15th February 2024

Pathfinder Tours
The Verney Venturer

Locos Used 33029, 33207 'Jim Martin' & 47802
Stock Used 9526+5985+5961+5998+6067+6024+1657+3314+3325+3364+3356+3333

Route : 
1Z74 : Bristol Temple Meads to Bicester Village
1Z75 : Bicester Village to Acton Canal Wharf
1Z76 : Acton Canal Wharf to Bristol Temple Meads

Loco(s) Route
33029 + 33207 (1) Bristol Temple Meads – Bristol Parkway – Cheltenham Spa – Bromsgrove – Kings Norton – Selly Oak – Birmingham New Street – Coleshill Parkway – Nuneaton – Rugby – Northampton – Bletchley (High Level) – Winslow – Bicester Village – Bicester Depot GL
33207 + 33029 + 47802 Bicester Depot GL – Bicester Village – High Wycombe – West Ruislip – Neasden Jn – Acton Canal Wharf
33029 + 33207 (1) Acton Canal Wharf – Brent Curve Jn – Luton – Bedford – Kettering – Corby – Oakham – Leicester – Nuneaton (reverse of outward route) – Bristol Temple Meads

Notes :
(1) 47802 on rear.
(2) This was the first train over the newly (re)laid East West Rail Link between Denbigh Junction and Bicester Gavray Jn carrying fare-paying passengers.

Source : Will Stevenson (on the tour throughout)

Photo Review


The tour is seen approaching Bicester; just a shame about the weather on the day! (photos: Stuart Hicks)


Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Will Stevenson & Real Time Trains)

Location Booked Actual   Booked Actual
Bristol Temple Meads 06.36d [P5] [DR] 06.37   22.07a [P12] 22.04
Bristol East Jn 06/38 [UR] 06/38   22/05 [DF] 22/02
Dr Day's Jn 06/39 [RL] 06/39   22/04 [DF] 22/01
Narroways Hill Jn 06/42 [RL] 06/41   22/02 21/58
Horfield Jn 06/47 [ML] 06/44   22/00 [ML] 21/56
Filton Abbey Wood 06/49 [P2] [UF] 06/48   21/59 [P1] [ML] 21/55½
Bristol Parkway 06.57a ~ 07.00d [P4] 06.58 ~ 07.02   21.53a ~ 21.56d [P2] 21.50 ~ 21.53
Westerleigh Jn 07/06 07/09½   21/47 21/45
Yate 07/09 07/12   21/44 21/42½
Charfield 07*16 ~ 07*23 07.19 ~ 07.24   21/38 21/36½
Cam & Dursley 07.33a ~ 07.38d 07.34 ~ 07.38   21.27a ~ 21.30d 21.26 ~ 21.28½
Standish Jn 07/45 07/44½   21/20 21/19
Gloucester Yard Jn 07/51 07/50½   21*05 ~ 21*12 21/12
Barnwood Jn 07/52 07/51½   21/03 20/59
Lansdown Loop - -   20*51 ~ 20*56 20.51 ~ 20.53
Cheltenham Spa 07.59a ~ 08.05d [P2] 08.00 ~ 08.6   20.44a ~ 20.47d [P1] 20.44½ ~ 20.49
Ashchurch for Tewksbury 08/14 08/13½   20/32 20/32
Eckington Loop 08*20 ~ 08*26 08.22 ~ 08.26     20/27
Abbotswood Jn 08/35 08/33   20/23 20/21
Worcestershire Parkway 08.37a ~ 08.40d [P1] 08.34 ~ 08.41   20.17a ~ 20.20d [P2] 20.17 ~ 20.20
Stoke Works Jn 08/51 08/52   20/07 20/07
Bromsgrove 08/53 08/53½   20/05 20/05
Barnt Green 08/58 [SL] 08/59   20/01 20/01
Longbridge 09/04 [P1] [SL] 09/05½   19/57 [P2] 19/56
Northfield 09.06a ~ 09.09d [SL] 09.07 ~ 09.10   19.51a ~ 19.54d [SL] 19.51½ ~ 19.52½
King's Norton 09/13 [P1] 09/13   19/46 [P4] [SL] 19/46
Selly Oak 09/17 09/15½   19/42 19/43
Five Ways 09/20 [P1] 09/21½   19/37 [P2] 19/38
Birmingham New Street 09.24a ~ 09.28d [P8] [DEL] 09.26 ~ 09.32   19.28a ~ 19.33d [P11] 19.29 ~ 19.33
Proof House Jn 09/31 09/34½   19/25 [DEL] 19/27
Grand Jn 09/32 09/35   19/24 19/26
Landor Street Jn 09/33 [ML] 09/36½   19/23 19/25
Castle Bromwich Jn 09/39 [ML] 09/41   19/17 [ML] 19/19½
Water Orton 09/41 [P1] 09/44   19/15 [ML] 19/18
Coleshill Parkway 09/43 [P2] 09/46½   19/09 19/15
Whitacre Jn 09/45 09/48   19/06 19/13
Abbey Jn 09/56 [A] 10/00½   18/57 19/00½
Nuneaton 09.59a ~ 10.02d [P6] [SL] 10.02½ ~ 10/08½   18.51a ~ 18.54d [P6] [A] 18.54½ ~ 18.55

