29th April 2006

Pathfinder Tours
Cambrian Borderer

Locos Used 33103, 33202 & 47703
Stock Used 5376+4902+5009+1863+3122+3140+3098+17015

Route:
1Z53 : Taunton to Barmouth
1Z54 : Barmouth to Taunton

Loco(s) Route
47703 Taunton - Bristol Temple Meads - Cheltenham Spa - Bromsgrove - Barnt Green - Kings Norton - (1) Selly Oak (1) - Birmingham New Street
33202 + 33103 Birmingham New Street - Soho South Jn - Perry Barr North Jn - Bescot - Wolverhampton - Telford Central - Abbey Foregate Jn - English Bridge Jn - Sutton Bridge Jn - Welshpool - Caersws - Machynlleth
33103 (2) Machynlleth - Tywyn - Fairbourne - Barmouth
33202 (3) Barmouth - (reverse of outward route) - Machynlleth
33103 + 33202 Machynlleth - (reverse of outward route) - Birmingham New Street - Proof House Jn - Bordesley Jn - Kings Norton - (reverse of outward route) - Taunton

Notes :
(1) Booked route was: Kings Norton - Camp Hill - Bordesley Jn - Proof House Jn - Birmingham New Street. Train started late as the guard had been involved in a road accident on his way to pick up the train. Fortunately he was able to work the train. On the way back the train was delayed at Welshpool waiting to cross a train which it had delayed on its journey to Birmingham!
(2) 33202 on rear.
(3) 33103 on rear.
(4) Also marketed as the "Cambrian Coast" with off-train options.


Graham Hesp captured the train crossing Barmouth viaduct:


33202 'Meteor' & 33103 'Swordfish' (photos: Steve Kemp)

Sources : various including Steve Kemp & John Clifford

Timings (Booked & Actual)
 (from Steve Kemp & John Clifford)

Location Booked Actual   Booked Actual
Taunton 05.36d ?   22.44a ?
Bridgwater 05/48 ?   22/32 ?
Worle 06.03a ~ 06.06d ?   22.12a ~ 22.15d ?
Bristol Temple Meads 06.23a ~ 06.26d ?   21.36a ~ 21.45d ?
Bristol Parkway 06.35a ~ 06.38d ?   21.24a ~ 21.26d ?
Cam & Dursley 06.59a ~ 07.02d ?   21.01a ~ 21.03d ?
Standish Jn 07/07 ?   - ?
Cheltenham Spa 07.19a ~ 07.21d ?   20.42a ~ 20.45d ?
Ashchurch 07/30 ?   20/33 ?
Abbotswood Jn 07/39 ?   - ?
Stoke Works Jn 07/47 ?   - ?
Bromsgrove 07/48 ?   - ?
Barnt Green 07.53a ~ 07.55d ?   20.03a ~ 20.05d ?
Kings Norton 08/02 ?   19/55 ?
Bordesley Jn 08/08 DIV   19/49 ?
Birmingham New Street 08.14a ~ 08.16d 09.19 ~ 09.46   19.27a ~ 19.30d 19.33 ~ ??.??
Soho South Jn 08/21 09.52a ~ 09.52d   19/22 19/28
Perry Barr North Jn 08/34 09/59   19/11 19/21
Bescot Stadium 08/41 10/06   19/06 19/15
Portobello Jn 08/47 10/12   19/02 19/11
Wolverhampton 08/54 10.16a ~ 10.16d   18/58 19/07
Cosford 09/16 10/26   18/46 18/57
Telford Central 09/34 10/32   18/39 18/52
Wellington 09/42 10/36   18/34 18/48
Abbey Foregate Jn 09/53 10.45a ~ 10.46d   18/23 18.38a ~ 18.38d
Sutton Bridge Jn 09*58 ~ 10*00 10/50   18*15 ~ 18*17 18.34 ~ 18.35
Welshpool 10.24 ~ 10.26 11.11 ~ 11.18   17.53 ~ 17.55 17.43 ~ 18.13
Newtown 10/41 11/33   17/32 17/28
Caersws 10/46 11/42   17/23 17/19
Talerddig 10*59 ~ 11*01 11/55   17*08 ~ 17*10 17.08 ~ 17.08
Machynlleth 11L19 ~ 11L49 12.12 ~ 12.25   16L18 ~ 16L48 16.10 ~ 16.49
Dovey Junction 11.55 ~ 11.56 12/31   16.04 ~ 16.06 15/59
Aberdovey 12.08 ~ 12.09 12/43   15.45 ~ 15.47 15/46
Tywyn 12.17 ~ 12.20 12.48 ~ 12.50   15.33 ~ 15.35 15.32 ~ 15.38
Llwyngwril 12/32 13/00   15/23 15/22
Fairbourne 12.39a ~ 12.41d 13.05 ~ 13.06   15.13a ~ 15.15d 15.14 ~ 15.15
Barmouth 12.47a 13.16   15.05d 15.05


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