RAIL TOURS OF THE 1970S
Compiled by Colin Stone
Image 4: Birmingham University Transport Society’s “Birmingham Area Rail Tour”, comprising Met-Cam built cars Nos 50313, 59124, 50331 (later Class 101), is seen at Alveley Colliery sidings. This tour started from and finished at Birmingham New Street. Its aim was to cover routes under threat of closure and/or freight only lines such as the Sutton Park line and the Walsall to Stourbridge Junction via Wednesbury route. Alveley Colliery was located along what is now the “heritage” Severn Valley Railway, however in 1968 it was freight only having closed to passengers in 1963. The photograph was taken as the headboard was repositioned during the 16.36 - 16.50 reversal movement. As headboards go, it has to be admitted it is some headboard. The 1L00 sign in the cab window refers to the train route identification, not to the fact there was only one toilet on board! 2 March 1968. (John Tolson)
Image 6: A Swindon built Cross Country 3 car d.m.m.u. (later Class 120) stands at Barry Pier station with the WRS “South Wales Rail Tour No 2”. From Cardiff, the tour ventured up some of the valley lines visiting such places as Cwm Bargoed Washery, Windsor Colliery Sidings, Aberdare, Hirwaun and Maerdy before heading to Barry, arriving about 18.20. Although the individual identities of the d.m.m.u. cars can’t be determined, we can do slightly better with the ship in the background. Attracting the attention of some of the tour participants is a Geest Line ship, either “Geest Land” or “Geest Star”, both were 5,800 tons gross weight and capable of 21 knots. They could carry 150,000 stems of bananas, 12 passengers and no doubt a few Cupiennius! (Banana Spiders). At picture date the twin ships plied between Barry and the Windward Islands, they were scrapped in 1994 and 1995 respectively. 13 April 1968. (John Tolson)
Image 7: A fairly substantial clue to the location of this rail tour being Nottingham Victoria is the clock tower. Listed as “Farewell to GN Branch Lines in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire”, it was organised by the SLS (Midland Area). From Birmingham New Street it ran to Burton-onTrent where it took the GN line eastward through Derby Friargate, Ilkeston North to Bulwell Common. The train then headed north up the GN line through Shirebrook to Elmton & Creswell before returning south to Nottingham via the Midland Railway line. After reversal for the return journey the two (unidentified) Met-Cam 3 car d.m.m.u.s, later class 101, forming the tour stand at the remains of the joint GN/GC station. Closed to passengers on 4 September 1967, freight still passed by while the station was being demolished, but even that would cease in May 1968, shortly after the tour visit. The clock tower survives, incorporated into a shopping centre. 4 May 1968. (John Tolson)
Image 18: Some seven years after it lost its passenger service in September 1963, Abingdon station, Oxfordshire briefly echoes to the chatter of rail travellers again. Passengers off d.m.m.u. cars Nos 50679+59291+50727 (later Class 120) forming the LCGB (Bath Branch) “Isis Rail Tour” have 5 minutes to stretch their legs. The flat wagons (left) were, at the time, used to transport MG cars from British Leyland’s Abingdon plant. The tour continued over more freight only lines, first to Witney on the remains of the Fairford branch, Bicester London Road, Wallingford, Welford Park on the Lambourn branch, then finally through Melksham to Chippenham and back to Bristol. Abingdon station closed completely in June 1984; almost inevitably a supermarket was built on the site. Happily the branch to Wallingford survives as a heritage line, while Melksham and Bicester stations have reopened to passengers. Sadly all the other routes eventually lost their freight traffic and closed. 4 February 1970. (John Tolson)
Image 31: Five years after the final “Bournemouth Belle” departed London Waterloo, Pullmans grace its interior again. 5BEL e.m.u. set No 3053, forming the RCTS “Brighton Belle Commemorative”, awaits its 10.10 departure time. As well as Waterloo, the tour visited other 3rd rail electrified Southern Region stations unfamiliar to the unit, such as Portsmouth Harbour, Littlehampton, Bognor Regis and Hastings. However, to end the day the unit was booked to run over its usual stamping ground from Brighton to London Victoria in 54 minutes. This was a repeat of the same tour run a week earlier, the last regular service “Brighton Belle” ran on 30 April 1972. It has to be said the drab BR corporate blue/grey which replaced the Pullman livery does nothing for the unit. All 5 cars survive, with Car 285, 2nd in the formation, under restoration with the 5BEL Trust for eventual return to service of a “Brighton Belle” 3rd rail e.m.u. 8 April 1972. (John Tolson)
