On the day, with most TOCs either completely disabled by the RMT strike (not NR staff), or running only a handful of trains, York station was strangely quiet when I arrived at 09.00. A few had gathered to photograph the special, whose rake of Mk3 coaches arrived (unusually in bidirectional P3, normally used by Up services) behind 50008 'Thunderer', after a delay at Chapeltown. The stop gave those who'd already been on board for a few hours a welcome chance to stretch their legs [and return to the train rather taller?]. It looked as if there were probably only one or two others, along with myself, joining at York - because of the strike, you couldn't reach the tour from London that morning (or anywhere else, more or less) although, oddly, it would have been possible to reach King's Cross in the evening! Not a day for risking such connections, perhaps. In fact, over 25 joined the tour at York.

The tour duly crossed onto the Down Fast line, switching (for the benefit of crossover fans) to the Slow line at Tollerton, proceeding on otherwise virtually deserted tracks via the Down Longlands Loop avoiding Northallerton station, then Thornaby, where the driver stopped to challenge an incorrect routing. We were booked to do the Down Goods and did, a trundle around the north of Tees Yard (familiar scenery from last year's Martin House tours), through the sadly depressing surrounds of Middlesbrough and up on to the strange patchwork of pre-grouping lines that now form the only remaining rail access to Whitby; once there were four lines. The much-anticipated Battersby loop did not happen but we were reassured that it would on our return. After a careful and again, most unusual, comprehensive traversal of the headshunt beyond the platforms (towards Picton!), we waited in the platform at Battersby until the token machine eventually gave us permission to proceed along the Esk Valley behind what is rapidly becoming our 'house loco' 37403. It seemed that the operation of these tokens was an issue all day, as we were delayed further at Glaisdale and again at Battersby on the way back, where a squad of orange-clad NR staff was needed to help us on our way.

These machinations - no pun intended - served to emphasise one of the reasons why running specials to Whitby is so hard now (item 984). When the NYMR runs its regular services to the seaside terminus, it's virtually impossible anyway, even before factoring in the primitive signalling, noticeable differential speed restrictions for loco hauled trains and the lack of passing loops. Had the regular scheduled service been running (as had been expected when the tour was planned), then our delays might have escalated. As it was, we had the whole branch to ourselves all day and arrival in Whitby was 40 minutes late at 12.57, though still earlier than the original (pre-strike) timings had been.

I eschewed the traditional fish & chips, not least as the town was very busy, even for a dull Saturday in March. Since my first visit there, 40 years ago, Whitby seems to have become a major year round tourist destination - excellent, of course, for the local economy, less good for those who don't like crowds. I shall try and return on a November weekday! After a brief glimpse of the sea, it was 13.45 and time for the 'optional' visit to Bog Hall Sidings; appropriately the train toilets didn't need to be locked out of use due to their retention tanks. Siding 1 (nearer the River Esk) was first covered right to the stop blocks, then it was back into the P2 loco run round loop to reverse just before the far points (quite unexpected - nice one, Kev) followed by Siding 2 up to the far points and back to P2. (Thanks again to Network Rail staff on the ground.) All very enjoyable and causing the 'Normals' much amusement - Do they know if they are coming or going? Yes! Numerous people were noted watching the train and taking pictures along the Esk Valley earlier, with quite a few perched on the very high bridge carrying the A171 road over the river. Not a place for photographers with vertigo issues!

With all 230 passengers aboard, we departed promptly and on time at 14.30, to retrace our tracks gently along the superb scenery of the Esk Valley to Battersby, surely the most underappreciated scenic railway in England (not least as it's so hard to reach). Would we run into the loop this time? Yes!









After all this excitement and overlap for the front coaches in Battersby headshunt, once we had been freed from the loop, the return journey was relatively relaxed (Thornaby, Norton South Jn, Ferryhill Up Goods Loop for an efficient reversal and the ECML), the main highlight being a huge vivid double rainbow over industrial Teesside which, as someone remarked, improved the view considerably! With Darlington station effectively shut for the day, some entertainment was provided by passing P4 in the Up direction - most unusual - there was then a gratuitous sneaky Tollerton 'weave' (UF-US-UF) (also done on our 'Pickering Paxman' in 2017), when the attention of most on board was being distracted by our big cheese, Kev Adlam, auctioning off a giant cheese. A wrong road arrival into York P10 via the 'loco line' completed the day for me. This was my 56th mainline Society tour since joining in early 2006. Some have been relatively straightforward, some highly complex, some both complex and slightly challenging due to circumstances beyond control! Some have raised enormous sums for good causes; today £2,500 for Martin House came from the two raffles and other activity. Every one of these tours has been enjoyable in its own way and I'm thoroughly looking forward to my 57th variety.



Addendum: Prior to York, a bright and early start from Derby, well early, was followed by reversal in Nottingham P6, then, turning right at Attenborough Jn (with no sign of David), we joined the Down High Level Line (not 'Goods' now) at Meadow Lane Jn. At Toton Centre Jn three crossovers were done from The Down Erewash Slow to the Down Toton Goods, then back to the Down Erewash Fast for an unusual pick up at Alfreton (where a 'Normal' wanting to go to Nottingham had to be deterred from boarding). An 'on the day extra' was the Down Heeley Loop before Sheffield and at Mill Race Jn. We took the Up East Slow to Brightside South Jn as advertised (anyone who thought otherwise is advised to read the website and BLN more carefully in future). Then the Barnsley line was traversed and, at Horbury Jn, the Down L&Y Fast, crossing to the platformless Through Line at Wakefield Kirkgate West Jn and proceeding via Castleford to York P3. Returning from Whitby, passing the narrow gauge Castleton Moor railway recalled our successful and comprehensive 8 Aug 2021 visits to the two private railways there (view report). Then at Commondale the new recently installed underbridge was noted with the abutments of the former Commondale Brick & Pipe Co branch just to the north (BLN 1419.582). Returning from York P10, the route was ECML, Doncaster Up Fast and Ranskill UPL to Retford North, crossing to the bidirectional Retford Down Slow to reverse in Retford P2. Sheffield was then reached via Woodhouse Jn, the station was very quiet with shut down DMUs all over the place, as in the morning. This time the Nottingham reversal was in P3; Derby P3 was reached after over 446 miles in exactly 16½ hours, great entertainment at less than £7 an hour or 25p per mile. Congratulations to the winner of the Immingham area DBC cab ride in the 'Super Raffle'.