CLASS 20
Although October 5 was a ‘strike day’, Locomotive Services’ Type 1s Nos. 20096+20107 managed to undertake training trips from Middlesbrough along the line to Whitby. The pair had travelled north from Crewe the previous day and returned to their Cheshire base on October 6 travelling via Derby. Then, on October 29, the pair took B1 4-6-0 No. 61306 and its support coach from Crewe to Kidderminster SVR. Late on October 16 Nos. 20007+20205 left Derby RTC bound for Peak Forest ready to act as shunt locomotives on behalf of Victa Railfreight. Both were busily engaged the following day.
CLASS 33
‘Crompton’ No. 33025 ran light from Southall to Alton (Mid Hants Railway) on October 13, ready to collect BR Standard 2-6-0 No. 76017. The pair then ran as the 5Z33 14.20 Alton-East Grinstead, the steam locomotive ready to take part in the Bluebell Railway’s ‘Giants of Steam’ gala. Meanwhile, No. 33025 returned light engine to Southall depot.
CLASS 37
No. 37418 moved high-output ballast wagons from Stapleford & Sandiacre to West Ealing on October 6, and the following afternoon had charge of five MRAs forming the 6Z37 12.50 Doncaster Decoy-Derby RTC. The loco had a similar load when heading from Toton to Shirebrook (W H Davis) on October 11, before its involvement in the ‘Saltburn Alternative’ tour (see Class 50 below) on October 22. From October 24, Nos. 37901+37418 were paired when taking yet another set of MRAs from Doncaster to Derby RTC prior to collecting saloon Caroline (No. 975025) next day, taking it to York ready for a tour to Boulby and Lackenby on October 26. Still in the north east, No. 37403 ran light from Grosmont to Bo’ness on October 28, following a busy summer hauling passenger trains to Whitby (see image below).
With Nos. 37688 and 37521 at either end, Locomotive Services’ chairman’s 10-coach train set off as the 1Z69 08.33 Crewe-London Euston on October 28 routed by way of Stoke-on-Trent to Stenson
