Tour Review
(by Gordon Jakes)
3rd May 2008
The Railway Touring
Company
The Southern
Irishman
| Locos Used | 66166, 67020 & steam: 71000 'Duke of Gloucester' |
| Stock Used (1) | 17041+17015+3119+3149+1671+3069+3068+3097+1863+5341+5276 |
Route:
1Z71 Birmingham International to Fishguard Harbour
1Z72
Fishguard Harbour to Birmingham International
| Loco(s) | Route |
| 67020 | Birmingham International Birmingham New Street Selly Oak Barnt Green Worcester Shrub Hill Cheltenham Spa Gloucester Chepstow Newport |
| 71000 | Newport Cardiff Central Port Talbot Briton Ferry Swansea District Line Llangenech Llanelli Carmarthen |
| 66166 (2) | Carmarthen Whitland Fishguard Harbour |
| 71000 | Fishguard Harbour Whitland (via Carmarthen avoiding line) Llanelli Kidwelly (via Swansea avoiding line) Neath Port Talbot Cardiff Newport Chepstow Gloucester |
| 67020 | Gloucester (reverse of outward route) Birmingham International |
Notes :
(1) 17041 only in formation when 71000 was on the train.
(2) 71000 on rear.
Source : Gordon Jakes (joined
the train at Birmingham New Street, left at Newport)
Tour Review
(by Gordon Jakes)
The outward journey to Carmarthen ran as planned but the layover at Carmarthen was extended by the late arrival of 66 166 which attached to the rear of the train and then hauled the train (including 71000 at the rear) to Fishguard Harbour. Fortunately the lay-over at Fishguard was such that the late arrival was recovered with there was still time available for a leg-stretch. The arrival of the Duke caused much interest amongst the local populace and I doubt that Fishguard Harbour station has seen as many people for a long time.
71000 on arrival at Carmarthen (photo: Nick Catford)
66166 after arrival at Fishguard Harbour (photo: Gordon Jakes)
71000 prior to departure from Fishguard Harbour (photo: Gordon Jakes)
The Duke made a sterling effort on the 1 in 50 climb out of Fishguard Harbour with the exhaust beat audible throughout the train and the local neighbourhood. A few minutes were lost before Clarebeston Road but this was recovered with interest before Whitland. The train continued ahead of time until Llanelli whence progress took a turn for the worse.
The day out was spoilt by a signalmans error at Llandeilo Jn which caused significant delay and lost our path east of Swansea. The explanation provided on the train was that the signalman had set an incorrect route for our train and that the delay was caused while the correct route was confirmed. The Duke proceeded on our advertised route via the Swansea avoiding line but further time was lost in waiting for a service train to clear the single line between Duffryn and Cockett and then in waiting for a London bound HST to clear Landore Jn before we were allowed to follow same. Even though Network Rail were responsible for our delay no quarter was given in order to assist us in making up time and by the time we reached Newport nearly 40 minutes behind schedule I had no choice but to transfer to a Cross Country service to Birmingham in order to stand a chance of catching my last train home connection from there - a sad end to a good day out!
