Mainline Class 31 + Class 20 & 50 on ‘West Midlands Deviator’ - Railtour

UK Railtours ran a marathon railtour on 23/5/26, the ‘West Midlands Deviator’ - starting at Derby, down to Bedford then to Burton to Nemesis Rail, then to Stratford via Birmingham International and Leamington. From Stratford up the Shakespeare Line to Birmingham Moor Street, then a return run to Stratford. From Stratford to Codsall and then Codsall to Bedford, Bedford back to Derby.
Traction was with the only mainline operational class 31 no 31128 along with class 20 no 20205. Power at the other end came from class 50 no 50049 ‘Defiance’.

This video is of the workings in and around the Stratford / Shakespeare lines.

First off at Bearley on the single line from Hatton to Stratford, 31128 & 20205 are seen leading 1Z51 - after reversal - 1310 from Leamington to Stratford, with 50049 on the rear.

After reversal at Stratford, class 50 no 50049 disturbs the peace at Wood End as it powers upgrade through the tunnel leading 1Z21 the 1359 Stratford to Birmingham Moor Street with 20205 and 31128 on the rear. Is this the first 50 up the Shakespeare line ? (Answered my own question there - 50011 came through in 1986 on F&A’s ‘Bard & Brush’ tour)…

After reposing at Moor Street, its class 31 /20 power as 31128 and 20205 lead 1Z52 the 1458 from Moor St to Stratford. The BR blue duo are seen passing ‘The Lakes’ halt en route to Stratford.

After another reversal at Stratford, 50049 then leads the ensemble via Hatton back onto the Chiltern mainline heading 1Z22 1600 Stratford to Codsall….once on the mainline the power is put
on and 50049 is captured powering up the gradient from Dorridge at Widney Manor as it heads north with 20205 and 31128 on the rear.

After getting to Codsall it then reverses and heads eventually to Bedford and then back to Derby !

Not sure why I’ve written all this as no one will read it, but there it is…..

#train #railway #travel #stratforduponavon