15th February 2025

Pathfinder Railtours
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 - Dr Day's Jn - Filton Abbey Wood - Bristol Parkway - Westerleigh Jn - Yate - Cam & Dursley - Standish Jn - Gloucester Yard Jn - Barnwood Jn - Cheltenham Spa - Ashchurch for Tewkesbury - Abbotswood Jn - Worcestershire Parkway - Stoke Works Jn - Bromsgrove - Barnt Green - Northfield - Kings Norton - Selly Oak - Birmingham New Street - Proof House Jn - Landor Street Jn - Water Orton - Coleshill Parkway - Whitacre Jn - Nuneaton - Rugby - Long Buckby - Northampton - Milton Keynes Central - Bletchley High Level - Winslow - Bicester Village - Bicester Depot GL
33207 + 33029 + 47802 Bicester Depot GL - Bicester Village - Gavray Jn - Bicester South Jn - Haddenham & Thame Parkway - Princes Risborough - High Wycombe - Gerrards Cross - West Ruislip - Wembley Stadium - Neasden South Jn - Neasden Jn - Acton Canal Wharf
33029 + 33207 (1) Acton Canal Wharf - Neasden Jn - Dudding Hill Jn - Brent Curve Jn - Hendon - St Albans City - Luton - Bedford - Wellingborough - Kettering - Corby - Manton Jn - Oakham - Melton Mowbray - Syston East Jn - Syston South Jn - Leicester - Wigston North Jn - Hinckley - Nuneaton - (reverse of outward route) - Bristol Temple Meads

Notes :
(1) 47802 on rear. 47802 was reported as assisting up the Lickey and possibly assisted elsewhere.
(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.

Sources : Will Stevenson (on the tour throughout) & Nigel Benning (joined/left the tour at Cheltenham Spa)

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, Nigel Benning & Realtime Trains)