 

Location Booked Actual
Rugby Trent Valley Jn 10/18 10/25
Rugby 10/20 [P6] [UNL] 10/26
Hillmorton Jn 10/22 10/27½
Daventry North Jn 10/26 10/31
Long Buckby 10/32 10/36
Mill Lane Jn 10/43 [UDS] 10/46½
Northampton North Jn 10OP48 ~ 10OP50 10/51
Northampton 10/52 [P1] 10/52
Hanslope Jn 11/02 [SL] 11/04
Milton Keynes Central 11/09 [P1] [SL] 11/11½
Denbigh Hall South Jn 11/12 11/14
Bletchley High Level 11/14 [P8] 11/16½
Winslow 11/24 [P1] 11/26
Claydon West Jn 11/29 11/31
Gavray Jn 11/46 11/41
Bicester Village [P1] 11.48a ~ 12.00d [P1] 11.46 ~ ??.??
Bicester Depot-GL-RR 12RR03 ~ 12RR50 12.05 ~ 12.56
Bicester Village [P1] 12.54a ~ 13.08d [P1] 13.01½ ~ 13.12
Gavray Jn 13/10 13/13½
Bicester South Jn 13/11 13/15
Haddenham & Thame Parkway 13/22 13/26
Princes Risborough 13/30 [UML] 13/31
Saunderton 13/35 13/34
High Wycombe 13/41 [P3] 13/39
Gerrards Cross 13/52 [P2] 13/52
West Ruislip 13c59 ~ 14c05 [UPL] 13.58½ ~ 14.04
South Ruislip 14/08 14/08
Wembley Stadium 14/14 [P1] 14/13½
Neasden South Jn 14/18 14/17
Neasden Jn 14/20 14/19
Acton Canal Wharf 14.25 ~ 14.59 14.25 ~ 15.02
Dudding Hill Jn 15/06 15/12
Brent Curve Jn 15/09 [DHL] 15/16
Hendon 15/13 [DHL] 15/19
Silkstream Jn 15/18 [SL] 15/22½
Radlett Jn 15/26 [SL] 15/31½
St Albans City 15/31 [P2] [SL] 15/36½
Harpenden Jn 15/36 [SL] 15/41
Luton 15c46 ~ 15c48 [P3] [SL] 15.47 ~ 15.48½
Leagrave Jn 15/53 [SL] 15/52½
Flitwick 16/00 [SL] 15/59
Bedford South Jn 16*08 ~ 16*13 [DSL] ??.?? ~ 16.13
Bedford 16/16 [P3] [DSL] 16/17
Bedford North Jn 16/17 [DFL] 16/18
Sharnbrook Jn 16/24 [DFL] 16/25
Wellingborough 16/32 [P1] [DFL] 16/34½
Wellingborough Down Goods Loop 16*35 ~ 16*49 [DGL] ??.?? ~ 16.45½
Harrowden Jn 16/52 [DFL] 16/48
Kettering South Jn 16/56 [DSL] 16/54½
Kettering 16/58 [P2] [DSL] 16/57
Kettering North Jn 17/00 16/59½
Corby 17/07 17/06
Manton Jn 17/28 17/23½
Oakham 17/31 [P2] [GL] 17/31
Langham Jn 17OP36 ~ 17OP37 17/37
Ashwell LC 17/40 ??/??
Whissendine LC 17/42 17/42
Melton Mowbray Down Loop 17OP52 ~ 17OP53 [DL] 17.51 ~ 17.54
Frisby 17/58 18/01
Syston East Jn 18/05 18/06½
Syston South Jn 18/06 [SL] 18/07
Leicester North Jn 18/14 [SL] 18/14
Leicester 18/17 [SL] [UDS] 18/16
Leicester South Jn 18/21 [UFL] 18/19
Knighton Jn 18/24 [GL] 18/24
Wigston North Jn 18*29 ~ 18*32 18.29 ~ 18.32
Croft 18/39 18/42
Hinckley 18/44 [P2] 18/49

