13.05 Pickering - Whitby: With 43082 now leading again, we retraced our route to Grosmont. At Levisham the P'way gang had moved the 125 sign to the east end of the station for a different photo opportunity. A genuine speed restriction for our HST was in force at Goathland, 5mph through the Down platform due to restricted gauge clearance. Back at Grosmont P2 we were delayed 20 minutes waiting for late running BR Standard 4MT No76079 to arrive on the 14.00 Whitby - Pickering with seven Mk1 coaches and Class 25 D7628 on the rear. On departure, ground frame locking arrangements required us to stop after passing over the junction before proceeding to Whitby. After crossing the River Esk a further nine times, we reached the seaside town 22 minutes late at 15.17. The next Down train, the 14.03 from Middlesbrough could not depart Glaisdale (the other end of the single line section) until our HST was locked in at Whitby P2, the rebuilt platform used by NYMR trains (OP 24 Jul 2014). The Northern unit arrived at 15.49, 13 late, but in time for its return working at 15.59 to Middlesbrough to start on time and return to Glaisdale. The Grade II listed Whitby station building is (since Oct 2007) staffed by the NYMR who sell national rail tickets as well as theirs.

The Pickering Paxman was the first EMT 125 to visit Whitby, but 12 HST excursions have been there before, with 20 different power cars. 43082 was a first time visitor but it was 43044's third time,.125 Group's current magazine has a full list of visiting power cars and dates! The team of EMT drivers shared front end turns throughout the railtour, including Derby based Driver Chris Wells on his last, very unusual, duty before retirement. Chris drove from Pickering but it was only at Whitby that he noticed the very special headboard, quietly placed at Pickering onto the front of 43082, a classic cast red design proclaiming, 'CHRIS WELLS / 1974-2017 / 43 YEARS NOT OUT!'. Chris was gob-smacked and there followed a moving retirement ceremony and presentation hosted by EMT Head of Drivers Darren Ward who heaped praise upon him, to the crowd's resounding applause, and a cry of 'Chris, we even liked you in London' from a St Pancras driver, a high accolade indeed!

After many photographs, the second ceremony began, the rededication of 43082, hosted by Jake Kelly, Managing Director of EMT and VIP guest David Maidment, Railway Children founder. Jake is a Railway Children Trustee. His speech celebrated EMT's 10 year liaison with the charity and hoped their joint fundraising will continue; he invited David to rename the power car. David commented in his speech that 22 years ago Railway Children raised just £5,000 and is now the largest charity in the world working exclusively with street children; half of their income is from the rail industry and enthusiasts. He gave thanks to all present renaming 43082, 'Railway Children - Fighting for street children'. Neil Bentley of the Penistone Line Partnership had prepared a special Mallinson's 'Paxman Pale Ale' to christen the power car, with Tim Brawn doing the honours spraying ale over the gleaming nameplate!

After further group photos, ceremonial proceedings were complete and there was a chance for a quick walk to the harbour for fish and chips while the stewards cleaned the train. The more energetic could climb to the Medieval Whitby Abbey ruins for another type of bite, paying homage to the infamous Vampire Count Dracula, a character inspired by author Bram Stoker's visits to the town.

16.32 Whitby - Derby: With passengers back on-board the tour departed punctually, leading power car 43044 now displaying the Railway Children headboard (a replica of the new nameplate) and 43082 carrying the black cast 'The Pickering Paxman' at the rear. Both were mounted on special HST power car headboard brackets, the first was fabricated by Etches Park depot back in Operation Rio days, with the second made for 125 Group as an authorised copy by Craigentinny depot staff. Like a normal HST emergency tail lamp iron, the bracket fits into the lug found on the front of all power cars. For added security the special design is also fixed to the body using one of the nose cone faring bolts, providing a secure mount for running at 125mph.

