2nd May 1959

Railway Correspondence & Travel Society (London Branch)
The Brunel Centenarian & Plymouth District Rail Tours

Locos Used 6420, 5069 'Isambard Kingdom Brunel', 7001 'Sir James Milne', & 30182
Stock Used [1] : 7 coaches
[2] : 2x 2 auto coaches with 6420 sandwiched in between (end cab coaches numbered 31 & 33 on coach end)
[3] : Push-pull set 373 (S6545S+S738S)

Route :

Tour Loco Stock Route
Brunel Centenarian 7001 [1] London Paddington - Slough - Reading - Southcote Jn - Newbury - Castle Cary - Taunton - Exeter St Davids - Newton Abbot - Totnes - Plymouth North Road - Saltash
Plymouth District 6420 [2] Saltash - St Budeaux
Plymouth District 6420 [2] St Budeaux - (via LSWR connection) - Devonport - Devonport Jn - Millbay
Plymouth District 6420 [2] Millbay - Plymouth - Lipson Jn - Plymouth Friary
Plymouth District 6420 [2] Plymouth Friary - Plymstock
Plymouth District 30182 [3] Plymstock - Turnchapel Tunnel
Plymouth District 30182 [3] Turnchapel Tunnel - Plymstock
Plymouth District 6420 [2] Plymstock - Yealmpton
Plymouth District 6420 [2] Yealmpton - Plymstock - Plymouth Friary
Plymouth District 6420 [2] Plymouth Friary - Mount Gould Jn - Laira Jn
Plymouth District 6420 [2] Laira Jn - Plymouth North Road
Brunel Centenarian 5069 [1] Plymouth North Road - (reverse of outward route) - London Paddington

Notes :
(1) The principal portion of this tour comprised seven coaches and was run to celebrate the centenary of the opening of the Royal Albert Bridge at Saltash, this date being the actual anniversary of the opening.

Sources : David Hills (compiled from contemporary reports)
& 'Vintage Railtours (RCTS - 1954-1969)' (by Gavin Morrison, published by Silver Link Publishing)

Photo Review


7001 at Paddington (photo: The John Debens Collection)


View from the train at Millbay (photo: The John Debens Collection)


Plymouth Friary station (photo: The John Debens Collection)


30182 at Plymstock (photo: The John Debens Collection)


30182 and train at Turnchapel (photo: The John Debens Collection)


6420 and train at Yealmpton (photo: The John Debens Collection)


Last loco of the day, 5069, at Plymouth (photo: The John Debens Collection)


From Andrew Fairholm's ticket collection.


From The John Debens Ticket Collection.


Timings (Booked Only)
(from John Debens)

The Brunel Centenarian

Miles Location Booked (out) Booked (rtn) Miles
0.00 Paddington 08.35d 22.30a 225.5
9.1 Southall 08/48 22/17 216.4
18.5 Slough 08/57 22/08 207.0
24.2 Maidenhead 09/03 22/02 201.3
36.0 Reading 09.18a ~ 09.20d 21.46a ~ 21.48d 189.5
53.1 Newbury 09/43 21/26 172.4
70.1 Severnake LL 10/03 21/09 155.4
94.6 Heywood Road Jn 10/24 20/44 130.9
102.3 Blatchbridge Jn 10/31 20/37 123.2
115.2 Castle Cary 10/46 20/17 110.3
142.7 Taunton 11.15a ~ 11.19d 19.45a ~ 19.48d 82.8
153.6 Whiteball Tunnel 11/35 19/33 71.9
173.5 Exeter St Davids 11/55 19/07 52.0
193.7 Newton Abbot 12/20 18/40 31.8
202.4 Totnes 12/35 18/25 23.1
225.5 Plymouth 13.10a ~ 13.16d 17.45d 0.0
229.7 Saltash 13.25a - -

Plymouth District Rail Tour

Miles Location Booked
0.00 Saltash 13.47d
1.6 St Budeaux (S.R.) ??.??a ~ 14.02d
4.6 Devonport (Kings Road) 14/08
5.2 Devonport Jn 14/10
6.1 Millbay 14.15a ~ 14.18d
6.9 Plymouth 14/33
8.4 Lipson Jn 14/38
10.0 Plymouth Friary 14.43a ~ 14.50d
11.6 Plymstock 14.58a ~ 15.05d
12.8 Turnchapel Tunnel 15.15a ~ 15.20d
13.9 Plymstock 15.30a ~ 15.40d
20.3 Yealmpton 16.00a ~ 16.10d
26.7 Plymstock 16/30
27.9 Friary reversal point 16.37a ~ 16.45d
28.7 Mount Gould Jn 16/49
29.2 Laira Jn 16.56
31.2 Plymouth 17.02a


Back to "The Railtour Files"