9th May 2009

Network Rail (Bristol & Swindon ICC)
The Cambrian Mountaineer & Aber Dabble Doo

Locos Used D444, 37676, 97301 & steam: 8
Stock Used 4960+4973+4905+4994+99723+99311+99327+5239+5229+5035

Route :
1Z50 : Bristol Temple Meads to Aberystwyth
1Z51 : Aberystwyth to Bristol Temple Meads

Tour Name Loco(s) Route
Cambrian Mountainer D444 Bristol Temple Meads - North Somerset Jn - Bath Spa - Bathampton Jn - Thingley Jn - Chippenham - Swindon - Foxhall Jn - Didcot North Jn - Oxford - Aynho Jn - Banbury - Leamington Spa - Kenilworth - Coventry - Birmingham International - Stechford - Aston - Perry Barr North Jn - Bescot Stadium - Darlaston Jn - Portobello Jn - Wolverhampton - Cosford - Wellington - Abbey Foregate Jn - Shrewsbury
Cambrian Mountainer 97301 + 37676 (2) Shrewsbury - English Bridge Jn - Sutton Bridge Jn - Welshpool - Machynlleth - Dovey Junction - Borth - Aberystwyth
Aber Dabble Doo 8 Aberystwyth - Devil's Bridge
Aber Dabble Doo 8 Devil's Bridge - Aberystwyth
Cambrian Mountainer D444 (5) Aberystwyth - (reverse of outward route) - English Bridge Jn (4) - Shrewsbury
Cambrian Mountainer D444 (6) Shrewsbury - Whitchurch - Crewe
Cambrian Mountainer 37676
?(2)?		 Crewe - Madeley - Norton Bridge - Stafford - (4) Wolverhampton - (reverse of outward route) - Bristol Temple Meads

Notes :
(1) Ran in aid of the 'Railway Children' charity, with Spitfire Railtours acting as booking agent. Carried a "Three Peaks Challenge by Rail" headboard.
(2) D444 on rear.
(3) The VoR round trip was offered as an option.
(4) Booked route on the return in the Shrewsbury area was via English Bridge Jn & Abbey Foregate Jn then the reverse of the outward route, however the failure of 1G55, 15.20 Aberystwyth to Birmingham New Street at Alscotts GF resulted in a lengthy diversion via Crewe, the booked route being regained at Wolverhampton by which time the train was around two hours late.
(5) 97301 + 37676 on rear.
(6) 37676 on rear.

Sources : Andy Spencer (tour organiser), Dan Adkins, Aled Williams & Andy Pullar

Photo Review


D444 pulls into Shrewsbury (photo: Dan Adkins)


37676 is hooked on, now waiting for 97301 (photo: Dan Adkins)


Departing Shrewsbury for Aberystwyth (photos: Dan Adkins)


97301 & 37676 wait time at Welshpool (photo: Aled Williams)


8 waits to leave Aberystwyth with the VoR special (photo: Andy Spencer)


D444 pauses at Newtown on the way back (photo: Andy Spencer)


Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Dan Adkins & Andy Spencer)

Location Booked Actual   Booked Actual
Bristol Temple Meads 05.26d 05.26   22.37a 00.03
Bristol East Jn 05/27 ?   22/35 ?
North Somerset Jn 05/28 05/28   22/31 00/00
Bath Spa 05.38a ~ 05.41d 05.39 ~ 05.41   22.19a ~ 22.21d 23.48 ~ 23.50
Bathampton Jn 05/45 05/46   22/16 23/45
Thingley Jn 05/53 ?   22/08 ?
Chippenham 05.55a ~ 05.57d 05.54 ~ 05.57   22.01a ~ 22.04d 23.34 ~ 23.36
Wootton Bassett Jn 06/08 06/06   21/51 23/25
Swindon 06.14a ~ 06.16d 06.12 ~ 06.16   21.41a ~ 21.44d 23.18 ~ 23.19
Uffington 06/26 06/25   21/32 23/08
Challow 06/28 06/27   21/30 23/06
Wantage Road 06/31 ?   21/27 ?
Foxhall Jn 06/36 ?   21/19 ?
Didcot North Jn 06/38 06/39   21/17 22/53
Kennington Jn 06/45 06/45   21/10 22/47
Oxford 06.49a ~ 06.51d 06.50 ~ 06.51   21.04a ~ 21.06d 22.42 ~ 22.44
Wolvercot Jn 06/55 06/55   20/54½ 22/38
Heyford 07/02½ 07/02   20/45½ 22/31
Aynho Jn 07/07 07/07   20/39½ 22/26
Banbury 07/11 07/11   20/34 22/18
Fenny Compton 07/18 07/18   20/27 22/05
Leamington Spa 07*29 ~ 07*43 07.28 ~ 08.20   20/16 21/55
Milverton Jn 07/45 08/22   20/13 21/51
Kenilworth 07/51 08/27   20/08½ 21/47
Gibbet Hill Jn 07/53 08/29   20/06½ 21/44
Coventry 08/07 08/34   19/53 21/40
Birmingham International 08/22 08/49   19/40 21/27
Stechford 08/28½ 08/54   19/34 21/23
Aston 08/36 09/00   19/28 21/18
Perry Barr North Jn 08/40 09/03   19/24 21/15
Tame Bridge Parkway 08.43a ~ 08.45d 09.08 ~ 09.10   19.18a ~ 19.20d 21.09 ~ 21.11
Bescot Stadium 08/48 09/12   19/15 21/07
Darlaston Jn 08/49 09/14   19/14 21/06
Portobello Jn 08/54 09/18   19/10 21/02
Wolverhampton 09.05a ~ 09.09d 09.24 ~ 09.26   19.02a ~ 19.05d 20.57 ~ 20.58
Wolverhampton North Jn 09/11 09/28   19/00 20/55
Oxley SB 09/12 ?   18/59 DIV
Cosford 09/27 09/35   18/50 DIV
Madeley Jn 09/39 09/41   18/45 DIV
Wellington 09/45 09/46   18/38 DIV
Abbey Foregate Jn ? ?   18*18 ~ 18*25 DIV
Shrewsbury 09.59a ~ 10.14d 10.00 ~ 10.15   DIV ?
Sutton Bridge Jn 10t18 ~ 10t19 10.18 ~ 10.20   18t14 ~ 18t15 18.12 ~ 18.13
Welshpool 10t42½ ~ 11t02½ 10.46 ~ 11.02   17t48 ~ 17t50½ 17.48 ~ 17.50
Newtown 11t22 ~ 11t23 11.24 ~ 11.26   17t28 ~ 17t29 17.30 ~ 17.31
Talerddig 11t42 ~ 11t43 11.51 ~ 11.52   17t09 ~ 17t10 17.12 ~ 17.12
Machynlleth 12t04 ~ 12t05 12.10 ~ 12.12   16t46½ ~ 16t48 16.48 ~ 16.52
Dovey Junction 12t11 ~ 12t12 ?   16t39½ ~ 16t40½ ?
Borth 12t24 ~ 12t25 ?   16t27½ ~ 16t28½ ?
Aberystwyth 12.38a 12.46   16.13d 16.13

VoR Special

M.C Location Booked (out) Booked (rtn)
0.00 Aberystwith 12.50d 14.15a
4.57 Capel Bangor 13.05 ~ 13.15 ?
11.70 Devil's Bridge 13.45a 15.20d


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