Gordon Jakes
Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Gordon Jakes)
|
M.C |
Location |
Booked |
Actual |
Booked |
Actual |
M.C |
|
|
0.00 |
Birmingham International |
06/05d [P2] |
? |
22/40a [P5] |
? |
62.61 |
|
|
4.33 |
Stetchford |
06/12 |
? |
22/34 |
? |
58.28 |
|
|
7.41 |
Proof House Jn |
06/18 |
? |
22/30 |
? |
55.20 |
|
|
8.18 |
Birmingham New Street |
06.21a ~ 06.30d |
??.?? ~ 06.31 [P12] |
22.22a ~ 22.27d [P9] |
? |
54.43 |
|
|
11.44 |
Selly Oak |
06/39 |
06/37 |
22/14 |
? |
51.17 |
|
|
13.58 |
Kings Norton |
06/42 |
06/40 |
22/11 |
? |
49.03 |
|
|
16.01 |
Longbridge |
06/45 |
06/42½ |
22/08 |
? |
45.60 |
|
|
18.56 |
Barnt Green |
06.48a ~ 06.51d |
06.47 ~ 06.51 |
22.02a ~ 22.04d |
? |
43.05 |
|
|
22.29 |
Bromsgrove |
06/56 |
06/55 |
21/55 |
? |
40.32 |
|
|
24.42 |
Stoke Works Jn |
06/59 |
06/59 |
21/53 |
? |
38.19 |
|
|
28.57 |
Droitwich Spa |
07/05 |
07/04½ |
21/49 |
? |
34.04 |
|
|
33.69 |
Worcester Tunnel Jn |
07/10 |
07/10 |
21/43 |
? |
29.72 |
|
|
34.25 |
Worcester Shrub Hill |
07.12a ~ 07.15d [P2] |
07.12 ~ 07.15 [P2] |
21.39a ~ 21.41d [P1] |
? |
28.36 |
|
|
37.41 |
Norton Jn |
07/22 |
07/19½ |
21/34½ |
? |
25.20 |
|
|
38.23 |
Abbotswood Jn |
07/26 |
07/21 |
21/33 |
? |
24.38 |
|
|
48.79 |
Ashchurch |
07/33 |
07/29 |
21/25 |
? |
13.62 |
|
|
56.21 |
Cheltenham Spa |
07.40a ~ 07.42d |
07.37 ~ 07.42 |
21.15a ~ 21.17d |
? |
6.40 |
|
|
61.64 |
Barnwood Jn |
07/47 |
07/48½ |
21/09 |
? |
0.77 |
|
|
62.38 |
Horton Road Jn |
07/48 |
07/51 |
21/08 |
? |
0.23 |
|
|
62.61 |
Gloucester |
07.49a ~ 07.51d [P2] |
07.53 ~ 07.55 [2] |
20L42a ~ 21L07d [P1] |
? |
0.00 |
|
|
76.79 |
Awre (CCTV) |
08/03 |
08/09½ |
20/25 |
? |
158.24 |
|
|
82.14 |
Lydney |
08/08 |
08/14½ |
20/20 |
? |
153.09 |
|
|
90.10 |
Chepstow |
08/19 |
08/21½ |
20/12 |
? |
145.13 |
|
|
96.59 |
Caldicot |
? |
08/28 |
? |
? |
138.44 |
|
|
97.38 |
Severn Tunnel Junction |
08/28 [ML] |
08/28½ [ML] |
20/04 |
? |
137.65 |
|
|
105.59 |
East Usk Jn |
? |
? |
19/56 |
? |
129.44 |
|
|
106.02 |
East Usk Jn. New Yard |
? |
? |
19w26 ~ 19w51 |
? |
129.21 |
|
|
106.51 |
Maindee East Jn |
? |
? |
[RL] 19X23 |
? |
128.52 |
|
|
106.73 |
Maindee West Jn |
08/36 |
08/37 |
19/22 |
? |
128.30 |
|
|
107.27 |
Newport |
08L38a ~ 08L59d [P1] [RL] |
08.39 ~ 09.03½ [P1] [RL] |
19.18a ~ 19.21d [P3] |
19.56 ~ ??.?? [P3] |
127.76 |
|
|
1.37 |
Ebbw Jn |
09/03 |
09/07 |
19/15½ |
19/52½ |
126.39 |
|
|
5.10 |
Marshfield |
09/07 |
? |
19/12 |
? |
122.66 |
|
|
11.60 |
Cardiff Central |
[RL] 09.16a ~ 09.18d [P3] |
[RL] 09.23 ~ 09/25½ [P3] |
