The year 1972 was only the second year of the return of steam to the main line. Tours then seemed uncomplicated, and locomotives ran without all the extras now demanded which pile cost upon cost to the amount charged by the tour providers.
On October 14, 1972, the Locomotive Club of Great Britain ran its ‘Welsh Borderer’ railtour from Paddington via Didcot, Newport and Shrewsbury. I began the day in 4CEP unit No. 7203 on the 5.42am Ashford to Charing Cross, which gave me plenty of time to have breakfast before boarding the special for its very civilised Paddington departure time of 8.35am behind Class 47 D1583 on nine coaches for 330 tons. The consist included ex-LNER Gresley buffet coach No. W9135E, which had been built in 1937 at York and lasted until 1977. We left on time and the 47 ran easily to Reading in 32 minutes 47 seconds for the 35.83 miles with a maximum of 88mph at Slough, then on to Didcot in 17 minutes 53 seconds for the 17.10 miles, maximum 86mph.
On arrival at Didcot we transferred to the railway centre, where WR 4-6-0 No. 6998 was in steam and giving rides up and down the yard. Also present was the sole-remaining A2 Pacific numbered as No. 532. Afterbacked onto the train to take us forward to Hereford, arriving four minutes early on the easy schedule, which was designed to take into account the 60mph limit that was then applied to all steam on the main line, plus an allowance for ‘those old steam locos’! My column in issue 207 shows the detail of this section.
