Trainspotting

Leamington & Coventry: 1998-2001
 

I was first taken to Leamington by an aunt in the late 1940's. We travelled from Snow Hill on Castle class 4-6-0 no 5017, then named "St Donats Castle". I remember that Leamington Spa General station was very smart, with a well tendered garden at the south end of the down platform. In the 1950's I was a regular visitor, sometimes crossing over to Avenue station for a trip to Rugby, or sometimes just waiting for the next express service to take me back to Birmingham. Thirty or so years later, my wife and myself started visiting Leamington regularly, though always by car.
 But when Chiltern trains came along, and we had an hourly service of comfortable and punctual trains, then we began travelling by rail. I soon realised that Leamington had more to offer than I had realised. And so our visits were reorganised so that after we had done our customary walk around the splendid Jephson Gardens, then had a light meal and a drink, we would each then spend the afternoon doing what we enjoyed most. She went shopping, and I returned the the station.

Coventry as a trainspotting location has less to commend it, and my visits are few and far between. But occasionally for a change I spend a few hours there.  
 
   LEAMINGTON: SATURDAY 28th NOVEMBER 1998: 9.05am to 3.00pm: 
 
Four hours at Leamington Spa on a Saturday morning. But on this Saturday the Birmingham to Gloucester line was closed for Engineering works, and trains from the North to Bristol and beyond were diverted from Birmingham via Banbury and Didcot, then on to the Paddington to Bristol main line through Swindon. Virgin had yet to learn that they could prevent passengers from travelling at all during Engineering blockades by introducing "Bustitution", which involves 2 changes, and massive inconvenience.

And to add to the fun, how about a Deltic, and a couple of Scottish 37's.
   
 SOUTHBOUND TRAINS   Locomotive hauled services only:
 
 9.07 pass HST 43090/43087 on 06.05 ex Leeds diverted (6)..1 early S
 9.55/9.56 47822 on 06.05 Preston-Brighton (6)..13 late
10.09 pass 47290 Light engine S
10.16 pass 47709 on 06.40 ex York diverted (7)..8 late S
10.35 pass HST 43013/43079 on 06.40 ex Newcastle diverted (7)..1 early S
10.52/10.54 HST 43069/43063 on 08.17 Manchester-Bournemouth (7)..7 late
11.47/11.48 47840 on 09.17 Manchester-Paddington (6)..5 late
12.09 pass 47224 on Leeds-Southampton Freightliner (20)
12.44/12.46 HST 43198/43160 on 06.13 Edinburgh-Bournemouth (7)..3 late
13.10 pass HST 43014/43166 on 07.10 ex Edinburgh diverted (7)..2 early S
13.42/13.44 HST 43153/43158 on 06.50 Edinburgh-Bournemouth (7)..1 late
14.10 pass HST 43070/43196 on 08.15 ex Edinburgh diverted (7)..2 early S
14.39 pass 60071 on Freight (Murco Oil bogies) (19) S
14.48 pass 47361 on Coatbridge-Southampton Freightliner (22)
14.55 pass 47829 on 08.40 ex Glasgow diverted (7)..2 late S
14.58/15.00 47841 on 09.10 Edinburgh-Bournemouth (7)..17 late
S indicates Solihull route from Birmingham. All others via Coventry.
 
In addition to the above, Chiltern services (Classes 165 & 168) ran normally to  Marylebone, as did Thames trains (Class 166) from Stratford to Paddington. Local Centro services (Class 150) operated to their usual timetable. 
 
