24th February 1963

The Locomotive Club of Great Britain
The West Countryman

Locos Used 1450, 4591, 5564 & 60022 'Mallard'
Stock Used see note (3)

Route :

Loco(s) Route
60022 London Waterloo - Clapham Jn - East Putney - Wimbledon - Surbiton - Woking - Basingstoke - Andover Jn - Salisbury - Gillingham - Yeovil Junction - Axminster - Exeter Central
4591 + 5564 Exeter Central - Exeter St Davids - Thorverton - Tiverton - Tiverton Junction (1)
1450 Tiverton Junction - Hemyock
1450 Hemyock - Tiverton Junction (1)
60022 Tiverton Junction - Taunton - Frome - Westbury - Newbury - Southcote Jn - Reading - Southall - London Paddington

Notes :
(1) Run to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the 1948 Locomotive Exchanges. In L.C.G.B. literature it was variously described as 'Westcountryman', 'The West Countryman' & 'The West Countryman Limited Rail Tour' - take your pick!
(2) Originally listed as 24th March 1963 in error. Some confusion exists in published records between this tour and the Hampshire Railfans tour of 17th March 1963 which also used 'Mallard'. The above is believed to be correct for the route and organiser of the tour that ran on this date, contrary to what other published records may suggest.
(2) A change of train was made at Tiverton Junction. Pre-tour blurb commented that only 225 passengers could be carried on the Hemyock branch.
(30 Per the tour itinerary; The train, excluding the Culm Valley Line, will be formed of 9 or 10 coaches, mainly B.R. open type stock with a former Southern Railway 'Tavern Set' (RKB and RCO) for dining and buffet facilities. From Tiverton Junction to Hemyock and return a very mixed combination of stock will be used comprising ex Barry Railway beake second W268W with gas lighting, two B.R. built L.N.E.R. Thompson suburban brake seconds E87245E and E87270E, supplemented by three freight brake vans.


60022 gets a wave from a spectator at Raynes Park (photo: Mike Morant)


From The John Debens Ticket Collection.

Source : John Clifford (on the train throughout) & N.J. (Gas) Hill

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(booked from Terry Jackson, actual from John Broderick)

M.C Location Booked Actual
0.00 Waterloo 09.05d [WTL] 09.05
3.71 Clapham Junction 09/12 09/14
5.06 Point Pleasant Jn 09/15 ?
5.57 East Putney 09/17 09/18½
8.43 Wimbledon 09/24 [TL] 09/25
14.52 Hampton Court Jn 09/32 09/32½
26.07 Woking Jn 09/42 09/43½
51.49 Worting Jn 10/05 10/08
85.02 Salisbury 10.35a ~ 10.43d 10.36½ ~ 10.46
124.15 Yeovil Junction 11/25 11/29
160.75 Sidmouth Jn 12/02 12/01½
172.02 Exmouth Jn 12/12 12/14
173.06 Exeter Central 12.15a ~ 12.21d 12.16 ~ 12.30
173.60 Exeter St Davids 12*24a ~ 12*25d 12.32½ ~ 12.37½
175.03 Cowley Bridge Jn 12/28 12/41½
177.10 Stoke Canon 12/31 12/46
179.71 Thorverton 12/42 12/53
183.78 Cadeleigh 12/52 13/02
187.69 Tiverton 13w03a ~ 13w08d 13.11½ ~ 13.17½
192.43 Tiverton Junction 13.22a ~ 13.27d 13.32½ ~ 13.40½
199.76 Hemyock 14.16a ~ 14.26d 14.12 ~ 14.34
208.29 Tiverton Junction 15.15a ~ 15.40d 15.05 ~ 15.43
single line working between Sampford Peverell Halt & Burlescombe (15/54)
213.39 Whiteball Tunnel 15/58 15/56
222.31 Norton Fitzwarren ML 16/06
224.28 Taunton 16/08 16/08½
224.56 Taunton East Jn ML ?
251.72 Castle Cary 16/34 16/40
265.72 Frome 16/52 16/55½
270.19 Fairwood Jn 16/59 17/01½
271.54 Westbury 17.02a ~ 17.07d 17.05 ~ 17.12
272.55 Heywood Road Jn 17/10 17/15
286.13 Patney & Chirton 17/24 17/32½
297.13 Severnake 17/36 17/44
300.67 Bedwyn 17/41 17/48
314.13 Newbury 17/55 18/10
331.22 Reading General 18/15 18/40½
343.01 Maidenhead 18/30 18/57
348.64 Slough 18/36 19/05
358.14 Southall 18/46 19/14
367.20 Paddington 19.02a 19.30½

WTL : Windsor Through Line

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