Sheffield - Cleethorpes via Brigg, Summer Weekday trains 1981

During Spring Holiday week 1981, 2D78 08:54 Sheffield - Cleethorpes and 2J78 17:31 Cleethorpes - Sheffield, which were normally formed of a DMU, were locomotive hauled Monday - Friday. Similarly during week commencing Monday 13th July. It being expected that they would remain hauled until the end of August. However, the trains reverted to DMU operation the following week rather than continuing to be locomotive hauled throughout the School Summer holidays as had occurred in the previous two years.

The Rother Valley viaduct, between Woodhouse and Kiveton Bridge, also referred to as Woodhouse viaduct and occasionally Beighton viaduct, is actually longer than it appears. In the past several arches were infilled to give the impression that the line was actually on an embankment. The fill had settled over the years and during the summer of 1981 voids were discovered under the infilled arches. Inspection of these and the revealed brick work resulted in urgent repairs being required. Thus, the line was closed between Friday 7th and Tuesday 25th August. Several trains, including the weekdays 2D78 08:54 Sheffield - Cleethorpes and 2J78 17:31 Cleethorpes - Sheffield were diverted between Sheffield and Gainsborough Central to run via Doncaster (St. James Junction - Bridge Junction). For the duration these trains were again locomotibve hauled.

The table below shows the locomotives used when 2D78 08:54 Sheffield - Cleethorpes and 2J78 17:31 Cleethorpes - Sheffield were locomotive hauled. Additional information would be welcomed by Peter Hall especially sightings during the August diversion period.

2D78 08:54 Sheffield - Cleethorpes / 2J78 17:31 Sheffield - Cleethorpes

Train / Date	Monday 25th May	Monday 26th May	Wednesday 27th May	Thursday 28th May	Friday 29th May
2D78 08:54 Sheffield-Cleethorpes	31279	31246	31175	31246	31246
2J78 17:31 Sheffield-Cleethorpes	31279	31246	31175	31246	31246
Train/Date	Monday 13th July	Tuesday 14th July	Wednesday 15th July	Thursday 16th July	Friday 17th July
2D78 08:54 Sheffield-Cleethorpes	31300	31300	31250	31102	31316
2J78 17:31 Sheffield-Cleethorpes	31300	31300	31250	31102	31316
Train/Date					Friday 7th August
2D78 08:54 Sheffield-Cleethorpes					31143
2J78 17:31 Sheffield-Cleethorpes					31259
Train/Date	Monday 10th August	Tuesday 11th August	Wednesday 12th August	Thursday 13th August	Friday 14th August
2D78 08:54 Sheffield-Cleethorpes	31219	31147	31147	31308	31308
2J78 17:31 Sheffield-Cleethorpes	31219	31147	31147	31308	31308
Train/Date	Monday 17th August	Tuesday 18th August	Wednesday 19th August	Thursday 20th August	Friday 21st August
2D78 08:54 Sheffield-Cleethorpes					31144
2J78 17:31 Sheffield-Cleethorpes					31144
Train/Date	Monday 24th August	Tuesday 25th August
2D78 08:54 Sheffield-Cleethorpes
2J78 17:31 Sheffield-Cleethorpes

This page is maintained by Peter Hall.