14th February 2004

Steamy Affairs
Valentine Scenic Express

Locos Used (1) 47828 & 47851

Route:
1Z37 : Watford Junction to Carmarthen
1Z38 : Carmarthen to Watford Junction

Loco(s) Route
47828 05.44 (2) Watford Junction - Milton Keynes Central (3) - Weedon (4) - Rugby
47851 Milton Keynes Central - Northampton - Coventry - Birmingham International - Birmingham New Street - Cheltenham Spa - Gloucester - Chepstow - Severn Tunnel Junction - Cardiff - Pontyclun - Bridgend - Neath - Landore Jn - Swansea Loop West Jn - Llanelli - Carmarthen
?47851? Carmarthen - (5) (reverse of outward route) - Rugby - Northampton

Notes :
(1) 37197/37261 were to have been the motive power, but changed to 31190 & 37694 after the 37's could not make the journey from the East Lancs Railway for Old Oak Common following an incident at Castleton which resulted in the driver being relieved of duty, there being no alternative driver available to take the locos onwards.
(2) Stock arrived at Watford Junction over 100 minutes late, the problem being reported as generator car failure, hence replacement of 31190 & 37694 by 47828. Tour finally departed Watford Junction at 09.00, over three hours late!
(3) 47828 believed to have been failed at Milton Keynes with loss of power, but it soldiered on to Rugby where 47851 replaced it.
(4) Diverted via Weedon to save time, Northampton & Long Buckby passengers joining at Rugby.
(5) Tour was booked via Central Wales line but was re-routed via Gloucester & Cheltenham Spa as class 47's are not passed for the Central Wales line without prior paperwork.

Sources : various

Timings (Booked & Actual)

Location Booked Actual Booked Actual
Watford Junction 05.38d 09.00
Tring 05/59 09/14
Ledburn Jn 06/05 09/18
Bletchley 06/12 09/25
Milton Keynes Central 06.19a ~ 06.23d 09.29 ~ 09.33
Hanslope Jn 06/30 09/43
Northampton 06.46a ~ 06.48d DIV 23.05a 23.08
Weedon DIV 10/00
Long Buckby 07.01a ~ 07.03d DIV 22.51a ~ 22.53d 22.32 ~ 22.36
Rugby 07.14 ??L??a ~ 10L34d 22.21a ~ 22.39d 22.13 ~ 22.20
Coventry 07.26a ~ 07.28d 10.46 ~ 10.48 22.04a ~ 22.06d 21.57 ~ 21.59
Birmingham International 07.37a ~ 08.16d 11.01 ~ 11.06 21.24a ~ 21.53d 21.41 ~ 21.43
Stechford 08/22 11/12 21/21 21/35
Proof House Jn 08/30 11/17 21/17 21/31
Birmingham New Street 08.33a ~ 08.49d 11.19 ~ 11.23 21.10a ~ 21.14 21.26 ~ 21.29

Timings supplied for the Website after the tour ran were those developed for the return leg on the day as a result of the loco substitution, outward wee as booked, return are the hastily derived ones. From the timings given the train only made it back as far as Northampton, presumably onward passengers were got home by road transport?

Location Booked Actual   Booked Actual
Selly Oak 08/56 11/30   21/03 21/16
Kings Norton 09/00 11/33   20/58 21/11
Longbridge 09/03 11/37   20/55 21/07
Barnt Green 09/06 11/41   20/52 21/05
Bromsgrove 09/09 11/44   20/46 20/57
Stoke Works Jn 09/11 11/46   20/42 20/53
Abbotswood Jn 09/20 11/53   20/28 20/44
Ashchurch 09/29 12/00   20/22 20/37
Cheltenham Spa 09.37a ~ 09.40d 12.03 ~ 12.06   20/16 20/28
Barnwood Jn 09/48 12/12   20*01a ~ 20*07d ??.?? ~ 20.12
Gloucester 09/52 12/15   19/58 20/09
Awre Jn 10/06 12/28   19/35 19/40
Chepstow 10/19 12/43   19/23 19/28
Severn Tunnel Jn 10/27 12/49   19/17 19/18
Newport 10/36 13/01   19/08 19/07
Marshfield 10/42 13/07   19/00 18/58
Cardiff Central 10/54 13/14   18/50 18/48
Pontyclun 11/05 13/25   18/33 18/33
Bridgend 11/13 13/41   18/20 18/20
Port Talbot Parkway 11/25 13/53   18/05 18/04
Neath 11/31 13/59   17/55 17/54
Landore Jn 11/40 ?   17/45 ?
Cockett West 11/50 14/22   17/36 ?
Llanelli 11/58 14/29   17/29 17/30
Carmarthen Jn 12/22 15/00   17/06 17/08
Carmarthen 12.24a 15.02   17.05 17.06

Timings continue in first table.
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