6th August 2023

Pathfinder Railtours
The Pembroke Coast Express

Route :
1Z25 : Salisbury to Tenby
1Z26 : Tenby to Salisbury

Notes :
(1) 47813 on rear.
(2) 33029 + 33025 on rear.
(3) John Clifford's comments: When this tour was first advertised it was hoped that the route in the Swansea area would be one way via the Swansea Direct line and the other via the Swansea avoiding line, with a reversal at Carmarthen to turn the train. Because of the platform length at Carmarthen being too short the train could not reverse there. So the train went outward via the Swansea avoiding line and back via a reversal at Swansea. The Vale of Glamorgan line was added to the return leg of the tour. Salisbury was left 4 minutes late and arrival at Westbury was 2 minutes late. Here we were booked to wait to allow the 08.40 Weymouth - Bristol Temple Meads leave, which duly happened. We left on time and ran roughly to schedule. There was a stop at North Somerset Jn to allow the 09.30 Bristol Temple Meads - Weymouth to cross our path. It was 9 minutes late. We carried on and caught up the 08.33 London Paddington - Swansea after Patchway, which was 5 minutes late at this point. The Newport stop was left 1 minute late and from here we started to gain on the timings, to the extent that Neath was passed 9½ minutes early. There was a check at Landore Jn and a stop at Carmarthen Jn, but I don't know why. Whitland was reached slightly late. Here we waited for the 11.58 Pembroke Dock - Carmarthen (running 5 minutes late) to come off the branch before we could proceed. Tenby was reached 12½ minutes late and Pembroke Dock 15 minutes late. After reversal we went back to Tenby for a break, arriving 19 minutes late. During the break a 'Chippy' was located by a number of passengers as well as some of the train crew. We left Tenby 3 minutes late. After Whitland we were running late. A check at Pembrey increased the lateness, so that we passed onto the west loop at Swansea 17 minutes adrift. We reversed at Swansea and left 18 minutes late. We were then booked to go via the Vale of Glamorgan  line and arrived at Bridgend to follow the 18.42 Bridgend - Cardiff. Despite this we made up some time and passed Cardiff Central 12 minutes late. The rest of the journey back to Salisbury was uneventful. We got back slightly early. The lateness had been made up mainly by cutting down on the station dwell times.

33025+33029 at Westbury on the outward leg (photo: Guy Vincent)

Sources : John Clifford (on the tour throughout), Richard Szwejkowski & Guy Vincent

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from John Clifford & Richard Szwejkowski)

Mileages as shown in the tour brochure.

Associated E.C.S. Workings

05/08/23 :
5Z24 : (47813 + tour stock) : Burton Wetmore Sidings to Southall
5Z24 : (47813 with 33029 + 33025 on rear) : Southall to Tilehurst
5Z24 : (33025 + 33029 with 47813 on rear) : Tilehurst to Salisbury East Yard
(Diverted via Newbury and Westbury, due to a reported landslip near Andover. The train was then turned via the Laverstock triangle)

06/08/23 :
5Z25 : (33025 + 33029 with 47813 on rear) : Salisbury East Yard to Salisbury

5Z26 : (33025 + 33029 with 47813 on rear) : Salisbury to Hanwell Bridge Loop
5Z26 : (47813 with 33029 + 33025 on rear) : Hanwell Bridge Loop to Southall
5Z26 : (47813 + tour stock) : Southall to Burton Wetmore Sidings

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