The Anglian Diesel Farewell railtour 9th May 1987 Hertfordshire Railtours / British Rail
Locomotives used: D200 (40122), 37138 __________________________________________________________ 

During the 1980s, I spent a lot of my time riding around the British Rail network, mainly chasing Class 40s and then Class 50s, but also seeing and riding behind a number of other classes. I made a number of tape recordings at the time - many from the front window, some from the platform - using my trusty 'ghetto-blaster' or 'boom box' - and now these recordings can finally be heard :)

There were also many fine rail tours back in the 1980s, and it was often possible to get haulage behind your favourite class and travel over rare track at the same time, as with this tour, and all for a modest outlay of £15-20. Happy days 😍

The British Rail Class 40s were built by English Electric between 1958 and 1962. They were numbered D200-D399. Despite their initial success, by the time the last examples were entering service they were already being replaced on some top-level duties by more powerful locomotives. As they were slowly relegated from express passenger uses, the type found work on secondary passenger and freight services where they worked for many years. The final locomotives ended regular service in 1985. The locomotives were commonly known as "Whistlers" because of the distinctive noise made by their turbochargers.

And you will hear plenty of whistling on this 40min recording, made on Saturday 9th May 1987. The Anglian Diesel Farewell railtour was joint organised by British Rail (InterCity) and Hertfordshire Railtours to mark the end of diesel haulage on the Great Eastern Main Line between London Liverpool Street and Norwich. 

British Railways originally ordered ten Class 40s, then known as "English Electric Type 4s", as evaluation prototypes. They were built at the Vulcan Foundry in Newton-le-Willows, Lancashire. The first locomotive, D200, was delivered to Stratford on 14 March 1958. Following fitter and crew training, D200 made its passenger début on an express train from London Liverpool Street to Norwich on 18 April 1958. Five of the prototypes, Nos. D200, D202-D205, were trialled on similar services on the former Great Eastern routes, whilst the remaining five, Nos. D201, D206-D209, worked on Great Northern services on the East Coast Main Line.

The InterCity Great Eastern Main Line between London and Norwich was diesel operated from 1958 until 1985, when the Liverpool Street - Ipswich section was electrified. The last section from Ipswich to Norwich was finally energised in May 1987, when through electric services commenced.

For this recording, we travel behind the original Class 40 - celebrity loco D200 (40122) - along with Class 37 37138 on the Anglian Diesel Farewell railtour. The recordings have survived in good shape, having been made using a quality TDK SA-90 metal tape. Enjoy the sound of the English Electric Type 3 and Type 4 - for a good 40mins you can immerse yourself in reliving the experience of hanging out of a Mark 1 carriage window behind classic diesels 😎

Recordings taken at: London Liverpool Street - King’s Lynn - Lowestoft - Oulton Broad North - Reedham - Brundall - Norwich - London Liverpool Street

Track 1 0m-6m D200 departs Liverpool Street
Track 2 6m-10m D200 release and run-round at King’s Lynn
Track 3 10m-14m30s 37138 arrives at Lowestoft c/w plenty of basher blather 😍
Track 4 14m30s-16m 37138 reverses the empty stock out of Lowestoft at speed!
Track 5 16m-26m 37138 Lowestoft - Oulton Broad North, through Reedham, through Brundall
Track 6 26m-31m D200 departs Norwich
Track 7 31m-39m D200 ‘revved up’ by the driver under the station roof after arrival at Liverpool St - with encouragement from the bashers on the platform - shut down followed by start up again, and final departure light engine to Stratford 😍

More info on the tour here: https://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/80s/870509hr.htm

Happy days 😍

Railtour Memories - English Electrics D200 + 37138 on the Anglian Diesel Farewell - 09May1987

Gwent Valley Explorer 
23rd May 1987
Pathfinder Tours

Locomotives used: D200 (40122), 37220, 37280

During the 1980s, I spent a lot of my time riding around the British Rail network, mainly chasing Class 40s and then Class 50s, but also seeing and riding behind a number of other classes. I made a number of tape recordings at the time - many from the front window, some from the platform - using my trusty 'ghetto-blaster' or 'boom box' - and now these recordings can finally be heard :)

