On this day in history (31st March)

Twenty five years ago today the very last British Railways-sponsored charter train ran. This was a Double-headed steam special (75014+70000) from Liverpool Lime St to Carlisle and return. Although the train was open to the general public (at a price!) it was principally a ‘jolly’ for members of the InterCity Special Trains Unit, their partners and industry colleagues. Upon arrival back at Lime Street, there was then a lavish party laid on at the Merseyside Maritime Museum; a few of you reading this would have been there. It was quite a day, to say the least, and the ‘back story’ may get a wider audience one day!
The following day, 1st April, the InterCity STU ceased to exist, and the first charter of the ‘new era’ was run under the auspices of Waterman Railways. This was a double-header round the Southern with 30777+828. I have in my ‘personal artefacts’ my original hand-written specification pro-formas for the two operations.
Much water has passed under the bridge since then, and tales to tell. A number of those present at the time are no longer with us, including of course the head of the STU for its last 12 months Steve McColl, who shuffled off this mortal coil earlier this month.

 

The said special, at Ais Gill. I wasn't aware of the passing of Steve McColl.

 

https://settlecarlislesteam.co.uk/1995/31st-march-1995-the-final-curtain-special

Does anyone have details of the route? Was it S&C both ways or north over Shap? I had noted it as steam over the S&C southbound only.

 

Ian, it had to be diesel to Carlisle, which route, I don’t know. 70000 was on Upperby the day previous (30th) and 75014 ran north on the S&C to Upperby that same day.

 

The first steam charter of the "brave new world". Photo from the Eastleigh RPS collection.

Can we go back 25 years please and try again? That's if Derby2 hasn't already got the TARDIS

Cheers, Neil

 

Ah yes, I remember it well. I wonder - did I ever copy that footage from SVHS? Time for a rummage in the archives....

 

Yes, you are right. I have pointed out privately to friends and former colleagues that it must have been just steam on the return leg from Carlisle, as there simply wouldn't have been enough hours in the day to be steam-hauled both ways. A fault with the motion of 75014 was discovered at Garsdale, and 70000 effectively pushed it all the way back to Lime St.
As to which route the train took on the outward leg, I'd have to consult my archive papers - if I could remember where they are!!

 

According to an entry from Pip Dunn on WNXX Forum it was on Friday 6th March 2020.

 

My footage of this train

 

And I have pictures taken from the train as we arrived into Carlisle.

I think the outward route was via Shap but I will try to check.

Edit: Nope, I have my boarding pass but no itinerary.

 

From the trackwork seen coming in from the right in the first picture, and the downward sloping of the carriages, it would appear that the train was routed outward via the wcml.

 

Upperby, late Friday afternoon after 75014 had arrived after travelling engine and coach via the S&C.

 

By chance, sorting through a pile of old papers, I have come across the second boarding pass and the letter that came with the passes. The letter gives few details of the route but does remind me that the train started from Liverpool Lime St and went first to Crewe, where those of us from Euston, Watford Jn and Stafford joined. More to the point, it states that the train was to be electrically hauled to Carlisle.

 

Thanks, and it sounds from post #7 that the steam went all the way to Lime Street on the return?

 

It did indeed Ian. These are two poor quality stills I have taken from an equally poor quality video at Lime Street

 

Climbing to Buriton there Neil? We were stood on the road bridge.

 

Yes, taken from the hill just north of Finchdean. Not my picture, but we have been up there for 340

 

I knew I had something. Here are my shots from that day of 828 and 777.

Shot on Super VHS and recovered from a DVD - Steam Age Pictures Volume 2. Copies are still available - details on the website http://www.steamage.co.uk/wp1/?p=452

 

My photo of 828 & 777 at Guildford. In my defence I was only 10! My Dad must have something better from that day will ask him to have a look!

 

A nice memento of the day. It would look better if you reduced the size (longest edge 500 pixels??). Posting the full-size version, so it fills the screen, exaggerates the fuzziness etc ;-)