3rd March 1973

L.N.E.R. Society Tours
The Welshman

Locos Used 7586, 7665, 6876, 6889 (5), 1842, 1962 & 1071
Stock Used 11 Coaches including RMB

Route : 1Z77 throughout

Loco(s) Route
7586 + 7665 Watford Junction - Harrow & Wealdstone - Wembley Central - Kensington Olympia
1071 Kensington Olympia - Slough - Reading - Swindon - Westerleigh Jn - Bristol Parkway - Pilning - Severn Tunnel Junction - Cardiff Central - Barry
6889 (2) Barry - Aberthaw - Bridgend - Port Talbot Parkway - Morlais East Jn - Hendy Jn - Pantyffynnon - Llandovery (3)
6876 Llandovery - Craven Arms - Shrewsbury
1842 Shrewsbury - Telford - Wolverhampton - Birmingham New Street (4)
1962 Birmingham New Street - Hatton - Leamington Spa - Oxford - Didcot - Reading - (reverse of outward route) - Kensington Olympia
7586 + 7665 Kensington Olympia - (reverse of outward route) - Watford Junction

Notes :
(1) Options included (a) a visit to Barry Scrapyard, (b) a tour of Cardiff Castle and the Welsh National Folk Museum and (c) a coach trip to Caerphilly Castle - options (b) & (c) leaving the train at Cardiff Central and re-joining at Barry.
(2) The identity of the loco used between Barry &  Llandovery where it failed was in dispute and had been reported as both 6889 & 6989. Alan Byrne states the loco was definitely 6889 citing 'I don't think I could ever forget that locos number, and the 3 hour late arrival back at Kenny O'. Alan Holmewood has seen photographic evidence which further confirms it was 6889.
(3) 6889 failed at Llandovery, replaced by 6876 as far as Shrewsbury.
(4) The class 47 failed with brake problems and was replaced at Birmingham New Street.
(5) Page originally uploaded as having 45001 in charge between Watford Junction and Kensington Olympia however Alan Baylis reports the May 1973 issue of Railway Magazine carried a photo of the tour departing Watford Junction with class 25's 7586 & 7665 in charge. Subsequent information makes no mention of the use of 45001 anywhere on this tour? Page was also uploaded showing the class 47 from Shrewsbury as 1836 to Birmingham New Street but subsequent information received in relation to this tour confirms the use of 1842 and makes no mention of 1836 at all?

Sources : John Broderick (joined & left at Reading), Peter Cooper, Alan Byrne,
Alan Baylis, Alan Holmewood, Steve Haynes & Nigel Wassell

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Peter Cooper & John Broderick)

Location Booked Actual   Booked Actual
Watford Junction 07.30d ?   23.35a [approx. 3 hours late]
Harrow & Wealdstone 07.40d ?   23.26a ?
Wembley Central 07.47d ?   23.19a ?
Kensington Olympia 08.10d ?   22.52a [approx. 3 hours late]
Slough 08.38d ?   22.20a ?
Reading 08.57d ??.?? ~ 08.57   22.00a 00.52 ~ ??.??

 

Location Booked Actual
Didcot ? 09/12
Swindon ? 09/32½
Wootton Bassett Jn ? 09/39
Badminton ? 10/01
Chipping Sudbury ? 10/05
Westerleigh West Jn ? 10/07
Bristol Parkway ? 10/10
Patchway ? 10/11½
Severn Tunnel Junction ? 10/22
Maindee East Jn ? 10/30½
Newport ? 10/33
Cardiff Central 10.45a ~ 11.00d 10.52a ~ 11.01d
Barry 11L24a ~ 14L35d 11.21 ~ 14.35
Bridgend ? 15.11a ~ 15.13d
Port Talbot ? 15/27
Pontardulais ? 16/05½
Llandeilo ? 16.33a ~ 16.42½d
Llandovery 16.51a ~ 17.08d 17L03a ~ 19L05d
Llanwrtyd Wells ? 19/34
Builth Road ? 19/48
Craven Arms ? 20/50
Shrewsbury ? 21L18a ~ 21L27½d
Wellington ? 21/40
Wolverhampton ? 22/20
Birmingham New Street 20.17a ~ 20.19d 22L37a ~ 23L06d
Hatton ? 23/27
Leamington Spa ? 23/33
Oxford ? 00.13a ~ 00.15½d
Didcot ? 00.33a ~ 00.34d

Timings continue in first table.

Back to "The Railtour Files - 1973"