A Little Bit of Mambo (Mark Hare Memorial Train)

This is a memorial train for a colleague from Chiltern Railways who sadly passed away a few weeks ago……Mark Hare 02.12.70 – 23.03.25 (RIP)

Mark, who was known to his many friends as Mambo, was a great lover of the Class 47. His interest in railways started in the early 1980s when he would venture to Tring station to the pursue his hobby. Over the coming years he travelled the length and breadth of the country and developed a real passion for the Brush Type 4 – making many lifelong friends along the way. Mark was an accomplished photographer and had an eye for detail. He later joined the railway as a driver and later Driver Manager for Chiltern Railways and was highly respected by his colleagues. He also worked closely with today’s hosts, Locomotive Services Ltd, whom we are extremely indebted to. Thanks, are also extended to Chiltern Railways for pulling out all the stops to accommodate the train on their territory. But most of all, Mark was a thoroughly decent chap. Friendly, affable and with a good sense of humour, he was well loved by his partner, family and friends and will be sorely missed. A great lover of cats, travel and sweet treats, he was a big fan of 80s music too. 

It is highly appropriate that the tour originates at Crewe, the spiritual home of the Class 47 with it also passing through their original birthplace at Loughborough. It then ventures onto Chiltern metals and to Aylesbury where Mark lived and worked.

The train will be formed of the ScotRail set and hauled by Top & Tail Class 47s.

Our train will leave Crewe around 07.00 and will run via Alsager to pick up at Stoke on Trent. From Stoke the train will run via Uttoxeter, East Midlands Parkway, Leicester, Kettering, Bedford and Rougemont to Bletchley where a further pick up will be available. On leaving Nuneaton we will reverse at Denbigh Hall Jn before traversing the recently re-opened East West Rail route to Oxford. After a reversal at Oxford, we will run via Gavray Jn to Princes Risborough with a further reversal her before arriving at Aylesbury. At Aylesbury, with the generous assistance of Chiltern Railways, we will visit Aylesbury Depot Reception Line. After a further reversal here, we will retrace our steps to Princes Risborough and a run through to London Marylebone.

We are hoping for a break of around 90 minutes here before departing via the Chiltern Main Line and Gavray Jn to Bicester Village where are reversal will take place. We then retrace our steps via the East West Rail route, setting down at Milton Keynes Central, before returning to Stoke on Trent and Crewe via Colwich Jn and Alsager.