28th July 1988

British Rail
(Mystery Excursion)

Loco Used 47406
Stock Used 35450+4982+5030+5005+4999+5031+4960+4978+5041+35469

Route :

Loco Route
47406 Derby – Long Eaton – Trent South Jn (via MML) – Brent Curve Jn – Dudding Hill Jn – Acton Wells Jn – Acton East Jn – Ealing Broadway – Reading – Newbury – (Westbury & Frome avoiding lines) – Cogload Jn – Exeter St Davids – Newton Abbot Totnes Plymouth
47406 Plymouth - (reverse of outward route) Trent South Jn – Trent East Jn – Beeston – Nottingham
47406 Nottingham – Beeston – Trent East Jn – Sheet Stores Jn – Long Eaton – Derby

Notes :
(1) Howard Parker comments: A sheet giving route information was given to passengers. Nottingham and Beeston times were not shown for the outward journey so it is assumed that passengers from these stations caught a connecting train to Leicester but remained on the excursion on the return. At Exeter St Davids on the outward journey the 09.30 from Paddington was noted having 50050 attached as the rear power car was not working. The excursion left in front of this but was looped at Dawlish Warren for it to pass and again at Totnes for the 10.30 Paddington HST to overtake, these stops resulting in the late arrival at Plymouth. Teignmouth and Totnes were alternative destinations.


47406 at Plymouth ready for the return journey (photo: Howard Parker)

Sources : Jim Ramsay & Howard Parker (joined/left the train at Leicester)

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Howard Parker)

Location Booked Actual   Booked Actual
Derby 07.05d ?   00.20a ?
Long Eaton ??.??a ~ 07.18d ?   00.04a ~ ??.??d ?
Nottingham   23.40a ~ ??.??d ?
Beeston   23.31a ~ ??.??d ?
Loughborough ??.??a ~ 07.39d     23.16a ~ ??.??d ?
Leicester ??.??a ~ 07.45d ??.?? ~ 07.45   23.02a ~ ??.??d 23.02 ~ ??.??
Market Harborough ??.??a ~ 08.03d 08.00 ~ 08.03   22.40a ~ ??.??d 22.43 ~ 22.44
Kettering ??.??a ~ 08.15d 08.14 ~ 08.15   22.26a ~ ??.??d 22.30 ~ 22.31
Wellingborough ??.??a ~ 08.22d 08.23 ~ 08.24   22.16a ~ ??.??d 22.20 ~ 22.21
Bedford ? 08/37   ? 22/08
Flitwick ? [US]   ? ?
Luton ? 09/00   ? ?
St Albans City ? 09/11   ? ?
Brent Curve Jn ??c?? ~ ??c?? 09.30 ~ 09.33   ??c?? ~ ??c?? 21.31 ~ 21.34
Acton Main Line ? 09/43   ? ?
Ealing Broadway ??c?? ~ ??c?? 09.46 ~ 09.47   ??c?? ~ ??c?? 21.16 ~ 21.17
Reading ? 10/20   ? 20/40
Newbury ? ?   ? 20/26
Heywood Road Jn ? 11/18   ? 11*47 ~ 11*51
Taunton ? 11/52   ? 19/13
Exeter St Davids ??c?? ~ ??c?? 12.22 ~ 12.27   ??c?? ~ ??c?? 18.45 ~ 18.47
Dawlish Warren ? 12*39 ~ 12*46   ? ?
Teignmouth 12.31a ~ ??.??d 12.52 ~ 12.53   ??.??a ~ 18.24d 18.26 ~ 18.28
Newton Abbot ? 13/00   ? 18/20
Totnes ?12.53a? ~ ??.??d 13.10 ~ 13.15   ??.??a ~ ?18.03d? 18.08 ~ 18.09
Plymouth 13.28a 13.48   17.33d 17.38


Back to "The Railtour Files"