There were also many fine rail tours back in the 1980s, and it was often possible to get haulage behind your favourite class and travel over rare track at the same time, as with this tour, and all for a modest outlay of £15-20. Happy days 😍

For my latest offering from the Sound Archives, we have some fabulous Class 40 vibes with my recordings taken from the vestibule window on the Gwent Valley Explorer railtour, which took pioneer loco D200 (40122) up into the valleys around Newport, Gwent. The recordings have survived in good shape, having been made using a quality TDK SA-90 metal tape. Enjoy the sound of the English Electric Type 3 and Type 4 - for a good 54mins you can immerse yourself in reliving the experience of hanging out of a Mark 1 carriage window behind classic diesels 😎

PART ONE - Outward Leg CREWE to NEWPORT with D200
1	0m-3m10s		D200 (40122) departing Derby
2	3m10s-6m15s	D200 (40122) approaching through the tunnels and arrival at Birmingham New St.
3	6m15s-12m50s	D200 (40122) departing Birmingham New St. through the tunnels on wet rails 😍 (with yours truly at 7m25s)

PART TWO - NEWPORT up the EBBW VALE BRANCH with D200
4	12m50s-21m05s	D200 (40122) leaving Newport heading for Ebbw Vale (with chat from the tour stewards and bashers)
5	21m05s-25m25s	D200 (40122) onto the Ebbw Vale branch proper
6	25m25s-30m20s	D200 (40122) leaving Lime Kiln Junction onto the steep climb towards Aberbeeg (with creaking Mark 1s - and still raining!)
7	30m20s-32m20s	D200 (40122) departing Aberbeeg c/w 37280 now attached on the tail end for a bit of extra power 😍
8	32m20s-33m45s D200 (40122) passing Marine Colliery approaching Ebbw Vale - wet rails 😍

PART THREE - BARRY to CARDIFF with 37280
9	33m45s-38m40s 37280 shunting and then departing Barry heading for Cardiff (with plenty of bashers’ chat)

PART FOUR - CARDIFF up the OAKDALE BRANCH with D200
10	38m40-43m40s 	D200 (40122) departs Cardiff (with more bashers’ chat)
11	43m40s-53m55s taking the curve on the Oakdale branch - wheel flanges scraping, then enjoy the thrash from D200 (40122) on the straight steep climb up to Oakdale Colliery on wet rails 😍

More memories from classic railtours of the 1980s to follow soon, including a CAB RIDE in D200 (40122) from Bolton to Manchester Victoria 😎 :)

Railtour Memories - English Electrics D200 + 37280 on the Gwent Valley Explorer - 23May1987

I was at the cafe the other day chatting with Darren (he resurfaces every few years for a catch up and cup of tea!) about something that drives all of us up the wall—train cancellations. It’s one thing to deal with delays, but when the train just doesn’t bloody well show up and you’re left holding a useless ticket?

Yeah, well, that's maddening. Enough!

There's something else. Even though you might not have spent a lot on the ticket, you often can’t refund your ticket because, in many cases, the ticket doesn’t meet the minimum value required for them to process it. If you want a refund, you're normally expected to send the ticket by mail to Derby as recorded delivery. Maybe you can do it online, but if you're just going to Nottingham, that's £4.80 you won't get back. Over time, this adds up to what good have been several nice lunches at my place!

Trains Cancelled... Again (East Midlands Railway, Northern)

Farewell to the Groombridge branch (6th July 1985)
_________________________________________________________________________________________
During the 1980s, I spent a lot of my time riding around the British Rail network, mainly chasing Class 40s and then Class 50s, but also seeing and riding behind a number of other classes. I made a number of tape recordings at the time - many from the front window, some from the platform - using my trusty 'ghetto-blaster' or 'boom box' - and now these recordings can finally be heard :)