Image 34: London Transport organised this tour, seen at Harrow-on-the-Hill, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their ex- Metropolitan Railway electric locomotives. At the time, just two of the original 20 remained operational, No 5 John Hampden and No 12 Sarah Siddons . This Sunday tour began and ended at Wembley Park; it comprised seven brake vans numbered B555 to B560 and No B582. It is believed the station clock has stopped at 10.05 as the sun position strongly indicates a time of around 14.15. This fits with the booked 14.12-14.28 reversal, which allowed tour participants to grab a quick photograph. If correct, No 5 has just arrived from Uxbridge and No 12 will now lead to Amersham. Later in the day the tour was curtailed when van No B559 ran hot. The 1,200 horse power Metropolitan Vickers built locomotives had a top speed of 65 m.p.h. Both survive, No 5 on static display, whilst No 12 is maintained in running order. 16 July 1972. (John Tolson)
Image 41: One tour, three names? Organised jointly by the LNER Society and the Thompson B1 Locomotive Society, this tour isn’t listed on the Six Bells website. However, from the photographer’s notes and his other images we know the tour started from London Marylebone behind Class 47 No 47076 to run via Banbury and Coventry to Nuneaton. From there, sister engine No 47351, carrying “The Master Cutler” headboard, headed to Sheffield via Derby. No 47351, now bedecked with “The Hook Continental” headboard, was photographed at Sheffield before departure via Peterborough, Ipswich and Manningtree North curve to Harwich Parkeston Quay. Finally, adorned with “The Scandinavian” headboard, No 47351 took the tour back to London Liverpool Street. The 1965 built Brush Type 4 Co-Co No 47351 was primarily a freight loco, so would have been prized by the “haulage bashers”; it was withdrawn from service in July 2000 and cut up for scrap at Wigan in February 2001. 8 May 1976. (Graham Taylor)
Image 58: London Bridge station at 15.51 and No 55007 Pinza is stripped of “The Man of Kent” headboard and other regalia at the end of the tour. Not quite, after running round, it would leave London Bridge at 16.08, run via the “Quarry Line” and the Arun Valley to Bognor Regis. At Bognor a Class 73, No 73127, would draw the whole train with No 55007 on the rear to Littlehampton. Leaving Littlehampton at 18.42 Pinza would run non-stop via Hove to arrive at London Victoria at 20.09. Quite what the citizens of Surrey and Sussex thought about being classed as part of Kent as their counties were traversed is not known! But we do know that No 55007 was named after the racehorse “Pinza” (1950-1977). Sadly BR’s 3,300 horse power, 100 m.p.h. machine was withdrawn on 31 December 1981 and scrapped at BR Doncaster in August 1982. 26 March 1978. (Trevor Davis)
Image 69: English Electric Type 4 1Co-Co1 Class 40 No 40186 stands at Nuneaton with the “Three Way Special” organised by the Thompson B1 Locomotive Society. This tour appears to be a repeat of that seen in image 42, but with “an addition”. Two Class 25s had brought the train, running as “The Master Cutler”, from London Marylebone. No 40186 would now take it forward to Sheffield, Rotherwood sidings. From there, running as “The North Country Continental”, a pair of Class 76 electric locos crossed the Pennines via the Woodhead route to Manchester and return as “the addition” to the 1976 tour. That second nameboard was carried onward by No 40186 from Rotherwood to Harwich Parkeston Quay. Finally a third headboard, “The Scandinavian”, adorned No 40186 from Harwich into London Liverpool Street. The 40 was withdrawn in December 1982 and cut up in March 1983 at BR Doncaster. 16 September 1978. (Graham Taylor)
Rail Tours of the 1970s offers a unique visual record of British rail tours during a time of dramatic change. Through carefully selected photographs, the book documents tours that traversed soon-to-be-closed lines and featured locomotives on their final journeys. Colin Stone’s well-researched captions bring the images to life, offering insights into the rise of rail enthusiast tours following the end of British Rail steam in 1968.
Whether reliving old memories or discovering a new perspective on British railways, Rail Tours of the 1970s is an engaging and nostalgic look at a lost era.
ISBN 978-1-913893-56-9
£17.50
