'Wandering 1500' Members' Day

Thank you to all M&GN Joint Railway Society members who came out to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the 'Wandering 1500' railtour on Saturday 5th October, exactly fifty years to the day since the pioneering tour ran.

The tour, run on the 5th October 1963 was the first tour to use a privately owned steam locomotive to haul a steam passenger charter train on British Railways. At the time of the tour, 8572 was owned by the Society, although BR authorities were not aware at the time. The tour's original fireman, David Butcher was a guest of the Railway for the day and rode on the footplate of our B12 with Driver and Society Engineer Keith Ashford and Fireman David Harris.

The day began with a sharp 9.20am departure from Sheringham, the exact same time the tour left Broad Street in London for the midlands via the East Coast Mainline. The original tour ran to Stratford-upon-Avon and returned via the West Coast Mainline. The Railway Touring Company ran a slightly different route, heading from Liverpool Street station via the Great Eastern Mainline to Norwich, with 7MT 4-6-0 70013Oliver Cromwell.

On arrival at Sheringham, 70013 detached to allow ourLNER B12, No.8572 take the train forward to Holt and return. In the meantime,Oliver Cromwellworked light to Weybourne for servicing.

Class 31 D5631was also working throughout the day, bringing together three former Norwich Shed (32a) locomotives for the first time. Both the B12 and D5631 hauled the Quad-Art set and Mk.I set, which included the Muddle and Go Nowhere bar which was making it's last appearance of the season.