Photo Review
7th August 1977
F & W Railtours
The
Cambrian Coast Express
| Locos Used | 25061, 37242, 40128, 46028 & 47112 |
| Stock Used | Booked as: 4x SK (A, B, C, D), 1x FK (E), 1x BSK (F), 4x SK (G, H, J, K) |
Route : 1Z19 throughout
| Loco | Route |
| 46028 | Bristol Temple Meads - Filton Jn - Bristol Parkway - Westerleigh Jn - Wootton Bassett Jn - Swindon |
| 46028 | Swindon - Stroud - Standish Jn - Gloucester |
| 40128 | Gloucester - Cheltenham Spa - Abbotswood Jn - Norton Jn - Worcester Shrub Hill - Droitwich Spa - Kidderminster - Stourbridge Junction - Smethwick West - Galton Jn - Soho South Jn - Birmingham New Street |
| 40128 | Birmingham New Street - Soho South Jn - Perry Barr West Jn - Bescot - Portobello Jn - Wolverhampton - Telford - Abbey Foregate Jn - Sutton Bridge Jn - Welshpool - Machynlleth |
| 25061 | Machynlleth - Dovey Jn - Barmouth - Porthmadog |
| 25061 | Porthmadoc - (reverse of outward route) - Machynlleth |
| 40128 | Machynlleth - (reverse of outward route) - Wolverhampton - Dudley Port - Soho South Jn - Birmingham New Street - ??? - Barnt Green - Stoke Works Jn - (via Spetchley) Abbotswood Jn - Cheltenham Spa - Gloucester |
| 37242 | Gloucester - Standish Jn - Yate - Westerleigh Jn - Bristol Parkway - Filton Jn - Bristol Temple Meads |
Notes :
(1) Pre-tour advertising stated 'hauled throughout from Bristol by E.E. Class
40! This railtour affords you the rare opportunity to travel over the Lickey
Incline and Cambrian Coast Line behind a Class 40.' It is unclear the reason(s)
why it was not a Class 40 throughout on the day but might be surmised as partly
caused by the morning diversion via Swindon and, maybe, fuel range?
(1) Route confirmation required - above is from booked timings. Engineering
works required the morning diversion between Bristol and Gloucester via Swindon,
with Stroud & Stonehouse passengers being provided with a bus connection back at
the end of the tour, from Gloucester.
Sources : Richard Szwejkowski, Keith Jarrett & The F&W/Pathfinder Archive
Photo Review
40128 at Gloucester on the return leg (photo: N. Preedy/The F&W/Pathfinder
Archive)
37242, having taken over from 40128 at the Gloucester reversal (photo: N.
Preedy/The F&W/Pathfinder
Archive)
Timings (Advertised & Booked)
(from the The F&W/Pathfinder
Archive)
Advertised Times
| Location | Advertised (out) | Advertised (Rtn) |
| Bristol Temple Meads | 06.15d | 01.00a |
| Bristol Parkway | 06.25d | 00.50a |
| Stroud | 06.20d (bus) | 00.40a (bus) |
| Stonehouse | 06.25d (bus) | 00.35a (bus) |
| Gloucester | 07.00d | 00.03a |
| Cheltenham | 07.12d | 23.52a |
| Birmingham New Street | 08.17d | 23.01a |
| Aberdovey | 11.36a | 19.37d |
| Tywyn | 11.43a | 19.30d |
| Barmouth | 12.10a | 19.00d |
| Harlech | 12.30a | 18.38d |
| Minffordd | 12.15a | 18.24d |
| Porthmadog | 12.51a | 18.14d |
Booked Times
| Miles | Location | Booked (out) | Booked (Rtn) | Miles |
| 0 | Bristol Temple Meads | 04.45d | 00.37a | 0 |
| ? | Filton Jn | 04/54 | 00/28 | ? |
| 6 | Bristol Parkway | 04.56a ~ 04.58d | 00.24a ~ 00.28d | 6 |
| ? | Westerleigh Jn | 05/04 | 00/18 | ? |
| ? | Wootton Bassett | 05/23 | - | - |
| 41¼ | Swindon | 05R30a ~ 05R45d | - | - |
| 55 | Kemble | 05/59 | - | - |
| 66¼ | Stroud | 06.10a ~ 06.12d | - | - |
| 72¾ | Stonehouse | 06.17a ~ 06.18d | - | - |
| - | Charfield | - | 00/09 | ? |
| ? | Standish Jn | 06/20 | 23/59 | ? |
| 81½ | Gloucester | 06R27a ~ 06R42d | 23R38a ~ 23R50d | 37 |
| 88 | Cheltenham Spa | 06.50a ~ 06.52d | 23.25a ~ 23.28d | 43½ |
| ? | Abbotswood Jn | 07/16 | 23/10 | ? |
| ? | Norton Jn | 07/18 | - | - |
| 110½ | Worcester Shrub Hill | 07.23 ~ 07.25 | - | - |
| 116 | Droitwich Spa | 07/33 | - | - |
| 121½ | Hartlebury | 07/41 | - | - |
