20th March 1965

L.C.G.B.
The Bristol Flyer

Locos Used D1661 'North Star' & D1662 'Isambard Kingdom Brunel'
Stock Used BSO+3xSO+RB+4xSO+BSO

Route : 1Z40 (throughout?)

Loco Route
D1661 London Paddington - Ealing Broadway - Slough - Reading General - Didcot - Swindon - Chippenham - Bath Spa - Bristol Temple Meads
D1662 Bristol Temple Meads - Filton Jn - Badminton - Swindon - (reverse of outward route) - London Paddington

Notes :
(1) This was a train organised in conjunction with the naming ceremonies of D1661 'North Star' (at Paddington) & D1662 'Isambard Kingdom Brunel' (at Bristol in the original Brunel station at Temple Meads). D1661 was named 'North Star' by Rt.Hon.Ray Gunter MP at Paddington. Arrival into Bristol was only 'sort of' as an emergency stop occurred with only 2 coaches in platform. D1662 was named 'Isambard Kingdom Brunel' by the Lord Mayor of Bristol at the start of the return run. The tour brochure carried the following introduction: 'This trip, arranged at the request of Western Region of British Railways, represents a step forward into the entirely new field of diesel-hauled society special trains, and is indeed the first such train to be run by any organisation'.

Sources : John Clifford (on the train throughout), Dave Groves, Graham Stacey
& The Bluebell Railway Museum

Photo Review


D1662 at Bristol T.M. just after being named (photo: David Pearson)


From The John Debens Ticket Collection.


Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from John Clifford)

M.C Location Booked Actual   Booked Actual M.C
0.00 Paddington 10.42d 10.41½   17.10a 17.10 117.60
1.20 Westbourne Park 10/46 10/44½   17/05 17/06½ 116.40
9.06 Southall 10/53 10/52   16/57 17/00½ 108.54
18.36 Slough 10/59½ 10/58½   16/48 16/48 99.24
24.19 Maidenhead 11/03½ 11/02½   16/44½ 16/44 93.41
31.01 Twyford 11/08 11/07   16/40 16/39 86.59
35.78 Reading General 11/12½ 11/11   16/36½ 16/36 81.62
53.10 Didcot 11/24½ 11/23½   16/22½ 16/24 64.50
66.43 Uffington 11/35½ 11/31   16/13½ 16/15½ 51.17
77.24 Swindon 11/42½ 11/38½   16/04½ 16/08½ 40.36
82.70 Wootton Bassett 11/46 11/48½   16/00 16/04 34.70
93.76 Chippenham 11/56½ 11/56  
106.70 Bath Spa 12/06½ 12/06½  
117.47 North Somerset Jn 12/17½ 12/23½  
- Badminton   15/48½ 15/52½ 17.59
- Stoke Gifford   15/39½ 15/42½ 6.04
- Filton Jn   15/38 15/41 4.64
- Bristol Stapleton Road   15/34½ 15/35½ 1.50
118.02 Bristol East 12/19 12/25½   15/32 15/32 0.26
118.28 Bristol Temple Meads 12.22a 12.26½   15.30d 15.29½ 0.00


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