More ground frame action and a pick up at Grosmont lost us 10 minutes to Glaisdale, but in First Class passengers' attention was focused on their delicious chicken dinner. Reversal at Battersby station was in the platform and to minimise delay passengers were asked not to alight. As a coach steward I positioned myself at the door and spoke with enthusiasts on platform. 'What happens in Battersby then?', I asked. 'Oh, you wouldn't believe the goings on here, we've no need to watch Coronation Street!' (more Battersbys) was the reply. The local railfans also remarked that Battersby is a good place to observe trains ... because everything passing through must stop to change direction - fair point!

'Right Away', our power cars revved their VP185s and whisked us out of the hotbed of drama that is Battersby, turning north and heading for home. Behind the scenes, kind railway folk had been working to give our tour some 'added value' en route, a bit of a 'mystery trip' in fact. InterCity 125s were designed to be able to pretty much 'go-anywhere', enabling the benefits of long distance high speed travel to be extended to far flung corners of the network, KX to Leeds and Harrogate for example or Paddington to Swansea and Milford Haven. However, our first detour of the evening saw us taking a trip into exceedingly slow speed territory with a 5mph perambulation through the remains of the once massive Tees Yard via Up Goods No1, the Loco Line, and Down Arrival / Up Departure Line. Bizarre things happened back in BR days but I bet a passenger HST has never penetrated so far into Tees Yard!

Back onto the passenger railway at Thornaby East Jn, it was through Yarm and a very swift passage of the Northallerton station avoiding low level route. There is no pointwork for crossing to the Up Fast at Longlands Jn so this was done south of Thirsk (Green Lane Jn). A brief blast of high speed running then ensued - with cheering from the 125 cranks! - but not for long as a juicy weave UFL-USL-UFL at Tollerton saw even more rare 'Quail' in the book for many.

Finally, through York Yard South the 'York Avoider', nicely taking the Up line to compliment the Down which was used on 'Bound for Craigy' in March. his added some time to our run but most passengers seemed delighted with the extra juicy track. It also caused brief consternation to those waiting for the tour on York P11 to see it sail by!

However, after a quick reversal at Holgate loop and again at York P11, we ran south but missed out the hoped for Selby Canal curve, because our DRS conductors would have been out of hours. The curve will no doubt be pursued by Kev (Mr Fixit) in a later adventure. Instead we did Milford Up Loop (another Brucie Bonus), the S&K, Aldwarke Jn, Rotherham Central, Holmes Jn, Brightside Up East Slow, setting down at Sheffield P6. Onward to Heeley Up Loop, a booked 27 minutes here enabled us to claw back lost time to 17 late, Chesterfield P3 (small hiccough, should have been the Up Barrow Hill) and via Ambergate Jn to Derby P6 at 21.43; 24 late on our schedule but a great result considering our full itinerary, diverse journey and the plethora of rare routes traversed. An exhausting long day but entirely worth it raising a whopping £30,001.25 (finalised total after the event) for Railway Children.



Mammoth railtour adventures like this only happen because of the efforts of a huge number of great people working above and beyond. Sincere thank you to every individual person involved, who are all such a credit to their organisations: BLS, DB, DRS, Loram, NR, NYMR, PLEG, Rail Gourmet, Railway Children and 125 Group. Finally, the fantastic folk at EMT, who led the operation with such vigour, and whose managers, staff and traincrew toiled so hard on their rest days or took annual leave to be able to spend the day on the train volunteering in their own time in aid of Railway Children. On behalf of 125 Group it was a pleasure to work with you and we hope to do it all again soon ... there are still some significant Preserved Railways which have not been blessed with a visiting HST!

As for 43082, set NL10 and 43044, after overnighting at Etches Park, the next day they worked an interesting booked Sunday diagram on the 09.20 EMT Nottingham - St Pancras and 12.50 St Pancras - Leeds, then a brief rest on Neville Hill before doing a stint for VTEC: 18.45 Leeds - KX and 21.35 back. With its shiny new nameplates, 43082 really is taking the Railway Children message far and wide!