29th December 2007

Kingfisher Railtours
The Elgar Explorer

Locos Used 67027 & steam : 6024 'King Edward I'
Stock Used 35333(1)+5278+5419+1863+9391+5239+5229+3188+1659+3231

Route:
1Z67 : Ealing Broadway to Gloucester
1Z68 : Gloucester to Ealing Broadway

Loco(s) Route
67027 Ealing Broadway - Reading - Didcot Parkway - Oxford - Banbury - Leamington Spa - Dorridge - Tyseley - Birmingham New Street - Tipton - Wolverhampton - Telford Central - Abbey Foregate Jn - English Bridge Jn - Craven Arms - Hereford
6024 (2) Hereford - Abergavenny - Maindee East Jn - Severn Tunnel Junction - Chepstow - Gloucester - Cheltenham Spa - Lickey Incline - Kings Norton - Bordesley Jn - Landor Street Jn - Castle Bromwich Jn - Park Lane Jn - Ryecroft Jn - Walsall - Bescot Stadium - Bescot UGL
67027 Bescot UGL - Perry Barr North Jn - Soho South Jn - Birmingham New Street - Proof House Jn - St Andrews Jn - Bordesley Jn - Tyseley - Dorridge - (reverse of outward route) - Ealing Broadway

Notes :
(1) Support coach only in consist when 6024 was hauling the train.
(2) 67027 on rear.

Source : Gordon Jakes (joined at Leamington Spa/left at Birmingham New Street)

Tour Review
(from Gordon Jakes, including photos)

The original concept for the ascent of the Lickey Incline (the tour highlight) was for the train to leave Spetchley Up Goods Loop with both locomotives working. It was agreed that the maximum speed of 75mph would be achieved and that 67027 would stop working at Bromsgrove such that the ascent of the Lickey would be totally under the power of 6024. In the event, 75mph was swiftly achieved after leaving the loop but the brakes were applied and the train was brought to a stand south of Bromsgrove Up Goods Loop. After a delay of 7½ minutes the train was moved forward into the Up Goods Loop where a further delay was encountered. We were advised that having attained 75mph, the footplate crew had noted severe fluctuations in the automatic lubrications pressure gauge reading. This had to be checked and hence the unplanned recess into the Up Goods Loop at Bromsgrove. Fortunately the results of the investigation proved the automatic lubrication to be working satisfactorily – the gauge was at fault. The decision was made that the train could proceed but the plan for the ascent of the Lickey had to be revised. From a stationary start in the Up Goods Loop, both engines were worked flat out to the summit at Blackwell where after 6024 took sole charge again. The speed at Bromsgrove was 30mph and this had increased to 40mph by Blackwell where 67027 shut off power.

Kingfisher Railtours apologized that the timings and route differed significantly from the original concept. This was reportedly due to “the numerous problems Network Rail had when timing the train because of engineering work, pathing constraints and loading gauge restrictions.” Under these circumstances it is not fair to level any criticism but the comment on the train was that there was too much stop and not enough go! Apart from the hic-cup with the lubrication gauge 6024 performed very well on those sections where it was possible to get up speed and all credit is due to the 6024 team.


67027 arrives into Leamington Spa in the morning.


Winter sunshine at Hereford as 6024 prepares to depart.


A quick service stop for 6024 at Gloucester.

Gordon Jakes

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Gordon Jakes)

M.C Location Booked Actual   Booked Actual M.C
0.00 Ealing Broadway 05.55d [RL] ?   23.31a ? ?
0.70 West Ealing 05/57 ?   23/29 ? ?
3.30 Southall 06/01 ?   23/27 ? ?
5.38 Heathrow Airport Jn 06/02½ ?   23/25½ ? ?
11.44 Dolphin Jn 06/16 ?   23/19 [RL] ? ?
12.60 Slough 06.18a ~ 06.23d ?   23.06a ~ 23.16d ? ?
18.43 Maidenhead 06.31a ~ 06.34d ?   22.56a ~ 22.59d ? ?
25.25 Twyford 06/42½ ?   22/50 [ML] ? ?
30.22 Reading 06.49a ~ 06.52d [P8] ?   22*12a ~ 22*43d ? ?
31.20 Reading West Jn 06/54½ ?   22/10 [RL] ? ?
47.10 Didcot East Jn 07/09 ?   21/55½ ? ?
47.34 Didcot Parkway 07.10a ~ 07.12d [P3] ?   21.52a ~ 21.54d ? ?
48.20 Didcot North Jn 07/14 ?   21/50 ? ?
55.32 Kennington Jn 07/22 ?   21/39 ? ?
57.65 Oxford 07.25a ~ 07.27d [P2] ?   21.33a ~ 21.35d ? ?
60.56 Wolvercot Jn 07/31 ?   21/29 ? ?
69.45 Heyford 07/38½ ?   21/21 ? ?
75.35 Aynho Jn 07/43 ?   21/15 ? ?
80.40 Banbury 07*48a ~ 08*12d [P1] ?   21.06a ~ 21.08d ? ?
89.20 Fenny Compton 08/20 ?   20/57 ? ?
100.31 Leamington Spa 08.30a ~ 08.32d 08.28 ~ 08.30½   20.43a ~ 20.45d ? ?
103.50 Warwick Parkway 08.39a ~ 08.41d 08.36 ~ 08.41   20.26a ~ 20.28d ? ?
106.38 Hatton 08*47 ~ 08*51 08.46 ~ 08.46½   20/21 ? ?
106.76 Hatton North Jn ? 08/48   ? ? ?
110.55 Lapworth ? 08/51   ? ? ?
113.19 Dorridge 09.00a ~ 09.02d [P3] 08.56 ~ 09.01½   20.11a ~ 20.13d ? ?
113.67 Bentley Heath Crossing 09/04 09/04   20/09 ? ?
116.49 Solihull ? 09/07½   ? ? ?
120.29 Tyseley 09/12 [FL] 09/11   20/03 ? ?
122.01 Small Heath South Jn 09/13 09/12   20/02 [FL] ? ?
122.35 Bordesley Jn 09/17 09/14   19/59 ? ?
122.61 St Andrews Jn 09/18 09/15   19/58 ? ?
123.25 Grand Jn Sig. NS127 ? 09.17 ~ 09.19  
123.57 Proof House Jn 09/21 09/21   19/55 ? ?
124.34 Birmingham New Street 09c24a ~ 09c27d [P12] 09.24 ~ 09.29   19.47a ~ 19.52d [P12] 20.18 ~ 20.20½ [P4] 8.57
126.35 Soho South Jn 09/32 09/34½   19/43 20/11 6.58

