4th - 5th May 1979

R.P.P.R.
Pembroke Pioneer

Route :

Notes :
(1) Gloucester and Birmingham passengers were required to change trains on the return at Newport, tour tickets being valid on service trains. This was to prevent a very late arrival back into London (would have been 23.45).
(2) 50033 failed. Problem was however sorted at Oxford allowing 50033 to proceed alone.
(3) Booked route from Carmarthen station was via the other side of the triangle to Carmarthen Bridge Jn. It is assumed the locos were propelling between the station and Carmarthen Jn, but confirmation of this is required. Keith Hayward however also comments: I'd not realised before that the branches were done in a different sequence to the booked timings. We went to Fishguard, then Milford Haven, then Pembroke Dock, I guess with the late running from the 'failure'. There must have been a reshuffle to allow for local services on the branches. That probably explains the odd movement at Carmarthen (first time round) as well.
(4) Multiple trips to Carmarthen were required as the run-round facility at Whitland had been removed (allegedly...).
(5) Steve Chandler reports the return route as via Landore and not Swansea District Line as booked.
(6) 50033 was assisted from rear by 47102. Identity of the class 47, first uploaded as 47102 but was then queried as a timing sheet supplied by Colin Marsden clearly has 47107 written on it twice, along with the explanation 'on rear from Appleford to Oxford'. Paul Winter has subsequently confirmed the loco was 47102, not 47107.

Sources : Keith Hayward (on the train throughout), Steve Chandler, Colin Marsden & Paul Winter

Timings (Booked Only)
(from Keith Hayward)

Service train timings:

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