M.C Location Booked Actual   Booked Actual M.C
0.00 Bristol Temple Meads 06.36d [P5] [DR] 06.37   22.07a [P12] 22.04 247.57
? Bristol East Jn 06/38 [UR] 06/38   22/05 [DF] 22/02 ?
0.53 Dr Day's Jn 06/39 [RL] 06/39   22/04 [DF] 22/01 247.04
? Narroways Hill Jn 06/42 [RL] 06/41   22/02 21/58 ?
? Horfield Jn 06/47 [ML] 06/44   22/00 [ML] 21/56 ?
4.28 Filton Abbey Wood 06/49 [P2] [UF] 06/48   21/59 [P1] [ML] 21/55½ 243.29
5.67 Bristol Parkway 06.57a ~ 07.00d [P4] 06.58 ~ 07.02   21.53a ~ 21.56d [P2] 21.50 ~ 21.53 241.70
10.37 Westerleigh Jn 07/06 07/09½   21/47 21/45 237.20
12.03 Yate 07/09 07/12   21/44 21/42½ 235.54
18.71 Charfield 07*16 ~ 07*23 [UGL] 07.19 ~ 07.24   21/38 21/36½ 228.66
26.33 Cam & Dursley 07.33a ~ 07.38d [P1] 07.34 ~ 07.38   21.27a ~ 21.30d [P2] 21.26 ~ 21.28½ 221.24
31.74 Standish Jn 07/45 07/44½   21/20 21/19 215.63
? Gloucester Yard Jn 07/51 07/50½   21*05 ~ 21*12 21/12 209.52
38.72 Barnwood Jn 07/52 07/51½   21/03 20/59 208.56
- Lansdown Loop - -   20*51 ~ 20*56 [DGL] 20.51 ~ 20.53 204.02
44.35 Cheltenham Spa 07.59a ~ 08.05d [P2] 08.00 ~ 08.06 [P2]   20.44a ~ 20.47d [P1] 20.46 ~ 20.49 203.22
51.57 Ashchurch for Tewksbury 08/14 [P1] 08/13½   20/32 [P2] 20/32 196.00
56.33 Eckington Loop 08*20 ~ 08*26 [UGL] 08.23 ~ 08.26   20/28 20/27 ?
62.33 Abbotswood Jn 08/35 08/33   20/23 20/21 185.24
63.00 Worcestershire Parkway 08.37a ~ 08.40d [P1] 08.34 ~ 08.40½   20.17a ~ 20.20d [P2] 20.18 ~ 20.20 184.57
73.50 Stoke Works Jn 08/51 08/52   20/07 20/07 174.07
75.63 Bromsgrove 08/53 [P2] 08/53½   20/05 [P4] 20/05 171.74
79.26 Barnt Green 08/58 [P1] [SL] 08/59   20/01 [P2] 20/01 168.31
82.01 Longbridge 09/04 [P1] [SL] 09/05½   19/57 [P2] 19/56 165.56
83.01 Northfield 09.06a ~ 09.09d [SL] 09.08 ~ 09.10   19.51a ~ 19.54d [SL] 19.53 ~ 19.55 164.56
84.34 Kings Norton 09/13 [P1] 09/13   19/46 [P4] [SL] 19/46 163.23
86.49 Selly Oak 09/17 09/15½   19/42 19/43 161.08
? Five Ways 09/20 [P1] 09/21½   19/37 [P2] 19/38 ?
89.73 Birmingham New Street 09.24a ~ 09.28d [P8] [DEL] 09.28 ~ 09.32½   19.28a ~ 19.33d [P11] 19.30 ~ 19.34 157.65
? Proof House Jn 09/31 09/34½   19/25 [DEL] 19/27 157.10
? Grand Jn 09/32 09/35   19/24 19/26 ?
91.36 Landor Street Jn 09/33 [ML] 09/36½   19/23 19/25 156.21
? Castle Bromwich Jn 09/39 09/41   19/17 19/19½ ?
97.44 Water Orton 09/41 09/44   19/15 [DW] [ML] 19/18 150.13
99.08 Coleshill Parkway 09/43 [P2] 09/47   19/09 [P1] 19/15 148.49
100.29 Whitacre Jn 09/45 09/48   19/06 19/13 147.28
110.09 Abbey Jn 09/56 [A] 10/00½   18/57 19/00½ 137.48
110.74 Nuneaton 09.59a ~ 10.02d [P6] [SL] 10.03 ~ 10.08 [P7]   18.51a ~ 18.54d [P6] [A] 18.55½ ~ 18.58 [P6] 136.63

 