Timings continue in first table.

 Associated Light Engine & E.C.S. Workings

14/02/2025: 5Z73 Carnforth WCR to Bristol Kingsland Road FHH
Booked as: Class 47/57 + 2x Class 33 + 12x AB Coaches

Location Booked Actual
Carnforth WCR 08.10d 08.10
Carnforth H.S. 08RM20 ~ 08RM30 ?
Carnforth 08OP35 ~ 10OP04 [DFG] ?
Carnforth North Jn 10/05 09/58
Carnforth South Jn 10/10 ?
Lancaster 10/12 [UFL] 10/13½
Garstang & Catteral 10/23 10/23
Preston Fylde Jn 10/31 [UFL] ?
Preston 10*33 ~ 10*35 [P4] [UFL] 10.31½ ~ 10.32½
Ribble Jn 10/37 [FL] 10/33½
Euxton Jn 10/43 [FL] 10/40
Balshaw Lane 10/45 [FL] 10/43
Wigan North Western 10/53 [P4] [FL] 10/54
Wigan South Jn 10/54 [FL] 10/54½
Springs Branch Jn 10/55 [FL] 10/55
Golborne Jn 10/59 [FL] 10/59½
Winwick Jn 11/01 [FL] 11/01½
Dallam Jn 11/04 [FL] 11/03
Warrington Bank Quay 11/05 [P2] [FL] 11/04½
Acton Grange Jn 11/14 11/05½
Hartford Jn 11/16 [FL] 11/33
Winsford 11/25 [FL] 11/38
Crewe Coal Yard 11/34 [FL] 11/45
Crewe 11c36 ~ 11c43 [P6] 11.49½ ~ 12.19
Gresty Lane Jn 11/46 12/21
Gresty Green West Jn 11/48 ?
Nantwich 11/52 12/26
Wrenbury 11/57 12/34
Prees 12/06 12/44
Wem 12/09 12/48
Harlescott Crossing 12/17 12/54
Shrewsbury 12/25 [P7] 13/03
English Bridge Jn 12/27 ?
Sutton Bridge Jn 12/29 13/05
Dorrington 12/36 13/12
Marsh Brook LC 12/47 13/23
Craven Arms 12/51 [P2] 13/28
Bromfield 12/56 13/33
Woofferton 13/02 13/39
Leominster 13/08 13/43
Moreton-on-Lugg 13/15 13/49
Shelwick Jn 13/26 13/54
Hereford 13/28 [DRL] 13/55
Tram Inn 13/36 14/03
Pontrilas 13/41 14/10
Abergavenny 13/52 14/22
Little Mill Jn 13/59 14/28
Maindee North Jn 14/14 14/39
Maindee East Jn 14*16 ~ 14*17 [ML] ??.?? ~ 14.47½
Llanwern West Jn 14/22 [ML] 14/51½
Severn Tunnel Junction 14/29 [P4] 14/58½
Severn Tunnel West 14/31 15/00
Severn Tunnel East 14/36 [UPL] 15/04
Pilning 14*40 ~ 15*03 15.06 ~ 15.06
Patchway 15/11 15/12
Filton Jn Signal BL169 15*14 ~ 15*25 ?
Filton Abbey Wood 15OP27 ~ 15OP28 [P1] [ML] 15.22 ~ 15.22½
Horfieled Jn 15/30 [ML] 15/24
Dr Day's Jn 15/36 [UBL] 15/26
North Somerset Jn 15/38 15/35
Bristol East Depot DGL 15RR42 ~ 16RR12 15.37 ~ 16.02
North Somerset Jn 16OP15 ~ 16OP20 16.05 ~ 16.10
Bristol Kingsland Road FHH 16.25a 16.15

