15th Ocotober - The Ousing Dove Railtour

The final railtour of the year that I would be able to do was The Ousing Dove. Starting and finishing at Bristol Temple Meads required two nights in Bristol. My wife travelled with me and we headed up on the FGW London Paddington via Bristol Temple Meads on Friday night.

An early start with the train leaving at 0545 from Bristol. From the start things weren't as they should have been. As we got to the station there was the sight of two DRS 37s running round the ECS. It should have been 66 haulage from Bristol to Crewe! We were soon informed that Pathfinder didn't know what the traction was going to be. All they knew was the 37s would be taken off at Crewe. They had been told a 60 would be added there but that was not definite! The traction from Birmingham New Street to Bristol (much later in the day) was also rumoured to be two Class 67s.

We headed to Crewe via Birmingham New Street and the freight only line avoiding Wolverhampton between Portabello and Bushbury Junctions. As we passed Bescot there were several 66s stabled, two of which were very much required. Upon arrival at Crewe a Class 66 was attached. So that was our traction for the bulk of the day. We headed east via Stoke on Trent towards Derby. We didn't go through Derby as we used the avoider to go towards Nottingham. Again we didn't go through Nottingham as we diverted North at Lenton South and North Junctions. We continued North over Doncaster on the freight only line towards Goole. A Class 60 was attached to the back shortly before we arrived at Goole. Whilst this was happening a winning FL Class 66 passed us. For those who wanted a short break could be had at Goole but for anyone else the train would continue towards Hull but not quite reaching it. It curved back round to Goole using freight only links.

Picking up at Goole we headed west towards Monk Bretton through Knottingly. Just off the mainline another winning Class 66 was spotted. At Monk Bretton we went up to the Network Rail limits. This line was possibly the most overgrown line I had ever been on. Consistant battling with the lineside vegetation up the final mile or so of the branch. It was then time for the 60 to do some work, my first haulage behind the class. It took us 12 miles north to Wrenthorpe Sidings where it would detach. The 66 would then take us south.

We went via Rotheram Central and then freight only line pass Tinsley. It was then Sheffield, Derby and Birmingham. At Sheffield I saw my final Class 222 for sight. At Birmingham the Class 66 was taken off and another put in its place. Another winner!

We arrived into Bristol 27 minutes early. The next day we headed home on a Voyager from Bristol. I was so tired I don't remember the journey as I slept!!

I enjoyed the Saturday. A lot of freight route covered and 5 winning locomotives for haualge. A total of 570 miles for the rail tour and 825 miles travelled over the weekend. Year to date 27914.