15th February 2003

Pathfinder Tours
The Exe-Tawe

Locos Used 46035 & 5029 'Nunney Castle'

Route :
1Z66 : Crewe to Bridgend
1Z67 : Bridgend to Crewe

Loco Route
46035 Crewe - Norton Bridge - Stafford - Wolverhampton - Dudley Port - Birmingham New Street - (via Camp Hill line) - King's Norton - Bromsgrove - Stoke Works Jn - Abbotswood Jn - Ashchurch - Cheltenham Spa - Standich Jn - Westerleigh Jn - Bristol Parkway - Filton Jn - Bristol Temple Meads - Cogload Jn - Taunton - Exeter St Davids - Dawlish Warren - Newton Abbot
5029 Newton Abbot - (reverse of outward route) - Filton Jn - Patchway - Severn Tunnel Junction - Newport - Cardiff Central - Barry - Aberthaw - Bridgend
46035 Bridgend - Pontyclun - Cardiff Central - Newport - Severn Tunnel Junction - Patchway - Bristol Parkway - (reverse of outward route) - King's Norton - Selly Oak - Birmingham New Street - Aston - Perry Barr North Jn - bescot Stadium - Bushbury Jn - Stafford - Norton Bridge - Crewe

Source : Pathfinder Tours

Tour Review
(by 'Dauntless')

1Z66 departed from Bristol Parkway at the booked time of 0751, this was after a crew change and a passenger pick up. The journey was made at a reasonable pace to Bristol Temple Meads, another pick up point. After departing from Bristol Temple Meads we made a brisk attack towards Newton Abbot, passing Yatton at 75 MPH and onward to Taunton. The assault on the climb to Whiteball Tunnel was excellent, 75 MPH passing Taunton and the summit at 58 MPH, not bad for the load of eleven coaches.

Picking up speed from the summit of Whiteball we proceeded to Exeter for an unscheduled stop to pick up a member of Traincrew, the trainman. After a brief stop the Class 46 made an excellent start from Exeter, no doubt pleasing the observers and also the gathering of interest at Exeter St Thomas. With the class 46 displaying the headcode of the Cornishman (1V71) the best in most people's eyes to come, skirting the coastline and the famous sea wall. Photographers galore were witnesses to this fine machine back in the West Country after a good few years break.

Arriving at Newton Abbot was three minutes early and a further fine array of photographers and a certain steam loco 5029 Nunney Castle. We arrived into platform 1 at Newton Abbot given us enough time to photograph the locomotives and stretch our legs. The Traincrew and staff on the Class 46 changed the headcode on the Locomotive, for the return journey, light engine saw the 0000 changed to 0B24, apparently this was a light engine move to Highbridge in Somerset. 1V71 was changed to 1E73; this was at the suggestion of Chris Brooks the Pathfinder Manager. 1E73 was the 17.17 Cardiff - Leeds a regular for the class?

The Steam departed on time and the Class 46 followed to shadow the Charter just in case of failure. The Class 46 proceeded to Bristol Barton Hill for fuel, following the steam to Newport, however the Castle had clinker problems and caused an hour delay. At Newport the Class 46 headcode changed to 0C46, not sure if this Headcode applied to anything, other than "C" indicating Cardiff division and obviously 46, speaks for itself.

Once the Castle was attached to the train and the 46 proceed on ahead to Cardiff the train proceeded to Bridgend passing Barry. At Cardiff the class 46 was on the relief line, by which time at Bridgend the class 46 headcode had changed to 0K46, I guess this has a meaning just relating to OK (class) 46.

The Castle stopped at Bridgend and all passengers were detrained, while the Castle proceeded to Margam for the engine change. The class 46 and train now arrived back at Bridgend displaying 1E73 at 18.35, much to the delight of the Peak fans. Once all passengers boarded the train made a brisk departure from Bridgend stopping Just outside Cardiff and proceeding forward to Bristol Parkway arriving at 19.48, 56 minutes late.

No doubt an enjoyable day for all with some humour for all from the locomotives and all staff concerned.

So a big UP to all concerned for an enjoyable day out.

