22nd January 2000

Pathfinder Tours
The White Horse Rambler

Locos Used 09101, 33103 & 66181
Stock Used 4902+5040+4927+5009+1863+21272+3140+3098+17159

Route :
1Z43 : Preston - Appleford Sidings
1Z44 : Appleford Sidings - Preston

Locos Route
33103 (1) Preston - (WCML) - Crewe [P5] - Stafford [P4] - Rugeley - Hednesford - Walsall [P2] - Bescot Stadium - Aston - Birmingham New St [P2] - Stourbridge Jn - Kidderminster - Worcester Shrub Hill [P2] - Evesham - Oxford (UM) - Hinksey Sidings (No.1 Recp) - Kennington Jn (UGL) - Morris Cowley
66181 (2) Morris Cowley - Kennington Jn (DGL)
33103 (3) Kennington Jn (DGL) - Didcot Yard (Line 6)
66181 (2) Didcot Yard (Line 6) - Appleford Sidings
33103 Appleford Sidings - Didcot North Jn - Foxhall Jn - Wantage Road (Down Relief) - Swindon (Up Main)
09101 (2) Swindon (Up Main) - Austin Rover Group Sidings (Highworth branch)
33103 Austin Rover Group Sidings (Highworth branch) - Swindon [P3] - Stroud - Gloucester Yard Jn - Barnwood Jn - Worcester Shrub Hill [P1] - Droitwich Spa - Bromsgrove - King's Norton - Bordesley Jn - St Andrews Jn - Birmingham New St [P5] - Soho South Jn - Dudley Port - Wolverhampton - Stafford [P5] - Crewe [P11] - (WCML) - Preston

Notes :
(1) 66181 on rear at Hinksey Yard
(2) 33103 on rear
(3) 66181 on rear

Sources : Gary Thornton (joined/left train at Birmingham New Street)
& Simon Bennett (on the train throughout)

Tour Review
(by Gary Thornton)

My first railtour of the new century! Not one I immediately rushed to book on as, in terms of track I require, it only covered two insignificant branches - Appleford near Didcot and Highworth at Swindon. For others there was the chance to score the Morris Cowley branch and Foxhall curve. The proposed use of "preserved" 33103 and 37029 however was enough to encourage me to book on it.

When the tickets came there was news that 37029 was "still not ready" for the mainline and, coupled with a lower than expected number of bookings, it had been decided to reduce the train to eight coaches and let 33103 work the train alone. A class 66 would assist in the Oxford/Didcot area and an 08 or 09 on the Highworth branch. With the prospect of 33103 on its own and being allocated a seat in coach A, I was hoping it would be the leading coach rather than the rearmost one!

I got out of bed about the time the train left Preston (it was even 30 minutes late departing!) as I elected to join at Birmingham New Street at 10.14, a nice respectable time. I made Birmingham (behind dud 87025) in time to discover that the tour was still 30 minutes late, though a series of text messages from a colleague on board confirmed 31 late through Bloxwich, 12 late through Walsall then on time at Aston! Shortly after watching 37426 depart with the 10.07 to Holyhead the familiar shape of a "shredder" appeared from the south. As 103 came level with me I was pleased to note the letter "A" in the leading window of the first coach.

I boarded to a pretty chilly coach - most windows were as open as they would go to allow maximum enjoyment of 33103's efforts. My seat was in the leading half of the coach too. Just time to say hello to a few friends and we were off. Departure was just 1 minute down and straight away the thrash began as we powered away through New Street North Tunnel. Loud? You bet!! We were routed via Stourbridge Junction and Kidderminster to our next pick-up point at Worcester Shrub Hill. A fairly slow journey (stuck behind a stopper I assume) but a good chance to view the traction at Kidderminster as we passed the Severn Valley Railway - including a Hymek, Warship, 4 x 50's and a new Alstom class 175 DMU. The new carriage shed being built was very impressive - when finished it should hold up to 56 carriages!