 

M.C Location Booked Actual
128.13 Galton Jn 09/34 09/36
131.58 Dudley Port 09/37½ 09/39
132.45 Tipton ? 09/40
137.24 Wolverhampton 09c46a ~ 09c58d 09.47 ~ 09.54
137.61 Wolverhampton North Jn 10/00 09/56½
138.34 Stafford Road Jn ? 09/57½
138.46 Oxley Signal Box 10/01 09/58
146.21 Cosford 10/08 10/05½
151.58 Madeley Jn 10/14 10/10½
152.72 Telford Central ? 10/12
153.63 Oakengates ? 10/13½
156.28 Stafford Jn ? 10/17½
156.59 Wellington 10/19 10/18½
166.45 Abbey Foregate Jn 10/29 10/29
166.70 English Bridge Jn ? 10/30½
167.27 Sutton Bridge Jn SB 10/40 10/31½
172.67 Dorrington 10/48 10/38½
179.25 Church Stretton ? 10/44½
181.71 Marsh Brook LC 10/57 10/47
186.39 Craven Arms 11/01 10/51½
191.62 Bromfield 11/04 10/54½
194.04 Ludlow ? 10/57
198.44 Woofferton 11/10 11/00½
204.78 Leominster 11/15 11/05
213.27 Moreton-on-Lugg 11/22 11/12
215.68 Shelwick Jn 11/26 11/13½
217.45
0.00
Hereford 11L29a ~ 12L19d [P1] 11.16½ ~ 12.27d
6.53 Tram Inn 12/33 12/41
12.30 Pontrilas 12/40 12/46½
23.79 Abergavenny 12/56 13/00
31.68 Little Mill Jn 13/08 13/07½
33.35 Pontypool & New Inn ? 13/10
36.29 Cwmbran ? 13/14½
42.49 Maindee North Jn 13/23 13/22
43.01 Maindee East Jn 13*27 ~ 14*02 [ML] 13.26 ~ 14.04
52.14 Severn Tunnel Junction 14/15 14/16
59.42 Chepstow 14w25 ~ 14w50 14.24½ ~ 14.43
67.38 Lydney 15/02 14/53½
72.53 Awre 15/08 ?
86.71 Gloucester 15w29a ~ 16w15d 15.16 ~ 16.15 [P4]
87.14 Horton Road Jn 16/16 16/17½
87.68 Barnwood Jn 16/17 16/19
93.31 Cheltenham Spa 16/25 16/29
100.53 Ashchurch 16/35 16/37½
111.29 Abbotswood Jn 16/47 16/48½
113.60 Spetchley UGL 16*52 ~ 17*28 16.56 ~ 17.28
122.41 Stoke Works Jn 17/40 17.42 ~ 17.49½
? Bromsgrove UGL DIV 17.56 ~ 18.06½
124.59 Bromsgrove 17/44 18/09
126.77 Blackwell GF ? 18/11½
128.22 Barnt Green 17/54 18/15
130.77 Longbridge 17/57 [FL] 18/18½
132.25 Kings Norton 18/01 18/23
132.73 Lifford East Jn 18/04 18/24½
137.40 Bordesley Jn 18/16 18/32½
137.66 St Andrews Jn 18/17 18/39½
138.22 Landor Steet Jn 18/22 18/41½
142.76 Castle Bromwich Jn 18/30 18/50½
143.48 Park Lane Jn 18/32 18/53
155.18 Ryecroft Jn 18/56 19/12
155.59 Walsall 19/04 [UFL] 19/15½
156.44 Pleck Jn 19/07 19/18½
157.24 Bescot Jn 19/09 19/21
158.00
0.00
Bescot Up Goods Line 19L12 ~ 19L30 19.24½ ~ 19.51
0.16 Newton Jn 19/33 19/54
2.78 Hampstead ? ??c?? ~ ??c??
3.65 Perry Barr North Jn 19/36 20/06½
4.14 Perry Barr West Jn 19/38 20/07
6.23 Soho East Jn 19/42 20/10

Timings continue in first table.

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