27th March 1971

G.W.S. (Bristol Branch) / Wirral Railway Circle
Somerset Rambler III (1)

DMU Used 3-car set

Route :

DMU Route
as listed Bristol Temple Meads - North Somerset Jn - Bath Spa - Bathampton - Chippenham - Wootton Bassett Jn - Swindon Jn
as listed Swindon Jn - Rushley Platt Jn - Swindon Town
as listed Swindon Town - Rushley Platt Jn - Swindon Jn
as listed Swindon Jn - Chippenham - Thingley Jn - Bradford North Jn - Bradford West Jn
as listed Bradford West Jn - Bradford South Jn - Westbury - Fairwood Jn - Clink Road Jn - Merehead Jn - Cranmore
as listed Cranmore - Merehead Jn (2) - Merehead Quarry
as listed Merehead Quarry - Merehead Jn (2)
as listed Merehead Jn - Witham
as listed Witham - Castle Cary - (via Taunton Goods line) - Silkmill Crossing
as listed Silkmill Crossing - Taunton - Bridgwater - Uphill Jn - Worle Jn - West Depot - Ashton Jn - Whapping Wharf (LC)
as listed Whapping Wharf (LC) - Ashton Jn
as listed Ashton Jn - Portishead
as listed Portishead - Ashton Jn - Parson Street Jn - Bristol West - St Philips Marsh - Marsh Jn - North Somerset Jn - Bristol Temple Meads

Notes :
(1) Ticket was printed as 27/02 but hand-marked to 27/03 which is confirmed as the date of running, was this a printing error or something else? Bob Bunyar confirms travelling on the train on 27th February so it wasn't due to being postponed. The tour map on this date however also stated "Somerset Rambler II 27/02/71"...but according to Kevin Driscoll the "Somerset Rambler II" reportedly ran on 14/11/70!!
(2) The run into and back from Merehead Quarry was unscheduled.

Sources : Chris Harley (from contemporary sources) & Kevin Driscoll

Timings (Booked Only)
(from Kevin Driscoll)

M.C Location Booked (Actual)
0.00 Bristol Temple Meads 08.48d (08.48)
0.67 North Somerset Jn 08/51
11.36 Bath Spa 09.03a ~ 09.05d
13.60 Bathampton 09/09
24.30 Chippenham 09.20a ~ 09.22d
35.32 Wootton Bassett Jn 09/40
41.04 Swindon Jn 09.46a ~ 09.53d
42.13 Rushley Platt Jn 09/55
43.79 Swindon Town 10.10a ~ 10.20d
45.65 Rushley Platt Jn 10/35
46.74 Swindon Jn 10.37a ~ 10.42d
63.48 Chippenham 11t00a ~ 11t01d
65.52 Thingley Jn 11/05
75.67 Bradford North Jn 11t19a ~ 11t20d
76.13 Bradford West Jn 11.22a ~ 11.25d
76.41 Bradford South Jn 11/27
81.66 Westbury 11c38a ~ 11c48d
83.21 Fairwood Jn 11/51
86.41 Clink Road Jn 11/55
88.43 Blatchbridge Jn 11/57
92.66 Witham 12t10a ~ 12t12d
96.68 Merehead Jn 12.27a ~ 12.30d
98.43 Cranmore 12.45a ~ 13.45d
100.18 Merehead Jn 14.00a ~ 14.03d
? Merehead Quarry DIV
? Merehead Jn ?
104.20 Witham 14t18a ~ 14t23d
113.02 Castle Cary 14/35
140.05 Taunton East (Goods Lines) 15.05a ~ 15.08d
141.56 Silkmill Crossing 15.15a ~ 15.20d
142.67 Taunton 15c23a ~ 15c25d
156.32 Bridgwater 15/39
167.74 Uphill Jn 15/52
170.66 Worle Jn 15/55
185.10 West Depot 16c08a ~ 16c10d
185.40 Ashton Jn 16t14a ~ 16t15d
186.66 Whapping Wharf (LC) 16.20a ~ 16.30d
188.12 Ashton Jn 16t33a ~ 16t36d
196.68 Portishead 17.00a ~ 17.10d
205.44 Ashton Jn 17t34a ~ 17t35d
206.48 Parson Street Jn 17/38
207.72 Bristol West 17/45
208.33 St Philips Marsh 17/47
208.52 Marsh Jn 17/50
207.72 North Somerset Jn 17/52
209.53 Bristol Temple Meads 17.55a (17.51)

Mileages after Merehead Quarry do not allow for the diversion (estimated at about 1 mile each way)

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