Remembering the Southern Region DEMUs or “Thumpers” 
Maintaining the English electric theme with these recordings, we remember the old DEMUs that used to operate on the Southern Region, affectionately known as “Thumpers”. For this first set of recordings, we travel down from London Victoria in a pair of Class 205 3H “Hampshire” units, and make our way to Eridge, where we take the local branch train, made up of a pair of Class 207 3D “Oxted” units. The recordings were made on the last day of operation for the Groombridge branch, which linked Eridge with Tunbridge Wells (now operating as the Spa Valley Railway). The recordings have survived in good shape, having been made using a quality Maxell XLII metal tape. Enjoy the sound of these humble English Electrics - for about 20mins you can immerse yourself in reliving the experience of hanging out of a carriage window behind these classic DEMUs 😎

Tracklist:
Track 1: 0m - 2m 25s Class 205 “Hampshire” units 1124 + 1125 departing London Victoria (at 13.24) towards Clapham Junction 

Track 2: 2m 30s - 6m 05s Class 205 “Hampshire” units 1124 + 1125 departing Clapham Junction 

Track 3 6m 10s -11m 55s Class 205 “Hampshire” units 1124 + 1125 departing Oxted and Hurst Green (+ some bashers’ banter 😍) 

Track 4 12m 10s - 17m 30s Class 207 “Oxted” units 1317 + 1311 arriving at Groombridge (where my bashing friends Tim & Llew joined the train ;) and on to Tunbridge Wells West

Track 5 17m 30s - 19m 30s Class 207 “Oxted” units 1311 + 1317 from Tunbridge Wells West to Groombridge

Track 6 19m 40s - 21m 20s Class 205 “Hampshire” unit 1118 departing Eridge back towards East Croydon (with musical accompaniment :)

More info on the Class 205 “Hampshire” DEMUs here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_205

And more info on the Class 207 “Oxted” DEMUs here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_207

Watch this space for Part 2 of remembering the Southern Region DEMUs Farewell to the “Hastings” unit DEMUs (9th-11th May 1986)

Happy days 😍

Farewell to the Groombridge branch (Saturday 6th July 1985)

Maintaining the English electric theme with these recordings, we remember the old narrow-bodied “Hastings" unit DEMUs that used to operate between London Charing Cross and Hastings on the Southern Region. 

I made my recordings on the last day of normal service, which was Friday 9th May 1986. The last two recordings were made on Sunday 11th May when the “Hastings DEMU Farewell” railtour passed down the Greenford line, and through Southall, which were locations on my home patch.

The recordings have survived in good shape, having been made using a quality TDK SA90 metal tape. For almost an hour you can immerse yourself in reliving the experience of riding in these classic DEMUs - hope you enjoy the sound of these hard-working English Electrics 😎

Track list:
1&2)     Start - 3m 30s	The day starts at Waterloo East where we are down on the platform awaiting a ride into Charing Cross to pick up the Hastings service. A pair of ‘slam-door’ 4-EPBs arrives and departs, followed by Hastings units 1004 + 1016.
3)	3m 30s - 11m 30s	We are now on board the 08.40 Charing Cross - Hastings service, sitting in the guard’s compartment in the front driving coach S60015 of unit 1011! I chose this secluded location so that I wouldn’t have to hang out of the window and get buffeted by the wind - I hadn’t anticipated the noise from what must have been some sort of (whining) load regulator - however, you can still hear the thrash from the engine in the compartment behind me :)
There’s a lot of screeching from the rails as we crawl through Waterloo East up to London Bridge, and then the driver eventually opens up!
4)	11m 35s - 14m 20s	At Tonbridge, I bailed out of the guard’s compo, and sat on the cushions - taking the opportunity to record out of the window as we left the station.
5)	14m 30s - 16m 10s	Leaving Tunbridge Wells now, again from the front window behind the engine.

6)	16m 15s - 20m 20s	For the second run, we are now on the return journey up from Hastings, on the 12.40 Hastings - Charing Cross service, again sitting in the guard’s compartment in the front driving coach  - this time S60014 of unit 1011. The recording starts leaving Hastings as far as leaving West St. Leonards.

