5th March 1978

Railway Pictorial Publications Railtours
The Deltic Ranger Railtour (Re-Run)

Locos Used 46003 & 55003 'Meld'
Stock Used 12 coaches

Route : 1Z15 throughout

Loco Route
55003 London Paddington - Slough - Twyford - Reading - Didcot Parkway - Swindon - Westerleigh Jn - Bristol Parkway - Filton Jn - Bristol Temple Meads - Bridgwater - Taunton - Exeter St Davids - Newton Abbot - Paignton
55003 Paignton - Newton Abbot
46003 Newton Abbot - Totnes - Plymouth - Liskeard - Lostwithiel - Par
46003 Par - (reverse of outward route) - Newton Abbot
55003 Newton Abbot - (reverse of outward route) - Bristol Temple Meads - North Somerset Jn - Bath Spa - Chippenham - Swindon - (reverse of outward route) - London Paddington

Notes :
(1) Following the failure of the original tour to reach Paignton on February 19th, the re-run was more successful. Unfortunately the planned Western haulage had to be abandoned owing to a bridge being washed away on the Paignton & Dartmouth Steam Railway due to the thawing snow! A run to Par and back with a 46 was put on instead.

Sources : Gary Thornton (on the train throughout) & Clive Barlow

Tour Review
(by Gary Thornton)

After bad weather put paid to our attempt to get to Paignton two weeks before, myself and two friends set out for London hoping this day would be more successful. We had however already received notification that due to a bridge washout on the T&DR it would not be possible to make the planned run with the Western's to Kingswear and back.

55003 'Meld' did the honours right through to Paignton - writing this in 2009 I cannot say I remember that much about the journey, but as I had received a tape recorder for my birthday the week before I was busy recording 'Meld' whenever it was under power so I do have some memories to listen to.

At Paignton D1013 'Western Ranger' was on display and we were able to cab it. I remember we were disappointed not to be able to have either D1013 or D1062 'Western Courier' for haulage, but were content to hear Ranger's engines running.

After a short run back to Newton Abbot 46003 was attached to the rear of the train and 55003 was given a break as the peak took us to Par and back. I recall a semi-panic at Par during the run-round - the train set-off without those of us on the platform - thankfully it was only a platform swap!


46003 on Dainton Bank (photo: Roger Geach)

'Meld' took back over the train at Newton Abbot for the trip back to London. In this case we achieved what was advertised, even arriving back into Paddington a few minutes early.


Gary Thornton's ticket.


Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Gary Thornton)

Location Booked Actual   Booked Actual
Paddington 08.15d 08.18   20.42a 20.37
Southall 08/28 ?   20/29 ?
Slough 08/35 ?   20/23 ?
Maidenhead 08/41 ?   20/19 ?
Twyford 08/47 08/49   20/15 ?
Reading 08.51a ~ 08.52d ??.?? ~ 08.55d   20.07a ~ 20.09d ??.?? ~ 20.03
Didcot 09/08 09/10   19/54 19/52
Challow 09/18 ?   19/45 ?
Swindon 09/28 09/40   19/35 19/34
Wootton Bassett Jn 09/32 ?   19/30 19/30
Hullavington 09/40 ?  
Westerleigh Jn 09/49 ?  
Bristol Parkway 09.53a ~ 09.54d ?  
Chippenham   19/20 19/20
Bathampton   19/10 ?
North Somerset Jn   18/57 ?
Bristol Temple Meads 10.07a ~ 10.20d ??.?? ~ 10.30d   18.52a ~ 18.55d ??.?? ~ 18.52
Worle Jn 10/28 ?   18/37 ?
Uphill Jn 10/30 ?   18/35 ?
Bridgwater 10/42 ?   18/25 ?
Taunton 10.55a ~ 10.58d ?   18/15 ?
Whiteball Tunnel 11/10 11/25   18/07 18/02
Cowley Bridge Jn 11/28 ?   17/50 ?
Exeter St Davids 11/30 ?   17/48 17/44
Dawlish Warren 11/50 ?   17/36 ?
Newton Abbot 12.00a ~ 12.03d ?   17.10a ~ 17.25d ?
Paignton 12.20a ~ 12.35d ?  
Newton Abbot 12.50a ~ 13.05d ?  
Dainton Tunnel 13/12 ?   17.03 17/02
Totnes 13/17 ?   16/58 16/56
Brent 13/27 ?   16/51 ?
Hemerdon 13/37 ?   16/40 ?
Plymouth 13.45a ~ 13.50d ??.?? ~ 14.02   16.27a ~ 16.30d ?
St Budeaux Jn 14/10 ?   16/16 16/16
Saltash 14/15 ?   16/12 ?
Liskeard 14/30 14/30   15/57 ?
Largin 14/36 ?   15/50 ?
Bodmin Road 14/40 14/40   15/45 ?
Lostwithiel 14/44 ?   15/41 ?
Par 14.50a ?   15.35d ?


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