1T57 50th Anniversary 2018

In 2008 we celebrated the 40th anniversary of the end of steam on British Railways with a re-run of 1T57 from Liverpool to Carlisle via Manchester but the loco allocation wasn't it's best as the Liverpool to Manchester leg was done using Carnforth's 8F no 48151 instead of a black 5 & during the return journey the train didn't return to Manchester but from Blackburn had 45231 returning to Liverpool via the WCML avoiding Manchester completely.

Original Line up from 1968

45110: Liverpool LS-Earlestown-Manchester Vic.
70013: Manchester Vic-Darwen-Hellifield-Settle-Carlisle.
44871 + 44781: Carlisle-Settle-Hellifield-Darwen-Manchester Vic.
45110: Manchester Vic-Earlestown-Liverpool LS.

2008 Line up

48151: Liverpool LS-Earlestown-Manchester Vic.
70013: Manchester Vic-Darwen-Hellifield-Settle-Carlisle.
45407 + 45231: Carlisle-Settle-Hellifield-Blackburn.
45231: Blackburn-Wigan-Earlestown-Liverpool LS.

Now when it came to the 45th anniversary in 2013 which had the authentic day of Sunday 11th August it seemed fitting that a 2nd re-run was performed. Now although the black 5's chosen weren't from 1968 one of them however no 45305 was allocated to the train in 1968 but failed the night before and letter her work the train lifted the curse of 1968 for good. Another issue was the original route was unavailable due to ongoing electrification and the route used hadn't had steam along it since 1968.

2013 Line Up

45305: Liverpool LS-Hunts Cross-Warrington Central-Manchester Picc-Longsight.
70013: Longsight-Manchester Picc-Farrington Jcn-Blackburn-Hellifield-Settle-Carlisle.
45231 + 44932: Carlisle-Settle-Hellifield-Blackburn-Darwen-Manchester Picc-Longsight.
45305: Longsight-Manchester Picc-Warrington Central-Hunts Cross-Liverpool LS.

The 45th anniversary special in 2013 I was on-board in standard class and although it cost £109 I certainly enjoyed the trip. With the 50th anniversary in 2018 bit of a problem as 70013's mainline ticket runs out this year and her boiler certificate runs out just before 1T57 in 2018. 45305's mainline ticket goes the year before, 44871 could be back out depending if Riley does a fast track overhaul & 45110 isn't operational and isn't planning on returning to the mainline.

 

I went on another tour that was billed as a re-run of the 1968 one. I can't find a record of it, but I think it must have been some time in the 1990s. One bit that I do recall was that the pilot loco (possibly a standard Class 4?) had a big end or crosshead problem on the S&C and ran in light steam the rest of the way with the train loco (which I'm sure was a Britannia, presumably Cromwell) pushing it as well as pulling the train.

Can some kind soul please remind me when this one was?

 

The train you refer to ran on the 31st March 1995 to celebrate (?) the end of British Railways. The route was Carlisle to Liverpool via the S&C and involved 70000 piloted by 75014. Frank Santrian took over the controls of the Brit at Blackburn and commented that he had to push 75014 all the way to Liverpool.

 

I saw it climbing the bank from Springs Branch Liverpool Junction to Bryn. That Brit made a very impressive noise!

 

I don't know what the fault was with 75014 other than the left hand side steam chest was of some interest to the support crew upon arrival at Upperby the day before the run. Could be a coincidence mind...

 

And here it is approaching Bryn station:

 

it was a bent eccentric rod

 

and I will dig out my video of it climbing past Langho

 

If original locos are not available maybe the 2018 re run could/should be locos that have defied preservation? Ie Galatea, 6023, maybe even Tornado and possibly 45551 if its ready and on the mainline by then?? It would be a sort of that was the end but since then we have done this even in the face of all of that??

 

44767 and 44932, with 45231 too, could provide a reasonable simulation plus one of the Brits?

 

45551 on 1T57 would be a bloody fantastic sight & 6023 I doubt will be cleared for the routes as she has the original size cylinders