Photo Review
26th ( -27th) August 1979
F & W Railtours
The
Cambrian Coast Express
Postponed from 12/05/1979 for reason(s) unknown.
| Locos Used | 25147, 25188, 25201, 37204 & 37208 |
| Stock Used | Booked for load 11 formed: SK+SK+SK+BFK+FK+SK+SK+SK+SK+RUB+SK (lettered A-H, J-L respectively) |
Route : 1Z16 throughout
| Loco(s) | Route |
| 37204+37208 | Exeter St Davids - Taunton - Bridgwater - Uphill Jn - Bristol Temple Meads - Stapleton Road - Filton Jn - Bristol Parkway - Westerleigh Jn - Yate - Standish Jn - Gloucester |
| 37204+37208 | Gloucester - Cheltenham Spa - Abbotswood Jn - Norton Jn - Worcester Shrub Hill - Droitwich Spa - Stoke Works Jn - Barnt Green - King's Norton - ??? - Birmingham New Street |
| 25???+25??? (2) | Birmingham New Street - Soho South Jn - Dudley Port - Wolverhampton - Wellington - Abbey Foregate - Sutton Bridge Jn - Welshpool - Machynlleth - Dovey Junction - Tywyn - Barmouth - Pwllheli |
| 25???+25??? (2) | Pwllheli - (reverse of outward route) - Birmingham New Street |
| 37204+37208 | Birmingham New Street - (reverse of outward route) - Gloucester |
| 37204+37208 | Gloucester - (reverse of outward route) - Exeter St Davids |
Notes :
(1) Route & loco confirmation required - above is from booked timings. This
was advertised as F&W's 6th Cambrian Coast Express. The The F&W/Pathfinder Archive
contains no paperwork relating to a plan to run this tour on 12th May, nor is
there anything to suggest why it was postponed to this date.
(2) Presumably one of the class 25's was swapped out at some point. Photographic
evidence in the The F&W/Pathfinder Archive
confirms the use of 25188 leading 25147 at Machynlleth (crew change - but
unclear if on the outward or return leg) and the seminar photo (at ?Harlech?,
possibly during the photostop on the outward leg?). 2518+25147 also photographed
leaving Tywyn on the outward leg and at Pwlhelli (confirmed as 25188 leading).
One more photo of the tour about to cross Barmouth Bridge on the return leg is
given as being 25147+25188. There are no photos in the archive confirming the
use of 25201 or to suggest when it may have been used.
Sources : various including Rob Clayton & The F&W/Pathfinder Archive
Photo Review
37204+37208 on arrival into Birmingham New Street from Exeter (photo: Barry
J. Nicolle/The F&W/Pathfinder Archive)
Wingrove & Rogers 4-wheel battery loco haulage on the slate tramway (photo:
Michael Jacob/The F&W/Pathfinder Archive)
The class 25's at Harlech, on the return (photo: Michael Jacob/The F&W/Pathfinder Archive)
25147+25188 ...another opportunity to spot yourself, or friends... (photo:
The F&W/Pathfinder Archive)
From Bob Mitchell's ticket collection.
Timings (Advertised & Booked)
(from The F&W/Pathfinder Archive)
Advertised Timings and Fares
| Location | Adult Fare | Advertised (out) | Advertised (rtn) |
| Exeter | £6.95 | 04.30d | 02.25a |
| Taunton | £6.95 | 05.00d | 01.55a |
| Bridgwater | £6.95 | 05.15d | 01.40d |
| Bristol Temple Meads | £6.50 | 05.50d | 01.05a |
| Bristol Parkway | £6.50 | 06.00d | 00.55a |
| Gloucester | £5.95 | 06.45d | 00.10a |
| Cheltenham | £5.95 | 06.55d | 00.00a |
| Worcester | £5.50 | 07.20d | 23.35a |
| Birmingham | £5.50 | 08.20d | 22.50a |
Notes:
£1 reduction for children under 14 years old
Limited 1st class seats available at a £1.50 supplement
Off-Train options
| Location |
Activity/Options |
| Tywyn |
Over 8 hours; Talkyllyn Railway |
| Barmouth |
Approx. 7 hours; Sightseeing/Fairbourne Railway |
| Harlech |
Approx 6¼ hours; Sightseeing |
| Minffordd |
Approx 6 hours; sightseeing, Portmeirion |
| Porthmadog |
Approx 5½ hours; Festiniog Railway |
| Pwllheli |
Approx 4½ hours; sightseeing |
'Please note: Fares for the various steam railways are payable on the day. Timetables & prices issued with tickets.'