[ML] 18.58a ~ 19.04d[P1] |
[ML] 19.37 ~ 19.40 [P1] |
116.16 |
|
|
13.05 |
Leckwith Loop North Jn |
? |
? |
? |
19/31 |
114.71 |
|
|
22.73 |
Pontyclun |
09/29 |
09/37½ |
18/45 |
19/22½ |
105.03 |
|
|
28.05 |
Pencoed |
? |
09/42 |
? |
19/17½ |
99.71 |
|
|
31.75 |
Bridgend |
09/42 |
09/45½ |
18/35 |
19/14 |
96.01 |
|
|
37.70 |
Pyle |
? |
09/51 |
? |
19/07 |
90.06 |
|
|
40.14 |
Margam Moors Jn |
09/53 |
? |
18/24 |
? |
87.62 |
|
|
44.09 |
Port Talbot Parkway |
10w00 ~ 10w50 [DGL] |
10.00 ~ 10.46 [DGL] |
18/20 |
18.55 ~ 18.58 |
83.67 |
|
|
46.08 |
Baglan |
? |
10/50½ |
? |
18/51 |
81.68 |
|
|
47.70 |
Briton Ferry |
? |
10/53 |
? |
18/49 |
80.06 |
|
|
48.08 |
Court Sart Down Jn |
10/56 |
10/53½ |
? |
18/48 |
79.68 |
|
|
49.17 |
Dynevor Jn |
10/58 |
10/56½ |
|
|||
|
52.24 |
Felin Fran |
11/04 |
? |
|
|||
|
60.04 |
Grovesend Colliery Loop Jn |
? |
11/16 |
|
|||
|
60.63 |
Morlais Jn East |
11/23 |
11/17 |
|
|||
|
61.32 |
Llangennech |
? |
11/18 |
|
|||
|
63.26 |
Bynea |
? |
11/20½ |
|
|||
|
- |
Neath |
|
18/15 |
18/46 |
78.26 |
||
|
- |
Skewen |
|
? |
18/43 |
76.20 |
||
|
- |
Llansamlet |
|
? |
18/40½ |
74.38 |
||
|
- |
Landore Jn |
|
18/06 |
18/36 |
71.64 |
||
|
- |
Swansea Loop West Jn |
|
18/02 |
18/28 |
71.32 |
||
|
- |
Cockett West |
|
17/55 |
? |
68.60 |
||
|
- |
Gowerton |
|
? |
18/19½ |
67.01 |
||
|
- |
Duffryn West |
|
17/50 |
18/01½ ~ 18/13 |
63.38 |
||
|
64.33 |
Llandeilo Jn |
11/29 |
11/23 [slow] |
17w16 ~ 17w48 |
17.21 ~ 17.55 |
62.77 |
|
|
66.04 |
Llanelli |
11/32 |
11/28½ [slow] |
17/12 |
17/07 |
61.26 |
|
|
69.79 |
Pembrey & Burry Port |
11/39 |
11/38 [slow] |
17/07 |
17/02 [slow] |
57.31 |
|
|
75.16 |
Kidwelly |
11/43 |
11/47 |
17/02 |
16/57 |
52.14 |
|
|
79.35 |
Ferryside |
11/48 |
11/53 |
16/53 |
16/52½ |
47.75 |
|
|
85.74 |
Carmarthen Jn |
11/56 |
12/02 |
16/44 |
16/43 |
41.36 |
|
|
86.39 |
Carmarthen |
11L58a ~ 13L28d [P2] |
12.05 ~ 13.42 [P2] |
||||
|
0.44 |
Carmarthen Bridge Jn |
13/30 |
13/45 |
16/42 |
16/41½ |
41.14 |
|
|
8.30 |
St Clears (CCTV) |
? |
13/56½ |
? |
16/31½ |
33.28 |
|
|
14.06 |
Whitland |
13/48 |
14/04 |
16/28 |
16/25½ |
27.52 |
|
|
19.34 |
Clunderwen |
? |
14/10 |
? |
16/21 |
22.24 |
|
|
26.03 |
Clarebeston Road |
14t02 ~ 14t09 |
14.18 ~ 14.242 |
16t10 ~ 16t14 |
16/14 |
15.55 |
|
|
26.21 |
Clarebeston Road Jn |
? |
14/25 |
? |
16/13 |
15.37 |
|
|
36.70 |
Letterston Junction |
? |
14/38 |
? |
15/58 |
4.68 |
|
|
41.58 |
Fishguard Harbour |
14L34a |
14.47 |
15L45d |
15.45 |
0.00 |
|
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