Rocket 150

On the Bank Holiday Weekend of Saturday 24, Sunday 25 and Monday 26 May 1980, a Grand Cavalcade was held at Rainhill, the original site of the 1829 Locomotive Trials.

Although DMUs did not feature in the actual procession of vehicles, they did provide an intense shuttle service between Liverpool Lime Street and Manchester Victoria for the public travelling to the event, which passed through the grandstands before and after the main event. The shuttles ran loaded to Rainhill, then empty to the opposite terminus to form a return service. After the event they ran empty to Rainhill to pick up returning passengers.

The timetable for the shuttles is in Section 3 of the Special Traffic Notice (2mb PDF).

A number of sets were borrowed from other depots to provide adequate vehicles. Sixteen different six and eight-car formations were recorded^[1]:

1. M51651 + 59741 + 59724 + 51855 / M51419 + 56277 (Allerton 115 and 108)
2. M51658 + 59723 + 59718 + 51859 / M56492 + 51920 (Allerton 115 and 108)
3. M51680 + 59715 + 59722 + 51852 / M50627 + 56497 / M56278 + 51937 (Allerton 115 and 108s)
4. M51901 + 52055 / M56127 + 50372 / M50968 + 56251 / M52050 + 51935 (Newton Heath 108/105/108/108)
5. M50350 + 56105 / M50539 + 56182 / M56261 + 50978 (Longsight 100/104/108)
6. M50425 + 59133 + 50421 / M50480 + 59138 + 50423 (Buxton 104s)
7. M50422 + 59163 + 50503 / M50420 + 59132 + 50424 (Buxton 104s)
8. E50555 + 59224 + 59207 + 50570 / E50546 + 59215 + 59233 + 50591 (South Gosforth 104s)
9. M50118 + 59003 + 50076 / M50830 + 59332 + 50883 (Tyseley 116s)
10. M50064 + 59019 + 50115 / M50871 + 59328 + 50852 (Tyseley 116s)
11. M50095 + 59026 + 50070 / M50055 + 59023 + 50116 (Tyseley 116s)
12. M50059 + 59004 + 50104 / M51136 + 59366 + 51149 (Tyseley 116s)
13. M51878 + 59751 + 59740 + 51656 / M51875 + 59663 + 59746 + 51900 (Marylebone 115s)
14. M51864 + 59759 + 59743 + 51659 / M51652 + 59655 + 59676 + 51677 (Marylebone 115s)
15. M51898 + 59739 + 59758 + 51674 / M51663 + 59757 + 59744 + 51678 (Marylebone 115s)
16. M51666 + 59745 + 59728 + 51870 / M51888 + 59661 + 59748 + 51672 (Marylebone 115s)

Images show that there were also at least another couple of sets, or possibly just sets swapped out from the listed formations. They included:
From Allerton: Class 108 power twin (including M51932) and a Class 115
From Longsight: Four Class 108 twins, including M50986.

Saturday 24 May

At Liverpool Lime Street are two of the sets on loan from Marylebone with M51678 closest. Robert Frise.

Two 115s on shuttle duties at Liverpool. Robert Frise.

Class 116s at Manchester Victoria working one of the shuttles. Closest is set TS526 and M50095 presumably with M59026 + M50070. Nigel Menzies.

Sunday 25 May

Two Marylebone 115s, M51684 closest, passing the two South Gosforth 104s. Stuart Mackay Collection.

Two Tyseley 116s, M50118 closest, heading in the Liverpool direction. Stuart Mackay Collection.

Longsight allocated M50986 leads four Class 108 twins. Stuart Mackay Collection.

Another view of Longsight allocated M50986. Stuart Mackay Collection.

Allerton allocated M51932 leading in a Class 108 power twin with a Class 115. Stuart Mackay Collection.

Monday 26 May

A Tyseley Class 116 (M50852 closest), coupled to a three-car BRCW Class 104 DMU, stood in platform 11 of Manchester Victoria with a shuttle service. Martyn Hilbert.

A Class 100 (DMBS M50350 leading), a Class 104 and a Class 108 approaches Rainhill with another load of eager and expectant punters. Martyn Hilbert.

With spectators getting into position for the main event, an 8-Car Class 115 pairing (M51677 closest on the rear) was approaching Rainhill station with one of the shuttle services running from Manchester Victoria. Driving Motor Brake Second in refurbished livery was bringing up the rear. Martyn Hilbert.

At the end of the final day, the Army Cadets had been enlisted for the big clear up. The Morris Marina Van in the right foreground was belonging to the company that had installed the PA system for the commentary (done by Alan Pegler) during the cavalcade. An 8-Car DMU lash-up from Manchester Victoria, with a Class 115 (M51860 leading) and a pair of two-car Class 108s were passing. Martyn Hilbert.

The Army Cadets with the fruits of their endeavours in the black bin-liners visible at the base of the nearest grandstand. A six-car BRCW DMU formation made up of a pair of Buxton Depot three-car 104s, M50423 leading, was approaching Rainhill having run ECS from Manchester. Martyn Hilbert.

Unknown Day

Two Tyseley Class 116s pass through the grandstands that had been erected alongside the track. Ian Buck.

Another two Tyseley Class 116s. Stuart Mackay Collection.

Three Class 108s and a Class 105, likely M51935 closest. Stuart Mackay Collection.

More details about the event, and the original trials, can be found on the Rainhill Railway and Heritage Society website.

References

1. ^⋏ Postscript to "Rocket" 150, p74 February 1981 Railway Observer (Railway Correspondence and Travel Society)