CLASS 20
Pathfinder Tours’ ‘Chopper Topper’ on July 2 ran from Burton to Gloucester, Donnington, Shrewsbury, Stafford and back to Gloucester before the final leg from Horton Road Junction to Burton-on-Trent. Motive power came in the form of Nos. 20007+20142 ‘top and tailing’ with classmates Nos. 20205+20189. There was another outing for No. 20189 on July 17 when replacing 4-6-0 No. 7029 Clun Castle on two return trips between Birmingham and Stratford-upon-Avon departing from Snow Hill station at 10.00 and 14.07. Seven days later, and running in the same timings, Nos. 20189+20142 handled the ‘Shakespeare Express’ as Network Rail’s steam ban continued to bite.
Following the East Lancashire Railway’s diesel gala, Nos. 20096+20107 hauled No. 37703 from Heywood to Burton Wetmore where they attached No. 20303 for the remainder of their journey to Worksop (July 4). The two LS Type 1s returned to Crewe that evening and were next out on the main line with the ‘Fellsman’ on July 20. No. 47828 hauled the 1Z16 07.02 Crewe-Carlisle to Chester, where the train reversed, allowing Nos. 20096+20107 to go forward via Warrington Bank Quay, Lostock Hall Junction and over the Settle and Carlisle route. Both Type 1s then ran north on July 26 as the 0Z60 10.53 Crewe HS-Carlisle Wapping, noted near Lancaster at 12.40, and returned south two days later with No. 57007 in tow (see Power By The Hour, p24).
CLASS 33
During the course of the Mid Hants Railway diesel weekend (July 16/17), West Coast ‘Cromptons’ Nos. 33025 and 33029 could be found stabled at Ropley, each having arrived separately with stock moves. No. 33029 handled the 5Z33 10.35 West Ruislip-Alton on July 8 conveying the maroon LUL 4-TC set, while stable companion No. 33025 arrived six days later with 2-EPB set No. 5759 and MLVs 68001/2. At the conclusion of a successful weekend for the private railway, Nos. 33029+33025 removed all eight vehicles on the 5Z63 10.21 Alton-Southall.
CLASS 37
West Coast’s reliable No. 37706 was paired with No. 37676 to work throughout on the 1Z52 08.09 Lancaster-Carlisle and 15.25 return (July 12) after Pacific No. 35018 developed a fault. Two days later the same Type 3s took the 1Z62 08.25 York-Carlisle to Hellifield, where a rejuvenated No. 35018 was waiting
