2nd May 2005

Green Express Railtours
The Devonian

Locos Used 47854 & 57601
Stock Used 99329+99317+99328+1861+5035+4960+21206+99121+3136+3143+99125+99673

Route:
1Z66 : Leeds to Dawlish
1Z67 : Dawlish to Leeds

Loco(s) Route
57601 (1) Leeds - Whitehall Jn - Morley - Dewsbury - Thornhill LNW Jn - Mirfield East Jn - Huddersfield - Diggle Jn - Stalybridge - Guide Bridge - Ash Bridge Jn - Heaton Norris Jn - Stockport - Wilmslow - Crewe - Wem - Whitchurch - Shrewsbury - Craven Arms - Leominster - Hereford - Abergavenny - Severn Tunnel Junction - Patchway - Dr Days Jn - Bristol Temple Meads - Bridgewater - Taunton - Exeter St Davids - Dawlish
47854 (2) Dawlish - (reverse of outward route) - Leeds

Notes :
(1) 47854 on rear.
(2) 57601 on rear.


The tour passes between Dalwish Warren & Dawlish (photo : David Russell)

Sources : Richard Rooker, Andrew Mitchell & Warren Coppack

Tour Review
(by Steve Perryman)

OK. Lets get this straight, Green Express do not run railtours. I know that because their trips do not appear in Gary’s column in Rail Express so this must be a Merrymaker or Adex (Webmasters comment: Actually they do run railtours - but their Website went dormant last year since when none of their future tours have been advertised in Cyberspace, hence I have not been aware of them). The loco selection is limited, tied to West coast you get 47854 or 57601 or perm any combination or both, but hey guys this is 2005. Your usual choice is 220XXX or 170XXX or 158XXX.

So, at least they do use locos and stock and cater to the older generation with a point to point trip to a destination of some interest. Thus it was that despite advice from my elders and betters and donning my cardy and cape I boarded The Devonian in Stockport. And what a stonking trip it turned out to be!

An easy spec on paper the train ran from Leeds 05.27 via Stalybridge to Stockport (07.48) then Wilmslow for a run down “the Marches”, turn left at Newport and “bobs your auntie”, to Bristol. Scheduled arrival at Exeter was 12.01 and Dawlish 12.34 with a layover at the Warren to allow an HST and a Voyager to pass (don’t worry the sea was calm).

We worked out that stock, dead trailing loco and passengers amounted to around 560 tons. Heavy by today’s standards and certainly taxing for 57601 which seems to struggle when getting away from rest and as soon as it goes up a hill. (Reminiscent of a kettle really). Anyway following delays to Crewe an exciting ride down the Marches followed with the bogies and suspension tested at times on our Mark1 saloon 3766 allegedly the oldest vehicle in passenger service on the main line today having been built in 1953.

Arrival in Exeter was around 10 down but with the recess in Dawlish Warren where the photters had time to climb Langstone rock we eventually arrived just 2 down.

For the ride home we were two coaches behind 47854. Suffice to say that I find the arguments between Spoon goons and Non-spoon goons tedious against a background of “sod all else to do”. From my perspective I was two coaches behind and able to shove my head into the slipstream of an engine that was worked bloody hard for at least three out of the five-hour return. It is a long time since I have witnessed such sustained thrash enough to bring out a huge grin and turn what little hair I still possess black with bits and pieces. Line and stock limits were regularly reached and although ‘854 toiled at the banks it was clear that the driver was “on a mission”.

The result: arrival back at Stockport at 20.49 5 hours 19 minutes out of Dawlish and 30 minutes ahead of the advertised time. Her indoors is happy ‘cos we are home early, I’m happy ‘cos I saw me Mum (who lives in Dawlish) and got 520 loco hauled miles into the bargain. And all for around 40 quid.

What else can you do on a Bank Holiday?

“Old Father Time”.

Timings (Booked Only)
(from David Russell)

 

Location Booked (out) Booked (rtn)
Leeds 05.27d 22.21a
Leeds West Jn 05/28 22/19
Whitehall Jn 05/28 22/19
Morley 05/36 22/10
Dewsbury 05.41a ~ 05.43d 22.02a ~ 22.04d
Thornhill LNW Jn 05/47 21/58
Heaton Lodge Jn 05/49 21/56
Huddersfield 05.55a ~ 05.57d 21.43a ~ 21.51d
Marsden 06/12 21/34
Diggle Jn 06/17 21/30
Greenfield 06/20 21/26
Stalybridge 06.30a ~ 06.32d 21.16a ~ 21.18d
Guide Bridge 06/38 21/10
Denton Jn 06/40 21/08
Heaton Norris Jn 06/46 20/52
Stockport 06.48a ~ 06.50d 20.49a ~ 20.51d
Edgeley No.1 06/51 20/48
Adswood Road Jn 06/52 20/47
Cheadle Hulme 06/54 20/46
Wilmslow 07.08a ~ 07.10d 20.37a ~ 20.39d
Alderley Edge 07/14 20/35
Sandbach 07/26 20/22
Sydney Bridge Jn 07/35 20/18
Crewe 07/40 20/16
Gresty Lane Jn 07/44 20/14
Nantwich 07/48 20/02
Wrenbury 07/59 19/58
Prees 08/12 19/49
Wem 08/16 19/42
Harlescott Crossing 08/26 19/33
Shrewsbury 08/29 19/29
Sutton Bridge Jn 08/31 19/26
Dorrington 08/38 19/18
Marsh Brook LC 08/47 19/09
Craven Arms 08/51 19/03
Bromfield 08/54 18/59
Ludlow 08/58 18/55
Wooferton 09/08 18/51
Leominster 09/08 18/46
Shelwick Jn 09/20 18/36
Hereford 09/24 18/33
Tram Inn 09/32 18/24
Pontrilas 09/37 18/19
Abergaveny 09/48 18/08
Little Mill Jn 09/55 18/01
Maindee North Jn 10/08 17/47
Maindee East Jn 10/10 17/45
Severn Tunnel Junction 10/19 17/35
Severn Tunnel UTG 10/20 17/34
Pilning 10/25 17/26
Patchway 10/32 17/21
Filton Abbey Wood 10/35 17/13
Stapleton Road 10/40 17/07
Dr Days Jn 10/41 17/06
Bristol East Jn 10/42 17/05
Bristol Temple Meads 10.44a ~ 10.47d 16.53a ~ 17.04d
Worle Jn 11/05 16/37
Uphill Jn 11/07 16/35
Highbridge Jn 11/12 16/29
Bridgwater 11/18 16/24
Cogload Jn 11/24 16/19
Taunton 11/28 16/16
Tiverton Parkway 11/44 16/04
Cowley Bridge Jn 11/59 15/49
Exeter St Davids 12.01a ~ 12.04d 15.44a ~ 15.47d
Dawlish Warren 12*16a ~ 12*30d 15/33
Dawlish 12.34a 15.30d


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