29th May 2017

A1 Steam Locomotive Trust
The Cornishman

Route :
1Z63 : London Paddington to Penzance
1Z65 : Penzance to London Paddington

Notes :
(1) 21249 was only in the consist when 60163 was on the train. 21269 was not in the consist from Exeter Riverside Yard to Penzance.
(2) John Clifford comments: When this tour was first advertised it was planned to use D1015 'Western Champion' for the return leg. However, it was under repair following a serious engine defect, so a class 59 was substituted. There was an option to leave the train at Par for a coach trip to the Eden Project. This was 60163 'Tornado's first visit to Cornwall, and after working the outward leg the engine went to the Bodmin & Wenford Railway, where it hauled trains for a few days from 31^st May to 4^th June. For the outward journey we were gaining on the schedule. In Exeter Riverside Yard the rear coach (21269) was detached as the load limit for 60163 westward was ten vehicles. Coach 21269 was brought to Penzance by 59202. While at Exeter it was found that part of 60163's valve gear needed attention. We were due to run via platform 4 at Exeter St Davids with the 09.30 Cardiff - Plymouth following us into that platform. However, as we were late leaving Riverside Yard, the 09.30 went first and we passed it at Dawlish Warren. Instead of going straight through at Newton Abbot we were put into platform 1, there to check that the engine was now in good health and to let the 06.40 York - Plymouth pass. All was well so we carried on. At Plymouth we were held again, this time for the 10.06 Paddington - Plymouth to go ahead of us. There was a stop at St Budeaux Ferry Road to let the 11.41 Penzance - Plymouth come off the single line. In Cornwall there were slowings at Lostwithiel, St Austell and Truro for gauging. However we slowed at some other stations since there were large crowds who had come out to see the train. With 59202 hauling the return train we gained on the schedule again. We slowed at Largin for the 17.55 Plymouth - Penzance to come off the single line. The next slowing was in the Teignmouth area for reasons I did not discover, then at Tiverton we caught signals off the 19.55 Exeter St Davids - Paddington which was slightly late. The early running meant that we caught further signals at Taunton off the 20.30 Taunton - Gloucester. There were signal checks at Blatchbridge Jn at Fairwood Jn. The reward for the early running was to be held at Heywood Road Jn for the 20.00 Paddington - Swansea and the 20.40 Bristol - Paddington to go across our bows. Both of these were late and diverted due to engineering work. Arrival back at Reading was only a few minutes adrift.

59202 at Penzance on 1Z65 (photo: Doug Lindsay)

Source : John Clifford (on the tour from/to Reading) & Doug Lindsay (on the tour throughout)

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from John Clifford, Doug Lindsay & Realtime Trains)

Associated E.C.S. & Light Engine Workings

27/05/17 :
5Z63 : (60163 with 21249) : Stewarts Lane T&RSMD to Southall

29/05/17 :
5Z62 : (66121) : Eastleigh Arlington to Southall
5Z62 : (66121 with 60163 on rear) : Southall to London Paddington
5Z66 : (66121) : London Paddington to Eastleigh Arlington

0Z63 : (66121) : London Paddington to Acton Yard
0Z65 : (66121) : Acton Yard to London Paddington

0Z64 : (59202) : Westbury Yard to Exeter Riverside Yard

5Z60 : (59202 with 21269) : Exeter Riverside Yard to Penzance

5Z65 : (60163 with 21249) : Penzance to Bodmin Parkway

0Z59 : (59202) : London Paddington to Acton Yard

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