14. East of England Summer Tour-17-22.08.80

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-1980 > 14. East of England Summer Tour-17-22.08.80
My summer trip with Graham occurred a little later in August than normal this time heading to the Eastern Counties. We travelled in UAM, the bright orange Mini in favour of the beige Austin 1100 as there were just the two of us. We headed for the Midland Mainline and then further to get some Deltic action on the ECML. We then took in some delights in the Lincoln area finding some superb signalling and visiting St. Marks station prior to its closure. On the last full day, we headed north to Yorkshire to get another running of The Cumbrian Mountain Express. A pretty intensive week but very enjoyable!
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1. Journey to Wellingborough-17.08.80 Graham picked me up around lunchtime in the Mini. We headed east toward the MML stopping off at Oxford, Bicester and Wolverton. We camped near Sharnbrook.
Graham picked me up around lunchtime in the Mini. We headed east toward the MML stopping off at Oxford, Bicester and Wolverton. We camped near Sharnbrook.
2. Sharnbrook to Market Harborough-18.08.80 A day cruising the Midland Mainline between Sharnbrook and Market Harborough taking in the delights of its Victorian signalling. Little did I know some eight years later that this part of the country would become my home area with me moving to Northamptonshire after securing a job in Wellingborough and I have been here ever since! The day was marred slightly by UAM (the orange Mini) developing a persistent misfire that Graham tried to sort out a number of times. In addition, the weather was not as nice as yesterday, after starting off bright and sunny by the end of the day full cloud had enveloped the summer sky.
A day cruising the Midland Mainline between Sharnbrook and Market Harborough taking in the delights of its Victorian signalling. Little did I know some eight years later that this part of the country would become my home area with me moving to Northamptonshire after securing a job in Wellingborough and I have been here ever since! The day was marred slightly by UAM (the orange Mini) developing a persistent misfire that Graham tried to sort out a number of times. In addition, the weather was not as nice as yesterday, after starting off bright and sunny by the end of the day full cloud had enveloped the summer sky.
3. Market Harborough-Essendene-19.08.80 After camping just north of Market Harborough we continued north to Leicester and then crossed to the East Coast Mainline via Stamford. We camped at a favoured spot next to the ECML at Essendine where we stayed last summer. Unfortunately, the weather was not fantastic with some very overcast skies.
After camping just north of Market Harborough we continued north to Leicester and then crossed to the East Coast Mainline via Stamford. We camped at a favoured spot next to the ECML at Essendine where we stayed last summer. Unfortunately, the weather was not fantastic with some very overcast skies.
4. Essendine to Lincoln-20.08.80 After a very stormy night camping in a field by the East Coast Mainline at Essendine we made our way further east towards Lincoln where we finished up at the end of the day with the weather improving a little. We enjoyed a raft of mechanical signalling throughout the day with some superb signal boxes. In the evening we found a camping spot near to Saxilby and in the night it absoluteky poured with rain - the British summer stikes again!
After a very stormy night camping in a field by the East Coast Mainline at Essendine we made our way further east towards Lincoln where we finished up at the end of the day with the weather improving a little. We enjoyed a raft of mechanical signalling throughout the day with some superb signal boxes. In the evening we found a camping spot near to Saxilby and in the night it absoluteky poured with rain - the British summer stikes again!
5. The Cumbrian Mountain Express-21.08.80 After a foul and very wet night under canvas next to the line between Saxilby and Gainsborough, the day dawned bright and sunny. We set off for North Yorkshire in search of steam in the form of The Cumbrian Mountain Express. Off course, by the time we got to Ais Gill it had completely clouded over but some really interesting shenanigans involving 5690 'Leander' and a failed freight train made up for that!
After a foul and very wet night under canvas next to the line between Saxilby and Gainsborough, the day dawned bright and sunny. We set off for North Yorkshire in search of steam in the form of The Cumbrian Mountain Express. Off course, by the time we got to Ais Gill it had completely clouded over but some really interesting shenanigans involving 5690 'Leander' and a failed freight train made up for that!
6. The journey home-22.08.80 Graham and I were supposed to have returned home after seeing the Cumbrian Mountain Express the previous day but due to its extreme late-running , we opted to camp another night and take a more leisurely drive home the following day. Consequentially, we found a spot at a smashing camping site with actual facilities at Hollin Hall near to Rothmell just south of Settle. Most of the photographs presented for this day are courtesy of Graham who doubled up his as I had run out of Kodachrome film, so all these years on, another thank you!

Graham and I were supposed to have returned home after seeing the Cumbrian Mountain Express the previous day but due to its extreme late-running, we opted to camp another night and take a more leisurely drive home the following day. Consequentially, we found a spot at a smashing camping site with actual facilities at Hollin Hall near to Rothmell just south of Settle. Most of the photographs presented for this day are courtesy of Graham who doubled up his as I had run out of Kodachrome film, so all these years on, another thank you!
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