31st May 1969

R.C.T.S.
The Cheddar Valley Scenic Rail Tour

DMU Used 51358+59510+59520 (2) +51400

Route : 1Z15 throughout

DMU Route
as listed London Paddington - Slough - Maidenhead - Reading - Southcote Jn - Newbury - (via Westbury & Frome avoiding lines) - Witham - Cranmore - Shepton Mallet - Wells - Cheddar
as listed Cheddar - (reverse of outward route) - Witham
as listed Witham - Castle Cary - Cogload Jn - Taunton
as listed Taunton - Bridgwater - Yatton - Bristol West Depot - West Loop North Jn - Ashton Jn - Wapping Wharf
as listed Wapping Wharf - Ashton Jn - Parson Street Jn - Bristol Temple Meads -  Lawrence Hill Jn
as listed Lawrence Hill Jn - Avonside Street Crossing Gates
as listed Avonside Street Crossing Gates - Lawrence Hill Jn - Kingswood Jn - Mangotsfield - Westerleigh - Yate South Jn
as listed Yate South Jn - Stoke Gifford West Jn - Filton West Jn - Hallen Marsh Jn - Avonmouth Dock - Clifton Down - Stapleton Road - Dr Days Bridge Jn - Bath Spa - Chippenham - Swindon - Reading - Maidenhead - Slough - London Paddington

Notes :
(1) The branch from Cranmore to Cheddar had lost all its traffic recently, this was possibly the last passenger train to reach Cheddar prior to closure of the line.
(2) Max Birchenough comments: The RCTS Website "Mystery Photos" feature has reached the Cheddar Valley Scenic railtour of above date.  All seem to be agreed that the details on SBJ include a wrong DMU car number.  The photos clearly show that one of the cars in an otherwise all-cl.117 formation is in fact one of the three Metro-Cammell cars which were transferred to the WR in the late 60s.  They initially replaced three Hawkesworth coaches which had been used in DMUs.  Later they were included in 117s, making them up to four cars.  Therefore we all agree that car 59520 in your list ought almost certainly to be 59528.

Sources : David Hills, John Broderick & LASERman

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from John Broderick)

M.C Location Booked Actual
0.00 Paddington 08.53d ML 08.53
1.20 Westbourne Park 08/56 08/55½
9.06 Southall 09/04 09/06
18.36 Slough 09/12 09/13
24.19 Maidenhead 09/17 09/18
31.01 Twyford 09/25 RL 09/25
35.78 Reading 09.33a ~ 09.38d 09.33 ~ 09.39
37.68 Southcote Jn 09/43 09/43½
53.07 Newbury 10/00 09.58a ~ 09.59d
66.33 Bedwyn 10/12 10.13½a ~ 10.18½d
86.72 Lavington 10/33 10/40
94.45 Heywood Road Jn 10*40a ~ 10*42d 10.48 ~ 10.49
97.02 Fairwood Jn 10/45 10/54½
100.22 Clink Road Jn 10/48 10/58½
102.25 Blatchbridge Jn 10/50 11/00½
106.32 Witham 10*56a ~ 10*58d 11.06½a ~ 11.07½d
128.32 Cheddar 12.15a ~ 12.30d 12.38 ~ 12.39
150.14 Witham 13.55a ~ 14.00d 14.13½a ~ 14.19
158.76 Castle Cary 14/12 14/30½
186.41 Taunton 14.42a ~ 14.50d 14.58 ~ 15.04
198.05 Bridgwater 15/02 15/16
211.49 Uphill Jn 15/16 15/30
214.41 Worle Jn 15/19 15/35
219.25 Yatton 15.25a ~ 15.30d 15.40½ ~ 15.41½
228.65 West Depot 15/42 15/55
229.50 Ashton Jn 15/45 15/59½
231.00 Wapping Wharf 15.55a ~ 16.00d 16.14 ~ 16.20½
232.30 Ashton Jn 16/10 16/37
233.15 Parson Street Jn 16/15 RL 16/39
235.13 Bristol Temple Meads 16.20a ~ 17.20d 16.45 ~ 17.38
235.79 Lawrence Hill Jn 17.30a ~ 17.33d 17.42 ~ 17.44
236.49 Avon Street Crossing Gates 17.38a ~ 17.41d 17.53½ ~ 17.56
237.19 Lawrence Hill Jn 17/44 17.59½a ~ 18.19d
247.52 Yate South Jn 18.00a ~ 18.05d 18.35½a ~ 18.38½d
248.79 Westerleigh West Jn 18/09 18/52
253.44 Stoke Gifford 18/15 18/57½
254.66 Filton West Jn 18/20 19/00
260.30 Hallen Marsh Jn 18/39 19/13½
262.21 Avonmouth Dock 18/46 19/18
267.33 Clifton Down 18/54 19/29
269.54 Stapleton Road 19/00 ML 19/34
270.49 Dr Days Bridge Jn 19*03a ~ 19*05d 19.37 ~ 19.37½
270.71 North Somerset Jn 19/07 19/38½
281.26 Bath Spa 19/20 19.54a ~ 19.55d
294.20 Chippenham 19/35 20/09
305.26 Wotton Bassett Jn 19/48 20/20
310.72 Swindon 19*53a ~ 19*55d 20.26½ ~ 20.28
324.30 Challow 20/10 ?
335.06 Didcot 20/18 21.02½a ~ 21.03d
352.18 Reading 20.34a ~ 20.36d 22.21 ~ 21.22
357.15 Twyford 20/42½ 21/28½
363.77 Maidenhead 20/49 21/34
369.60 Slough 20/54 21/39
379.10 Southall 21/02½ 21/48½
386.76 Westbourne Park 21/12 21/54
388.16 Paddington 21.15a 22.02


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