7)	20m 20s - 21m 50s	Departing Crowhurst.
8)	21m 50s - 22m 50s	Departing Robertsbridge.
9)	22m 55s - 24m 20s	Departing Wadhurst.
10)	24m 20s - 31m 15s	Signal stopped & approaching London Bridge.
11)	31m 20s - 39m 25s	London Bridge via Waterloo East to Charing Cross and engine shutdown!

12)	39m 30s - 45m 50s	For the third run on the Hastings line, we are on the cushions again in the front driving coach S60015 of unit 1011, the recording taking us from departure at Charing Cross via Waterloo East to London Bridge.
13)	45m 55s - 47m 50s	I alighted at Sevenoaks and recorded the departing train from the platform - with birds!

14)	47m 55s - 49m 00s	For the fourth and final recording from the last day of operation on the Hastings line, I recorded unit 1012 on the 16.15 Charing Cross - Hastings as it passed through Waterloo East… and that was that!

15)	49m 05s - 50m 45s	We are now at the lineside just near South Greenford Halt as the “Hastings DEMU Farewell” railtour passes by -  a very unusual event on this small west London branch line! The units involved were 1002 + 1032.
16)	50m 55s - 52m 45s	My final recording captures the railtour again, this time passing through my home station of Southall as the tour headed out of London. Before the tour reaches me, you can hear Class 50 ‘Hoover’ 50007 ‘Sir Edward Elgar’ passing eastbound on the slow lines with an Oxford - Paddington service. The ‘Hastings’ units 1002 + 1032 cross over from the down slow to the down fast, so they are travelling at a somewhat sedate speed :)

More info on the Class 201 6S units here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_201

The Class 202 6L units here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_202

Happy days 😍

Farewell to the “Hastings” unit DEMUs (9th-11th May 1986)

BR Type 1s and Type 2s ‘Up North’ (1984 - 1985)
__________________________________________________________
During the 1980s, I spent a lot of my time riding around the British Rail network, mainly chasing Class 40s and then Class 50s, but also seeing and riding behind a variety of other classes. I made a number of tape recordings at the time - many from the front window, some from the platform - using my trusty 'ghetto-blaster' or 'boom box' - and now these recordings can finally be heard :)

For this venture back into the 80s, we are going to hear some of the ‘unsung heroes’ of the BR fleet - namely the Type 1s and Type 2s that took on such a variety of work, even when they were reaching the end of their working lives.

The recordings date from the period 1983-85 and have survived in pretty good shape, having been made using a quality TDK SA90 metal tape. For over 20 minutes, you can immerse yourself in reliving the experience of hearing and riding behind these classic locos. Hope you enjoy these sounds of the 80s 😎)

Track list:
1)	Start - 1m 50s		20190 + 20159 leaving Boston on a summer Saturday Skegness working - 31 Jul 1983
2)	1m 55s - 4m 20s		A rare sight in the early spring of 1985 as 26038 + 26041 depart Inverness for the Far North in lieu of a Class 37! The released loco ( a Class 37) follows up behind - 25 Mar 1985
3)	4m 25s - 5m 30s		Another Type 2 substitution, with 25213 + 25054 departing Skipton on 1E23 Carlisle - Leeds, which was booked a Type 4 - 16 Aug 1984

Tracks 4-11 cover The Silver Hammer railtour which ran on 3rd August 1985 and involved Class 20s on the Settle & Carlisle and Class 25 ‘Rats’ on the Dumfries & Galloway line:
4)	5m 35s - 6m 45s		The 20s (20104 + 20090) running through pw works on the S&C.
5)	6m 50s - 9m 30s		The 20s at Colgate Crossing.
6 & 7)	9m 35s - 13m 00s	The 20s approaching Carlisle.
8)	13m 05s - 16m 05s	The ‘Rats’ (25200 + 25286) departing Carlisle.
9)	16m 10s - 18m 25s	The ‘Rats’ (25s) taking Gretna Jnct. for Dumfries.
10)	18m 30s - 19m 10s	The 20s (20090 + 20104) approaching Preston.
11)	19m 15s - 25m 00s	The 20s departing Preston under the roof!

