1983-1984

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INTRODUCTION:

The 1983 Summer Timetable saw the first real alterations to the trains to and from the North-West.

The overnight from Manchester was no more, the daytime train now departed Manchester at the more convenient time of 1023 and there was also an earlier train starting from Wolverhampton at 0738.  Northbound from Brighton departures were now at 0847 and 1348.

All weekday trains now had a buffet car. 


TIMETABLE and ROUTE:

The standard route through London was via Clapham Junction, Kensington Olympia, North Pole Junction and Old Oak East Junction.

Routing for all the trains in the Birmingham area was now via Coventry and Birmingham International which no doubt generated extra traffic for the services.

Engineering work diversions often saw the trains running via Streatham, Tulse Hill, Herne Hill, Factory Junction and Latchmere Junction to regain the booked route from Olympia. 

 

 

16th May 1983 to 13th May 1984

M-S

M-S

SUN

SUN

Headcode

 1M50

1M07

1M00

1M05

Timing load

D???

E315

D???/

E315

D455

D???/

E315

Notes

B

B

 

 

Brighton

0847

1348

0925A

1720A

Gatwick

09u14

14u15

0955

1747

East Croydon

09u37

14u38

10u18

18u11

Reading

1037

1537

1137

1920

Oxford

1110

1610

1212

2958

Banbury

1134

1633

1238

2027

Leamington Spa

1153

1652

1257

2048

Coventry

1210

1709

1317

2105

Birmingham International

1224

1725

1330

2118

Birmingham New Street arr

1240

1740

1352

2136

Birmingham New Street dep

1300

1755

1401

2155

Wolverhampton

1317

1811

1418

2210

Stafford

1332

1828

1451

2226

Stoke

1353

1849

 

 

Macclesfield

 

1910

 

 

Crewe

 

 

1526

2252

Wilmslow

 

 

15s51

2312

Stockport

14s27

19s26

16s14

23s23

Manchester Piccadilly

1435

1934

1624

2331

A = until 2/10/83

B = Buffet

 

 

16th May 1983 to 13th May 1984

M-S

M-S

SUN

SUN

Headcode

1O52

1O74

1O74

1O52

Notes

B

B

 

 

Timing load

 

E315/

D???

 

D455

Manchester Piccadilly

 

1023

 

1233

Stockport

 

10u31

 

1243

Wilmslow

 

 

 

1352

Crewe

 

 

 

1330

Macclesfield

 

1044

 

 

Stoke

 

1104

 

 

Stafford

 

1124

 

1400

Wolverhampton

0738

1143

0905

1429

Birmingham New Street arr

0756

1202

0921

1505

Birmingham New Street dep

0807

1221

0925

1510

Birmingham International

0823

1232

0936

1521

Coventry

0834

1244

0948

1533

Leamington Spa

0850

1300

1009

1554

Banbury

0915

1325

1030

1619

Oxford

0942

1354

1110

1649

Reading

1012

1419

1144

1718

East Croydon

1111

1531

13s01

1830

Gatwick

11s31

15s49

1320

18s49

Brighton

1200

1620

1352C

1923

B = Buffet

C = until 2/10/83

 

 

 

 


LOCOMOTIVES:

North of Birmingham classes 81 - 86 could be expected to be the usual traction. South of Birmingham class 47/4's were once again the mainstay with the occasional 47/0 or class 33 or 73 making an appearance south of Reading. The notable exceptions were the visits of the odd class 45 on the morning service from Manchester and afternoon return during the year.


STOCK:

Both sets of  8 coaches were formed with air-braked and dual heated Mk2abc stock as the year progressed more Mk2d and Mk2e stock appeared. I seem to remember that they were based at Oxley ( Wolverhampton ). The Brighton workings also appear to have been a testing ground for RDB977091 the experimental Leyland National bodied Mk1 coach.


PHOTOS:

47248 runs into Reading with 1O52 the 0738 Wolverhampton to Brighton.

Photo taken 27th August 1983.

Photgrapher Graham Walker.

Used with permission.

With just a few miles to go 47537 "Sir Gwynedd/County of Gwynedd" heads towards Brighton with 1O74 the 1023 service from Manchester Piccadilly.

 Photo taken autumn 1983 by the author.

73141 arrives at East Croydon with the 0847 Brighton to Manchester service. The booked class 47 was a failure and the ED worked the train through to Reading.

Photo taken Autumn 1983 by the author.

I've obviously just nipped out of Preston Park ticket office to capture this unidentified class 47/4 on the 0738 Wolverhampton to Brighton service. The station clock is showing 1200 so the train is just a few minutes late.  In the intervening 25 years the pole holding the Solari indicator on the down platform has developed a Tower of Pisa syndrome and now supports the CIS indicator. The subway has gained a roof and the waiting room forming the shadow on the left of the picture has been demolished.

Photo taken Oct 1983 by the author.

47537 "Sir Gwynedd - County of Gwynedd" heads the 0920 Brighton to Manchester service at Reading. The one off Leyland National Mk1 coach can be seen in the formation.

Photo taken November 1983 by the author.

RDB977091 the unique Leyland National bodied Mk1 coach seen in the formation of the 0847 Brighton to Manchester service. It was built on the underframe of Mk1 BCK 21243 and has been preserved.  Location Reading.

Photo taken November 1983 by the author.

A very rare machine this far south, 45130 heads the 1348 Brighton to Manchester Piccadilly service over the M25 bridge and towards the Quarry Tunnel. This loco was also to reappear at Brighton two years later.

 Photo taken 3rd December 1983.

Photographer John Atkinson.

Used with permission

47602 has just run round it's train at Haywards Heath. The loco had worked 1O52 the 0748 ex Wolverhampton which this day terminated at Gatwick Airport due to engineering works. The stock then ran ECS to Haywards Heath to run the loco around before working ECS back to Gatwick and form 1M07 the 1415 departure to Manchester Piccadilly.

Photo taken 11th February 1984.

  Photographer Colin Brooks.

Used with permission.

Manchester Piccadilly on a Sunday afternoon 47099 has arrived on 1M00 the 0955 Gatwick to Manchester whilst 47513 has brought in the 1150 Euston to Manchester. In the background a DMU fills the station with exhaust.

Photo taken 25th March 1984.

Photographer Richard Boyd.

Used with permission.

09003 hauls the stock off the 1023 from Manchester into Top Yard at Brighton to allow the loco to run round.

 Photo taken from the Station Switchboard April 1984 by the author.

 

47450 passes the now closed and disconnected Coulsdon North station with 1O52 the 0738 Wolverhampton to Brighton.

The station has now been completely removed as part of a relief road for Coulsdon.

Photo taken 4th May 1984.

Photgrapher Graham Walker.

Used with permission.