7th July 1985

British Rail (W.R.) / S.L.O.A.
The Great Western Limited

Loco Used 47484, 50007 'Sir Edward Elgar., 50045 'Achilles' & steam: 4930 'Hagley Hall' & 5051

Route : 1Z47 throughout

Loco(s) Route
47484 London Paddington - Slough - Twyford - Reading - Southcote Jn - Newbury - Heywood Road Jn - Trowbridge - Bathampton Jn - Bath Spa - North Somerset Jn - Bristol Temple Meads
5051 + 4930 Bristol Temple Meads - Worle Jn - Weston-super-Mare - Uphill Jn - Cogload Jn - Taunton - Exeter St Davids - Newton Abbot - mile post 217
5051 + 4930 (3) mile post 217 - Dainton Tunnel SB (2)
5051 + 4930 Dainton Tunnel SB - Totnes
50007 Totnes - (reverse of outward route) (3) - Uphill Jn - Worle Jn - (reverse of outward route) (3) - London Paddington

Notes :
(1) Part of the GW150 celebrations.
(2) Both steam locos stalled on Dainton Bank and had various attempts to get going without success. 50045 came on the rear and banked the train from m.p. 217 to 218 right by Dainton Tunnel box. 50045 was detached there then followed to Totnes where the train was terminated rather than running through to Plymouth as booked.
(3) 50045 assisting from rear. This was originally reported as 50007 but photographic evidence confirms this to have been incorrect info. The use of 50007 from Totnes forward is assumed correct.
(4) Booked route was: Cogload Jn - Castle Cary - Heywood Road Jn.


50045 'Achilles' assisting from the rear on Dainton (photo: Bernard Mills)

Sources : Dick Franklin (joined at Bristol Temple Meads, left at Paddington) & Roger Geach

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Dick Franklin)

Location Booked Actual   Booked Actual
Paddington 09.02d ?   22.15a 00.26
Southall 09/13 ?   22/03 00/17
Slough 09/20 ?   21/57 00/11
Maidenhead 09/28 ?   21/53 00/07
Twyford 09/35 ?   21/48 00/02
Reading 09.43a ~ 09.48d ?   21.37a ~ 21.39d 23.54½ ~ 23.56
Southcote Jn 09/51 ?   21/34 ?
Newbury 10/05 ?   21/17 23/39½
Bedwyn 10/15 ?   21/07 23/30
Woodborough 10/25 ?   20/56 ?
Lavington 10/33 ?   20/49 ?
Heywood Road Jn 10/43 ?   20/43 23/05½
Castle Cary   20/26 DIV
Bradford Jn 10/54 ?   DIV ?
Bathampton Jn 11/06 ?   DIV 22/42
North Somerset Jn 11/23 ?   DIV ?
Bristol Temple Meads 11L25a ~ 11L45d ??.?? ~ 12.13   DIV 22.22½ ~ 22.25
Worle Jn 12/15 12/43   DIV 21/58½
Weston-super-Mare 12.20a ~ 12.46d 12.50 ~ 12.55  
Uphill Jn 12/51 13/01   DIV 21/56½
Bridgwater 13.10a ~ 13.15d 13.21½ ~ 13.25   DIV 21/47
Taunton 13w36a ~ 14w16d 13.45 ~ 14.33½   20/06 21/36
Whiteball Tunnel 14/34 14/51½   19/58 21/28½
Cowley Bridge Jn 14/57 15/17½   19/41 21/11½
Exeter St Davids 15w00a ~ 15w30d 15.22 ~ 15.52   19.37a ~ 19.39d 21.05 ~ 21.09
Dawlish Warren 15p50a ~ 16p10d 16.12½ ~ 16.42½   19/20 20/55
Newton Abbot 16w30a ~ 17w00d 17.15 ~ 17.50½   19/10 20.43½ ~ 20.44
Aller Jn 17/03 17/55½   19/08 20/37
Dainton Tunnel 17/11 19.27 ~ 19.30½   19/05 ?
Totnes 17/17 19.44½a   18/59 20.25½d
Brent 17/33 CANX   18/51 CANX
Hemerdon 17/50 CANX   18/40 CANX
Lipson Jn 17/56 CANX   18/33 CANX
Plymouth 18.00a CANX   18.30d CANX


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