More info on the Class 20s here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_20

On the 25s (Rats) here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_25

And on the 26s here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_26

Hope you enjoy this short piece of time travel back to the 80s 😍

BR Type 1s & Type 2s on passenger workings 😎 featuring Class 20s, 25s & 26s

During the 1980s, I spent a lot of my time riding around the British Rail network, mainly chasing Class 40s and then Class 50s, but also seeing and riding behind a number of other classes. This also involved covering a number of really fabulous railtours which, back in the 80s, covered very interesting track with choice motive power, at very reasonable cost 😍)
I made a number of tape recordings at the time - many from the front window, some from the platform - using my trusty 'ghetto-blaster' or 'boom box' - and now these recordings can finally be heard :)
For this venture back into the 80s, I have compiled some of the best bits from the “Anglian Diesel Farewell” railtour, featuring the legendary pioneer Class 40 D200. The original tape has survived in good shape, being a quality TDK SA90 metal tape. A short 10min selection of classic Class 40 memories. Hope you enjoy the sounds of the 80s 😎)

Track list:
1)	Start - 3m 15s		D200 departs London Liverpool Street - with accompanying ‘bashers’ banter :)
2)	3m 15s - 6m 45s		D200 shunt release and run-round at King’s Lynn.
3)	6m 45s - 10m 20s	D200 departs Norwich on the return leg - with Class 86 vibes in the background.
4)	10m 25s - 11m 15s	D200 revved up by the driver after being shut down - under the very fine Victorian station roof at London Liverpool Street - along with accompanying encouragement from the ‘bashers’ on the platform!

More info on the “Anglian Diesel Farewell” here: https://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/80s/870509hr.htm

Hope you enjoyed this short piece of time travel back to the 80s 😍

Railtour Memories - D200 (40122) on the “Anglian Diesel Farewell” (9th May 1987)

The Class 40 “Indian Summer” (1984-85)
__________________________________________________________
During the 1980s, I spent a lot of my time riding around the British Rail network, mainly chasing Class 40s and then Class 50s, but also seeing and riding behind a number of other classes.

I made a number of tape recordings at the time - many from the front window, some from the platform - using my trusty 'ghetto-blaster' or 'boom box' - and now these recordings can finally be heard 😍)

This recording takes us back 40 years to 1984, and the last full year of operation for the Class 40 “Whistlers”. The original tape has survived in good shape, being a quality Maxell XLII metal tape. Go back in time to enjoy over half an hour of classic Class 40 memories. Hope you enjoy the sounds of the 80s 😎)

Track list:
1)	Start - 1m 15s	   40118 comes off the train at Derby on 1Z37 - Severnside Railtours "Tyne Tees Explorer" railtour on 17th March 1984.
2)	1m 15s - 3m 10s   and again, 40118 at Derby, this time with accompanying ‘bashers’ banter, and cameo roles from a Class 120 Swindon DMU and a Class 08 shunter :)
3)	3m 15s - 3m 30s	40152 whistles light engine through Crewe station, sometime in 1984.

Tracks 4-7 cover an amazing cab ride that I was fortunate to enjoy in the last vacuum braked Class 40 - pilot batch loco 40009, with 1P55 Redbank vans from Preston to Wigan NW (06.30 on 21st July 1984):
4)	3m 35s - 4m 50s	in the cab of 40009 shunting vans into the sidings at Preston.
5)	4m 55s - 5m 40s	a short recording out of the cab window as 40009 departs Preston, heading south down the WCML!
6)	5m 45s - 6m 20s	40009 comes off light engine at Wigan NW to pick up more vans.
7)	6m 20s - 7m 10s	40009 reverses more vans onto the train at Wigan NW.

