Following the 1988 All Line Rover I had decided to do a two week one in 1989 but the East Lancs Railway Diesel Day was on in the middle weekend and Merehead Open Day on the Sunday of the second week. In order to make best use of the rover two one week rovers were purchased the first from Saturday to Friday and the second one from Monday to Sunday so I could travel to Westbury on the Sunday without having to purchase another ticket.

All Line Rover Number 1

Saturday 10/06/89

The first day was a track bashing day I was after Paddock Wood – Maidstone West – Strood and the route through Blackheath Tunnel. These routes were all covered.

Sunday 11/06/89

The Rover was not used due to the very limited train service. Drove to Coalville Open Day instead.

Monday 12/06/89

Today it was off to travel over the Newquay line in Cornwall. The service on this route was very limited and the timetabling carefully worked out in order to catch the train down the branch. The timing of the train was mid afternoon so this allowed time to travel to Liverpool and down to Newport on the Class 37 hauled service.

After the Newquay line was covered it was down to Penzance and back on the sleeper to London.

Tuesday 13/06/89

50023 arrives at High Wycombe with the 06:54 Banbury - Paddington 13/06/89

On arrival in London the plan was to travel out to High Wycombe to travel back in on the Class 50 hauled commuter train to Paddington. Following this headed to Oxford to travel over the route to Evesham, Worcester and Hereford. It was then a loop back via Bristol and home for some sleep.

Wednesday 14/06/89

It was track bashing again today but a bit of loco haulage in the north west first. The lines today were Bletchley – Bedford and Derby to Sinfin Central (now closed).

Thursday 15/06/89

The only visit to Scotland in the two weeks took place. The route through Haymarket tunnel was unavailable due to electrification work taking place to link Edinburgh with Carstairs and to allow electric locos to run through from the West Coast. All the cross country trains were going out of Edinburgh by the suburban lines which were not normally used by passenger trains.

Friday 16/06/89

This was the last day of week one and I was going to London to fill in the missing sections of the lines out of Fenchurch St. I arrived in London to discover that London Underground had gone out on strike. It was a very hot day so I thought I would walk to Fenchurch St from Euston. As I was walking past Cannon St station I was stopped by a policeman. He asked if I could spare a few minutes. As I went to the police station the picture became clearer I was taking part in a police identity parade. It also became apparent that I was the first person they had managed to get to agree to do it. It took over an hour in the end to get the number of people they required. It was pleasant to sit in the police station and drink tea and resting from my walk across London. You will be please to know I was not picked out and continued my walk to Fenchurch St and a trip around the required lines. On arrival back in London the tube was operating again so it was back home via Paddington and Birmingham.

All Line Rover Number 2

Monday 19/06/89

Today it was a loco haulage day. In search of a ride behind 37350 (D6700) the first built Class 37. This loco was working between Taunton and Bristol due to a shortage of multiple units. After a ride behind this loco it was back on the Cardiff to Manchester loco hauled train.

Tuesday 20/06/89

47349 waits to depart Preston with the 15:10 Glasgow Ctl - Paddington 20/06/89

The piece of line I was after today was Stone to Colwich Jn. In 2009 this line has a very intensive service over it but in the 1980s there were virtually no services, with all the trains going via Norton Bridge and Stafford. The only trains using it were the Manchester Pullmans and one train in the middle of the day. I could not get to or from the Pullman services due to limited stops and if you wanted to cover the middle of the day train you could do little else. It ended up with a little loco haulage in the morning and cover the line in the afternoon and back home.

Wednesday 21/06/89

Day off caught up with sleep.

Thursday 22/06/89

The aim of today was to travel on one of the few remaining loco hauled trains between Liverpool St and Kings Lynn before the electrification was complete and the converted to electric multiple unit operation. I had decided to come the long way back from Cambridge via the East Coast and Leeds on the Class 31 hauled train between Leeds and Lancaster. All was going to plan as far as Shipley where the Class 31 failed. An hours wait and a replacement arrived.

Friday 23/06/89

31292 comes to the rescue of 31458 at Shipley on 17:26 Leeds - Lancaster 22/06/89

The unique 47901 at Merehead Open Day 25/06/89

This was going to be an easy day with a bit of loco haulage and a loop around Crewe – Derby – Sheffield – Leeds – Manchester.

Saturday 24/06/89

This used to be one of our favourite days out. Travel on the Rose Grove to Paignton train alighting at Teignmouth. We would then have a walk along the sea wall taking photographs of the passing trains getting sunburnt then catch the train back a few hours later. This was a particularly good day with bright sunshine all day.

Sunday 25/06/89

It was back to the same area again for the open day at the Forster Yeoman open day at Merehead. Ended up having to drive to Preston for the first train direct to Bristol. This train was direct but would not win any prizes for speed as it used to run by whatever route was open. This day was no different with a very circuitous route being taken. The open day was very good and so was the beer tent. Which caused me to have a failure and I shut down on a post office trolley at Bristol Temple Meads and required waking for the train home.

Another good two weeks on the rails of Britain but the trip was not too eventful this time with much of the week going as planned.

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