8th September 2001

Pathfinder Tours
The Heart of Wales Venturer

Locos Used 47785 & steam: 45407 (running as 45157 'The Glasgow Highlander') & 76079
Stock Used 11 or 12 mark 1's (plus support coach 17019 when steam locos were on the train) incl. 4927

Route :
1Z50 : Shrewsbury to Llandrindod Wells
1Z51 : Llandrindod Wells to Cardiff Central

Loco(s) Route
47785 Shrewsbury - Telford Central – Wolverhampton – Portobello Jn - Perry Barr North Jn - Aston – Proof House Jn - Birmingham New Street – Selly Oak - Kings Norton - Barnt Green – Stoke Works Jn - Abbotswood Jn - Cheltenham Spa –  Standish Jn - Yate - Westerleigh Jn - Bristol Parkway - Pilning - Severn Tunnel Junction - Newport
76079 + 45157 Newport - Cardiff Central - Pontyclun - Bridgend - Port Talbot – Felin Fran - Hendy Jn - Pantyffynnon – Llandovery - Llandrindod Wells – Craven Arms – Sutton Bridge Jn - Abbey Foregate Jn – Wellington - Telford Central – Oxley Sidings
47785 Oxley Sidings - Wolverhampton – Dudley Port – Galton Jn - Soho South Jn - Birmingham New Street – Proof House Jn - St Andrews Jn - Bordesley Jn - Kings Norton - Barnt Green – (same as outward route) - Cardiff Central

Notes .
(1) The change of watering point from Grovesend Colliery Loop Jn to Pantyffnnon and the apparent associated confusion caused the planned train path to be lost along the Central Wales line and arrival at Llandrindod Wells was thus 60 minutes late. Otherwise time keeping was good and the engines performed very well.
(2) Originally uploaded with the name: 'Heart of Wales Explorer', revised following sight of pre-tour advertising.

Source: Gordon Jakes (joined/left the train at Wolverhampton)

Photo Review
(all photos: Gordon Jakes)


47785 at Newport after coming off the train.


76079 & 45157 being attached to the train at Newport


Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Gordon Jakes)

M.C

Location

 Booked Actual   Booked Actual

M.C
0.00 Shrewsbury

04.46d

?

  
10.25 Wellington 04/56 ?   18/33 ? 174.62
14.06 Telford Central 05.01a ~ 05.03d ?   18.40a ~ 18.42d 18.33 ~ 18.36 178.43
20.57 Cosford 05/12 ?   18/55 18/44 185.14
- Oxley Sidings   19L05 ~ 19L40 19.06 ~ ??.?? 192.69
0.00
29.60 Wolverhampton 05.26a ~ 05.28d ??.?? ~ 05.28   19.48a ~ 19.50d ? 1.28
31.44 Portobello Jn 05/34 ?  
34.43 Darlaston Jn 05/37 ?  
35.61 Bescot Stadium 05/40 ?  
40.18 Perry Barr North Jn 05/44 ?  
42.40 Aston 05/47 ?  
- Dudley Port   19/57 ? 6.68
- Galton Jn   20/01 ? 10.33
- Soho South Jn   20/04 ? 12.11
45.16 Birmingham New Street 05.54a ~ 05.57d 05.53 ~ 05.58   20.12a ~ 20.15d ? 14.12
48.47 Selly Oak 06/06 ?  
- St Andrews Jn   20/22 ? 15.63
- Bordesley Jn   20/24 ? 16.09
50.61 Kings Norton 06/11 ?   20/36 ? 21.24
55.69 Barnt Green 06.21a ~ 06.22d 06.15 ~ 06.22   20.42a ~ 20.45d ? 26.32
59.32 Bromsgrove 06/26 ?   20/49 ? 29.75
61.45 Stoke Works Jn 06/28 ?   20/51 ? 32.08
72.62 Abbotswood Jn 06/37 ?   20/59 ? 43.25
83.49 Ashchurch 06/45 ?   21/07 ? 54.12
90.60 Cheltenham Spa 06.55a ~ 06.57d 06.55 ~ 06.58   21.15a ~ 21.17d ? 61.23
96.23 Barnwood Jn 07/03 ?   21/24 ? 66.66
97.10 Gloucester Yard Jn 07/04 07/06   21/25 ? 67.53
103.20 Standish Jn 07/10 07/12   21/34 ? 73.63
116.45 Charfield 07/20 ?   21/44 ? 87.08
123.06 Yate 07/26 ?   ? ? ?
124.58 Westerleigh Jn 07/28 ?   21/52 ? 95.21
129.28 Bristol Parkway 07.35a ~ 07.37d 07.35 ~ 07.39   21.59a ~ 22.01d ? 99.71
130.50 Patchway 07/40 ?   22/08 ? 101.13
134.16 Pilning 07/44 ?   22/14 ? 104.59
141.12 Severn Tunnel Junction 07/51 07/51   22/20 ? 111.55
151.01
0.00		 Newport 08L02a ~ 08L26d 08.01 ~ 08.31½   22.31a ~ 22.34d ? 121.44
5.10 Marshfield 08/35 ?   22/39 ? 126.54
11.60 Cardiff Central 08.48a ~ 08.50d 08.50 ~ 08.53   22.52a ? 133.24

M.C

Location

 Booked Actual
22.73 Pontyclun

09/05

?
31.75 Bridgend 09/15 09/18
44.09 Port Talbot Parkway 09/28 09/30
48.07 Court Sart Jn 09/34 09/36
49.16 Dynevor Jn 09/37 09/39
52.33 Felin Fran 09/43 ?
59.42 Grovesend Colliery Loop Jn 09w58 ~ 10w56 10/03
60.59 Hendy Jn 11/00 ?
66.13 Pantyffynnon 11t12 ~ 11t14 10w40 ~ 11w45
74.14 Llandeilo 11t40 ~ 11t47 ?
85.29 Llandovery 12t17 ~ 12t20 13.23 ~ 13.23½
96.56 Llanwrtyd Wells 12t52 ~ 12t55 13.52 ~ 13.53
112.66 Llandrindod Wells 13w32a ~ 16w25d 14.32 ~ 16.32
113.23 Llandrindod Crossing 16*28 ~ 16*29 16.35 ~ 16.38½
132.36 Knighton 17t14 ~ 17t17 17.17 ~ 17.18
144.74 Craven Arms 17t42 ~ 17t45 17c42 ~ 17c43
149.42 Marsh Brook LC 17/54 ?
158.46 Dorrington 18/05 ?
164.03 Sutton Bridge Jn 18c15 ~ 18c17 18/11
164.48 Abbry Foregate Jn 18/22 18/15

Timings continue from top of first table.

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