9th December 2023

Pathfinder Railtours
The Chester Christmas Cromptons

Route :
1Z33 : Eastleigh to Chester
1Z35 : Chester to Eastleigh

Notes :
(1) 47826 on rear.
(2) John Clifford's comments: We left Eastleigh slightly early, likewise Southampton Central. At Salisbury Tunnel Jn we had to wait for the 07.08 Basingstoke - Salisbury to pass, as we were a few minutes early. Passengers were picked up at Salisbury and Warminster and we arrived at Westbury 5 minutes late. Here there was a delay while the gas bottles for the Buffet Car were sorted out. The 08.40 Westbury - Bristol TM which should have followed us was allowed out first, so we left 11 minutes late. Passengers were picked up at Trowbridge, Bath Spa and Filton Abbey Wood. By this time we were 20 minutes late, and we continued roughly this late until Hereford, where we did not stop (although booked to do so). This got us back to being nearly on time. There was a slowing at Marsh Brook and we stopped between Dorrington and Sutton Bridge. After dropping off passengers at Shrewsbury we continued, omitting the stop at Wrexham General, but were held at Wrexham North to let the 11.23 from Llandudno Junction to come off the single line. Arrival at Chester was 3 minutes late.
The return journey ran via Crewe. There was a signal stop outside Crewe and a stop in Crewe station. We followed the 15.30 Manchester Piccadilly - Carmarthen from there, which delayed us (as it was 24 minutes late) and arrived at Shrewsbury 15 minutes late. Here our Kitchen Car needed to be watered. We left 43 minutes late behind the 16.30 Manchester Piccadilly - Swansea. Some time was made up but the 16.30 checked us at Woofferton. More time was made up. Despite a stop outside Abergavenny and one at Maindee North Jn (the later to let the 17.30 Cardiff Central - Portsmouth Harbour to pass) we made up a little bit more time. Filton Abbey Wood was left 24½ minutes late and North Somerset Jn was passed 22 minutes late. There appeared to be problems on the Paddington - Bristol line. We were stopped outside Bath Spa. When we got into the platform it was "heaving" with many waiting for a London bound train. Bath was left 33 minutes late. Our time at Salisbury was cut short so that we left 22½ minutes late. There was hope that we might make up a bit more time, but hopes were dashed when we were held at Southampton Central  to let the 20.10 Weymouth - London Waterloo go ahead. It was 42 minutes late. Our arrival back at Eastleigh was 31 minutes late.

Sources : John Clifford (on the tour throughout)
& Richard Szwejkowski (joined/left the tour at Filton Abbey Wood)

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

Mileages as shown in the tour brochure.

Associated E.C.S. Workings

5Z33 : (33207 + 33029 with 47826 on rear) : Southall WCR to Eastleigh

5Z34 : (33207 + 33029 with 47826 on rear) : Chester to Chester Sig.CR528
5Z34 : (47826 with 33029 + 33207 on rear) : Chester Sig.CR528 to Chester

5Z35 : (47826 with 33029 + 33207 on rear) : Chester to Chester South Jn
5Z35 : (33207 + 33029 with 47826 on rear) : Chester South Jn to Chester

5Z36 : (33207 + 33029 with 47826 on rear) : Eastleigh to Hanwell Bridge Loop
5Z36 : (47826 with 33029 + 33207 on rear) : Hanwell Bridge Loop to Southall
5Z36 : (33207 + 33029 with 47826 on rear) : Southall to Southall WCR

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