15/02/2025: 5Z74 Bristol Kingsland Road FHH to Bristol Temple Meads
Booked as: Class 47/57 + 2x Class 33 + 12x AB Coaches

Location Booked Actual
Bristol Kingsland Road FHH 05.00d 05.38
Bristol Temple Meads 05S04 ~ 05S06 [P12] [CL] 05.43 ~ 05.48
Bristol West Jn 05RM08 ~ 06RM30 05.50 ~ 06.29
Bristol Temple Meads 06.32 [P5] 06.31

15/02/2025: 0Z76 Bristol Temple Meads to Bristol Kingsland Road FHH
Booked as: Booked as: Class 47/57

Location Booked Actual
Bristol Temple Meads 22.12d [P12] 22.26½
Bristol Kingsland Road FHH 22.16a 22.21

15/02/2025: 5Z76 Bristol Temple Meads to Bristol Kingsland Road FHH
Booked as: 2x Class 33 + 12x AB Coaches

Location Booked Actual
Bristol Temple Meads 22.15d [P12] [CL] 22.15
Bristol West Jn 22RR17 ~ 22R37 [DT] ?
Bristol Temple Meads 22/39 22/52
Bristol Kingsland Road FHH 22.43a 22.43

17/02/2025: 5Z77 Bristol Kingsland Road FHH to Southall WCR
Booked as: Class 47/57 + 2x Class 33 + 12x AB Coaches

Location Booked Actual
Bristol Kingsland Road FHH 10.08 10.50
North Somerset Jn 10OP12 ~ 10OP17 11.09½ ~ 11.10
Bath Spa 10/29 [P2] 11/25
Bathampton Jn 10/32 11/29
Thingley East Jn 10/40 11/38
Chippenham 10/42 [P2] 11/39
Wootton Bassett Jn 10/52 11/47
Swindon 11/04 [UML] 11/53
Uffington 11/14 12/01½
Challpw 11/16 [RL] 12/03
Wantage Road 11*22 ~ 11*59 12/06½
Steventon 12/06 [RL] 12/09
Milton Jn 12/08 [RL] 12/10½
Didcot Signal SB940 12*11 ~ 12*23 [RL] ?
Foxhall Jn 12/25 [RL] 12/22
Didcot Parkway 12*27 ~ 12*32 [P4] [RL] 12.26 ~ 12.31
Didcot East Jn 12/34 [RL] 12/32
Goring & Streatley 12/41 [RL] 12/40
Reading West Jn 12/50 [RL] 12/48½
Reading 12/51 [P15[ [URL] 12/50½
Kennet Bridge Jn 12/53 [RL] 12/52
Twyford 12/57 [RL] 12/57
Maidenhead 13/07 [P4] [RL] 13/04
Slough 13/16 [P5] [RL] 13/11
Stockley Jn 13/25½ [RL] 13/23
Heathrow Airport Jn 13/26½ [RL] 13/27
Southall West Jn 13/29 [GL] 13/30
Southall 13/31 [GL] ?
Southall WCR 13.40a 13.37

