33051 & 33116, "The Duck & Weasel" Rail Tour, 28th December 1996

Another great Crompton trip courtesy of Hertfordshire Railtours, entirely off the Southern Region. The locos used were 33051 "Shakespeare Cliff" and railtour regular 33116. The train is first seen at London Kings Cross just before departure. On the way, Doncaster works was passed where several locomotives including D9016 "Gordon Highlander" were seen.

After passing Doncaster the train continued through the flowing countryside of Lancashire and Yorkshire, fortunately the locations have been restrospectively identified by the eagle eye of @Clive Barlow - visit his channel, he has some good stuff too!

Near Mirfield the train slowed to a crawl to cross some visibly deformed track, perhaps due to a bridge being struck by a vehicle. A 158 was equally slowly crossing in the other direction.

After passing the poor track the locos thrashed away toward Acrington, then the sun came out highlighting the colours of the locos against the surrounding buildings followed by more Crompton power away from Accrington.

After a series of curves the train came upon Rose Grove. Both locos were worked hard with plenty of clag from the exhausts! Near Portsmouth a bridge was passed that had at least twenty photographers waiting for the train. A few minutes later a station was passed where more linesiders has congregated on the platform, then 144015 passed before the train finally arrived at York where the locos ran round the train. It is possible beers intervened which might explain why the video ended there, although 33116 failed after leaving York which meant a late arrival at Kings Cross [over two hours late I think] and a mad dash across London to get the last train home.

Otherwise, another great day out!

Thanks again to @Clive Barlow for his knowledge of the lineside.

Clives channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQQHPqXTC9wyNDC50DAKTfg





[Hi8 source]



00:00 London Kings Cross
00:11 Doncaster Carr Loco
00:22 Cottingley
01:26 Morley
01:53 exiting Morley tunnel
02:02 Batley
02:51 Thornhill LNW Jn
03:18 Mirfield
04:00 Dodgy track!
07:21 Accrington
07:35 Accrington viaduct
09:12 Huncoat
09:39 Hapton/Rose Grove
10:33 Rose Grove
11:05 Gannow Jn
11:22 Burnley Manchester Road
11:42 Hufling Lane Crossing, Burnley
12:18 Walk Mill
12:58 Southward Bottom
13:28 Portsmouth
14:01 Cornholme/Lydgate
14:57 Kitson Wood Tunnel
15:37 Hall Royd Jn
16:35 Castle Hill Tunnel/Horsfall Tunnel
16:52 Sandbed
17:02 Charlestown
17:36 Hebden Bridge (incl. Weasel Hall Tunnel!)
19:36 Brearley/Luddenden Foot
20:38 Sowerby Bridge/Milner Royd Jn
21:37 York