29th May 2023

Pathfinder Railtours
The Crompton Torbay Adventurer

Route :
1Z25 : Burton-on-Trent to Paignton
1Z29 : Paignton to Burton-on-Trent

Notes :
(1) John Clifford comments: The train arrived and left Birmingham New Street slightly late and before Rowley Regis we caught up the 06.43 Stratford-upon-Avon - Kidderminster, which we then followed. A bit of time was lost on the next leg to Worcester Shrub Hill, including a stop outside the station, but we left Worcester slightly early. There was slowing before Cheltenham Spa, which meant we arrived and left late. We were put into Haresfield Loop to allow the 06.14 Leeds - Plymouth to pass. At Bristol Parkway we were held to allow the 09.18 London Paddington - Cardiff Central to pass. It was 13 minutes late leaving Bristol Parkway. Onwards through Bristol Temple Meads from where the 10.00 Cardiff Central - Taunton had preceeded us, and we caught it up before Yatton. After Worle Jn we could proceed without problems, as the 10.00 had gone into Weston Loop. The next stop was at Cogload Jn, to let the 10.04 London Paddington - Penzance pass. It was 3 minutes late, whereas we were 20 minutes adrift. Some of our lateness was made up by omitting going into Tiverton Loop. The 10.04 ex Paddington left Exeter St Davids 7 minutes late, which checked us there and again before Newton Abbot. Arrival at Paignton was 10½ minutes late. The Dartmouth Steam Railway had arranged two return trips between Paignton and Kingswear using their class 37 D6975. Also Great Western 2-8-0T 4277 was working scheduled services. The return journey started a minute late. We were put into Dawlish Warren loop to allow the 14.15 Penzance - London Paddington to pass, which was 2 minutes late. We followed it and after a brief stop outside Exeter St Davids went into platform 6, there to let the 16.27 Plymouth - Leeds to pass. It was 7 minutes late leaving. Hence we left 7½ minutes late. However we made up most of the lost time to pass Castle Cary slightly early. In the Westbury area we were following the 18.30 Warminster - Bristol Temple Meads.  A stop was booked at Bradford-on-Avon to let the 18.30 get ahead. We left slightly early and stopped at Bathampton Jn to let the 18.01 London Paddington - Bristol Temple Meads pass. We continued roughly on time and stopped outside Cheltenham Spa as the 18.34 from London Paddington had arrived 6 minutes late and was still discharging passengers. We continued onwards and were stopped again to let the 19.17 Wentloog - Daventry freight pass. Worcester Shrub Hill was left 5½ minutes late. The next stop was in Kidderminster Down Goods Loop where we were booked to wait for 36 minutes. During this time we were passed by the 19.17 from Wentloog (as above, which had recessed in the Worcester area and was now 7 minutes late), the 20.58 Hereford - Birmingham New Street (1 minute late) and the 21.44 Worcester Foregate Street - Dorridge. We duly continued and were just 1 minute late arriving at Birmingham New Street.

33025+33029 pass Newton Abbot on 1Z29 (photo: Nathan Williamson)

Sources : John Clifford (joined/left the tour at Birmingham New Street) & Richard Szwejkowski

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from John Clifford, Richard Szwejkowski & Realtime Trains)

Associated E.C.S. & Light Engine Workings

26/05/23 :
0Z25 : (33025 + 33029) : Southall WCR to Southall
0Z25 : (33029 + 33025) : Southall to Stafford
0Z25 : (33025 + 33029) : Stafford to Wetmore Jn
0Z25 : (33029 + 33025) : Wetmore Jn to Burton Wetmore Sidings

29/05/23 :
5Z25 : (33025 + 33029 + tour stock) : Burton Wetmore Sidings to Wetmore Jn (propel)
5Z25 : (33029 + 33025 + tour stock) : Wetmore Jn to Burton-on-Trent

5Z29 : (33029 + 33025 + tour stock) : Paignton to Goodrington C.S.

5Z29 : (33025 + 33029 + tour stock) : Goodrington C.S. to Paignton

5Z30 : (33025 + 33029 + tour stock) : Burton-on-Trent to Wetmore Jn
5Z30 : (33029 + 33025 + tour stock) : Wetmore Jn to Burton Wetmore Sidings (propel)

30/05/23 :
0Z29 : (33025 + 33029) : Burton Wetmore Sidings to Wetmore Jn
0Z29 : (33029 + 33025) : Wetmore Jn to Coleshill Parkway Sig.WW1972
0Z29 : (33025 + 33029) : Coleshill Parkway Sig.WW1972 to Southall
0Z29 : (33029 + 33025) : Southall to Southall WCR

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