3rd August 1975

Gloucestershire Steam Enthusiasts
(F & W Railtours)
The Cambrian Coast Express

Locos Used 24137, 24142 & 46025
Stock Used (4) Load 9 formed (from loco): CK+SK+SK+SK+BSK+BSK+SK+SK+SK (lettered E, B, C, D, A, K, G, H, J)

Route : 1Z83 throughout

Loco(s) Route
46025 Gloucester Eastgate - Barnwood Jn - Cheltenham Spa
46025 (2) Cheltenham Spa - Lansdown Jn
46025 Lansdown Jn - Winchcombe - Toddington - Honeybourne West Jn - Honeybourne - Evesham - Norton Jn - Worcester Shrub Hill - Droitwich Spa - Bromsgrove - ??? - Birmingham New Street - ??? - Wolverhampton
24137 + 24142 Wolverhampton - Wellington - Abbey Foregate Jn - English Bridge Jn - Sutton Bridge Jn - Welshpool - Dovey Junction - Barmouth - Pwllheli
24137 + 24142 Pwllheli - (reverse of outward route) - Wolverhampton
46025 Wolverhampton - (?reverse of outward route?) (3) - Cheltenham - Barnwood Jn - Gloucester Eastgate

Notes :
1) There was no mention of F&W Railtours in the tour publicity, ticket letter etc of this trip but it is listed as F&W's 5th railtour in their archives. It was originally planned to run this train on 22nd June 1975 but the train on that date was cancelled by British Rail owing to the treat of industrial action (strike) by the national Union of Railwaymen (NUR).
(2) Loco propelling.
(3) If the return route was reverse of outward then 46025 would presumably have propelled the train from Lansdown Jn to Cheltenham.
(4) The original consist was to include another CK (as rearmost coach, lettered F) but this was deleted from the train formation a week or so before the tour ran, on the request of F&W Railtours.


A young-looking Peter Watts at Wolverhampton with the pair of class 24's, preparing to leave for Pwllheli
(photo: The F&W/Pathfinder Archive)

Sources : Richard Szwejkowski, Bob Brown & The F&W/Pathfinder Archive

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

Miles Location Booked (out) Booked (Rtn)
0 Gloucester Eastgate 06.30d 23.24a
6½ Cheltenham 06.39d 23.13a
54½ Birmingham New Street 08.18d 22.20a
? Sutton Bridge Jn 09/35 21/12
? Westbury 09/53 20/57
117¼ Welshpool ??.?? ~ 10.05½ 20/40
131 Newtown 10/26 20/21
136¾ Caersws 10/35 20/12
? Talerddig 10/50 20/01
? Cemmes Road 11/02 19/37
158½ Machynlleth 11c10 ~ 11c12 19c24 ~ 19c26
162½ Dovey Junction 11/20 19/17
168½ Aberdovey 11.35a [STN = 11.36a] 19.02d
172 Towyn 11.42a [STN=11.43a] 18.55d
184 Barmouth 12.09a [STN=12c10] 18.25d
201 Minffordd 12.45a [STN=12c47] 17.47d
203 Porthmadog 12.51a [STN=12c53] 17.41d
208 Criccieth 13/04 17/30
216 Pwllheli 13.18a 17.16d

Mileages are from timing sheet given out to tour passengers.

Train Fares

Location Adult Child
all joining points £2.70 £1.90

Off Train Options

Location Activity
Aberdovey Sightseeing
Towyn Talyllyn Railway (fare payable on the day at the railway)
Barmouth Sightseeing
Porthmadog Sightseeing &/0r Ffestiniog Railway (fare payable on the day at the railway)
Minffordd Ffestiniog Railway (fare payable on the day at the railway)
Pwllheli Sightseeing


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