28th April 1957

R.C.T.S. (London Branch)
North Somerset Rail Tour

Locos Used 3440 'City of Truro', 5528, 30453 'King Arthur', 41202 & 41203
Stock Used [1] : 7 coaches
[2] : 8 (different) coaches

Route :

Loco(s) Stock Route
30453 [1] London Waterloo - Surbiton - Weybridge - Chertsey - Ascot - Wokingham - Reading Old Jn - Reading General
3440 [1] Reading General - Southcote Jn - Newbury - Savernake LL - Heywood Road Jn - Hawkeridge Jn - Trowbridge - Bathampton Jn - Bath Spa - North Somerset Jn - Bristol Temple Meads
41202 + 41203 [2] Bristol Temple Meads - South Wales Jn
41202 + 41203 [2] South Wales Jn - Wapping Wharf Jn - Ashton Jn - West Loop North Jn - Yatton - Congresbury - Wrington
41202 + 41203 [2] Wrington - Congresbury - Yatton
41202 + 41203 [2] Yatton - Worle Jn - Weston-super-Mare - Uphill Jn - Highbridge
41202 (2) [2] Highbridge - Burnham-on-Sea
41202 (2) [2] Burnham-on-Sea - Highbridge
41202 + 41203 [2] Highbridge - Uphill Jn - Worle Jn - Yatton - Pylle Hill Jn - St Philips Marsh Goods Jn - Marsh Jn - North Somerset Jn - Bristol Temple Meads
3440+5528 [1] Bristol Temple Meads - North Somerset Jn - Marsh Jn - Pensford - Hallatrow - Radstock West - Mells Road Halt - Frome West GF - Clink Road Jn - Westbury - Heywood Road Jn - Newbury - Savernake LL - Southcote Jn - Reading General - Twyford - Slough - London Paddington

Notes :
(1) This tour was the first one for the RCTS that used 3440 'City of Truro'. It is also reported as the first passenger train to work over the Bristol Harbour branch since 1931.
(2) Originally uploaded as being hauled by both 41202 & 41203.

Sources : John Clifford (from contemporary sources), Mike Morant, John Debens, Howard Cook
& 'Vintage Railtours (RCTS - 1954-1969)' (by Gavin Morrison, published by Silver Link Publishing)

Photo Review
(all photos: Mike Morant Collection)


From Mike Morant's ticket collection.


From The John Debens Ticket Collection.


30453 at London Waterloo (photo: The Mike Morant Collection)


30453 at Reading, about to hand over to 3440 (photo: The Mike Morant Collection)


3440 'City of Truro' arrives at Bristol (photo: The Mike Morant Collection)


41202 & 41203 on the Wrington branch.
(photo: The Mike Morant Collection)


Timings (Booked Only)
(from John Debens)

Miles Location Booked
0.0 Waterloo 10.00d
12.0 Surbiton ?
19.1 Weybridge 10/25
22.3 Chertsey ?
30.5 Ascot 10/48
38.1 Wokingham 10.59a ~ 11.00d
44.3 Reading Old Jn 11/14 [11/21]
45.0 Reading General 11.17a ~ 11.27d
[11.23 ~ 11.33]
62.1 Newbury 11/49 [11/56]
79.1 Savernake (LL) ?
95.9 Lavington ?
103.5 Heywood Road Jn 12.35 ~ 12.37
[12.41 ~ 12.43]
104.3 Hawkeridge Jn 12/42 [12/48]
108.0 Trowbridge 12/48 [12/54]
111.3 Bradford-upon-Avon ?
118.4 Bathampton 13/04 [13/10]
120.7 Bath Spa 13/08 [13/14]
131.4
0.0		 Bristol Temple Meads 13L24a ~ 13L40d
[13.30a]
0.3 South Wales Jn 13.42 ~ 13.45
1.6 Wapping Wharf Jn ?
2.9 Ashton Jn 14/10
3.4 West Loop North Jn ?
3.8 South Liberty Jn 14/15
13.2 Yatton 14.29 ~ 14.35
14.8 Congresbury 14/38
17.7 Wrington 14.45a ~ 15.10d
20.6 Congresbury 15/17
22.2 Yatton 15.20 ~ 15.30
27.0 Worle Jn 15/38
29.3 Weston-super-Mare 15/42
38.2 Highbridge 15.55 ~ 16.03
39.8 Burnham-on-Sea 16.10 ~ 16.20
41.4 Highbridge 16.30 ~ 16.40
51.6 Worle Jn 16/55
56.4 Yatton 17.05 ~ 17.10
59.8 Pylle Hill Jn ?
60.9 St Philips Marsh Goods Jn 17/31
61.3 North Somerset Jn 17/35
62.0
0.0		 Bristol Temple Meads 17L38a ~ 17L50d
15.9 Radstock West 18/34
23.9 Frome West GF 18.50 ~ 18.53
29.6 Westbury 19.06 ~ 19.11
55.2 Savernake LL 19/44
72.2 Newbury 20/00
89.3 Reading General 20.20a ~ 20.30d
101.0 Maidenhead 20/45
106.8 Slough 20/51
116.2 Southall 21/01
125.3 Paddington 21.15a

Notes: times above shown in [ ] were written on the timing sheet, with the booked time crossed out.
It is suspected these are a last-minute alteration but confirmation is required.

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