 NORTHBOUND TRAINS   Locomotive hauled services only:
 
 09.08 pass HST 43092/43082 on 05.15 ex Plymouth diverted (7)..2 late S
 09.25/9.26 37428 on Royal Scotsman Charter (9) S
 09.30 pass 37275 (Our Willie) Light engine S
10.03/10.06 D9001 & 47703 on 06.36 Poole-Liverpool (7)..12 late
10.23 pass HST 43155/43068 on 06.22 ex Plymouth diverted (8)..16 late S
10.47/10.49 47854 on 09.03 Paddington-Manchester (7)..R time
11.05 pass HST 43071/43195 on 07.55 ex Swansea diverted (7)..R time
11.41 pass 47711 on unidentified service (7) S
11.59/12.01 HST 43062/43195 (6) on 09.20 Bournemouth-Newcastle (6)..1 late
12.07 pass HST 43161/43007 on 05.48 ex Penzance diverted (7)..2 late S
12.46/12.48 47843 on 09.15 Brighton-Edinburgh (7)..2 late
13.06 pass 47817 on 11.10 ex Bristol diverted (7)..1 early S
13.50 pass 47847 on 09.14 ex Plymouth diverted (7) S
14.11/14.13 HST 43184/43078 (7) on 11.20 Bournemouth-Edinburgh (7)..12 late
14.24 pass HST 43xxx/43178 (7) pn 9.25 ex Plymouth diverted (7) S
14.49/14.51 47848 on 08.24 ex Penzance diverted (7)..R time S
S indicates Solihull route to Birmingham. All others via Coventry.
 
Chiltern services  ran normally  from Marylebone, as did Thames trains services from Paddington to Stratford. Local Centro services operated to their usual timetable 

The 08.24 ex Penzance, above, bound for Edinburgh, was incorrectly routed into the platform road, and stopped. Passengers bound for Edinburgh, whose train was running late, attempted to board. They were refused, and had to wait a further 60 minutes. Well done Virgin Cross Country. 
 
 
   LEAMINGTON: 5th JULY 2001: 6.15pm to 9.30pm: 
 
  Another visit to Leamington Spa, this time in the evening to see some freight.
 
 SOUTHBOUND TRAINS 
 
18.16/18.19 47854 on 15.10 Liverpool-Poole (7)..36 late
18.26 pass 57009 on Freightliner (16)
19.07 pass 87006 on Trafford Park-Southampton Freightliner (25)
19.48/19.49 47822 on 12.30 Glasgow-Poole (6)..65 late
19.52/19.54 47741 on 17.10 Manchester-Paddington (6)..9 late
19.57 pass 66218 on Bordesley-Dollands Moor Cars S
21.02/21.04 47742 on 18.10 Liverpool-Paddington (6)
S indicates Solihull route from Birmingham. All others via Coventry.
 
Including Chiltern and Thames Trains services, 14 trains headed south from Leamington Spa from 6.15pm to 9.15pm.  
 
 NORTHBOUND TRAINS 
 
19.07/19.08 HST 43156/43078 on 16.20 Bournemouth-Manchester (7)..8 late
19.14 pass 66079 on Freight: Avonmouth-Rugby coal (27) S
19.39 pass 37029 on Millbrook-Coatbridge Freightliner (18)
19.45/19.47 58020 Light engine Didcot Yard-Bescot S
20.13/20.14 HST 43006/43080 on 17.20 Bournemouth-Manchester (7)..12 late
20.24 pass 58016 on Freight: Eastleigh-Mossend Enterprise (11) S
20.35 pass 47358 on Southampton-Basford Hall Freightliner (25)
20.48 pass 66070 on Bordesley Car train (35) S
21.07/21.17 47817 on 18.18 Bournemouth-Manchester (7) 13 late S
21.29 pass 66060 on Freight: Swindon-Liverpool Scrap Metal (15) S
S indicates Solihull route to Birmingham. All others via Coventry.
 
Including Chiltern and Thames Trains services, 20 trains passed northbound through Leamington Spa from 6.15pm to 9.30pm.  
 
In 2001, class 58's were well in evidence on the southbound Wolverhampton to Hoo Junction Steel empties, and the evening Eastleigh to Mossend Enterprise service. There was also an evening Didcot to Bescot Departmental working, which did not run on this evening. But the class 58 ran light engine in it's path.
 