8)	7m 15s - 11m 10s	later the same day, we are now behind 40135 on 1M79, departing Man Vic for Liverpool (from the window ;)
9)	11m 15s - 12m 40s	a week later on 28th July we are on the platform at Preston at 5 a.m. as 40143 departs north with 6P85 Preston-Workington tanks.
10)	12m 40s - 13m 20s	back on passenger duties now with 40150 as we take 2J38 Blackpool - Man Vic stopper (vice DMU) out of Preston on full throttle 😍)
11)	13m 20s - 15m 30s   40150 on 2J38 Blackpool - Man Vic again, leaving Chorley, again on full throttle 😍)
12)	15m 30s - 18m 45s   40013 ‘Andania’ leaves Wigan NW on the Sunday diverted 1M71 heading for Chester and Holyhead (10.50 on 12th Aug)
13)	18m 45s -21m 45s	14th Aug and we are again on the platform at Preston in the middle of the night, this time as 40004 departs north with 6P85 tanks (delayed departure at 04.55 after I attempted to get a cab ride 😍) 
14)	21m 50s - 23m 05s   later that same day and we are now behind 40160 on 2J38 leaving Blackpool North at 19.37.
15)	23m 10s - 25m 50s   40160 on 2J38 under the roof at Preston with some basher banter and a spirited departure at 20.00 😍)

The last four tracks 16-19 form a reprise as they are recordings of two of the departmental Class 40s that were used for the Crewe remodelling in 1985 after the main class had been withdrawn - at work on 11th Jul 1985:
16)	25m 55s - 27m 20s	97405 (40060) shunts a PW ballast train at Stafford.
17)	27m 25s - 28m 05s	97406 (40135) comes off a PW ballast train at Crewe.
18)	28m 05s - 33m 00s	97405 (40060) runs around the PW ballast train at Stafford (with cameo from Royal Mail driver passing with BRUTES ;)
19)	33m 00s - 33m 35s	97405 (40060) with a screaming departure from Stafford!

More info on the fabulous Class 40s here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_40

Hope you enjoyed this latest piece of time travel back to the 80s 😍
_______________________________________________________

The Class 40 “Indian Summer” (1984-85)

During the 1980s, I spent a lot of my time riding around the British Rail network, mainly chasing Class 40s and then Class 50s, but also seeing and riding behind a number of other classes.

I made a number of tape recordings at the time - many from the front window, some from the platform - using my trusty 'ghetto-blaster' or 'boom box' - and now these recordings can finally be heard 😍)
This recording takes us back to February 1985, and one of the first Class 40 railtours after the demise of the class, the Saint Andrew which ran from Bolton to Edinburgh, with pioneer D200 / 40122 in charge - the only Class 40 remaining in service. 

The railtour, which was run by the Lancashire Locomotive Society and T & N, became rather infamous, with D200 suffering a defective boiler on a sub-zero weather day! For me though, the railtour was more memorable for the friendly Scottish driver who offered me a CAB RIDE at the start of the tour at Bolton (Trinity Street) all the way to Manchester Victoria, the main pick-up for the tour!

As I only had my pocket Dictaphone with me, the recordings I made on the day are not quite up to spec - having been converted onto a Maxell II metal tape - but atmospheric all the same!
So come back in time with me to enjoy a cab ride in classic Class 40 D200 - hope you enjoy these sounds of the 80s. Happy Days 😎)

Track list:
1)	Start - 0m 40s		we start with D200 as she runs round the stock at Bolton (Trinity Street) after arriving with 12 Mk. 1s.
2)	0m 45s - 3m 45s		and now we’re in the cab of D200 at Bolton, as the driver and secondman discuss the tour with ‘yours truly’ (who sounds like a Cockney sparrow ;) + comments on the platform staff delaying the start!
3)	3m 50s - 9m 35s		after departure, more chat between me and the driver. We can also hear the secondman going in and out of the engine room checking the boiler (which later failed!)
4)	9m 40s - 12m 50s	still in the cab of D200, the secondman comments on the huge crowd that comes into view as we approach Manchester Victoria! Meanwhile, the driver bangs out an 80s tune :)
5)	12m 55s - 13m 50s	now in the front coach, a short recording out of the window as D200 starts the attack on Miles Platting bank on full throttle 😍)
6)	13m 55s - 19m 00s	departure now from Newcastle after a two-hour delay while D200 was sent to Heaton depot where fitters tried but failed to fix the broken boiler!
7)	19m 05s - 23m 35s	finally, on a bitterly cold night, we depart Edinburgh Waverley on the return working, heading for Carlisle (after awful ‘Duff’ 47519 had been removed from the local Edinburgh part of the railtour).

