13th June 2009

UK Railtours
The Thames Towy

Locos Used 03178, 59205, 59206 & steam: 3879 (J94 type Austerity Saddle Tank)
Stock Used 21269+3121+3123+1691+3147+4998+5008+1813+5292
on Gwili Railway: 3-car class 117 DMU

Route :
1Z58 : London Paddington to Carmarthen
1Z59 : Carmarthen to London Paddington

Loco(s) Route
59206 (1) London Paddington - Slough - Twyford - Reading - Didcot Parkway - Swindon - Westerleigh Jn - Bristol Parkway - Pilning - Severn Tunnel Junction - Newport - Cardiff Central - Pontyclun - Bridgend - Port Talbot Parkway - Neath - Landore Jn - Swansea Loop West Jn - Llandeilo Jn - Llanelli - Kidwelly - Carmarthen
3879 Bronwydd Arms - Danycoed
3879 Danycoed - Bronwydd Arms
03178 (2) Bronwydd Arms - Danycoed
3879 (3) Danycoed - Bronwydd Arms
03178 (2) Bronwydd Arms - Danycoed
3879 (3) Danycoed - Bronwydd Arms
59205 (4) Carmarthen - Kidwelly - Llanelli - Llandeilo Jn - Morlais Jn - Felin Fran - Dynevor Jn - Briton Ferry Loop Jn - Port Talbot Parkway - Margam Yard Jn - Margam Abbey Works East Jn - Newlands Jn - Tondu
59206 (1) Tondu - Bridgend - Aberthaw - Barry - Cadoxton - Cogan Jn - Penarth Curve South Jn - Cardiff Central - (reverse of outward route) - London Paddington

Notes :
(1) 59205 on rear.
(2) 3879 on rear.
(3) 03178 on rear.
(4) 59206 on rear.
(5) Nick Blyth comments: There was a bus transfer to the Gwili Railway which had opened especially for the visit of this tour, and ran three return trips from Bronwydd Arms to Danycoed using their class 117 DMU (that had just arrived there from the Nene Valley Railway) as hauled stock. The class 03 was not booked to work but a group of diesel enthusiasts on the first run with the kettle asked the staff if they would get the 03 out If they had ‘a whip round’ - I’m not sure if any money changed hands or not but they did indeed start up the 03 and it top & tailed with the steam loco on the 2nd and 3rd trains.

Sources : Nick Blyth & John Clifford

Photo Review


59206 & 59205 wait to leave Paddington in the morning (photo: Nick Blyth)


3879 arrives at Bronwydd Arms with the first train of the day (photo: Nick Blyth)


03178 departing Bronwydd Arms on the last working of the day (photo: Nick Blyth)


Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Nick Blyth)

M.C Location Booked Actual   Booked Actual M.C
0.00 Paddington 07.08d ?   22.33a ? 449.61
1.68 Ladbroke Grove 07/11 ?   22/30 ? 444.73
5.13 Acton West 07/15 ?   22/25 ? 444.48
9.01 Southall 07/22 ?   22/17 ? 440.60
11.20 Heathrow Airport Jn 07/28 ?   22/12 ? 438.41
18.31 Slough 07.35a ~ 07.37d 07.34 ~ 07.36   22.01a ~ 22.03d ? 431.30
24.14 Maidenhead 07/44 ?   21/53 ? 425.47
30.76 Twyford 07/50 ?   21/42 ? 418.65
35.73 Reading 07.59a ~ 08.01d 07.57 ~ ??.??   21.34a ~ 21.36d ? 413.68
36.71 Reading West Jn 08/03 ?   21/33 ? 412.70
38.47 Tilehurst 08/06 ?   ? ? ?
53.05 Didcot Parkway 08/18 08/17   21/15 ? 396.56
60.17 Wantage Road 08/24 ?   21/08 ? 389.44
63.75 Challow 08/34 ?   21/05 ? 385.66
66.34 Uffington 08/37 ?   21/03 ? 383.27
77.18 Swindon 08c50 ~ 09c00 08.51 ~ ??.??   20c50 ~ 20c52 ? 372.43
83.02 Wootton Bassett Jn 09/07 ?   20/45 ? 366.59
94.05 Hullavington 09/16 ?   20/36 ? 355.56
107.07 Westerleigh Jn 09/28 ?   20/26 ? 342.54
111.57 Bristol Parkway 09/32 ?   20/15 ? 338.04
112.79 Patchway 09/41 ?   20/12 ? 336.62
116.45 Pilning 09/46 ?   20/09 ? 333.16
118.09 Severn Tunnel East 09/47 ?   20/07 ? 331.52
122.31 Severn Tunnel West 09/52 ?   20/02 ? 327.30
123.41 Severn Tunnel Junction 09/57 ?   20/00 ? 326.20
132.76 Maindee West Jn 10/08 ?   19/35 ? 319.65
133.30 Newport 10/10 ?   19/33 ? 316.31
134.67 Ebbw Jn 10/13 ?   19/30 ? 314.74
138.40 Marshfield 10/19 ?   19/27 ? 311.21
145.10 Cardiff Central 10.29a ~ 10.31d ?   19.17a ~ 19.19d ? 304.51
- Penarth Curve South Jn   19/13 ? 303.68
- Cogan Jn   19/09 ? 302.06
156.20 Pontclun 10/43 ?  
- Cadoxton   19/01 ? 298.25
- Barry   18/57 ? 296.28
- Aberthaw   18/49 ? 290.63
165.25 Bridgend 10/54 ?   18.29 ~ 18.31 ? 277.02
169.45 Stormy 11/01 ?  
- Tondu   18.06 ~ 18.16 ??.?? ~ 18.00 274.00
- Newlands Jn   17/17 ? 267.30
173.44 Margam Moors Jn 11/06 ?  
- Margam Abbey Works East Jn   17t09 ? 366.37
- Margam Yard Jn   17/01 ? 364.74
177.39 Port Talbot Parkway 11/10 ?   16/58 ? 262.78
183.00 Neath 11/16 11/13  
189.42 Landore Jn 11/24 ?  
189.74 Swansea Loop West Jn 11/26 ?  
192.46 Cockett West 11/31 ?  
197.68 Duffryn West 11/36 ?  
- Briton Ferry Loop Jn   16/54 ? 259.51
- Dynevor Jn   16/50 ? 257.68
- Felin Fran   16/45 ? 254.51
- Morlais Jn   16/25 ? 246.09
198.29 Llandeilo Jn 11/37 ?   16/20 ? 242.41
200.00 Llanelli 11/39 ?   16/18 ? 240.70
203.75 Pembrey & Burry Port 11/43 ?   16/14 ? 236.75
209.12 Kidwelly 11/47 ?   16/09 ? 231.58
213.27 Ferryside 11/51 ?   16/05 ? 227.43
219.70 Carmarthen Jn 12/00 ?   15/58 ? 221.00
220.35 Carmarthen 12.03 ?   15.56d ? 220.35


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