| 125¼ | Kidderminster | 07/45 | - | - |
| 132 | Stourbridge Junction | 07/52 | - | - |
| 140 | Smethwick West | 08/05½ | - | - |
| ? | Galton Jn | 08/06 | - | - |
| ? | Soho South Jn | 08/08½ | - | - |
| - | Stoke Works Jn | - | 23/02 | ? |
| - | Bromsgrove | - | 23/00 | 77¾ |
| - | Barnt Green | - | 22/57 | 81 |
| 144 | Birmingham New Street | 08R14a ~ 08R24d | 22.30a ~ 22.40d | 91½ |
| ? | Soho South Jn | 08/29 | 22/25 | ? |
| ? | Galton East Jn | 08/30 | - | - |
| ? | Perry Barr West Jn | 08/35 | - | - |
| ? | Bescot | 08/41 | - | - |
| ? | Portobello Jn | 08/46 | - | - |
| - | Dudley Port | - | 22/18 | 98¼ |
| 0 | Wolverhampton | 08/51 | 22/10 | 104 |
| 9¼ | Cosford | 09/02 | 21/52 | ? |
| 19½ | Wellington | 09/12 | 21/41 | ? |
| 30 | Abbey Foregate Jn | 09*25 ~ 09*30 | 21*27 ~ 21*29 | ? |
| ? | Sutton Bridge Jn | 09/38 | 21/25½ | ? |
| ? | Westbury | 09/48 | 21/13 | ? |
| 49¾ | Welshpool | 09/59½ | 20/58 | ? |
| 63½ | Newtown | 10/18½ | 20/40 | ? |
| 69¼ | Caersws | 10/27 | 20/32 | ? |
| ? | Talerdigg | 10/40 | 20/22 | ? |
| ? | Cemmes Road | 10/52 | 20/02 | ? |
| 91 | Machnlleth | 11*00 ~ 11*02 | 19*50 ~ 19*52 | ? |
| 95 | Dovey Junction | 11/09½ | 19/43 | ? |
| 101 | Aberdovey | 11.23½a ~ 11.25½d | 19.36a ~ 19.38d | ? |
| 104½ | Tywyn | 11.32a ~ 11.34d | 19.27a ~ 19.29d | ? |
| 116½ | Barmouth | 11.59a ~ 12.01d | 19.02a ~ 19.04d | ? |
| 127 | Harlech | 12.20a ~ 12.22d | 18.42a ~ 18.44d | ? |
| 133½ | Minffordd | 12.36a ~ 12.38d | 18.25a ~ 18.27d | ? |
| 135½ | Porthmadog | 12.42a | 18.20d | ? |
Mileages are from timing sheet given out to tour passengers.
Talyllyn Trains
| Location | Booked | Booked | Booked | Booked |
| Tywyn Wharf | 12.20d | 14.00d | 15.00d | 16.40d |
| Dolgoch Falls | 12.50d | 14.30d | 15.30d | 17.10d |
| Abergynolwyn | 13.05d | 14.45d | 15.45d | 17.25d |
| Nant Gwernol | 13.14a ~ 13.20d | 14.53a ~ 15.05d | 15.53a ~ 16.00d | 17.33a ~ 17.40d |
| Abergynolwyn | 13.55d | 15.45d | 16.35d | 17.55d |
| Dolgoch Falls | 14.10d | 16.00d | 16.50d | 18.10d |
| Tywyn Wharf | 14.38a | 16.27a | 17.18a | 18.37a |
Festiniog Railway & Fares
| Location | Booked | Booked | Booked |
| Porthmadog | - | 13.45d | 15.15d |
| Minffordd | 12.55d | 13.55d | 15.33d |
| Tan-y-Bwlch | 13.25d | 14.25d | 15.55d |
| Llyn-Ystradau | 13.50a ~ 13.59d | 14.50a ~ 14.59d | 16.20a ~ 16.29d |
| Tan-y-Bwlch | 14.29d | 15.29d | 16.59d |
| Minffordd | 14.52d | 15.52d | 17.22d |
| Porthmadog | 15.04a | 16.04a | 17.34a |
| Type | Adult | Child |
| Porthmadog - Llyn-Ystradau (return) | £1.80 | £.90 |
The 13.45d had reserved coaches for tour participants. 'The unique double-Fairlie steam engine will haul this train.'
Train Fares
| Location | Adult | Child |
| Bristol | £5.80 | £5.30 |
| Stroud/Stonehouse (connecting bus) | £5.50 | £5.00 |
| Gloucester/Cheltenham Spa | £5.00 | £4.50 |
| Birmingham New Street | £4.50 | £4.00 |
| Talyllyn Railway: Tywyn to Dolgoch | £0.60 | £0.30 |
| Talyllyn Railway: Tywyn to Abergynolwyn | £0.70 | £0.35 |
| Talyllyn Railway: Tywyn to Nant Gwernol | £0.90 | £0.45 |
| Festiniog Railway | £1.80 | £0.90 |
| Llanberis Lake Railway | £0.60 | £0.25 |
| Llanberis Scenic coach tour | £0.95 | |
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) Welsh Highland Railway also open for viewing |
| Harlech | Sightseeing |
| Minffordd | Sightseeing, village of Portmeirion |
Llanberis Option
| Location/Activity | Booked (out) | Booked (rtn) |
| Porthmadog, tour arrives/departs | 12.42a | 18.20d |
| Porthmadog; road coach departs/arrives | 12.50d | 17.30a |
| Llanberis; road coach arrives/departs | 14.00a | 16.30d |
| Llanberis Lake Railway | 14.00d, 14.30d, 15.00d or 15.30d | 14.40a, 15.10a, 15.40a or 16.10a |
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