5th January 1985

Hertfordshire Rail Tours
The Cymru DEMU

DEMU's Used 1017 + 1032 (12 vehicles)

Route: 1Z27 throughout
(the tour ran with SR Headcode 48 at least as far as Cardiff, as seen in picture 1)

DEMU's Route
as listed

Watford Junction - Watford North Jn
as listed

Watford North Jn - Watford Junction - Kensington Olympia - Clapham Junction - Barnes - Hounslow - Feltham Jn - Ascot - Wokingham - Reading - Didcot Parkway - Swindon - Bristol Parkway - Pilning - Severn Tunnel Junction - Newport - Cardiff Central - Radyr Branch Jn - Penarth Curve North Jn - Leckwith South Jn - Leckwith North Jn - Llantrisant - Mwyndy Jn - Maesaraul Jn - Cwm
as listed

Cwm - Maesaraul Jn - Mwyndy Jn - Cardiff Central (via main line) - Cardiff Queen Street - Radyr - Pontypridd Jn - Porth - Maerdy
as listed Maerdy - Pontypridd
as listed Pontypridd - Hirwaun
as listed Hirwaun - Radyr - Leckwith South Jn - Cardiff Central - (reverse of outward route) - Feltham Jn - Twickenham - Barnes - (reverse of outward route) - Watford Junction

Notes :
(1) Bill Lynch comments: Given the number of Cwms there are in Wales (including another unsuffixed "Cwm" in the Ebbw valley with a one-time colliery linked to a certain Six Bells Colliery -where have I come across that name?!), I suggest spelling out that the Cwm in question here is also known as Cwm Llantwit, on the outskirts of Llantrisant. The itinerary implies reversal at "Cwm Colliery and Coke Works", and the mileages imply the same point as for the "Midland Welshman" on 14 May 1977: "near the ground frame giving access to the NCB line curving L to the colliery".

Sources : Martin Pettit (joined/left the train at Reading), Mike Barnsley & LASERman

Photo Review
(all photos from: 'Chris')


1032 at Cardiff Central.


Two shots of the train at Maerdy.


The train at Aberdare.


...and finally, Hirwaun.


Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from John Harrup & LASERman)

Location Booked Actual   Booked Actual
Watford Junction 07.20d 07/30½ [DFL]  
Watford North Jn DIV 07.32½ ~ 07.32½ [UFL]  
Watford Junction DIV 07/34   21.34a 22.21
Wembley Central 07.30a ~ 07.31d [LL GL] 07.43½ ~ 07.44½   21.23a ~ 21.24d 21.56½ ~ 22.06½
Willesden WL Jn 07/34 07/51   21/17 [LL GL] 21/46
Mitre Bridge Jn 07/36 07/52   21/13 21.40½ ~ 21.41
North Pole Jn 07/38 07/53   21/08 21/36
Kensington Olympia 07/41 07/55½   21/05 21/33½
Latchmere Jn 07/48 08/00   20/59 21/28
Clapham Junction 07.51a ~ 07.52d 08.02 ~ 08.03½   20.55a ~ 20.56d 21.22 ~ 21.25½
Barnes 07/57 08/08½   20/49 21/17 [SL]
Hounslow 08/05 08/15½  
Twickenham   20/41 ?21/08½
Feltham Jn 08/09 08/17   20/36½ 21/05
Staines 08.18a ~ 08.23d 08.23 ~ 08.24   20.26a ~ 20.27d 20.59 ~ 20.59½
Virginia Water 08/27 08/32   20/15 20/54
Ascot 08/35 08/39 [UL] [P1]   20/06 20/48½
Wokingham 08/45 08/48   19/56 20/39
Earley 08/51 08/53   19/50 ?
Reading Spur Jn 08/54 08/57   19/47 20/27½
Reading 08.56a ~ 08.58d 08.58 ~ 09.01 [P4]   19.43a ~ 19.45d 20.19½ ~ 20.24½
Scours Lane ? [RL]   ? ?
Didcot Parkway 09.18a ~ 09.20d 09.20 ~ 09.22   19.20a ~ 19.22d 19/53 ~ 19.56
Challow 09/32 ?   19/09 ?
Swindon 09.47a ~ 09.51d 09.48 ~ 09.52   18.45a ~ 18.53d 18.45½ ~ 19.27
Wootton Bassett 09/59 10/00   18/38 18/36
Hullavington 10/10 10/10   18/25 ?
Westerleigh Jn 10/23 10/21   18/12 18/13½
Bristol Parkway 10.27a ~ 10.29d 10.27 ~ 10.29   18.01a ~ 18.03d 18.04½ ~ 18.07
Patchway 10/31 10/32   17/59 18/02½
Pilning 10/35 10/35   17/55 17/57½
Severn Tunnel West 10/40 10/40   17/49 ?
Severn Tunnel Junction 10/41 10/41   17/48 17/45½
Newport 10/51 10/50   17/21 [RL] 17/27½
Cardiff Central 11.06a ~ 11.10d 11.04 ~ 11.09 [P4]   17.00a ~ 17.02d 17.08 ~ 17.12

 

Location Booked Actual
Penarth Curve Jn 11/14 11/13
Leckwith Jn 11/17 11/15
Llantrisant 11c30 ~ 11c32 11.28 ~ 11.31
Cwm 11.48a ~ 11.58d 11.47 ~ 11.59
Llantrisant 12c14 ~ 12c16 12.15 ~ 12.20
Cardiff West 12*32 ~ 12*36 12.34½ ~ 12.37 [UML]
Cardiff Central 12c38 ~ 12c40 12.39½ ~ 12.40 [P6]
Queen Street 12/43 12/43
Radyr 12c52 ~ 12c54 12.52 ~ 12.58
Pontypridd 13/10 13/15
Porth 13t17 ~ 13t18 13.18 ~ 13.19
Maerdy 13.44a ~ 13.54d 13.44 ~ 13.58
Porth 14t20 ~ 14t21 14.18 ~ 14.25
Pontypridd 14.28 ~ 14.33 14.33 ~ 14.40
Abercynon 14t41 ~ 14t42 14/48½
Abercwmboi 14t57 ~ 14t58 15.05½ ~ 15.06
Aberdare 15p09a ~ 15p19d 15.15 ~ 15.22½
Robertstown Crossing 15.21 ~ 15.25 15.26 ~ 15.28
Hirwaun 15.33a ~ 15.45d 15.36 ~ 15.48
Robertstown Crossing 15.53 ~ 15.57 15.56 ~ 16.00
Aberdare 15t59 ~ 16t01 16.02 ~ 16.04
Abercynon 16t21 ~ 16t22 16.26 ~ 16.31½
Pontypridd 16/29 16/41
Radyr 16/42 16.54 ~ 16.56
Penarth Curve North 16/52 17.05

Timings continue in first table.

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