M.C Location Booked Actual
? Attleborough South Jn 10/04½ 10/10
? Brinklow 10/13 10/19
? Rugby Trent Valley Jn 10/18 [SL] 10/25
125.43 Rugby 10/20 [P6] [UNL] 10/26
? Hillmorton Jn 10/22 10/27½
129.34 Daventry North Jn 10/26 10/31
134.73 Long Buckby 10/32 10/36½
143.14 Mill Lane Jn 10/43 10/46½
144.25 Northampton North Jn 10*48 ~ 10*50 [UDS] 10.49 ~ 10.50
144.42 Northampton 10/52 [P1] 10/53
153.44 Hanslope Jn 11/02 [SL] 11/04
160.45 Milton Keynes Central 11/09 [P1] [SL] 11/11½
162.58 Denbigh Hall South Jn 11/12 11/15
163.57 Bletchley High Level 11/14 [P8] 11/16½
171.20 Winslow 11/24 [P1] 11/26
176.20 Claydon West Jn 11/29 11/31
? Gavray Jn 11/46 11/41
183.24 Bicester Village 11.48a ~ 12.00d [P1] 11.47½ ~ 12.01½
183.74
0.00		 Bicester Depot-GL-RR 12RR03 ~ 12RR50 12.05 ~ 13.00
0.50 Bicester Village 12.54a ~ 13.08d [P1] 13.03½ ~ 13.13
? Gavray Jn 13/10 13/13½
1.66 Bicester South Jn 13/11 13/15
13.53 Haddenham & Thame Parkway 13/22 13/26
19.38 Princes Risborough 13/30 [UML] 13/31
22.51 Saunderton 13/35 13/34
27.49 High Wycombe 13/41 [P3] 13/39
36.60 Gerrards Cross 13/52 [P2] 13/52
42.10 West Ruislip 13c59 ~ 14c05 [UPL] 13.59 ~ 14.04
43.71 South Ruislip 14/08 14/08
48.78 Wembley Stadium 14/14 [P1] 14/13½
50.18 Neasden South Jn 14/18 14/17
50.54 Neasden Jn 14/20 14/19
52.16
0.00		 Acton Canal Wharf 14RR25 ~ 14RR59 14.24 ~ 15.02
? Neasden Jn 15/04 ?
2.67 Dudding Hill Jn 15/06 15/13
3.70 Brent Curve Jn 15/09 [DHL] 15/16
4.65 Hendon 15/13 [DHL] 15/19½
5.58 Silkstream Jn 15/18 [SL] 15/22½
12.19 Radlett Jn 15/26 [SL] 15/31½
17.57 St Albans City 15/31 [P2] [SL] 15/36½
22.15 Harpenden Jn 15/36 [SL] 15/41
28.05 Luton 15c46 ~ 15c48 [P3] [SL] 15.47 ~ 15.48½
31.04 Leagrave Jn 15/53 [SL] 15/52½
38.04 Flitwick 16/00 [SL] 15/59
46.46 Bedford South Jn 16*08 ~ 16*13 [DSL] 16.09 ~ 16.13
47.51 Bedford 16/16 [P3] [DSL] 16/17 [P3]
? Bedford North Jn 16/17 [DFL] 16/18
54.38 Sharnbrook Jn 16/24 [DFL] 16/25
62.77 Wellingborough 16/32 [P1] [DFL] 16/35½
63.36 Wellingborough Down Goods Loop 16*35 ~ 16*49 [DGL] 16.38½ ~ 16.45½
64.66 Harrowden Jn 16/52 [DFL] 16/48
68.46 Kettering South Jn 16/56 [DSL] 16/54½
69.67 Kettering 16/58 [P2] [DSL] 16/57½
71.66 Kettering North Jn 17/00 16/59½
77.18 Corby 17/07 17/06
88.11 Manton Jn 17/28 17/24
91.47 Oakham 17/31 [P2] 17/31
92.71 Langham Jn 17*36 ~ 17*37 [GL] 17/37
94.53 Ashwell LC 17/40 ?
97.01 Whissendine LC 17/42 17/42
103.08 Melton Mowbray Down Loop 17*52 ~ 17*53 [DGL] 17.54 ~ 17.55
103.16 Melton Mowbray 17/55 17/56
106.75 Frisby-on-the-Wreake 17/58 18/01
? Syston East Jn 18/05 18/06½
113.20 Syston South Jn 18/06 [SL] 18/07½
117.32 Leicester North Jn 18/14 [SL] 18/14
118.05 Leicester 18/17 [UDS] 18/17
118.56 Leicester South Jn 18/21 [UFL] 18/19
119.47 Knighton Jn 18/24 18/24
121.16 Wigston North Jn 18*29 ~ 18*32 [GL] 18.28 ~ 18.31
126.43 Croft 18/39 18/42
132.47 Hinckley 18/44 [P2] 18/49

Timings continue in first table.
Mileages as shown in the tour brochure.

 Associated Light Engine & E.C.S. Workings

14/02/25 :
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

15/02/25 :
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

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

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

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

17/02/25 :
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

18/02/25 :
5M43 : Southall WCR to Carnforth WCR
Class 47/57 + 2x Class 33 + 12x AB Coaches
 MOVE CANCELLED

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


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