Class 46’s action on the Midland

 

Thanks to “MIB” and “FK” for their help with the gen

 

The Memories

 

Class 46’s are not a class often associated with the Southern end of the Main Main Line but throughout the 60’s and early 70’s at local venues like Luton, you expected to see several members of the class on a daily basis. 46001-46028 were mainly Toton based until 1969 when many were transferred West to eventually replace the Warships on the Western Region. 46029-46056 were Gateshead allocated virtually all their long careers but were still regular Luton visitors.

 

2 of the more memorable Midland 46’s were D163 and D165 which seemed to hang around on the Midland a bit longer than many of their classmates. 163 (later 46026 ) was the only namer in the fleet with the impressive “Leicester and Derbyshire Yeomanry" nameplate proudly carried. 165 (later 46028) carried green livery much longer than most of her 45/46 classmates and was always popular locally. A good few also managed to visit the Dunstable branch over the years

By 1972 all the 46’s were Laira, Bristol Bath Road or Gateshead based but it wasn’t until the late 70’s that they became very rare beasts locally, always a welcome site. Right up to the final months of the 46’s BR existence they continued to visit with 46011 being reported on 210684 locally, unfortunately managing to derail at Churchyard Sidings St Pancras in the process!.

 

 

After withdrawl from normal service in Nov 84 the class still occasionally saw visits  46035 both as a departmental loco until 1991 and as a main line registered preserved machine under Waterman ownership.

 

The Gen

 

Below is a list of sample workings over the years of mainly Luton sightings showing the variety of work the class did locally. Class 46 as good as gone, but not forgotten

 

 

 

46001  LA       as 138 – 1C01 1713 St Pancras – Bedford 170773

 

46002  LA       as 139  1M91 1706 Leeds – St Pancras  080673       

 

46003  LA       as 140  1E58    2005 St Pancras – Sheffield 150673

 

46004  LA       as 141  1C19   0850 Nottingham – St Pancras 170773         

 

46005  LA       as 142  1C10   0652 Derby – St Pancras 170773

 

46006  82A     as 143  1M28   0801 Manchester – St Pancras 190572

 

46007  82A     as 144  1M13 – 0830 Sheffield – St Pancras 260473

 

46008  LMML as 145 0905 St Pancras – Leeds - 071067

 

46009  LMML as 146 1N13 0115 St Pancras – Bradford Vans - 261166

 

46010  82A     as 147 1Z42 – Luton – Bolton Footex - 240273  

 

46011  LA       as 148  1C18 – 0810 Nottingham – St Pancras 160673        

 

46012  BR       as 149  1C84 – 1755 Nottingham – St Pancras 190773

 

46013  82A     as 150  1S68    0800 St Pancras – Glasgow 201172

                        Thames Clyde Express

 

46014  LMML as 151 0855 Sheffield – St Pancras 111267

 

46015  BR       as 152  3D25 St Pancras – Nottingham Vans 280773

 

46016  LA       as 153  1E68 2005 St Pancras – Sheffield 110573

 

46017  82A     as 154  1P10    1030 St Pancras – Derby 210772

 

46018  LMML as 155 1P32    0115 St Pancras – Derby Vans 211166

 

46019  82A     as 156  1D06   0930 St Pancras – Nottingham 291272

 

46020  17A     as 157  1S68   0805 St Pancras – Glasgow 120162

                        Thames Clyde Express

 

46021  BR       as 158  1Z32    passenger 120573

 

46022  D15     as 159  1C71   1555 Nottingham – St Pancras 011166

 

46023  LA       2C17 0734 Bedford – St Pancras 161178

 

46024  17A     as 161 1850 St Pancras – Manchester 110662

 

46025  17A     as 162  1C58 – passenger - 260163

 

46026  82A     as 163 1D06 0930 St Pancras – Nottingham 300273

 

46027  GD      2202 St Pancras – Edinburgh Adex 111074

 

46028  82A     as 165 Passenger at Luton, still in green livery, 130772

 

46029  GD      6C31 Acton – Toton (with 45013) 040682

 

46030  GD      as 167 4S32 Luton – Johnstone “Cars” 120475

 

46031  52A     as 168 1E56 1650 St Pancras – Leeds 081170          

 

46032  52A     as 169 1E65 1805 St Pancras – Sheffield 290872

 

46033  GD      St Pancras – Scarborough LNER Soc Railtour - 160374

 

46034  GD      6C35 Ripple Lane – Dunstable Oils 020579

 

46035  Preservd 1Z64 Derby - St Pancras positioning tour, 011094

                        Inagural preserved passenger run

 

46036  52A     as 173 1C08 0700 Nottingham – St Pancras 100772

 

46037  52A     8V04 coal 151272

 

46038  GD      Toton – Acton coal 300676

 

46039  52A     as 176 1D02 0930 St Pancras – Nottingham 230972

 

46040  52A     as 177 1P30 2020 St Pancras – Derby 131272

 

46041  52A     as 178 1E41 0905 St Pancras – Sheffield  280473

 

46042  GD      151077 stabled Wellinborough

 

46043  GD      as 180 1C19    0850 Nottingham – St Pancras 290773         

 

46044  55A     as 181 1M14   0900 Sheffield – St Pancras 111172.

 

46045  GD       Dunstable branch oil 270974

 

46046  GD      as 183 1C65  1603 Nottingham – St Pancras 020873

 

46047  GD      Dunstable branch 281177      

 

46048  GD      Northbound passenger 060377

 

46049  BR as 186 170873 pass

 

46050  55A as 187 1C20 0855 Derby – St Pancras  110472

 

46051  GD as 188 1C80 1800 Derby – St Pancras 300773

 

46052  GD 1C18 0810 Nottingham – St Pancras 160875      

 

46053  GD as 190 1M15 0916 Leeds – St Pancras 190473

 

46054  52A as 191 1D38 1750 St Pancras – Alfreton 131272

 

46055  55A as 192 1E78 1020 St Pancras – Sheffield 280273

 

46056  55A as 193 1D06  0930 St Pancras – Nottingham 100373

 

The Phots

 

Struggling a bit for local MML class 46 phots but here’s 2

 

 With a top Leighton logs contributor up front! is 46035 in RTC guise of 97403 at Bedford open day, 280588

 

 

 Still close to the Midland is preserved 46010 at the Great Central north on 150510

More epic 46 gen from MIB here

 

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