21/07/84 ... Where were you?

I kicked off from Glasgow the previous evening with 47708 on the 2100
shove from Queen Street, then dropped nicely onto 26005 on the 2315
Edinburgh - Carstairs portion of the 2325 Glasgow - Paignton. The main
train was 85023, which I took forward to Carlisle.

Now for the main feature - the 2045 Euston to Inverness and Stranraer
additional, the latter portion of which was allocated 40160 from
Carlisle, where the train divided. The 40 duly produced, and took us on
a one-way only trip into Stranraer - well you can't turn down a 40 on
that route can you? So, how do we get out of Stranraer? Help was at hand
in the form of some InterRailing backpackers. "Hello plees. Ess thees
where wee change for Eenverness?" said one of them. I took her to the
station supervisor, and suggested that the best way to help her would be
to send her back to Carlisle on the ECS which was waiting to depart with
40160. So the ECS would need to be made into a Control Relief - solely
with the purpose of assisting the stranded backpackers of course. After
a swift phone call, all was arranged, and the backpackers were duly
escorted onto the train. About 20 assorted bashers also decided that
they wanted to leave Stranraer in a hurry, so we set off back to
Carlisle on our personal train. The scheduled departure time of the ECS
was at 0645, but we left at 0628, and ran ahead of schedule all the way
to Carlisle.

While on route, word reached us that the 0945 Blackpool - Stranraer was
allocated 37292 from Carlisle. That was the biggest 37 of all - since it
was fitted with an uprated power unit of 2000 horsepower, and was
usually to be found restricted to heavy freight workings. So, on arrival
at Carlisle what a dilemma - 40168 on the 1040 to Leeds, or 37292 back
to Stranraer? The roadshow split, most opting for the 40 to Leeds -
where they dropped onto 40013 forward to York, and 40155 to Newcastle or
40135 to Liverpool. I decided to stick with the Stranraer route, so
waited for the outrageous required mega-37 to perform. It was load 10,
and I managed a couple of decent photos of it on the climb up from
Girvan, and again at Stranraer.

Another deciding factor in going to Stranraer was I knew what the 1835
Stranraer - Glasgow was allocated - 37155, also required (and my only
run with that loco).

So, 2 trips Stranraer in the day, in and out with a 40, then in with one
required NB 37 for another one out. Throw in a Roarer and a slow-speed
26 for good measure - a classic Summer Saturday. 37292 was out again the
following day on the 1505 Glasgow - Stranraer and 1835 return - another
nice afternoon out.

Friday 20th July 1984
40044 1J29 1920 Liverpool Lime Street / Manchester Victoria
40155 1E93 1732 Bangor / York
There were at least three other 40s out on the pennines. This was a "fix" because it was one of the Crewe controller's
last day at a particular job.

Saturday 21st July 1984
40155 1M51 0800 York / Blackpool
40013 1E98 1205 Liverpool Lime Street / Scarborough
45042 1M75 1400 Scarborough / Liverpool Lime Street
40168 1M26 1555 Leeds / Carlisle
40150 2P41 2150 Preston / Barrow

Sunday 22nd July 1984
40150 1F32 1821 Barrow / Liverpool Lime Street
40135 1M14 2200 Stranraer Harbour / Euston (dragged 85010
probably from Wigan / Crewe – I watched the train arrive at Crewe)"

Gen obtained at Longsight showed that the Skeggy that day was going to be a 47- looking at your notes, this
turned out to be true. We then went to Blackpool on a 104, for 40150 to Preston on the Stranrear service.
It was then fast unit to Blackpool again for 40155 on the Newcastle (observing 46026 also at Blackpool -
destination unknown).This we did to Leeds for 40168 to Keighley on the 16.00 to Carlisle. A desperate move
back to Leeds and 40013 was missed by a couple of minutes... we saw her leave... back across the pennines. I
believe she was en-route to Liverpool."

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