26th March 2011

UK Railtours
The Welsh Highland Railway Repeat Tour

Locos Used 'Vale of Ffestiniog', 67006 'Royal Sovereign', 67017 'Arrow' & steam: 'Linda', 10 'Merddin Emrys' & 138
EMU Used 378219
Stock Used [1]: 17015+3120+1691+3066+3069+3098+1683+3119+3068+1832+5292+5341
[2]: 100+103+124+106+120+118+107+116+122
[3]: 104+14+119+113+110+112+114+105+102

Route :
1Z51 : London Euston to Bangor
1Z52 : Bangor to London Euston

Traction Stock Route
67006 + 67017 [1] London Euston - (via WCML, Weedon & Trent Valley) - Crewe - Chester - Rhyl - Llandudno Junction - Bangor
67006 + 67017 [1] Bangor - (reverse of outward route) - Rugby - Northampton - Hanslope Jn - (via WCML) - Watford Junction (2)
318219 - Watford Junction - London Euston

Route : P60 : 'Clockwise Train'

Loco(s) Stock Route
10 + 'Linda' [2] Blaenau Ffestiniog - Tan-y-Bwlch - Minffordd - Porthmadog Harbour
'Linda' (1) [2] Porthmadog Harbour - onto 'the cob'
10 [2] 'the cob' - single line south of Port Croesor station loop
138 [2] single line south of Port Croesor station loop - Port Croesor - Beddgelert - Dinas - Caernarvon

Route : P39 : 'Anti-Clockwise Train'

Loco(s) Stock Route
138 [3] Caernarvon - Dinas - Beddgelert - Port Croesor
10 [3] Port Croesor - 'the cob'
'Vale of Ffestiniog' (1) [3] off 'the cob' - Porthmadog Harbour
10 [3] Porthmadog Harbour - Minffordd - Tan-y-Bwlch - Blaenau Ffestiniog

Notes :
(1) 10 on rear.
(2) Return journey booked M&C was 2m 27ch further due to the routing via Northampton.
(3) Mark Herriott comments: the tour was terminated at Watford Junction on the Saturday evening due to the 20.30 Northampton - Euston hitting a person at Harrow and Wealdstone station. The tour had been more or less to time until the signal prior to Watford Junction where we then sat for approx 30mins. The tour terminated at 22.30pm at Watford. We then were then transferred to the 23.01 Watford Junction to Euston DC service (378219) which left 20 late, arriving at Euston at 00.08am.
 Rod Miebs comments: The departure boards at Euston showed the train as the 'West Highland'. 90019 brought in the ECS. The road coaches were provided by Alpine Coaches; JAZ 9864 and W9 ALP. 378219 left Watford late as it was held for a Virgin Pendolino to arrive from the north so its passengers could transfer.

Sources : Nigel Benning (joined/left the train at Watford Junction & on 'Clockwise Train'),
Rod Miebs and Martin Haywood (on mainline train throughout, 378219 to Queens Park & on 'anti-clockwise train'),
Robert Frise & Mark Herriott

Photo Review


10 & 'Linda' at Blaenau Ffestiniog on train P60 (photo: Nigel Benning)


'Linda' about to depart from Porthmadog Harbour (photo: Nigel Benning)


Garrett 138 at Beddgelert on the anti-clockwise train (photo: Ray Pettit)


67006 leads 67017 into Llandudno Junction on the return (photo: Ray Pettit)


Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Robert Frise, Nigel Benning & Mark Herriott)

