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LNER Route: Leicester to Marylebone
Rugby Central Station: gcrcs280
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Ex-GWR 'Modified Hall' 4-6-0 No 6976 'Graythwaite Hall'
stands in Rugby Central's goods yard having just shunted a single fish van into
the Explorator warehouse. To carry out this working No 6976 has stabled its
train on the main line, crossed over to the goods yard which was situated on
the down side of the main line. It would then rejoin its train crossing the
line between paths of trains working both north and south through Rugby. The
reason No 6976 had stabled its train on the mail line not the relief line was
because no through passenger train was due at this time, and through freights
would be routed around the obstruction via the loop - as they typically would
be to avoid the manoeuvering of the Nottingham-Rugby local as it prepared to
return northward. Alan Hogg writes, 'O42 is the headcode of the 1O:42 York
to Bournemouth service'. Tony West writes, 'according to the last
Stationmaster at Rugby Central, Ivor Jones, it was common practice to drop off
fish vans at Rugby, usually between 2 to 5 vans. The goods shed was by this
time used as a distribution centre for fish deliveries by Findus. As most of
the staff had clocked of by the time the fish vans arrived the SM oversaw the
proceedings...being amply rewarded with a quantity of fresh fish every
week!.' Built by Swindon works in October 1947, No 6976 was to remain in
service until October 1965 when it was withdrawn to be scrapped by J Cashmore's
of Great Bridge.
Tony Newman
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