1st - 4th June 2001

Hertfordshire Rail Tours
The Great British Rail Tour

Locos Used 37426, 37427, 66117 & 90036
Stock Used 21269+3097+1698+3147+3146+3121+3141+1680+3120+2834

Route :
1Z43 : Paddington to Totnes
1Z44 : Totnes to Bristol Temple Meads
1Z43 : Bristol Temple Meads to Shrewsbury
1Z44 : Shrewsbury to Glasgow Central
1Z37 : Dumbarton Central to Mallaig
1Z38 : Mallaig to Dumbarton Central
1Z43 : Glasgow Central to Edinburgh Waverley
1Z36 : Edinburgh Waverley to Kings Cross

Date Loco(s) Route (1)
01/06 66117

London Paddington - Maidenhead - Reading - Didcot Parkway - Swindon - Chippenham - Melksham - Bradford Jn - Westbury - Frome - Castle Cary - Cogload Jn - Taunton - Exeter St Davids - Newton Abbot - Totnes

01/06 66117

Totnes - (reverse of outward route) - Cogload Jn - Bridgwater - Bristol Temple Meads

02/06 66117 Bristol Temple Meads - Stapleton Road - Patchway - Severn Tunnel Junction - Maindee East Jn - Maindee North Jn - Abergavenny - Hereford - Craven Arms - Shrewsbury - Nantwich - Crewe
02/06 90036 Crewe - (via WCML) - Glasgow Central
03/06 37426 + 37427 Dumbarton Central - Craigendoran Jn - Crianlarich - Fort William
03/06 37426 + 37427 Fort William - Mallaig
03/06 37426 + 37427 Mallaig - Fort William
03/06 37426 + 37427 Fort William - (reverse of outward route) - Dumbarton Central
04/06 90036 Glasgow Central - Motherwell - Carstairs - Midcalder Jn - Haymarket - Edinburgh - (via ECML) - London Kings Cross


37426 & 37427 at Mallaig (photo: Robert Frise)

Sources : John Clifford (from "contemporary sources")
& Robert Frise (on the train throughout)

Tour Review
(by Robert Frise)

After an early start we caught the Thames Link from Leagrave to Kings Cross (TL) and made our way across London to Paddington where we met up with the usual regulars that make up the "Coach B Club" (As we refer to ourselves) One of the pleasing features of HRT is that regular passengers are seated together and have therefore become friends. The tour becomes a social event. There was an opportunity to inspect the new Class 332 units on the adjacent platform. After a smart departure the Great British Breakfast was enjoyed followed by a light lunch. At the pick up stop at Reading, a brand new Virgin Voyager 220001 was observed in the bay platform and 220016 in the yards.

On arrival at Totnes we left the train and joined the South Devon Railway's train to Buckfastleigh. The train formation was 2-8-0 No 3205 1295+4962+4805+6515+7377+W228W+W225W At Buckfastleigh vintage buses were on hand to ferry passengers to Buckfast Abbey Upon rejoining the charter at Totnes a superb dinner of roast chicken was enjoyed on route to Bristol At Bristol busses were on hand to take the passengers to the Marriott Hotel. Unfortunately they got the wrong Marriott hotel so it was back on the busses again. A pleasant stroll around the waterfront rounded off the day.

Another early start and we rejoined the train for Breakfast and the run up to Shrewsbury. Here two options were available, a coach trip to Blists Hill or a trip to the Welshpool & Llanfair Railway. No contest. On arrival at Llanfair a special had been laid on which was double headed by 14 & 822 Earl. The workshops and sheds were open for inspection. On rejoining the train at Shrewsbury dinner was enjoyed during the run up to Glasgow Central. Coaches then ferried the passengers to the Erskine Bridge Hotel for a session in the bar with the regulars.

After crossing the Clyde by the Erskine Bridge the following morning the train was rejoined at Dumbarton Central for the run up the West Highland to Fort William. Here you could either leave the train for a coach trip and cable car up Aonach Mor or remain on board for a run to Mallaig and a light lunch. Again no contest. The break at Mallaig was spent in heavy rain.

On arrival back at Fort William we collected the rest of the passengers.

An enjoyable dinner of roast lamb was had whilst passing through the snow flurries on Rannoch Moor, followed by another late night session in the Hotel Bar.

Monday came all to quickly as we boarded the waiting coaches for Glasgow Central.

A hurried breakfast was enjoined on route to Edinburgh where once again there was a choice of options. The Royal Yatch Britannia or the Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway.