M.C Location Booked Actual   Booked Actual
0.00 Euston 07.00d ?   22.20a [00.08]
1.54 Camden Jn 07/03 ?   22/16 -
5.23 Willesden WL Jn 07/06 ?   22/12 -
8.04 Wembley Central 07/08 ?   22/10 -
11.30 Harrow & Wealdstone 07/13 ?   22/07 -
17.35 Watford Junction 07.19a ~ 07.22d ??.?? ~ 07.22   21.58a ~ 22.01d 22.39 ~ [23.21]
31.53 Tring 07/35 07/35   21/44 21/43
38.16 Ledburn Jn 07/40 ?   21/37 ?
46.46 Bletchley 07/48 07/46   21/30 21/32
49.65 Milton Keynes Central 07.53a ~ 08.01d 07.55 ~ 08.01   21.20a ~ 21.26d 21.25 ~ 21.28
56.47 Hanslope Jn 08/08 ?   21/12 ?
- Northampton   21/03 21/05
- Long Buckby   20/47 ?
69.56 Weedon 08/17 ?  
82.40 Rugby 08*25 ~ 08*29 08.27 ~ 08.28   20/36 20/42
97.10 Nuneaton 08/41 08/41   20/23 ?
116.23 Lichfield TV 08/55 08/53   20/10 20/20
124.22 Rugeley 09/00 08/58   20/05 ?
127.08 Colwich Jn 09/03 09/00   20/02 ?
133.43 Stafford 09*10 ~ 09*15 09.12 ~ 09.14   19/57 20/04
138.72 Norton Bridge 09/22 09/20   19/52 ?
149.74 Madeley Jn 09/29 ?   19/42 ?
156.16 Basford Hall Jn 09/33 09/34   19/38 ?
158.00 Crewe 09c38 ~ 09c40 09.38 ~ 09.41   19c28 ~ 19c32 19.28 ~ 19.31
159.41 Crewe Steel Works 09/43 ?   19/24 19/23
168.60 Beeston Castle 09/52 ?   19/16 ?
179.10 Chester 10/02 10/02   19/02 18.59 ~ 19.01
181.01 Saltney Jn 10/05 ?   18/53 ?
188.78 Rockliffe Hall 10/17 ?   18/42 ?
195.76 Holywell Jn 10/22 ?   18/37 ?
209.08 Rhyl 10/38 10/38   18/20 18/29
219.45 Colwyn Bay 10/52 10/49   18/10 18/12
223.55 Llandudno Junction 10.56a ~ 10.58d 10.56 ~ ??.??   18.02a ~ 18.04d 18.03 ~ 18.06
228.63 Penmaenmawr 11/05 ?   17/55 17/57
238.71 Bangor 11.15a ?   17.45d 17.46

 

Location Booked (P39)   Booked (P60) Actual (P60)
Caernarfon 12.15d   17.06d 17.08
Dinas 12.27 ~ 12.31   16.54 ~ 16.50 16.52 ~ 16.57
Waunfawr 12.47 ~ 12.53   16.29 ~ 16.34 16.33 ~ 16.37
Rhyd Ddu 13.18 ~ 13.22   15.59 ~ 16.04 16.03 ~ 16.07
Meillionen Halt 13/37   15/44 15/49
Beddgelert 13.46 ~ 14.30   1527 ~ 15.35 15.35 ~ 15.42
Haford-y-Llyn 14/43   15/15 15/23
Port Croesor 14x55 ~ 15x05   14x44 ~ 15x02 14.48 ~ 15.12
Cae Pawb NR Crossing 15/12   14/38 14/39
Porthmadog Harbour 15.20a ~ 15.50d   13.40a ~ 14.30d 13.40 ~ 14.31
Boston Lodge 15/55   13/35 13/35
Minffordd 16.00 ~ 16.04   13.26 ~ 13.30 13.27 ~ 13.31
Penryhn 16/09   13/21 13/18
Rhiw Goch 16/14   13/16 13/14
Tan-y-Bwlch 16.26 ~ 16.32   12.59 ~ 13.04 12.57 ~ 13.03
Ddaullt 16/40   12/51 12/49
Tanyygrisiau 16.51 ~ 16.56   12.36 ~ 12.40 12.36 ~ 12.39
Bleanau Ffestinoig 17.02a   12.30d 12.28

Timings continue in first table.

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