8th August 1976

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

Locos Used 24063, 24081 & 460??
Stock Used ER set formed: BSK+SK+SK+SK+SK+CK+CK+SK+SK+SK+SK+BSK (letter in order A-M)

Route : 1Z54 throughout

Locos Route
460?? Gloucester - Cheltenham Spa - ??? - Stoke Works Jn - Bromsgrove - ??? - ?Birmingham New Street or Wolverhampton?
24063 + 24081 ?Birmingham New Street or Wolverhampton? - ??? - Telford - Sutton Bridge Jn - Welshpool - Dovey Junction - Barmouth - Pwllheli
24063 + 24081 Pwllheli - (?reverse of outward route?) - ?Birmingham New Street or Wolverhampton?
460?? ?Birmingham New Street or Wolverhampton? - (?reverse of outward route?) - Gloucester

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 8th railtour in their archives. Pre-tour advertising gave a Swindon starting point and stated the requested motive power to be a Class 52 'Western' both ways between Swindon & Birmingham, and 2x Class 24's for the remainder. It has however been confirmed from archive material that the train started/finished at Gloucester, with road coach connections from Swindon and other stations to Gloucester or Cheltenham Spa.


Class 24 & headboards at ??? (Photo: The F&W/Pathfinder Archive)

Sources : Mike Barnsley, Richard Szwejkowski & The F&W/Pathfinder Archive

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

Miles Location Booked (out) Booked (Rtn)
0 Gloucester 07.00d 00.03a
6½ Cheltenham 07.12d 23.52a
54½ Birmingham New Street 08.17d 23.01a
? Sutton Bridge Jn 09/35 21/45
? Westbury 09/53 21/32
117¼ Welshpool 10/05½ 21/15
131 Newtown 10/26 20/56
136¾ Caersws 10/35 20/47
? Talerddig 10/50 20/36
? Cemmes Road 11/02 20/12
158½ Machynlleth 11c10 ~ 11c12 19c59 ~ 20c01
162½ Dovey Junction 11/20 19/52
168½ Aberdovey 11.35a ~ 11.36d 19.36a ~ 19.37d
172 Towyn 11.42a ~ 11.43d 19.29a ~ 19.30d
184 Barmouth 12.10a ~ 12.12d 18.56a ~ 19.00d
194½ Harlech 12.30a ~ 12.32d 18.36a ~ 18.38d
201 Minffordd 12.45a ~ 12.47d 18.19a ~ 18.21d
203 Porthmadog 12.51a ~ 12.53 18.12a ~ 18.14d
208 Criccieth 13/02 18/04
216 Pwllheli 13.14a 17.50d

Mileages are from timing sheet given out to tour passengers.

Talyllyn Special Train

Location Booked (out) Booked (Rtn)
Tywyn Wharf 13.10d 15.30a
Dolgoch Falls 13.45a 15.00d
Abergynolwyn 14.00a 14.18a ~ 14.48d
Nant Gwernol 14.06a 14.12d

Passengers were entitled to use service trains too, if they so wished.

Train Fares

Location Adult Child
Swindon £4.75 £4.00
Kemble £4.45 £3.70
Stround/Stonehouse £4.10 £3.35
Gloucester/Cheltenham Spa £3.85 £3.10
Birmingham New Street £3.60 £3.00
Talyllyn Railway: Tywyn to Dolgoch/Abergynolwyn £0.60 £0.30
Talyllyn Railway: Tywyn to Nant Gwernol £0.70 £0.35
Llanberis Scenic coach tour £0.80
Pre-packed ploughmans lunch £0.40

Off Train Options

Location Activity
Aberdovey Sightseeing
Towyn Talyllyn Railway (fare payable on the day at the railway, reduced on production of main tour ticket)
Barmouth Sightseeing
Porthmadog Sightseeing &/or Ffestiniog Railway (fare payable on the day at the railway) or coach tour to Llanberis (with option for travel on the Llanberis Lake Railway)
Harlech Sightseeing
Minffordd Ffestiniog Railway (fare payable on the day at the railway)
Pwllheli Sightseeing

Llanberis Option

Location/Activity Booked (out) Booked (rtn)
Porthmadog, tour arrives/departs 12.51a 18.14d
Porthmadog; road coach departs/arrives 13.00d 17.15a
Llanberis; road coach arrives/departs 14.00a 16.15d
Llanberis Lake Railway 14.00d, 14.30d or 15.00d approx. 14.45a, 15.15a or 15.45a


Back to "The Railtour Files"