jolly

Over the years, the "Jolly Fisherman" excursions transported many

day trippers from the Midlands to the seaside at Skegness. They were

also popular with railway enthusiasts and devotees of the class 20

locomotives. Although these were normally allocated freight duties,

they were regular performers on these trains usually working in pairs,

but rarely due to locomotive failures, would work individually, in threes

and, in one instance, quadruple headed ! As the publicity leaflet

illustrates above, there were two trains - from Derby (Burton on Trent

on Mondays and Thursdays) and Leicester. In the latter years of

operation it only ran from Derby and the following pictures were taken

in 1992, the penultimate year of operation for these locomotive

hauled specials.

On Monday, July 20th, 1993, 20090 and 20132 await departure from

platform 4 at Derby on the first of the 0925 "Jolly Fisherman" runs

that season. These photographs capture it at various stages en-route

to Skegness.

The class 20's haul the "Jolly Fisherman" out of Derby. The following

year (1993) was to be the last for the locomotive hauled services,

passengers instead being conveyed by far less spacious and

comfortable two-car class 156 Sprinter units. Not surprisingly this has

resulted in overcrowding - so much for progress !

Nottingham is another major calling point for coast-bound trains. Here

the crowds had just boarded as a member of staff ensures all the doors

on the stock are closed and the driver awaits an "all clear".

There are not many significant engineering features along the

Nottingham to Skegness route, but the viaduct and bridge at Radcliffe-

on-Trent is rather impressive and carries the line over the river Trent.

Allington Junction marks the point where the Grantham Avoiding Line

diverges from the main Nottingham to Grantham route. To avoid the

need for reversing, the "Jolly Fisherman" operated over this route

which links with the Grantham to Skegness line at Barkston East

Junction.

Closer to Skegness, the train negotiates the sharp bend at Firsby

which originally provided trains on the East Lincolnshire Main Line

to Skegness to bypass Firsby.

Once at Skegness, the train would be reversed into the carriage

sidings for the locomotives to change ends ready for the "home run"

in the evening. The train is seen here prior to departure from platform

6 at Skegness.

A final view of just before departure as the class 20 is

nicely framed by the semaphore signals at Skegness.

Sadly, it is unlikely the locomotive hauled "Jolly

Fisherman" runs will ever be reinstated - so for many

of us, all we will have are the happy memories and

photographs to recapture these trains. We have

more photographs of class 20's in the

Diesel Variety at Skegness feature in this site.

The Trip to Skegness site has further photographs

of class 20's on the Skegness runs.