10th June 1973

Welsh Highland Light Railway
(F & W Railtours)
The Snowdonian

Locos Used 5079, 5087 & 1644
Stock Used (3) load 12 including RMB

Route : 1Z54 throughout

Loco(s) Route
1644 Gloucester Eastgate - Toddington - Worcester - ??? - Birmingham New Street
5079 + 5087 Birmingham New Street - ??? - Wolverhampton - Cosford - Abbey Foregate Jn - English Bridge Jn - Sutton Bridge Jn - Welshpool - Machynlleth - Dovey Junction - Barmouth - Pwllheli
5079 + 5087 Pwllheli - (reverse of outward route) - Wolverhampton - ??? - Birmingham New Street
1644 Birmingham New Street - ??? - Worcester - ??? - Gloucester

Notes :
(1) Listed as F & W's first railtour although not mentioned as such in the tour paperwork (advertising, ticket letter etc). Route confirmation required; the return routing was not via Toddington. Post-tour publicity stated that this trip was "chartered by the South West and South Wales Area of the Welsh Highland Light Railway (1964) Ltd" (of which Tony Fielding was Area Secretary) as a fund-raising and publicity project.
(2) Passengers were able to travel over the Talyllyn or Festiniog Railway, or sightsee at various drop-off points.

Sources : Richard Szwejkowski, Steve Haynes, Tony Fielding,  Lydney Jeff
& The F&W/Pathfinder Archive

Photo Review


1644 waiting to leave Gloucester Eastgate (photo: Tony Fielding)


The class 24s at Birmingham New Street (photo: Tony Fielding)


...and showing the other loco of the pair, at Pwllheli (photo: Tony Fielding)


Timings (Booked Only)
(from the The F&W/Pathfinder Archive)

Location Booked (out) Booked (Rtn)
Gloucester Eastgate 08.30d 23.30a
Cheltenham 08.42d 23.21a
Worcester 09.58d 22.54d
Birmingham New Street ??L??a ~ 11L10d 22L11a ~ ??L??d
Tywyn 14.18a 18.40d
Barmouth 14.66a 18.14d
Minffordd 15.13a 17.38d
Porthmadog 15.18a 17.33d
Penychain 15.37a 17.16d
Pwllheli 15.45a 17.08d

Train Fares

Location Adult 1st Class Adult 2nd Class Child 1st Class Child 2nd Class
all joining points £2.20 £1.90 £1.55 £1.25

Off Train Options

Location Activity
Tywyn Talyllyn Railway (additional cost)
Barmouth Sightseeing
Minffordd Festiniog Railway (additional cost)
Penychain Butlins (£0.45 adults, £0.35 children)
Pwllheli Sightseeing


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