20th - 21st April 1963

Ffestiniog Railway Society
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Locos Used 7819 'Hinton Manor', 7827 'Lydham Manor' (2) & 4472 'Flying Scotsman'

Route : 1X28 throughout

Date Loco(s) Route
20/04 4472 London Paddington - High Wycombe - Birmingham Snow Hill - Wolverhampton - Shrewsbury - Ruabon
20/04 (2) 7827 + 7819 Ruabon - Barmouth - Minffordd
20/04-21/04 (2) 7827 + 7819 Porthmadog - Minffordd - Ruabon
21/04 (2) 7827 + 7819 Ruabon - Shrewsbury
21/04 4472 Shrewsbury - Wolverhampton - Birmingham (?Snow Hill?) - Leamington Spa - Banbury - High Wycombe - London Paddington

Notes :
(1) Route confirmation required. This was 4472's first run in preservation.
(2) There has been some debate about the identity of one of the tour locos; 7822 'Foxcote Manor' or 7827 'Lydham Manor'. Geoff Plumb has however provided photographic evidence that the loco was indeed 7827 'Lydham Manor'. Tony Martin however adds to the debate: I travelled on this train at the tender age of 11 with my late father. A note by my father reads 'for return 7827 substituted for 7822'. Does this suggest 7822 was used on the outward leg and 7827 on the return?
(3) Train ran through crossing gates between between Portmadoc and Shrewsbury on the way back. Tony Martin believes this happened at either Parry Green or, more likely, Plas-y-Court.

Sources : David Whittaker, Colin Harmes, Geoff Plumb & Tony Martin

Photo Review
(all photos: Colin Harmes)


Colin Harmes' ticket.


7819 at Minffordd when the tour transferred to the Festiniog.


The on-board menu!


Timings (Booked Only)
(from Colin Harmes)

Location Booked (out) Booked (rtn)
Paddington 08.23d 07.22a
High Wycombe ??.??a ~ 09.01d 06.41a ~ ??.??d
Banbury - 05.40a ~ ??.??d
Leamington Spa - 04.59a ~ ??.??d
Birmingham Snow Hill ??.??a ~ 10.40d 04.26a ~ ??.??d
Wolverhampton ??.??a ~ 11.05d 04.00a ~ ??.??d
Shrewsbury ??.??a ~ 11.52d 03.02a ~ ??.??d
Ruabon ??.??a ~ 12.34d -
Minffordd 15.10a ??.??a ~ 23.10d
Porthmadog - 22.15d


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