'Dauntless'

Photo Review
(all photos: Gordon Jakes)


46035 and 5029 side by side in Bristol Temple Meads.


5029 on arrival at Bridgend, where it would hand back over to 46035.


Timings (Booked only)
(courtesy of Pathfinder Tours)

M.C Location Booked
0.00 Crewe 04.44d
8.06 Madeley 04/56
19.08 Norton Bridge 05/06
24.37 Staford 05.15a ~ 05.17d
38.14 Bushbury Jn 05/34
39.68 Wolverhampton 05/42
45.28 Dudley Port 05/48
48.73 Galton Jn 05/53
52.52 Birmingham New Street 06.00a ~ 06.04d
54.23 St Andrews Jn 06/10
59.64 King's Norton 06/22
63.25 Barnt Green 06.29a ~ 06.32d
66.68 Bromsgrove 06/37
69.01 Stoke Works Jn 06/39
81.69 Abbotswood Jn 06/48
92.56 Ashchurch 06/57
99.67 Cheltenham Spa 07.05a ~ 07.08d
106.17 Gloucester Yard Jn 07/17
112.27 Standish Jn 07/22
125.52 Charfield 07/33
133.65 Westerleigh Jn 07/42
138.35 Bristol Parkway 07.48a ~ 07.51d
139.54 Filton Jn 07/54
144.17 Bristol Temple Meads 08.09a ~ 08.18d
161.02 Worle Jn 08/36
171.16 Highbridge & Burnham 08/50
177.38 Bridgwater 08/50
184.00 Cogload Jn 08/57
189.03 Taunton 09/01
203.17 Tiverton Parkway 09/14
219.63 Exeter St Davids 09/30
230.25 Dawlish Warren 09/39
239.77
0.00		 Newton Abot 09L50a ~ 10L19d
9.52 Dawlish Warren 10/33
20.14 Exeter St Davids 10/44
34.76 Tiverton Loop 11w00a ~ 11w28d
36.60 Tiverton Parkway 11/34
50.74 Taunton 11/49
55.77 Cogload Jn 11/54
62.39 Bridgwater 11/59
68.61 Highbridge 12/05
78.75 Worle Jn 12/22
95.60 Bristol Temple Meads 12w42a ~ 13w06d
96.26 Dr Days Jn 13/08
100.23 Filton Jn 13/19
101.78 Patchway 13/22
112.40 Severn Tunnel Junction 13/37
122.29 Newport 13w50a ~ 14w53d
134.09 Cardiff Central 15/19
136.54 Cogan Jn 15/27
142.32 Barry 15/42
147.77 Aberthaw 15/52
161.58
0.00		 Bridgend 16L15a ~ 17L47d
9.02 Pontyclun 17/57
20.15 Cardiff Central 18/11
26.65 Marshfield 18/18
31.75 Newport 18.24a ~ 18.26d
41.64 Severn Tunnel Junction 18/36
48.60 Pilning 18/44
52.26 Patchway 18/49
53.48 Bristol Parkway 18.52a ~ 18.55d
58.18 Westerleigh Jn 19/01
66.31 Charfield 19/10
79.56 Standish Jn 19/21
86.53 Barnwood Jn 19*29a ~ 19*47d
92.16 Cheltenham Spa 19.55a ~ 19.57d
99.27 Ashchurch 20/05
110.14 Abbotswood Jn 20/14
121.31 Stoke Works Jn 20/23
123.44 Bromsgrove 20/25
127.07 Barnt Green 20.31a ~ 20.33d
132.15 King's Norton 20/38
134.29 Selly Oak 20/43
137.60 Birmingham New Street 20.52a ~ 21.00d
140.36 Aston 21/06
142.58 Perry Barr North Jn 21/10
147.15 Bescot Stadium 21/15
151.32 Portobello Jn 21/21
154.00 Bushbury Jn 21/25
167.57 Stafford 21.42a ~ 21.43d
173.06 Norton Bridge 21/52
184.08 Madeley 22/04
192.04 Crewe 22.16a


Back to "The Railtour Files"