19th September 2009

Pathfinder Tours
The Western Slater

Loco Used D1015 'Western Champion'
Stock Used 5322+4902+5009+1842+3330+3364+1671+3390+35469

Route :
1Z52 : Didcot Parkway to Blaenau Ffestiniog
1Z53 : Blaenau Ffestiniog to Didcot Parkway

Loco Route
D1015 Didcot Parkway - Oxford - Banbury - Leamington Spa - Kenilworth - Coventry - Birmingham International - Stechford – Aston - Perry Barr North Jn - Bescot Stadium - Portobello Jn - Bushbury Jn - Stafford - Norton Bridge - Madeley - Crewe - Beeston Castle - Chester - Rhyl - Llandudno Junction
D1015 Llandudno Junction - Llanrwst - Blaenau Ffestiniog (1)
D1015 Blaenau Ffestiniog - Llanrwst - Llandudno Junction
D1015 Llandudno Junction - (reverse of outward route) - Crewe - Kidsgrove - Stoke-on-Trent - Colwich - Rugeley North Jn - Hednesford - Ryecroft Jn - Walsall - Pleck Jn - Bescot Stadium - (reverse of outward route) - Didcot Parkway

Notes :
(1) Off train excursions included a return ride on the Ffestiniog Railway as far as Tan-y-Bwlch by FR service trains. Double Fairlie 'Earl of Meirionydd' worked the 13.40 Blaenau Ffestiniog to Porthmadog and 'Merddin Emrys' the 13.35 Porthmadog to Blaenau FFfestiniog.

Sources : John Cowlishaw & Andy Pullar

Photo Review


D1015 passing Penkridge at 09.30 (photo: John Cowlishaw)


D1015 at Blaenau Ffestiniog (photo: Andy Pullar)


Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Scott Spencer & Howard Parker)

Location Booked Actual   Booked Actual
Didcot Parkway 06.30d [P5] ?   22.53a [P5] ?
Didcot North Jn 06/33 ?   22/51 ?
Kennington Jn 06/40 ?   22/42 ?
Oxford 06.43a ~ 06.46d [P2] ?   22.35a ~ 22.38d [P1] ?
Wolvercot Jn 06/49 ?   22/31½ ?
Heyford 06/56½ ?   22/23 ?
Aynho Jn 07/01 ?   22/17 ?
Banbury 07.06a ~ 07.09d [P2] ?   22.08a ~ 22.11d [P3] ?
Fenny Compton 07/17 ?   21/59 ?
Leamington Spa 07.27a ~ 07.30d [P2] ?   21.44a ~ 21.47d [P3] ?
Milverton Jn 07/35 ?   21/41 ?
Kenilworth 07/41 ?   21*25 ~ 21*35 ?
Gibbet Hill Jn 07/43 ?   21/22 ?
Coventry 07.53a ~ 07.56d [P3] ??.?? ~ 07.56 [P3]   21.13a ~ 21.16d [P2] 21.12 ~ ??.?? [P2]
Birmingham International 08.08a ~ 08.42d [P5] 08.08 ~ 08.43 [P5]   20.58a ~ 21.01d [P4] 20.57 ~ 21.00 [P4]
Stechford 08/50 08/50   20/52 20/51
Aston 08/58 08/58   20/47 20/46
Perry Barr North Jn 09/04 09/03   20/40 ?
Tame Bridge Parkway 09.09a ~ 09.12d 09.08 ~ 09.12   20.33a ~ 20.36d 20.36 ~ 20.38
Bescot Stadium 09/15 09/14   20/30 20/33
Pleck Jn   20/28 20/31
Walsall   20/26 [P2] [SL] 20/28 [P2]
Ryecroft Jn   20/24 ?
Boxwich   20/19 20/23
Hednesford   20/10 20/12
Rugeley Town   19/59 19/57
Rugeley 'B' Power Station Jn   19/58 ?
Rugeley TV   19/56 ?
Rugeley North Jn   19/55 [UDR] 19.45 ~ 19.50
Colwich   19/44 [SL] 19/40 [US]
Stone   19/34 19/29
Stoke Jn   19/26½ ?
Stoke-on-Trent   19c23 ~ 19c25 [P1] 19/22
Kidsgrove   19/15 19/14
Alsager   19/11½ 19/10
Barthomley Jn   19/08½ 19/08
North Stafford Jn   19/05 19/04
Crewe U&D Pottery Loop   18*53 ~ 19*03 18.56 ~ 19.03
Darlaston Jn 09/16 09/15  
Portobello Jn 09/19 09/18  
Bushbury Jn 09/26 09/24  
Trent Valley Jn 09/38½ [SL] ?  
Stafford 09/39½ [P5] 09/38 [P5]  
Norton Bridge 09/44 09/43  
Madeley 09/53 ?  
Basford Hall Jn 09/59 ?  
Crewe 10c03 ~ 10c05 [P12] 10.02 ~ 10.06 [P12]   18*49 ~ 18*51 [P6] 18.46 ~ 18.52 [P12]
Crewe Steel Works 10/08 10/09   18/46 18/43
Beeston Castle & Tarporley SB 10/16½ 10/17   18/38 ?
Chester 10.30 ~ 10.45 [P3] [DML] 10.28 ~ 10.44 [P3]   18/27 [P4] 18/25 [P4]
Chester South Jn 10/46 ?   18/26 [UFL] ?
Saltney Jn 10/48 ?   18/20½ 18/18
Rockliffe Hall 10/55 ?   18/12 18/10
Holywell Jn 11/01 ?   18/06½ 18/05
Rhyl 11/11½ 11/09   17/56½ 17/54
Colwyn Bay 11/20 11/18   17/48½ 17/46
Llandudno Junction 11.25a ~ 11.57d [P4] 11.22 ~ 11.56 [P3]   17.19a ~ 17.43d 17.20 ~ 17.42
Tal-y-Cafn 12*06 ~ 12*07 12/04   17*06 ~ 17*07 17/06
North Llanrwst 12t17 ~ 12t30 12.14 ~ 12.34   16t49 ~ 16t56 16.51 ~ 16.56
Betws-y-Coed ? 12/39   16.38 ~ 16.41 16/42
Blaenau Ffestiniog 13.07a [P1] 13.06   16.12d [P1] 16.12


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