26th March 2022

UK Railtours
Springtime Hoovering in Devon

Route :
1Z50 : London Paddington to Paignton
1Z52 : Paignton to Okehampton
1Z54 : Okehampton to London Paddington

Notes :
(1) 50049 on rear.
(2) 50007 on rear.
(3) 50007 running numbered / named as 50034 'Furious', on one side only.
(4) John Clifford's comments: When this tour was advertised it was stated that this might be the last charter train to go to Okehampton, as the service was increasing from every two hours to hourly, thus not leaving any spare paths. We set off from Reading slightly early and were keeping roughly to time (including running via the down reception line at Bristol Parkway) until we got on to the Weston avoiding line, where we caught up the 08.55 Gloucester - Plymouth, and we were behind it all the way westwards, including being stopped by it outside Exeter. The stop before Newton Abbot was to let the 10.55 Paignton - Exmouth to cross our path. At Paignton there was an option of going on a special train to Kingswear and back, hauled by 6975 (details below).
The return train left on time. The stop at Newton Abbot allowed the 14.20 Paignton - Exmouth to pass us. The tour stopped in the loop at Dawlish Warren to let the 12.18 Penzance - London Paddington to pass. It was 7 minutes late here. Because of that we stopped outside Exeter St Davids to let it do its platform duties and we did not stop at Exeter. However we had to stop at Cowley Bridge Jn to let the 14.35 Barnstaple - Exeter Central, running 5 minutes late, to come off the single line. The Okehampton line duly covered we returned to the GW main line only to be stopped outside Exeter St Davids to let the 14.20 Penzance - London Paddington and the 17.10 St James Park - Barnstaple cross our path. Once in the platform we gathered that there was a problem with 50049. It had been booked to do a simple run round and attach to the front of the train. Because of the fault both locos went in to Exeter Riverside Yard to be swapped. We set off over three quarters of an hour late. It appeared that 50007 was the only one of the pair working. After Cogload Jn we caught up the 18.32 Fairwater Yard - Tackley ballast train, which we followed to Westbury, and lost more time arriving at Westbury 1 hour late. There was further delay at Bradford Jn while the 19.35 Swindon - Westbury came off the single line from Thingley Jn. Once on the Bristol main Line we followed the 20.00 Bristol Temple Meads - London Paddington, which left Chippenham 3 minutes late. Chippenham was passed just over an hour and a quarter late. A few minutes were made up to arrive at Reading 73 minutes late.

Source : John Clifford (joined/left the train at Reading)

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from John Clifford, David Lodwick & Realtime Trains)

Timings continue in first table.

Associated Workings on the Dartmouth Steam Railway

2K37 : (6975) : Paignton Queens Park to Kingswear
2P37 : (6975) : Kingswear to Paignton Queens Park
Stock used: 4915+59517+59507+59523+9275+4503

Associated E.C.S. & Light Engine Workings

25/03/22 :
0Z49 : (50007 + 50049) : Kidderminster S.V.R  to Wembley Yard

0Z48 : (66773) : Toton to Burton Wetmore Sidings

26/03/22 :
5Z49 : (66773 + tour stock) : Burton Wetmore Sidings to London Paddington

0Z48 : (50007 + 50049) : Wembley Yard to London Paddington

0Z52 : (66773) : London Paddington to Royal Oak Sidings

5Z51 : (50007 + 50049 + tour stock) : Paignton to Goodrington C.H.S.

5Z51 : (50007 with 50049 on rear) : Goodrington C.H.S. to Paignton

0Z54 : (50049) : Exeter St Davids to Exeter St Davids
Note: This is what was booked to happen, but due the fault on 50049 it ran into Exeter Riverside Yard, as did 50007. They were then swapped around, so that 50007 was leading.

0Z56 : (66773) : Royal Oak Sidings to London Paddington

5Z55 : (66773 + tour stock) : London Paddington to Hanwell Bridge Loop
5Z55 : (50007 + 50049 with 66773 on rear) : Hanwell Bridge Loop to Wembley Yard

0Z55 : (50049 + 50007) : London Paddington to Hanwell Bridge Loop

27/03/22 :
5Z50 : (50007 + 50049 with 66773 on rear) : Wembley Yard to Hams Hall Reception
5Z50 : (66773 + tour stock) : Hams Hall Reception to Burton Wetmore Sidings

0Z50 : (50007 + 50049) : Hams Hall Reception to Kidderminster S.V.R. (cancelled?)

0Z51 : (66773) : Burton Wetmore Sidings to Toton

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