4th - 5th May 1979

R.P.P.R.
Pembroke Pioneer

Locos Used 37177, 27253, 47102 & 50033

Route :

Date Loco(s) Route
04/05-05/05 50033 London Paddington - Slough - Reading - Didcot East Jn - (via Didcot station avoiding line) - Didcot North Jn - Appleford (2)
05/05 47102 (6) Appleford - Oxford
05/05 50033 Oxford - Aynho Jn - Banbury - Leamington Spa - Warwick - Dorridge - Tyseley - Bordesley Jn - St Andrews Jn - Grand Jn - Proof House Jn - Birmingham New Street - Selly Oak - King's Norton - Barnt Green - Stoke Works Jn - Abbotswood Jn - Cheltenham Spa - Barnwood Jn - Gloucester - Lydney - Severn Tunnel Junction - Newport - Cardiff Central
05/05 37177 + 37253 Cardiff Central - Bridgend - Briton Ferry - (via Swansea District line) - Morlais Jn - Lanelli - Carmarthen
05/05 37177 + 37253 (3) Carmarthen - Carmarthen Jn
05/05 37177 + 37253 Carmarthen Jn - (3) Carmarthen Bridge Jn - Whitland - Clarbeston Road - Fishguard Harbour
05/05 37177 + 37253 Fishguard Harbour - Clarbeston Road - Whitland - Carmarthen
05/05 37177 + 37253 Carmarthen - Whitland - Clarbeston Road - Milford Haven
05/05 37177 + 37253 Milford Haven - Clarbeston Road - Whitland - Carmarthen
05/05 37177 + 37253 Carmarthen Carmarthen Bridge Jn - Whitland - Tenby - Pembroke Dock
05/05 37177 + 37253 Pembroke Dock - Tenby - Whitland - Carmarthen
05/05 50033 Carmarthen - Llanelli - (5) - Briton Ferry - Bridgend - Cardiff Central - Newport - Severn Tunnel Junction - Patchway - Bristol Parkway - Westerleigh Jn - Wootton Bassett Jn - Swindon - Didcot Parkway - Reading - Slough - London Paddington

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)

Location Booked
Paddington 22.45d
Southall 22/56
Slough 23.04a ~ 23.06d
Maidenhead 23/13
Twyford 23/22
Reading 23.28a ~ 23.30d
Didcot East Jn 23/48
Didcot North Jn 23/49
Oxford 00/06
Wolvercot Jn 00/10
Heyford 00/20
Birmingham New Street 01.19a ~ 01.22d
Barnt Green 01/38
Blackwell 01/39
Bromsgrove 01/41
Stoke Works Jn 01/43
Abbotswood Jn 01/51
Ashchurch 01/58
Cheltenham Spa 02/04
Barnwood Jn 02/13
Gloucester 02.16a ~ 02.19d
Awre 02/34
Lydney 02/38½
Chepstow 02/46
Severn Tunnel Junction 02/58
Newport 03/07
Cardiff Central 03.23a ~ 03.45d
Bridgend 04/06
Port Talbot 04/17
Court Sart Jn 04/21
Felin Fran 04/31
Morlais Jn 04/47
Llandeilo Jn 04/57
Llanelli 05/01
Carmarthen Jn 05/28
Carmarthen 05.30a ~ 05.45d
Carmarthen Bridge Jn 05/47
Whitland 06/01
Clarbeston Road 06.13 ~ 06.14
Letterston Jn 06.28 ~ 06.29
Fishguard Harbour 06p40a ~ 07p40d
Letterston Jn 07.52 ~ 07.53
Clarbeston Road 08.09 ~ 08.10
Whitland 08/25
Carmarthen Bridge Jn 08/37
Carmarthen 08.40 ~ 08.50
Carmarthen Bridge Jn 08/52
Whitland 09.06 ~ 09.07
Tenby 09.37 ~ 09.41
Pembroke Dock 10p10a ~ 10p25d
Tenby 10p53a ~ 11p45d
Whitland 12.15 ~ 12.16
Carmarthen Bridge Jn 12/30
Carmarthen 12p33a ~ 13p40d
Carmarthen Bridge Jn 13/43
Whitland 13/56
Clarberston Road 14/08
Haverfordwest 14p20a ~ 14p40d
Johnston 14.50 ~ 14.51
Milford Haven 15p02a ~ 15p28d
Johnston 15/39
Haverfordwest 15/46
Clarberston Road 15/54
Whitland 16/06
Carmarthen Bridge Jn 16/18
Carmarthen 16p20a ~ 16p30d
Carmarthen Jn 16/33
Llanelli 16/55
Llandeilo Jn 16/57
Morlais Jn 17/02
Felin Fran 17/15
Court Sart Jn 17/25
Port Talbot 17/29
Bridgend 17/40
Cardiff Central 18.04a ~ 18.06d
Newport 18.20a ~ 18.22d
Severn Tunnel Junction 18/32
Severn Tunnel West 18/33
Pilning 18/39
Patchway 18/43
Bristol Parkway 18/45
Westerleigh Jn 18/50
Hullavington 19/01
Wo0tton Bassett Jn 19/09
Swindon 19.19a ~ 19.26d
Challow 19/39
Didcot Parkway 19/46
Reading 20.01a ~ 20.03d
Twyford 20/09
Maidenhead 20/15
Slough 20.22a ~ 20.23d
Southall 20/37
Paddington 20.52a

Service train timings:

Location Booked
Newport 18.30d
Gloucester 19.28a ~ 19.48d
(change trains)
Birmingham New Street 20.48a


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