 
   COVENTRY: MONDAY 26th NOVEMBER 2001: 11.55am to 4.05pm: 
 
A four hour spell at Coventry on a weekday afternoon would not normally be of great interest. But on this date a Bridge Bash near Oxford in the morning threw northbound Cross Country services into disarray. And would you believe it?. In the early afternoon another Bridge Bash at Sandwell occurred, delaying all services via Wolverhampton.
 
 SOUTHBOUND TRAINS   Locomotive hauled services only:
 
12.08/12.09  90005 on 11.19 Wolverhampton-Euston (T+8)..2 late
12.27/12.29 HST 43166/43088 on 06.20 Edinburgh-Bournemouth (7)..1 late 
12.35/12.37 87020 on 12.15 Birmingham-Euston (T+8)..R time
13.06/13.07 87015 on 12.19 Wolverhampton-Euston (T+8)..R time 
13.31/13.32 47831 on 06.50 Edinburgh-Bournemouth (7)..4 late
13.36/13.37 90006 on 13.15 Birmingham-Euston (T+7)..R time 
13.54 pass 66534 on Crewe-Southampton Freightliner N
14.05/14.07 87002 on 13.19 Wolverhampton-Euston (T+9)..R time 
14.36/14.38 87032 on 14.15 Birmingham-Euston (T+9)..1 late 
15.03/15.05 47848 on 09.10 Edinburgh-Bournemouth (7)..37 late
15.26/15.28 87033 on 14.19 Wolverhampton-Euston (T+7)..21 late 
15.36/15.37 HST 43193/43089 on 11.08 Newcastle-Bournemouth (7)..9 late 
16.02/16.04 86229 on 15.15 Birmingham-Euston (T+9)..27 late
N indicates Nuneaton line 
 
In addition to the above, Silverlink class 321's, Centro 323's, and Central 156's appeared on local and semi-fast services. 
 
 NORTHBOUND TRAINS   Locomotive hauled services only:
 
11.59/12.00 87002 on 10.40 Euston-Wolverhampton (9+T)..5 late
12.09 pass 66535 on Southampton-Crewe Freightliner N
12.22/12.26 90006 on 11.10 Euston-Birmingham (7+T)..R time
12.59/13.00 86229 on 11.40 Euston-Wolverhampton (9+T)..4 late
13.28/13.29 87032 on 12.10 Euston-Birmingham (8+T)..4 late
13.39/13.41 HST 43159/43087 on 09.05 Poole-Newcastle (7)..86 late
13.51/13.53 Voyagers 22007/024 on 09.20 Brighton-Edinburgh (8)..54 late 
13.58/13.59 86243 on 12.40 Euston-Wolverhampton (9+T)..3 late
14.25/14.26 87033 on 13.10 Euston-Birmingham (7+T)..R time
14.49 pass 92011 on Wembley-Bescot Intermodal (20)
14.54/14.56 86233 on 13.40 Euston-Wolverhampton (10+T)..R time
14.59/15.02 HST 43093/43078 on 11.20 Bournemouth-Edinburgh (7)..47 late
14.55 pass HST 43178/43195 on 09.22 Penzance-Edinburgh (7)..1 late
15.29/15.30 90005 on 14.10 Euston-Birmingham (8+T)..4 late
15.32/15.34 66540 on Southampton-Garston Ford Cars (28) N (Crew change)
15.40/15.42 HST 43155/43153 on 12.20 Bournemouth-Edinburgh (7)..29 late
15.52/15.56 87020 on 14.40 Euston-Wolverhampton (8+T)..1 late
N indicates Nuneaton line
 
The 09.05 Poole-Newcastle was late starting (no traincrew at Poole). This train was further delayed by the Oxford bridge bash, and was 86 mins late at Coventry. Behind it was the 9.20 Brighton-Edinburgh Voyager, 54 late. The 11.20am Bournemouth-Edinburgh was 47 late, and the 12.20 from Bournemouth 29 late. Services on the Euston line ran punctually or nearly so. Silverlink and Central Trains services ran to time. 
 

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