not known in any Hydraulic types ever worked through to Stoke.)
Consist : UCV short wheelbase, wooden bodied sheeted wagons.
Odd box vans would also be scattered throughout the consist.
Notes : No
brake van was required as service was fully fitted at an early date.
1D30 07:35 SO Nottingham - Llandudno (Stoke 09 23)
Motive Power : class 25.
Consist : MkI stock
Notes : summer dated passenger service.
8K72 09:25 SX Stoke Yd - Crewe BHSS North
Motive Power : class 25.
Consist : varied - typical mixed freight of the period.
Notes : loco off the stabling point.
8G01 09:53 MO Cockshute Sdgs - Bescot
Motive Power : Electrically hauled (class 81-86)
Consist : varied - typical mixed freight of the period.
6E93 COY empties Etruria - Scunthorpe (Stoke sta 1007)
Notes : return working
off 6M78, same loco, similar load, but sometimes returned light.
5P44 SX departmental ECS Crewe Uphill Sdgs - Derby Etches Park Sdgs (Stoke sta 1009/1030) AB TFO CM&EE
Motive Power : return working off 5K01, usually but not always the same loco
Consist : see 5K01
Notes : sometimes returned light (0P44?).
Motive Power :
Consist :
Notes : probable empties after supplying the coke plant at BSC Shotton?
4M03 08:35 SO Parcels Peterborough - Crewe (1239)
Motive Power : class 25 or less often a class 31
Consist : typical van
train. standard BG/GUV and CCT types plus pre grouping ex LMS
BG's ex SR wooden CCT/BG types.
Notes : ran on saturdays from late 1970's until 31/05/81.
8K13 SX 12:05 Crewe Basford Hall SS Middle - Stoke Yd (Cockshute Sdgs 1317/1327)(1334a)
Motive Power : class 25, return working off 8K72.
Consist : varied - typical mixed freight of the period.
Notes : I saw this
turn many times, and, only on very rare occasions did I ever see
any part of the consist go forward from Cockshute
sdgs to Stoke yard.
Usually the loco was detached at Cockshute and ran to Stoke yard light.
Motive Power : 2x25s off T14 (1255 ex BIS Oakamoor (Stoke 1444).
Consist : Sand in MTV
opens, HJV hoppers, barrier vans (ex Banana vans) & Goods 20T brake.
Notes : called at Stoke yard to detach raft of wagons destined for Worksop
Motive Power : class 25, return working off 8K13.
Consist : varied - typical mixed freight of the period.
Notes : this whole turn usually class 24 in previous years.
5H23 14:26 SO ECS Derby - Stockport CS (Stoke sta 15C21/1523 7/6 20/9-4/10 after 1M26 0918 ex Paignton)
Motive Power :
Consist :
Notes : I have no further info on this service.
1M89 10:20 SO Paignton - Manchester Piccadilly (Stoke 1530/1532 14/6-13/9)
Motive Power : class 47
Consist : MkI
Notes : ran the following year too.
1D17 13:00 SO Llandudno - Nottingham (Stoke 1534/1537) one 25
Motive Power : class 25
Consist : MkI
Notes : return locos and stock off 1D30 (above)
Motive Power : Class 25 or less often a Class 31. Classes 2x20/37/40/45/47 also made rare appearances.
Consist : typical van
train. standard BG/GUV and CCT types plus pre grouping ex LMS
BG's ex SR woodern CCT/BG types. Notes
: When a Class 31 worked
4M22, it would usually return light and stable
at Cockshute HS early evening.
Motive Power : Class 25/40/47 would arrive / Class 81-86 forwards
Consist : more modern AB wagon types only conveyed.
Notes :
only ever seamed to be an odd wagon or two added or removed.
the engines changed at viaduct sidings on at least
one occasion?
0Z00 17:21 SO Crewe Down HS - Cockshute HS (18||10)
Motive Power : one or more locos of classes 25/40/47.
Consist : light engines.
Notes : if a 31 had worked 4M22 it may arrive too.
Motive Power : class 25, return working off 8K78.
Consist : varied - typical mixed freight of the period.
Notes : see 7D31.
4K07 19:50 SX Longport - Crewe Uphill Sdgs
Motive Power :
Consist : short van train
Notes : I have no further info on this service.
7E75 19:45 SX Stoke Yd - Healey Mills
Motive Power : 25 2x25 or 40
Consist : varied -
mixed freight of the period but steel carrier types dominated
Notes : often produced class 24s in previous years
6F47 18:46 SX COY Newstead - Ellesmere Port West (Stoke sta 21C02/21C04)
Motive Power : 2x25
Consist : HEA Red/Brown hoppers
Notes : same duel
brake fitted pair often worked this turn all week when such a thing was
rare.
8K04 19:37 SX Bescot - Stoke Yd (2106a)
Motive Power : class 81-86
Consist : varied - typical mixed freight of the period.
Notes : erratic time keeper and could arrive much earlier or later.
5P58 19:00 FO ECS Manchester Piccadilly - Derby Etches Park Sdgs (Stoke 19C48/19C50)
(after working 1031 ex Newquay until 3/10, 1230 ex Plymouth from 10/10)
Motive Power : class 47
Consist : ECS MkI WR stock.
Notes : can remember
seeing a class 44 and 2x20s working this turn in earlier years.
7D31 20:47 SX Cockshute Sdgs - Toton New Bank (Stoke sta 20C51/20C53)
Motive Power : class 25, after working 8K15.
Consist : varied - typical mixed freight of the period.
Notes : conveyed sand
off T14 (ex Oakamoor for worksop) and tanks off 8T10 (ex Bradwell sdgs
for Harwich)
7K02 19:02 SX Ravenhead - Cockshute Sdgs (2112a)
Motive Power : 2x25
Consist : sand empties
Notes : locos off 9T14/8F21 to Cockshute HS
7F05 21:30 SX Stoke Yd - Walton Old Jn
Motive Power : class 25
Consist : varied - typical mixed freight of the period.
Notes :
8G82 22:12 SX Cockshute Sdgs - Bescot
Motive Power : class 81-86
Consist : varied - typical mixed freight of the period.
Notes : loco off 8K04.
8H29 22:26 SX Stoke Yd - Dewsnap Sdgs
Motive Power : class 25
Consist : varied - typical mixed freight of the period.
Notes :
Motive Power : class 25 or pair of same
Consist : typical van
train. standard BG/GUV and CCT types plus pre grouping ex LMS
BG's ex SR wooden CCT/BG types.
Notes :
4G02 21:50 SX Parcels Manchester Mayfield - Curzon St (Longport 2235/2243)(Stoke 2249)
Motive Power : class 81-86
Consist : typical van train.
Notes : I seam to recall this a short load?
1M58 20:04 SX Postal Peterborough - Crewe (Stoke 22 48/22 53)( Portion from Lincoln)
Motive Power : class 31
Consist : TPO load four.
Notes : conveyed through coach from Lincoln combined at Derby, also 31 hauled.
In addition to the services shown above, there were numerous further freight
services through the night, plus in addition, the many
Conditional services, which includes all MGR coal turns, tankers to and from Stanlow and the LPG tanks between Fawley -
Longport, and there were also a number of trains to and from Toton for
which I've currently not got any accurate timing / headcode
details...
Sources for the above notes are : My own increasingly feeble
memory and notes together with extracts from the 1980-81
period Section
CM of the LMR Mandatory Working Timetable and local trip notices for the same period (the latter with
thanks to Rob
Callaghan)...