29th May 1977

Steam Locomotive Operators' Association
The Great Western Envoy

Locos Used 20178, 20188, 81015, 86224 & steam: 4079 'Pendennis Castle'
Stock Used 4860+4931+5008+4924+1500+4999+4843+4991+4983+13316+35324+3110+G.E.1 (a preserved coach)

Route :

Loco(s) Route
86224 London Euston - (via WCML, Weedon) - Rugby - Coventry - Stechford - Aston - Perry Barr South Jn - Soho South Jn - Birmingham New Street
20178 + 20188 Birmingham New Street - Proof House Jn - Aston - Perry Barr North Jn - Bescot (2) - Walsall - Ryecroft Jn - Castle Bromwich Jn - Saltley Jn
4079 Saltley Jn - St Andrews Jn - Bordesley Jn - Tyseley - Dorridge - Hatton - Leamington Spa - Banbury - Aynho Jn - Oxford - Didcot
4079 Didcot - (reverse of outward route) - Dorridge
20188 + 20178 Dorridge - Bordesley Jn - St Andrews Jn - Proof House Jn - Birmingham New Street
81015 Birmingham New Street - Proof House Jn - Stechford - (reverse of outward route) - London Euston

Notes :
(1) This was 4079's final outing on BR metals prior to export to Australia.
(2) Wrongly routed at Bescot - had to set-back to gain the correct route.

Sources : Steve Thompson, Trevor Davis, Dick Franklin & John Debens

Photo Review


4079 passes Culham en-route to Didcot (photo: Mike Morant)


From The John Debens Ticket Collection.


Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Dick Franklin & John Debens)

Location Booked Actual   Booked Actual
Euston 09.00d 09.00   22.11a 22.48
Willesden Junction 09/06½ 09/06½   22/047 22/40½
Watford Junction 09.16a ~ 09.17d 09.23 ~ 09.27   21.48½a ~ 21.50½d 22.29½ ~ 22.30½
Tring 09/32½ 09/37   21/38 22/20
Bletchley 09.44a ~ 09.45d 09.49 ~ 09.50   21.21a ~ 21.23d 22.07 ~ 22.08
Hanslope Jn ? ?   21/13 21/58
Weedon 10/06 10/09   21/03 21/51
Rugby 10/19½ 10/16½   20/52 21/42
Coventry 10.28½a ~ 10.29½d 10.30 ~ 10.31½   20.35a ~ 20.37d 21.31 ~ 21.32
Stechford 10/42 10/43   ? ?
Perry Bar 10/54 10/53  
Proof House Jn   20/20½ 21/02
Birmingham New Street 11L04a ~ 11L14d 11.06 ~ 11.21   20L07a ~ 20L18d 21.00 ~ 21.13
Aston 11/20 11/29  
Bescot 11/29 11.37½ ~ 11.43  
Castle Bromwich Jn 11/54 12/07½  
Saltley Jn 12L00 ~ 12L15 12.15 ~ 12.26  
Proof House Jn   20/04 20/49
St Andrews Jn   20/00 20/43
Bordesley Jn   19/58 20/40
Tyseley 12/25 12/37½   19/55 20/37
Dorridge 12/34 12/48½   19L27a ~ 19L45d 20.06 ~ 20.25½
Hatton 12/41 12/55   19/18 19/53
Leamington Spa 12p48a ~ 13p08d 13.03 ~ 13.11   19/10 19/44½
Banbury 13w40a ~ 14w20d 13.40 ~ 14.21   17w52a ~ 18w45d 17.55½ ~ 19.13
Heyford 14/44 14/49½   17/38 17/40
Wolvercot Jn ? ?   17/25 17/27
Oxford 15/02 15/08   17/20 17/25
Radley Single Line Working to Appleford ? ?
Didcot 15.26a 15.36   17.05d 17.09


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