MANCHESTER LINK

One of the jobs in the special link was to cover for men in the other links whilst on holiday etc, On one occasion about 1950 I found myself as a relief in the Manchester link with Driver Jack Long, The week in question was a lodging job to Manchester (this was about the last lodging turn at Rugby).

We booked on around midnight, walked to the North End to await the Northampton Aswoods freight. This arrived 12.45 - 01.00 time. The job was normally a Cl5. We duly departed down to Nuneaton, branched off at Ashby Junction, up through Shackerstone to Burton, and on to Tutbury where it was stopped and examined. For us it was take on water and clean the fire if needed, then off to Uttoxeter and across the Churnet Valley. My mate pointed out Rudyard Lake  in the moonlight as we made our way to Macclesfield and on to Aswood, which was by Stockport,

Then it was light engine to Longsight and book off, and then to the lodge. What conditions were like in 1950 I cannot remember, but we had a meal and went to a small cubicle with a bed.

We booked back on about 10pm to prepare our loco. It was a Crab, they were alright but bumped and banged a bit, but they steamed OK. We picked up our train and made our way back to Rugby, coming across the Churnet Valley. It was pitch black and I'm sure old Jack had nodded off once! We arrived back at Rugby about 07.00 for relief, and this turn we did three times in a week, up Monday night, back Tuesday, ditto Wed/Thurs, and Fri/Sat.

Derek Smith