The SRPS had specially steamed a locomotive for our party, and on arrival at Bo'ness a return run was made to Brirkhill. The trains formation was 65243 Maude 4422+unidentified BSK+1859 Back on the coaches to Edinburgh for a swift run down the ECML arriving at Stevenage half an hour early. We left the train here.

Robert Frise

Timings (Booked Only)
(from Robert Frise)

Friday 1st June :

M.C Location Booked
0.00 Paddington 10.15d
1.68 Ladbroke Grove 10/18
5.13 Acton West 10/22
9.01 Southall 10/33
11.20 Airport Jn 10/38
17.35 Dolphin Jn 10/49
18.31 Slough 10/50
24.14 Maidenhead 10/57
30.76 Twyford 11/03
35.73 Reading 11.09a ~ 11.11d
53.05 Didcot Parkway 11/30
60.17 Wantage Road 11/38
63.75 Challow 11/49
66.34 Uffington 11/52
77.18 Swindon 12/02
83.02 Wotton Bassett Jn 12/07
93.71 Chippenham 12/16
96.05 Thingley Jn 12/18
100.08 Melksham 12/25
104.35 Bradford Jn 12/32
109.59 Westbury 12c40a ~ 12c42d
111.13 Fairwood Jn 12/45
114.35 Clink Road Jn 12/49
115.39 Frome 12/52
116.52 Blatchbridge Jn 12/58
129.41 Castle Cary 13/11
152.01 Cogload Jn 13/31
157.04 Taunton 13/35
171.18 Tiverton Parkway 13/48
186.44 Cowley Bridge Jn 14/02
187.64 Exeter St Davids 14/04
198.26 Dawlish Warren 14/14
207.78 Newton Abbot 14/24
216.55 Totnes 14.40a ~ 18.28d
225.32 Newton Abbot 18/41
235.04 Dawlish Warren 18/53
245.46 Exeter St Davids 19/04
246.66 Cowley Bridge Jn 19/06
262.12 Tiverton Parkway 19/23
276.26 Taunton 19/38
281.29 Cogload Jn 19/43
287.71 Bridgwater 19/50
294.13 Highbridge 19/56
301.34 Uphill Jn 20/03
304.27 Worle Jn 20/08
319.23 Parson Street 20/28
321.12 Bristol Temple Meads 20.35a

Saturday 2nd June :

M.C Location Booked
0.00 Bristol Temple Meads 07.55d
0.24 Bristol East Jn 07/56
0.46 Dr Days Bridge Jn 07/58
1.43 Stapleton Road 07/59
4.43 Filton Jn 08/03
5.70 Patchway 08/05
9.36 Pilning 08/15
15.22 Severn Tunnel West 08/22
16.32 Severn Tunnel Junction 08/24
25.45 Maindee East Jn 08/37
25.77 Maindee North Jn 08/40
36.58 Little Mill Jn 08/48
44.35 Abergavenny 08*56a ~ 09*06d
56.26 Pontrilas 09/18
62.03 Tram Inn 09/24
68.46 Hereford 09*34a ~ 09*55d
70.13 Shelwick Jn 09/59
81.13 Leominster 10/12
87.47 Wofferton 10/20
94.29 Bromfield 10/26
99.52 Craven Arms 10/31
104.20 Marsh Brook LC 10/42
113.24 Dorrington 10/51
118.61 Sutton Bridge Jn 11/00
119.45 Shrewsbury 11.04a ~ 15.20d
121.53 Harlescott LC 15/25
130.25 Wem 15/36
133.43 Prees 15/39
143.20 Wrenbury 15/50
147.63 Nantwich 15/56
151.49 Gresty Lane 16/02
152.22 Crewe 16L07a ~ 16L28d
153.00 Crewe Coal Yard 16/31
159.63 Winsford SB 16/38
169.42 Weaver Jn 16/46
174.46 Acton Grange Jn 16/49
176.33 Warrington Bank Quay 16/51
177.42 Dallam Jn 16/52
179.69 Winwick Jn 16/54
186.64 Springs Branch Jn 16/59
188.13 Wigan North Western 17/00
195.64 Balshaw Lane Jn 17/05
197.67 Euxton Jn 17/06
203.23 Preston 17.14a ~ 17.34d
224.21 Lancaster 17/59
226.13 Morecambe South Jn 18/03
230.29 Carnforth North Jn 18/08
243.29 Oxenholme 18/20
256.42 Tebay 18/32
275.41 Penrith 18/51
293.30 Carlisle 19c08a ~ 19c10d
302.07 Gretna Jn 19/19
303.43 Quintinshill 19*23a ~ 19*32d
319.16 Lockerbie 19/47
332.70 Beattock 19/58
343.14 Beattock Summit 20/13
351.20 Abington 20/20
367.03 Carstairs 20/36
369.38 Lanark Jn 20/38
377.39 Law Jn 20/45
380.69 Shieldmuir Jn 20/48
382.68 Motherwell 20/52
387.05 Uddingston Jn 20/58
389.07 Newton 21/12
391.62 Rutherglen East Jn 21/16
395.57 Glasgow Central 21.25a

