2nd October 1976

6000 Locomotive Association
Mercian Venturer

Locos Used 46014, 47136, 47199 & 1023 'Western Fusilier' & steam : 6000 'King George V', 6201 'Princess Elizabeth' & 35028 'Clan Line'

Route :

Loco(s) Route
1023 London Paddington - Slough - Reading - Didcot Parkway - Swindon - Westerleigh Jn - Bristol Parkway - Pilning - Severn Tunnel Junction - Newport
1023 Newport - Maindee North Jn - Abergavenny - Hereford
6000 Hereford - Craven Arms - Shrewsbury
35028 Shrewsbury - Gobowen - Wrexham General - Chester
6000 Chester - (reverse of outward route) - Shrewsbury
6201 Shrewsbury - (reverse of outward route) - Hereford
46014 (2) Hereford - (reverse of outward route) - Newport
47199 Newport - (reverse of outward route) - Hayes & Harlington (3)
47136 Hayes & Harlington - London Paddington

Notes :
(1) This tour shared steam locomotives with the M.N.L.P.S. 'Marches Merchantman' tour of the same date.
(2) 1023 failed before departure at Hereford on the return leg.
(3) 47199 failed at Hayes & Harlington.

Source : David Hills, Justin Edwards & Dick Franklin

Photo Review


35028 at Chester being serviced (photo: The Jim Porter Collection)


6000 at Ruabon (photo: the Bob Mitchell collection)


Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Dick Franklin)

Location Booked Actual   Booked Actual
Paddington 07.35d 07.37   23.00a 23.50
Ealing Broadway 07.44a ~ 07.46d 07.47 ~ 07.47   22.46a ~ 22.48d 23.38 ~ 23.39
Southall 07/53 07/56   22/42 23/33
Slough 08.03a ~ 08.05d 08.06 ~ 08.07   22.29a ~ 22.31d 22.49½ ~ 22.51
Maidenhead 08/12 08/14   22/24 22/42½
Twyford 08/17 08/19   22/19 22/37½
Reading 08.22a ~ 08.24d 08.28 ~ 08.29½   22.10a ~ 22.12d 22.30 ~ 22.32
Didcot Parkway 08.43a ~ 08.45d 08.49 ~ 08.50½   21.48a ~ 21.50d 22.11 ~ 22.13
Challow 08/58 ?   21/38 ?
Swindon 09.10a ~ 09.12d 09.15 ~ 09.17½   21.23a ~ 21.25d 21.47 ~ 21.49
Wootton Bassett Jn 09/20 ?   21/17 21/39
Hullavington ? ?   21/08 ?
Badminton 09/33 09/37   ? ?
Westerleigh Jn 09/38 09/43   20/57 21/19
Bristol Parkway 09.43a ~ 09.45d 09.50 ~ 09.53   20.50a ~ 20.51d 21.10 ~ 21.12
Patchway 09/48 09/55   20/48 21/08
Pilning 09/51 09/58   20/42 21/04
Severn Tunnel West 09/56 10/03   20/37 20/58
Severn Tunnel Junction 09/57 10/05   20/36 20/57
Newport 10.10a ~ 10.20d 10.17½ ~ 10.33   20.16a ~ 20.26d 20.35 ~ 20.46½
Maindee North Jn 10/23 10/35   20.04 ~ 20.12 20.32
Llantarnam Jn 10/30 10/42   19/54 ?
Pontypool 10/36 10/48   19/49 20/19½
Abergavenny 10/46 10/57½   19/40 20/09½
Pontrilas 10/58 11/09   19/29 ?
Tram Inn 11/03 11/14   19/24 ?
Hereford 11L15a ~ 11L25d 11.21 ~ 11.33   18L55a ~ 19L15d 19.04 ~ 19.43
Shelwick Jn 11/33 11/41   18/51 19/00½
Leominster 11/52 11/58½   18/35 19/48½
Woofferton 12/04 12/10   18/28 18/40½
Craven Arms 12/30 12/34½   18/06 18/27
Church Stretton 12/41 12/52½   17/54 18/19½
Sutton Bridge Jn 12/56 13/07½   17/37 17/54
Shrewsbury 12L59a ~ 13L15d 13.10½ ~ 13.25   17L24a ~ 17L34d 17.36 ~ 17.50½
Gobowen 13p43a ~ 13p53d ??.?? ~ 14.07   17/00 17/12
Ruabon 14/08 18/18½   16p37a ~ 16p47d 16.53 ~ 17.00½
Wrexham General 14/22 14/25   16/28 16/44½
Rossett 14/30 14/31½   16/17 16/33½
Chester 14L42a 14.51   16L05d 16.20½


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