From Worcester we took the Cotswold line through Evesham to Oxford - nice scenery and a fair amount of on/off thrash from up front. About this time my first pint of real ale turned up from the bar (delivered by one of the Pathfinder stewards - how's that for service!). As we ran through Oxford station we passed stabled 37042 and then on entering Hinksey Yard 66181 was passed - our tail loco for the next hour or so. A quick check in the book confirmed it was also a sight scratch. We made it as far as the Railtrack limit on the Morris Cowley branch - the same as on previous occasions. The return to Kennington Junction had 66181 leading - being downhill it is questionable just how much the shed "powered" our train as opposed to free-wheeling and providing braking power.

Another reversal of direction and a short stagger to Didcot where we were pathed into the yard - good track-bashing for the BLS members but not something that exactly "lights my fire". At least we stopped alongside 66183 - another sight scratch and, with the use of a borrowed pair of binoculars, 66115 was also confirmed (another required shed) stabled at the station. A short pause here before shed 181 took over for an even shorter stagger back northwards to Appleford sidings (well, the word "Rambler" was part of the tour name). At least it was required track and we got pretty well all the way to the buffers. As we pulled round the curve into Appleford I noticed the train was actually 9 coaches rather than the 8 mentioned in the tour blurb that came with the tickets. Good - all the more for shredder 103 to drag up a certain rather steep gradient, of which more later :-)

A fairly lengthy pause here (waiting a path) and the time was used to drop the shed off, which then pulled up alongside the train on an adjacent track. Southwards again, this time to Swindon via the Foxhall curve. Still staggering, we were held at Challow to allow a couple of fGW trams past. As we finally approached Swindon we passed 09101 which would be our motive power for the rather short Highworth branch. The chance to get some photographs of either the gronk or shredder was scuppered as we stopped on the up main adjacent to the station - not at a platform!

At least with a gronk on we had time to "enjoy" the Highworth branch as we crawled along to the Railtrack limit (about a mile from the station and around 5/8 of a mile as a branch). For some on board who had done it before we at least got further than on the previous limits. At the end of the branch we lost the gronk and 33103 dragged us back to the station and our first set-down point.

On leaving Swindon we were routed via Stroud and Cheltenham to Worcester. This gave those of us in the leading coach the treat of Sapperton Bank which 33103 took in its noisy stride. After an operational stop at Barnwood Junction (railway speak for a deliberate stop to allow a slower train in front of us to hold us up!) we thrashed away towards Worcester, the next station stop. With the days likely highlight now fast approaching I felt a bit sorry for those leaving the train here - their choice though.

The days highlight? The assault on "The Lickey" of course! Anyone familiar with my write-ups will know I have a "thing" about those 3 or so miles of 1 in 37 gradient between Bromsgrove and Blackwell Summit - a severe test for any traction. Previous write-ups of mine have featured the performances of 50031, Deltic 9000, 59201 and a pair of DRS 20's. How would shredder 103 on "load 9" measure up?

The answer - very well indeed. As we approached the mainline at Stoke Works Junction we noticed a loco hauled service heading the same way - would this be given priority over us meaning a standing start? No it didn't as we got the road first. I guess this was actually sensible planning by "control" as, if we failed to make it to the summit, a helping shove would be available almost immediately from the following service train.

We hit the bottom of the gradient at a respectable lick (around 40mph at a guess) and, as expected, the speed soon fell away despite the best efforts of our driver. Our coach had suddenly filled up and everyone's attention was on 103's performance. With the speed down to about 15mph the thrash was simply superb and extremely loud. Any suspicions we had that 103 might stall on the gradient were proved totally unfounded and we just kept a constant 15mph right to the summit. I can tell you this though - my ears were actually ringing after the 10 minutes thrash it took to get there. yes, it was VERY loud indeed!

