3rd May 1980

Hertfordshire Rail Tours
The Valley Basher

Locos Used 31121, 31123, 37178 & 37190
Stock Used 4227+4764+4775+35056+1947+4763+4770+4427+4428+15863+13350
DMU's Used 51325+59471+51310 & 51314+59481+51329

Route : 1Z53 throughout

Traction Route
31123 + 31121 London Paddington - Slough - Twyford - Reading - Didcot Parkway - Swindon - Bristol Parkway - Pilning - Severn Tunnel Junction - Newport
37178 + 37190 Newport - Uskmouth SB
37190 + 37178 Uskmouth SB - Newport - Cardiff Central - Ninian Park - Radyr - Pontypridd - Abercynon - Aberdare
37178 + 37190 Aberdare - Abercynon - Pontypridd - Radyr - Ninian Park - Cardiff Central - Ebbw Jn - Park Jn  - Ebbw Vale
37190 + 37178 Ebbw Vale - Park Jn  - Gaer Junction - Newport
DMU as listed Newport - Newport Docks
DMU as listed Newport Docks - Newport
37190 + 37178 Newport - Gaer Jn - Park Jn - Bassaleg Jn - Machen Quarry - Trethomas
37178 + 37190 Trethomas - Machen Quarry - Bassaleg Jn - Park Jn - Gaer Jn - Newport
31121 + 31123 Newport - (reverse of outward route) - London Paddington

Notes :
(1) Alan Osborn comments: The reason for the DMU being used on the Newport Docks branch was due to a last-minute declaration that the branch was unsuitable for a loco-hauled passenger train. Passengers swapped trains at Newport both ways.
(2) On the way back the train failed to stop at Bristol Parkway. A special stop was made at Swindon and passengers for Bristol Parkway got home on an HST.


37178 leads 37190 at Aberdare (Photo : Shayne Lewis)

Source : Shayne Lewis (joined/left the train at Newport), Ray Humphries,
Alan Osborn (joined/left train at Reading), Ian Umpleby & LASERman
Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Clive Barlow, Alan Osborn, Ian Umpleby & LASERman)

Location Booked Actual   Booked Actual
Paddington 07.27d 07.29   21.55a 22.12
Southall 07/37 07/39   21/44 22/01
Slough 07/44 07/45½   21/38 21/55
Maidenhead 07/48 07/56½   21/34 21/51
Twyford 07/53 08/02   21/29 21/46
Reading 07.58a ~ 07.59d 08.06½ ~ 08.12   21.22a ~ 21.23d 21.39 ~ 21.40
Didcot 08/14 08/35   21/07 21/24
Challow 08/21½ 08/44½   21/00 ?
Swindon 08c35 ~ 08c36 08.55 ~ 08.56   20c36 ~ 20c46 20.54 ~ 21.05
Wootton Bassett Jn 08/42½ 09/03   20/26 20/44
Hullavington 08/51 09/11   20/18 20/35
Westerleigh Jn 09/01 09/20   20/08 20/23
Bristol Parkway 09.05a ~ 09.06d 09.24 ~ 09.25   20.01a ~ 20.02d 20/18
Patchway 09/09 09/29   19/59 20/15
Pilning 09/12 09/33   19/55 20/09
Severn Tunnel West 09/19 09/39   19/49 19/51
Severn Tunnel Junction 09/20 09/40   19/48 19/50
Newport 09L30a ~ 09L45d 09.49 ~ 10.04   19.28a ~ 19.38d 19.30 ~ 19.40

 

Location Booked Actual
East Usk Jn 09/49 10/08
Uskmouth 10.04a ~ 10.24d 10.18 ~ 10.39
East Usk Jn 10/39 10/50
Newport 10c43 ~ 10c45 10.55 ~ 10.57
Cardiff Central 11c08 ~ 11c15 11.12 ~ 11.16
Penarth Curve North Jn 11/20 11/19
Radyr Jn 11/35 11/35
Taffs Well 11/40 11/41
Pontypridd 11/54 12/00
Abercynon 12c02 ~ 12c03 12/08
Abercwmboi 12t19 ~ 12t20 12.20½ ~ 12.21½
Aberdare 12.30 ~ 12.45 12.34 ~ 12.49
Abercwmboi 12t55 ~ 12t56 13/00
Abercynon 13c12 ~ 13c13 13/14
Pontypridd 13/21 13/21
Radyr Jn 13/34 13/34
Penarth Curve North Jn 13/44 13/42
Cardiff 13c49 ~ 13c51 13.45 ~ 14.06
Ebbw Jn 14/10 14/21
Park Jn 14/13 14/23
Lime Kiln Jn 14/23 14/31
Aberbeeg 14/43 14/46
Duffryn Sidings (Ebbw Vale) 15.00a ~ 15.20d 14.58 ~ 15.23
Aberbeeg 15/32 15.38 ~ 15.39
Lime Kiln Jn 15/53 15/55½
Park Jn 16/02 16/04
Gaer Jn 16/04 16/05½
Newport 16.07a ~ 16.22d 16.08 ~ 16.24
Alexandra Dock Jn 16/25 16/27
Newport Docks 16.50a ~ 17.10d 16.46 ~ 17.10
Alexandra Dock Jn 17/35 17/27
Newport 17.38a ~ 17.53d 17.31 ~ 17.53
Gaer Jn 17/56 17/55½
Park Jn 18/00 17/59
Trethomas 18.30a ~ 18.50d 18.23 ~ 18.53
Park Jn 19/22 19/23
Gaer Jn 19/25 19/25

Timings continue in first table.

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