18/02/2025: 5M43 Southall WCR to Carnforth WCR
Class 47/57 + 2x Class 33 + 12x AB Coaches
 MOVE CANCELLED

Location Booked Actual
Southall WCR 10.19d CANX
Southall 10RR29 ~ 10RR56½ CANX
Southall East Jn 10/58½ [RL] CANX
West Ealing 11/01½ [RL] CANX
Acton West 11/05½ [RL] CANX
Acton Main Line 11/06½ CANX
Acton Wells Jn 11/08½ CANX
Acton Canal Wharf 11/12½ CANX
Willesden No.7 11/17½ [DR] CANX
Wembley Yard South Jn 11/22 [DR] CANX
Sudbury Jn 11/24½ [UDR] CANX
Willesden Up & Down Relief 11OP28 ~ 11OP34 CANX
Wembley Central 11/39 [P5] [SL] CANX
Harrow & Wealdstone 11/44 [P5] [SL] CANX
Watford Junction 11/51½ [P8] [SL] CANX
Bourne End Jn 12/00½ [SL] CANX
Tring 12/11 [SL] CANX
Ledburn Jn 12/16½ [SL] CANX
Bletchley 12/26 [P3] [SL] CANX
Denbigh Hall South Jn 12/27 [SL] CANX
Hanslope Jn 12/36½ CANX
Northampton 12/49 [P3] CANX
Long Buckby 13/00 CANX
Daventry North Jn 13/05 CANX
Hillmorton Jn 13/08 [DNL] CANX
Rugby 13c*10 ~ 13c*18½ CANX
Trent Valley Jn 13/20 [SL] CANX
Brinklow 13/25 [FL] CANX
Attleborough South Jn 13/30 [FL] CANX
Nuneaton 13/31 [P3] [FL] CANX
Amington Jn 13/40 [SL] CANX
Lichfield North Jn 13/49 [SL] CANX
Rugeley North Jn 13/58 [SL] CANX
Colwich 14/04½ [FL] CANX
Stafford 14/14 [DFL] [FL] CANX
Norton Bridge 14/18½ [FL] CANX
Madeley 14/27½ [FL] CANX
Basford Hall Jn 14/31½ [FL] CANX
Crewe 14c36 ~ 14c38 [P6] [FL] CANX
Crewe Coal Yard 14/42 [FL] CANX
Winsford 14/47½ [FL] CANX
Hartford Jn 14/51½ [FL] CANX
Acton Bridge 14/53½ [FL] CANX
Weaver Jn 14/55½ [FL] CANX
Acton Grange Jn 14/59 [FL] CANX
Warrington Bank Quay 15/01 [P3] [FL] CANX
Dallam Jn 15/02 [FL] CANX
Winwick Jn 15/04 [FL] CANX
Golborne Jn 15/06½ [FL] CANX
Springs Branch Jn 15/11 [FL] CANX
Wigan South Jn 15/12 [FL] CANX
Wigan North Western 15*13½ ~ 15*16½ [P5] [FL] CANX
Balshaw Lane 15/27½ [SL] CANX
Euxton Jn 15/32 [SL] CANX
Farington Curve Jn 15/38 [SL] CANX
Skew Bridge 15/39½ [GL] CANX
Ribble Jn 15/43 [GL] CANX
Preston 15c*45 ~ 16c*19 [RES] [DFL] CANX
Fylde Jn 16/20½ CANX
Barton & Broughton 16/24½ CANX
Garstang & Catteral 16/27½ CANX
Lancaster 16/36½ [DFL] CANX
Morecambe South Jn 16/38½ CANX
Carnforth North Jn 16/43½ CANX
Carnforth 16OP44½ ~ 18OP46 [DFG] CANX
Carnforth H.S. 18RM49 ~ 18RM59 CANX
Carnforth WCR 19.09a CANX


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