The remainder of the journey to Birmingham New Street (via Camp Hill) was quite uneventful and arrival was only around 10 minutes down - easily excused after the entertainment we'd experienced. Unfortunately no time to watch 103 depart and a quick leap over to another platform got me on the 20.06 departure behind 47847. Erm, not a good move. We only got a few coach lengths on our way when the brakes came on and we stopped. Apparently the police were after someone on the train. After 10 minutes waiting I baled off and went for the 20.18 local train to get me back towards Coventry but it was sitting with a red signal. Back to 47847, just as the local departed. Never mind I told myself, we'll overtake it at Birmingham International. Wrong! We staggered all the way from Stechford to Coventry behind it! Another case of stupid regulating - this turned a 15 minute late departure from New Street into a half hour late arrival at Coventry!

Verdict: Yet another enjoyable day out - helped in no small way by having a grandstand seat behind 33103. If you weren't there for "The Lickey" then you really missed a treat!

Gary Thornton.

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Gary Thornton and Simon Bennett)

M.C

Location

Booked
Actual
 
Booked
Actual

M.C

0.00 Preston
06.56d
07.25
 
22.14a
22.13
196.76
5.36 Euxton Jn
07/03
07/35
 
22/07
22/07
191.40
7.39 Balshaw Lane
07/05
07/39
 
22/05
22/05
189.37
15.10 Wigan North Western
07.13a ~ 07.15d
07.49 ~ 07.50
 
21.53a ~ 21.55d
21.54 ~ 21.55
181.66
-- Wigan South Jn
-
-
 
21/51
?
181.29
16.39 Springs Branch Jn
07/17
07/53
 
21/50
21/52
180.37
23.34 Winwick Jn
07/23
08/00
 
21/45
21/43
173.42
25.61 Dallam Jn
07/25
08/02
 
21/41
21/41
151.15
26.70 Warrington Bank Quay
07.26a ~ 07.28d
08.03 ~ 08.04
 
21.36a ~ 21.39d
21.37 ~ 21.39
150.06
28.57 Acton Grange Jn
07/32
08/09
 
21/34
21/34
168.19
33.61 Weaver Junction SB
07/39
08/14
 
21/39
21/31
172.36
43.40 Winsford SB
07/47
08/21
 
21/23
21/24
154.61
51.01 Crewe
07.58a ~ 08.01d
08.30 ~ 08.32
 
21.11a ~ 21.13d
21.11 ~ 21.13
145.75
52.65 Crewe Basford Hall Jn
08/07
08/36
 
21/07
21/06
144.11
59.07 Madeley
08/12
08/44
 
21/00
21/01
137.69
70.09 Norton Bridge
08/24
08/53
 
20/50
?
126.67
75.38 Stafford
08.31a ~ 08.34d
08.58 ~ 09.02
 
20.39a ~ 20.42d
20.38 ~ 20.43
121.38

 

