CROMPTON RAILTOURS

This page highlights some of the many railtours that Class 33s have been invloved with. I will gradually expand this page as time goes by.

Click on any of the pictures below for a larger view.

The Buxton Rotator - Saturday 1st May 2004

This Pathfinder tour was due to start from Yeovil Junction at 06.10, but due to engineering works it was re-timed to 04.10. I am afraid I then wimped out, and decided to start from Westbury at 05.04. The outward trip was the 1Z97 Yeovil Junction to Buxton, and the return was 1Z41, both legs being 10 Mark Ones and Twos, pulled by 33103 and 33202. These locos were the only Fragonset 33s currently fitted for TPWS, so no choice was available. The outward trip ran closely to time, and went by way of Bath Spa, Dr Days, Bristol Parkway, Cheltenham, Worcester Shrub Hill, Birmingham New Street, Derby, Hope, and Great Rocks to Buxton Up Relief (or XYZ) Sidings. Because there is no direct connection to Buxton station, 60060 was used to reverse in from the sidings. Arrival was at 11.52.

After a pleasant couple of hours in sunny Buxton, the ECS arrived at the station behind 33103 and 33202, departure was 8 minutes late at 14.08, due to loading problems on the short platforms. 60060 pulled us back to the sidings, where it was detached, and the Cromptons took us back home. The return route was via the other curve at Chinley Junction, Marple, Denton, Stockport, Macclesfield, Stoke, Walsall, Birmingham New Street, and as outwards, except that Worcester was by-passed.

Both locos performed well, with some high speeds between Congleton and Stoke. 33202 however, was emitting large amounts of black smoke throughout.

The Six Five Special - Saturday 13th Spetember 1997

This was the final pre-preservation era EWS railtour. It was run by Hertfordshire Railtours and sub-titled "The Class 33 Farewell Tour". It ran from London Victoria to Bristol Temple Meads, via Brixton, Wimbledon, Woking, Petersfield, Fareham, Eastleigh, Romsey, Salisbury and Westbury. The return trip was via Taunton, Exeter St. Davids, Yeovil Junction, Salisbury, Romsey, Southampton, and Staines. Motive power was 33051 and 33030. After arrival back at Victoria there were emotional scenes, and football style chants of "Crompton, Crompton" etc. There was a bonus trip after the main event, to return the carriage stock to Bounds Green. Passengers were carried as far as Finsbury Park. The loco for this trip was 33116.