Inter regional loco hauled services from Brighton 1983

1983-1984

No more zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!

Page last updated 05/01/2009

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.

16^th May 1983 to 13^th 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

16^th May 1983 to 13^th 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.