20th September 2003

R.C.T.S. / Pathfinder Tours
The Heart of Wales Observer

Ran in association with the R.C.T.S.

Locos Used 47635, 47734 & steam 45407 (running as 45157) & 76079
Stock Used 3069+3068+3066+3122+3140+3098+1863+5009+5040+4963+5309+[1]
[1] = 21272 (from Crewe to Newport...both times!) or 35517 (from Newport to Crewe)

Route:
1Z27 : Crewe to Llandrindod Wells
1Z28 : Llandrindod Wells to Crewe

Loco(s) Route
47635 Crewe - Madeley - Norton Bridge - Stafford - Bushbury Jn - Bescot Stadium - Perry Barr North Jn - Aston - Proof House Jn - Birmingham New Street - Selly Oak - Kings Norton - Barnt Green - Stoke Works Jn - Abbotswood Jn - Ashchurch - Cheltenham Spa - Standish Jn - Yate - Westerleigh Jn - Bristol Parkway - Patchway - Severn Tunnel Junction - (via down relief) - Newport
45407 + 76079 Newport - Cardiff Central - Pontyclun - Bridgend - Felin Fran - Hendy Jn - Llandrindod Wells - Craven Arms - Shrewsbury - Nantwich - Crewe
47734 Crewe - (same as outward route) - Newport

Notes :
(1) Gordon Jakes comments: This train was very similar to the Heart of Wales Venturer  of 08/09/01. The route of this train only deviated from that of the Venturer at the north end where Crewe was used for loco change as against Oxley Sidings which were used on the Venturer. There were also minor route variations in the Birmingham area. The steam locos were the same pairing albeit 76079 was the train engine on this train having been used more conventionally as the pilot on the Venturer. 45407 was still running with the number 45157 ‘Glasgow Yeomanry’ as it did on the Venturer. Even the timings were very similar with the same paths having been used between Birmingham and Newport and between Newport and Shrewsbury via the Central Wales line. The Heart of Wales Observer left Newport some 20 minutes late and lost further time at Pantyffynon during the watering stop. Its arrival in Llandrindod Wells was 45 minutes late whereas the Venturer arrived 60 minutes late due also to problems with watering!


The train standing in the Up Refuge siding at Llandrindod Wells.
(photo: Gordon Jakes)

Sources : R.C.T.S. Website & Gordon Jakes (joined/left the train at Stafford)

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Gordon Jakes)

M.C Location Booked Actual   Booked Actual
0.00 Crewe 04.36d ?   19L07a ~ 19L31d 19.27 ~ 19.49
8.06 Madeley 04/49 ?   19/42 ?
19.08 Norton Bridge 04/58 ?   19/52 ?
24.37 Stafford 05.04a ~ 05.07d ??.?? ~ 05.07   20.05a ~ 20.07d 20.15 ~ ??.??
38.14 Bushbury Jn 05/20 05/23   20/19 ?
40.62 Portobello Jn 05/25 ?   20/24 ?
44.79 Bescot Stadium 05/30 05/35   20/37 ?
49.36 Perry Barr North Jn 05/35 ?   20/45 ?
51.58 Aston 05/38 ?   20/52 ?
54.34 Birmingham New Street 05.45a ~ 05.50d 05.48 ~ 05.51   20.59a ~ 21.05d ?
57.65 Selly Oak 05/57 05/58   21/12 ?
59.79 Kings Norton 06/04 06/00   21/16 ?
65.07 Barnt Green 06.16a ~ 06.19d 06.10 ~ 06.20   21/24 ?
68.50 Bromsgrove 06/24 06/24   21/27 ?
70.63 Stoke Works Jn 06/26 ?   21/30 ?
82.00 Abbotswood Jn 06/34 ?   21/38 ?
92.67 Ashchurch 06/41 06/41   21/45 ?
99.78 Cheltenham Spa 06.50a ~ 06.53d 06.50 ~ 06.54   21.54a ~ 21.56d ?
105.41 Barnwood Jn 07/00 07/01   22/03 ?
106.28 Gloucester Yard Jn ? ?   22/10 ?
112.39 Standish Jn 07/07 07/09   22/10 ?
125.63 Charfield 07/19 07/18   22/28 ?
132.24 Yate 07/26 07/23   ? ?
133.76 Westerleigh Jn 07/29 ?   22/32 ?
138.46 Bristol Parkway 07.36a ~ 07.39d 07.31 ~ 07.38   22.39a ~ 22.41d ?
139.68 Patchway 07/41 ?   22/43 ?
143.34 Pilning 07/44 ?   22/46 ?
150.30 Severn Tunnel Junction 07/50 07/52   22/55 ?
160.19
0.00		 Newport 08L06a ~ 08L38d 08.09 ~ 08.58½   23.10a ?

 

M.C Location Booked Actual
5.10 Marshfield 08/48 ?
11.60 Cardiff Central 09/00 ?
22.73 Pontyclun 09/12 ?
31.75 Bridgend 09/20 09/40
44.09 Port Talbot Parkway 09/33 09/52
48.07 Court Sart Jn 09/38 ?
49.16 Dynevor Jn 09/41 ?
52.33 Felin Fran 09/51 ?
59.42 Grovesend Colliery Loop Jn 10/06 ?
60.59 Hendy Jn 10/09 ?
66.13 Pantyffynon 10w18a ~ 11w18d 10.42 ~ 11.55
74.14 Llandeilo 11t43 ~ 11t47 12.26 ~ 12.28
85.29 Llandovery 12t12 ~ 12t15 13.03 ~ 13.04½
96.56 Llanwrtyd Wells 12t46 ~ 12t48 13.32 ~ 13.35
112.66 Llandrindod Wells 13w26a ~ 16w25d 14.12 ~ 17.05
113.23 Llandrindod Crossing 16*28 ~ 16*30 17.07 ~ 17.08
132.36 Knighton 17t15 ~ 17t17 ?
144.74 Craven Arms 17c44 ~ 17c46 18.09 ~ 18.10
149.42 Marsh Brook LC 17/54 ?
158.46 Dorrington 18/06 18/29
164.03 Sutton Bridge Jn 18/13 ?
164.67 Shrewsbury 18/16 18/40
175.47 Wem 18/33 ?
178.65 Prees 18/38 ?
188.42 Wrenbury 18/50 ?
193.05 Nantwich 18/57 19/15
196.71 Crewe Gresty Lane 19/04 ?

Timings continue from top of first table.

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