M.C

Location

Booked Actual
78.34
Whitehouse Jn
08/42
09/08
81.71
Colwich
08/46
09/11
84.42
Rugeley North Jn
08/51
09/14
84.59
Rugeley
08/52
09/15
86.11
Rugeley Town
08/54
09/19
90.26
Hednesford
09/00
09/29
96.79
Bloxwich
09/08
09/39
99.31
Ryecroft Jn
09/33
09/45
99.72
Walsall [P2]
09/38
09/47
100.59
Pleck Jn
09/43
09/51
101.46
Bescot Stadium
09/46
09/53
106.03
Perry Barr North Jn
09/53
09/58
108.25
Aston
10/02
10/01
110.25
Proof House Jn
10/06
10.04 ~ 10.08
111.01
Birmingham New Street [P2]
10.09a ~ 10.14d
10.11 ~ 10.15
113.02
Soho South Jn
10/18
10/21
114.60
Galton Jn
10/21
10/24
115.09
Smethwick West
10/24
10/25
117.66
Rowley Regis
10/28
10/29
123.04
Stourbridge Jn
10/41
10/38
129.63
Kidderminster
10/56
10/53
133.37
Hartlebury
11/00
10.58 ~ 11.04
139.19
Droitwich Spa
11/06
11/20
144.31
Tunnel Jn
11/12
11/27
144.78
Worcester Shrub Hill [P2]
11.15a ~ 11.18d
11.29 ~ 11.30
148.03
Norton Jn
11/23
11/35
158.33
Evesham SB
11t34 ~ 11t35
11.47 ~ 11.48
158.54
Evesham
11*37 ~ 11*47
11.49 ~ 11.50
163.50
Honeybourne
11/52
11/57
173.53
Moreton-in-Marsh
12.02a ~ 12.03d
12.11 ~ 12.13
184.73
Ascott-under-Wychwood
12/18
12/26
198.77
Wolvercot Jn
12/32
12/39
201.68
Oxford (Up Main)
12/40
12/43
203.07
Hinksey Sidings (No.1 Recp)
12L45 ~ 13L09
12.49 ~ 13.12
204.21
Kennington Jn (UGL)
13op13 ~ 13op17
13.14 ~ 13.18
206.62
0.00
Morris Cowley
13.27 ~ 13.37
13.28 ~ 13.34
2.41
0.00
Kennington Jn (DGL)
13.52 ~ 14.00
13.41 ~ 13.54
7.17
Didcot North Jn
14/12
14/11
7.46
0.00
Didcot T.C. (Line 6)
14.15 ~ 14.27
14.18 ~ 14.26
0.29
Didcot North Jn
14/30
14/33
1.06
Appleford LC
14/32
14/37
1.58
0.00
Appleford Sidings
14L36 ~ 15L25
14.42 ~ 15.12
0.52
Appleford LC
15/30
15.19 ~ 15.26
1.29
Didcot North Jn
15/32
15/30
2.09
Foxhall Jn
15/34
15/33
8.56
Wantage Road
15/41
15/41
??
Challow
15*47 ~ 16*02
15.50 ~ 15.59
14.73
Uffington
16/06
16/04
25.57
0.00
Swindon (Up Main)
16L18 ~ 16L33
16.18 ~ 16.36
??
Swindon Cocklebury
16/37
16/39
1.37
0.00
Swindon Auston Rover Group
16.45 ~ 16.55
16L50 ~ 16L56
??
Swindon Cocklebury
17L03 ~ 17L08
17.08 ~ 17.10
1.37
Swindon [P3]
17.11a ~ 17.13d
17.13 ~ 17.16
2.34
Swindon Loco Yard
17/18
17/20
15.13
Kemble
17/31
17/32
31.08
Standish Jn
17/52
17/56
37.18
Gloucester Yard Jn
17/58
18/01
38.05
Barnwood Jn
18*01 ~ 18*16
18.05 ~ 18.13
43.48
Cheltenham Spa
18/24
18/23
50.59
Ashchurch
18/32
18/32
61.46
Abbotswood Jn
18/43
18/43
62.28
Norton Jn
18/46
18/45
65.33
Worcester Shrub Hill [P1]
18.55a ~ 18.58d
18.54 ~ 19.04
66.00
Tunnel Jn
19/01
19/06
71.12
Droitwich Spa
19/07
19/14
75.27
Stoke Works Jn
19/14
19/21
77.40
Bromsgrove
19/17
19/24
81.03
Barnt Green
19/22
19/34
83.58
Longbridge
19/24
19/37
86.11
King's Norton
19/28
19/41
91.26
Bordesley Jn
19/34
19/49
91.52
St. Andrews Jn
19/41
19/50
92.49
Proof House Jn
19/44
19/54
93.23
Birmingham New Street [P5]
19.47a ~ 20.00d
19.58 ~ 20.03
95.24
Soho South Jn
20/05
20/08
97.02
Galton Jn
20/08
20/10
100.47
Dudley Port
20/15
20/14
106.07
Wolverhampton
20/21
20/21
106.50
Wolverhampton North Jn
20/23
20/23
107.61
Bushbury Jn
20/25
20/25

Timings continued in first table.

All distances, in miles and chains (M & C), are taken from the timing sheet given out on the train. No attempt has been made to verify the mileages given - clearly however someone in "Team Orange" hasn't worked out how to use a calculator (try following the mileages from Crewe back to Preston and you'll see what I mean!).

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