70013

At the moment there apears to be a fully functioning and capable workshop at Loughborough, so it may be that it's the Financial side of things that has affected the decision more.
Of course, the workshops are planned to move in the future as part of the "Gap" project, which would presumably disrupt things for a while , so perhaps the new GCR workshops might be being constructed a bit sooner than we were all expecting????

 

The class were GC regulars, and actually there is photographic evidence that 70013 did run over the GC route in BR days at least once. So that's not really true.

 

I believed Cromwell did work a railtour over the GCR from Sheffield far as Leicester covering a fail loco from Sheffield Darnal Shed. I found that from watching a GCR dvd.

 

Of course for a class of 55 locos which lasted 15 years they were very widely spread over the main lines in England at one time or another. Not north of York on the GN and not on the old LSWR. I can well recall 70014/5 at Neasden but not for all that long, maybe 61/62?

 

BR Database is your friend...... http://www.brdatabase.info/locoqry.php?action=class&id=746201&type=S&page=alloc

 

I don't think you are correct about north of York. Might not have been shedded up there but I think they ran on the mainline north of York.

 

I found a picture of 70023 Venus (88A) at Newcastle on a running in turn from Doncaster on the David Hey site. Similarly the Brits were among the replacements used on the SR when the MNs had mechanical troubles. So I guess it's never say never. I love @oddsocks strapline by the way, ample evidence here!

 

Neasden had 14/15/45 & 49 with all of them going to Annesley when Neasden closed apart from 45which went to Aston. They certainly worked over the GC but the line was always a dumping ground for clapped out locos and from what I can remember from seeing them at Neasden they were in appalling condition. Ollie went from March dired to Kingmoor and stayed in the NW so wouldn't have been seen on the GC except perhaps on special workings

 

I had an idea that March loco diagrams reached to Grimsby, and included the fish trains that came down the GC?

 

The "Fish" was worked by Immingham's 70035-41, although K3s like 61939 showed up from time to time to trainspotters' disgust.

 

Not on a regular basis, but in 1953, when the Merchant Navy pacifics were withdrawn following 35020's broken driving axle at Crewkerne,the WR loaned a couple of its Brits to Salisbury and Exmouth Junction sheds for use on West of England services. Also, 70020 worked a railtour in the Bournemouth area in 1964 and I think 70009 also visited Bournemouth on an enthusiasts' excursion at some point in the 1960s while 70002 worked a troop train to somewhere on the LSWR in 1966.

Brits never worked into Sussex either as far as I am aware, although both Britannia and Ollie have made amends for this in the preservation era. Seeing 70013 only a few miles from my home, running to Eastbourne in December 2017 in perfect winter sunlight with the RTC Christmas Sussex Belle, will be one of my fondest memories of her recent main line stint (Along with travelling behind her on a run to Canterbury).

 

Immingham (40B) also had an allocation which worked fish trains on the GCR and passenger services to Kings Cross IIRC.

 

Correct, the two daily return passenger services from Grimsby to KX were worked by Brits in the early sixties until replacement by Brush type 2 diesels.

 

I stand corrected.

 

The final steam service from Grimsby to Kings Cross was hauled by 70040.

Dave

 

Cl

Clive of India, a Immingham based loco, 40B.

 

70013 worked a special over the northern part of the GC on 28th October 1967. It travelled via Penistone, Sheffield Victoria, Rotherham Central, Mexborough and Doncaster.

 

Here you are then. For the doubters!


The source is ‘Great Central Lines’ by D H Beecroft published by Book Law Publications. D H Beecroft also took the photo.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Correct. I have a photo somewhere (can't remember where unfortunately) with the headboard in place.

Dave