More info on the railtour here: https://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/80s/850209xx.htm

More info on the fabulous Class 40s here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_40

Hope you enjoyed this latest piece of time travel back to the 80s 😍
Photo courtesy of 'Barnsleyrailboy' on Flickr :)

Railtour Memories - D200 on 1Z12 "The Saint Andrew" - Bolton to Edinburgh (9th Feb 1985)

During the 1980s, I spent a lot of my time riding around the British Rail network, mainly chasing Class 40s and then Class 50s, but also seeing and riding behind a number of other classes.

I also made a few tape recordings at that time - many from the front window, some from the platform - using my trusty 'ghetto-blaster' or 'boom box' - and now these recordings can finally be heard 😍)

There were also many fine rail tours back in the 1980s, and it was often possible to get haulage behind your favourite class and travel over rare track at the same time, as with this tour, and all for a modest outlay of £15-20. Happy days 😍

This recording takes us back to November 1985, a few months after the demise of the class, with The Penzance Fryer which ran from Crewe to Penzance, with pioneer D200 / 40122 in charge - the only Class 40 remaining in service.

The railtour, which was run by Traintours, became rather infamous, with D200 suffering over the South Devon Banks and almost coming to a standstill on the Cornish hills! The tour started at the ungodly hour of 03.00 at Manchester Victoria, but with 45107 in charge. From memory, I joined the tour at Crewe where D200 took over 😎)

The recordings I made on the day were recorded onto a Maxell II metal tape and have lasted quite well over the last 40 years - some distortion with the loco at full power much of the time, but atmospheric all the same!

So come back in time with me to enjoy a noisy ride behind classic Class 40 D200 - hope you enjoy these sounds of the 80s. Happy Days 😎)

Track list: 
1) Start - 2m 00s we start with D200 as she struggles up Dainton Bank, between Newton Abbot and Totnes, with 10 Mk. 1s. The train can clearly be heard entering Dainton Tunnel. 
2) 2m 10s - 7m 50s D200 is now struggling even more up Rattery Bank on full throttle 😍) after leaving Totnes - the weather was foul all day and the rails were somewhat slippery! 
3) 7m 50s - 14m 05s continuing up Rattery Bank, with Wrangaton summit finally reached at 12m 15s! 
4) 14m 10s - 19m 45s now we’re on the return working, just passed Saltash and over Brunel’s finest bridge on the run into Plymouth (slightly garbled on this section) 
5) 19m 50s - 21m 15s after a short scheduled stop at Plymouth, the station staff attempt to get the train moving again 😍)
 6) 21m 20s - 26m 20s finally we depart Plymouth, and whistle through the suburbs before getting signal stopped. 
7) 26m 25s - 27m 35s after the signal stop, the train continues east heading for the infamous Hemerdon Bank!
8) 27m 35s - 30m 35s D200 with a standing start at the foot of Hemerdon Bank! 
9) 30m 40s - 35m 30s D200 continues on full power up Hemerdon Bank 😍) 
10) 35m 30s - 35m 50s a quick snatch of D200 giving a blast under the station roof at Bristol Temple Meads on the run-round 
11) 35m 55s - 38m 45s we now depart Bristol Temple Meads heading north for Birmingham. 
12) 38m 45s - 43m 40s and as a suitable finale, we hear D200 at Bromsgrove again performing a standing start on the attack of the famous Lickey Incline!

More info on the railtour here: https://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/80s/851109tt.htm

More info on the fabulous Class 40s here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_40

Hope you enjoyed this latest piece of time travel back to the 80s 😍 
Photo taken by me :)

Railtour Memories - D200 on 1Z25 "The Penzance Fryer" - Crewe to Penzance (9th Nov 1985)

For over 50 years Ilkeston has been without a railway station. Now it has one.

This audio channel has been set up for anyone who would like to send their audio clips related to Ilkeston's railway, whether that be information about the past, present or future.

Get in touch via out website and we can arrange to publish your content on this Soundcloud channel.

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