Visit to Doncaster
The subject of this month’s fixture, Doncaster, used to be a veritable Mecca for train enthusiasts in the steam days, with a seemingly never ending stream of coal and steel freights passing through. It is now but a shadow of its former glorious self but still retains a certain cachet as a decent spot to see a fair amount of freight, as well as the usual LNER main line units.
Five RCTS members made it to Doncaster from various points of origin and at first the place seemed disappointingly quiet. This effect was largely caused by the absence of activity at Doncaster works, which is due to be closed shortly. So no shunters trundling back and forth, no units for rehabilitation, just a couple of redundant snowploughs, and even the works clock (fashioned apparently from the boiler door of an Atlantic) had stopped at 2:30. At least it was right twice a day.
But as the day wore on the situation improved and we were treated to quite a varied amount of interesting locos and units. Locos spotted included 66186, which had just been named Antony Slater that day, 66687 Annette which had recently been re numbered from 66777, and 37418 hauling the General Manager's Saloon Caroline. It was also interesting to see ex-Cross Country unit 221143 in Grand Central livery. Competition remained strong on the East Coast main line with regular Grand Central, Hull Trains and Lumos as well as the LNER class 800s and occasional 91s. East Midlands railways were also present with a class 170 unit pulling into the bay platform 2 from time to time on the Lincoln run, Northern class 333s were now handling the Doncaster to Leeds shuttle, ex-Scottish class 170 units were maintaining local services to Sheffield and Adwick, and Trans Pennine class 185s were plying between Liverpool and the East coast. And don’t forget the Cross Country Voyagers, packed to the gunwales as always!
Throw in a couple of track machines and the Network Rail class 150 track recording unit 950001 and a lively and varied day was enjoyed by all; Doncaster may be down but it is not done yet!