Sunday 3rd June :

M.C Location Booked (out) Booked (rtn)
0.00 Dumbarton Central 07.30d 20.26a
0.30 Dalreoch 07/31 20/25
6.72 Craigendoran Jn 07/40 20/13
9.00 Helensborough Upper 07t50 20t09
15.68 Garelochhead 08t04 19t53
22.13 Glen Douglas 08/17 19/40
26.37 Arrochar & Tarbet 08t28 19x20a ~ 19x30d
34.40 Ardlui 08t42 18t59
43.17 Crianlarich 09c03a ~ 09c05d 18c35a ~ 18c38d
48.13 Upper Tyndrum 09t16 18t25
55.60 Bridge of Orchy 09t31 18t09
71.28 Rannoch 09t56 17t44
78.46 Currour 10/08 17/32
88.51 Tulloch 10t28 17t12
97.48 Spean Bridge 10t45 16t52
105.57 Fort William Jn 11/00 16/40
106.29 Fort William 11.05a ~ 11.20d 16.22a ~ 16.37d
107.01 Fort William Jn 11/23 16/17
108.48 Banavie 11t28 16t09
112.43 Loch Eil Outward Bound 11t40 15t57
123.76 Glenfinnan 12t01 15t35
140.25 Arisaig 12t41 14t55
147.68 Mallaig 13.10a 14.30d

Monday 4th June :

M.C Location Booked
0.00 Glasgow Central 08.25d
3.75 Rutherglen East Jn 08/33
6.50 Newton 08/35
8.52 Uddingston Jn 08/37
12.69 Motherwell 08/40
14.68 Shieldmuir Jn 08/43
18.18 Law Jn 08/46
26.19 Lanark Jn 08/55
28.54 Carstairs 08*56a ~ 09*24d
45.40 Midcalder Jn 09/40
54.69 Slateford Jn 09/48
56.15 Haymarket 09/51
57.34 Edinburgh Waverley 09.55a ~ 14.04d
60.73 Portobello Jn 14/08
63.49 Monktonhall Jn 14/10
75.14 Drem 14/17
86.39 Dunbar 14/26
98.48 Grantshouse 14/34
114.70 Berwick-upon-Tweed 14/50
147.01 Alnmouth 15/25
165.20 Morpeth 15/37
179.76 Heaton South Jn 15/48
181.70 Newcastle 15c54a ~ 15c58d
182.44 King Edward Bridge South Jn 16/00
195.73 Durham 16/12
203.13 Tursdale Jn 16/19
205.69 Ferryhill South Jn 16/21
217.76 Darlington 16/30
232.10 Northallerton 16/39
239.70 Thirsk 16/45
252.46 Tollerton Jn 16/53
260.35 Skelton Jn 17/00
262.06 York 17c04a ~ 17c06d
267.47 Colton Jn 17/12
275.51 Hambleton North Jn 17/21
281.30 Temple Hirst Jn 17/27
290.30 Shaftholme Jn 17/34
294.49 Doncaster 17/41
311.77 Retford 17*56a ~ 18*02d
330.38 Newark North Gate 18/15
340.70 Barkston South Jn 18/22
345.08 Grantham 18/25
350.65 Stoke Jn 18/30
365.62 Tallington Jn 18/43
374.17 Peterborough 18/53
391.56 Huntingdon 19*06a ~ 19*10d
406.36 Sandy 19/19
418.52 Hitchin 19/27
423.01 Stevenage 19.31a ~ 19.33d
426.53 Woolmer Green 19/36
430.21 Welwyn Garden City 19/39
437.69 Potters Bar 19/47
445.48 Alexandra Palace 19/52
448.05 Finsbury Park 19/54
450.46 Kings Cross 19.59a


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