There were no booked passenger trains for class 20s in 1989, but from mid summer it turned out to be a good year, mainly thanks to their appearance on Crewe - Derby trains due to a shortage of units. On 10 July 20034 and 20042 arrive at Crewe with the 1611 from Derby.
On the same day 20070 and 20072 are seen at Crewe with the 1447 to Derby.
An interesting working on 15 July 1989 when the Derby - Llandudno service was a failed DMU dragged by 20205 and 20005, this is the return 1247 Llandudno - Derby leaving Stoke.
On 20 July a derailment at Warrington meant WCML services were diverted via Manchester. Among the locos used were 20048 and 20176, seen dragging 86236 and the 1100 Glasgow - Brighton into Manchester Piccadilly.
Class 20s appeared on Crewe - Derby trains on odd occasions in July 1989, but when this photo was taken on 31 July 1989 it was the first day of 2 weeks when class 20s were used on all trains each day. These are 20129 and 20163 on the 1547 from Crewe at Kidsgrove.
At the time I didn't know 20s would be out every day and spent the next week in the South West. When I returned I'd missed several new class 20s so spent the rest of the time out trying to get them back! On 8 August I had 20113 and 20197, seen at Blyth Bridge on 1447 Crewe -Derby.
20227 and 20188 at Stoke, 11/08/1989 on 1738 Crewe - Derby. 3 pairs of class 20s were booked to be out each day but due to failures and late running it was not unusual for there to be even more working.
20177 and 20142 at Crewe on the 1013 from Derby, 12 August 1989. I think 36 different class 20s appeared in the 2 weeks, of which there were only 2 I needed but missed and never had since.
Class 20s also appeared from time to time on trains to Llandudno in 1989, something that had previously been very rare. 20071 and 20182 are seen in the rain at Llandudno on 26 August 1989.
For 2 spells in the summer during holiday weeks in the Potteries there were additional trains to Blackpool and Llandudno worked by class 20s. This is 20040 and 20078 arriving at Blyth Bridge to work the 0935 to Blackpool, 29/08/1989.
20020 and 20021 at Chester on 23 September 1989 with the 0924 Birmingham New Street - Llandudno.