Optional Coach Tours
| Coach Tour | Cost (Adult) | Cost (Child) |
Activity |
| A | £1.30 | £1.00 |
To Llanberis: Circular route via Penygroes to Llanberis where there is time available to ride on the Lake Railway, visit the Slate Mining Museum or view the Snowdon Mountain Railway. The rerun journey will be via the pass of Llanberis, Beddgelert and the Aberglasyn Pass |
| B | £1.95 | £1.45 |
To Llechwedd Slate Caverns: Circular route to Bleanau Ffestiniog and on to the Slate Caverns. The caverns are world famous & visitors are taken deep into the mountain in specially prepared miners trains for a tour. Arrival back at Porthmadog is in time for a stroll round before catching the train home. |
| C | £1.95 | £1.45 |
To Gloddfa Ganol Mountain Centre: Circular route via Bleanau Ffestiniog to the recently opened up Slate Mining Centre & Narrow Gauge Railway Museum, situated within the Oakley Quarry complex (admission included). Guided touts are available. Arrival back at Porthmadog is in time for a stroll round before catching the train home. |
The letter that went out with the tickets informed passengers that the coach tours were starting from Pwllheli, not Porthmadog as originally advertised.
Advertised Route
Exeter - Taunton - Bristol - Gloucester - Cheltenham - Worcester -
Birmingham - Wolverhampton - Shrewsbury - Machynlleth - Barmouth - Porthmadog -
Pwllheli
Motive Power Requested
| From - to | Requested |
| Exeter - Birmingham | 2x class 37's |
| Birmingham - Pwllheli | 2x class 20's |
The letter that went out with the tickets informed passengers that 'due to technicalities over driving hours' it would not be possible to take the class 20's through to Pwllheli. Instead a class 40 was planned to be used from (and back to) Birmingham.
Booked Timings
| Miles | Location | Booked (out) | Booked (rtn) |
| 0 | Exeter St Davids | 04.30d | 02.55a |
| 19.72 | Whiteball | 04/51 | ? |
| 30.60 | Taunton | 05.00a ~ 05.03d | 02.14a ~ 02.17d |
| 42.25 | Bridgwater | 05.15a ~ 05.16d | 02.01a ~ 02.02d |
| 55.68 | Uphill Jn | 05/28 | ? |
| 77.41 | Bristol Temple Meads | 05.48a ~ 05.55d | 01.22a ~ 01.30d |
| 83.28 | Bristol Parkway | 06.05a ~ 06.07d | 01.09a ~ 01.11d |
| 87.78 | Westerleigh Jn | 06/13 | 01/04 |
| 110.36 | Standish Jn | 06/30 | 00/47 |
| 117.47 | Gloucester | 06RR40a ~ 06RR52d | 00RR17a ~ 00RR37d |
| 124.09 | Cheltenham | 07.01a ~ 07.03d | 00.05a ~ 00.07d |
| 142.07 | Abbotswood Jn | 07/19 | 23/49 |
| 146.03 | Worcester Shrub Hill | 07.25a ~ 07.28d | 23.39a ~ 23.42d |
| 151.64 | Droitwich | 07/36 | 23/30 |
| 155.68 | Stoke Works Jn | 07/42 | 23/24 |
| 161.44 | Barnt Green | 07/55 | 23/18 |
| 166.19 | Kings Norton | 08/00 | 23/11 |
| 171.66 | Birmingham New Street | 08L10a ~ 08L20d | 22.L50a ~ 23L00d |
| 173.58 | Soho South Jn | 08/25½ | 22/45½ |
| 180.76 | Dudley Port | 08/31 | 22/37½ |
| 184.50 | Wolverhampton | 08.38 ~ 08.40 | 22.28 ~ 22.30 |
| 193.70 | Cosford | 08/51 | 22/14 |
| 204.18 | Wellington | 09/01 | 22/00 |
| 213.76 | Shrewsbury Abbey Foregate | 09.18 ~ 09.25 | 21.46 ~ 21.48 |
| 214.40 | Sutton Bridge Jn | 09/28 | 21/42½ |
| 224.67 | Westbury | 09/41½ | 21/30½ |
| 243.60 | Welshpool | 09/53 | 21/18 |
| 258.07 | Newtown | 10/10½ | 21/01 |
| 263.51 | Caersws | 10/18½ | 20/50 |
| 271.26 | Talerddig | 10/29½ | 20/40 |
| 280.25 | Cemmes Road | 10/41½ | 20.19 ~ 20.24 |
| 285.24 | Machynlleth | 10.50 ~ 10.52 | 20.08 ~ 20.10 |
| 289.24 | Dovey Junction | 10/59 | 20/01½ |
| 298.71 | Tywyn | 11.18a ~ 11.20½d | 19.41a ~ 19.42 |
| 310.79 | Barmouth | 11.43½a ~ 11.46d | 19.05a ~ 19.20d |
| 321.33 | Harlech | 12p04a ~ 12p15d | 18.45½a ~ 18.47d |
| 327.41 | Minffordd | 12.29a ~ 12.31d | 18.30a ~ 18.31d |
| 329.47 | Porthmadog | 12.35a ~ 12.37d | 18.23½a ~ 18.25½d |
| 342.29 | Pwllheli | 13.00a | 18.00d |
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