11th March 1978

F & W Railtours
The Gwent Valley Invader

Locos Used 37233, 37269, 40044, 40120 & 47001
Stock Used 12 x Mk 1's: BSK+SO+SO+SO+SO+SO+SO+SO+SO+BSK+SK+SK (lettered A to H, K, L & M respectively)

Route : 1Z46 throughout

Loco(s) Route
40120 Crewe - Alsager - Kidsgrove - Stoke-on-Trent - Uttoxeter - Stenson Jn - Derby
40120 Derby - Stenson Jn - Burton-on-Trent - Wichnor Jn - Tamworth - Kingsbury Jn - Water Orton - Landor Street Jn - Birmingham New Street - Selly Oak - King's Norton - Bromsgrove - Stoke Works Jn - Droitwich Spa - Worcester Shrub Hill - Abbotswood Jn - Cheltenham Spa - Barnwood Jn - Gloucester - Chepstow - Severn Tunnel Junction - Newport
37269 + 37233 Newport - Gaer Jn - Lime Kiln Jn - Aberbeeg - Waunllwyd (Ebbw Vale)
37269 + 37233 Waunllwyd (Ebbw Vale) - (reverse of outward route) - Newport - Maindee North Jn - Llantarnam Jn - Blaenavon
37269 + 37233 Blaenavon - Llantarnam Jn - Maindee North Jn - Newport
47001 Newport - Severn Tunnel Junction - Pilning - Bristol Parkway - Westerleigh Jn - Yate - Charfield - Standish Jn - Barnwood Jn (2) - (reverse of outward route) - Birmingham New Street
40044 Birmingham New Street - (reverse of outward route) - Derby
40044 Derby - (reverse of outward route) - Crewe

Notes :
(1) Jim Sparks comments: A Class 40 had been confirmed by BR as hauling the train throughout with a Class 37 piloting up the valleys, but at very short notice, the organisers were informed that the '40' would be removed at Newport for fuelling and servicing and a pair of Class 37's would haul the train up the valleys. Last minute moves to get the '40' back on for the Blaenavon branch were unsuccessful, but there was worse to come! On arrival back at Newport, it was announced that 40120 had been declared a failure, so 47001 was provided for the return run.
(2) Gloucester passengers to detrain at Cheltenham Spa and use a service train to return to Gloucester. On the return leg it was reported that the communication chord was pulled no less than four times 'by so called "enthusiasts"', resulting in late running. A stern warning was given out in the letter given out to passengers on F&W Railtours following outing, top report any 'suspicious actions' to a steward or the British Transport Police.

Sources : Jim Sparks (joined/left the train at Newport) & The F&W/Pathfinder Archive

Photo Review


40120 storming though Chepstow (photo: J. Chacroft/The F&W/Pathfinder Archive)


37269+37233 at Bleanavon (photo: C.J. Tuffs/The F&W/Pathfinder Archive)


The 37233 (& 37269) at ??? (photo: The Ben Darby Collection)


From Bob Mitchell's ticket collection.


Timings (Advertised & Booked Only)
(from Jim Sparks & The F&W/Pathfinder Archive)

Advertised Times

Location Advertised (out) Advertised (Rtn)
Crewe 08.10d 22.50a
Stoke 08.38d 22.25a
Derby 09.42d 21.20a
Birmingham New Street 10.31d 20.35a
Worcester 11.14d 19.53a
Cheltenham 11.40d 19.26a
Gloucester 11.53d -

Gloucester passengers to detrain at Cheltenham Spa on the return leg and use a service train to get back to Gloucester.

Booked Times

Miles Location Booked (out) Booked (rtn) Miles
0 Crewe 08.12d 22.49a ?
8¾ Kidsgrove 08/25½ 22/38 ?
13¾ Etruria 08/33½ 22/30½ ?
14¾ Stoke-on-Trent 08.36a ~ 08.38d 22.26a ~ 22.28d ?
? Cresswell Jn 08/52½ 22/16½ ?
31¾ Uttoxeter 09/01½ 22/00 ?
? North Staffs Jn 09/18 21/43 ?
50¾ Derby 09.27a ~ 09.42d 21.20a ~ 21.35d ?
? Stenson Jn 09/49 21/11 ?
61¾ Burton-on-Trent 09/54 21/05 ?
? Wichnor Jn 10/00 21/01 ?
74¾ Tamworth 10/06 20/56 ?
84¼ Kingsbury Jn 10/11 20/51 ?
? Water Orton 10/14 20/48 ?
? Landor Street Jn 10/24 20/42 ?
91¾ Birmingham New Street 10.28a ~ 10.31d 20.35a ~ 20.38d ?
? King's Norton 10/42 20/23 ?
102¼ Barnt Green 10/50 20/18 ?
105½ Bromsgrove 10/55 20/10 ?
? Stoke Works Jn 10/57 20/07 ?
112¼ Droitwich Spa 11/04 20/01 ?
117¾ Worcester Shrub Hill 11.14a ~ 11.17d 19.50a ~ 19.53d ?
? Norton Jn 11/22 19/45 ?
? Abbotswood Jn 11/24 19/43 ?
139¾ Cheltenham Spa 11.41a ~ 11.43d 19.24a ~ 19.26d 52¾

 

Miles Location Booked
146¼ Gloucester 11.53a ~ 11.55d
? Awre 12/09
165¾ Lydney 12/14
173¾ Chepstow 12/23
181 Severn Tunnel Junction 12/36
191
0		 Newport 12L48a ~ 13L20d
? Gaer Jn 13/24
? Rogerstone 13/32
? Lime Kiln Jn 13/39
? Aberbeeg 13/58
21¾ Waunllwyd 14.11 ~ 14.30
? Aberbeeg 14/44
? Lime Kiln Jn 15/03
? Rogerstone 15/10
? Gaer Jn 15/17
?
0		 Newport 15/21
? Maindee North Jn 15/24
? Llantarnam Jn 15/33
? Panteg & Coedygrig Jn 15/44
16¼ Blaenavon 16.36 ~ 16.55
? Panteg & Coedygrig Jn 17/42
? Llantarnam Jn 17/51
? Maindee North Jn 18/05
?
0		 Newport 18L08a ~ 18L20d
10 Severn Tunnel Junction 18/30
17 Pilning 18/37
20½ Patchway 18/41
21¾ Bristol Parkway 18.43a ~ 18.45d
? Westerleigh Jn 18/51
? Charfield 18/59
? Standish Jn 19/08
? Gloucester Yard Jn 19.15 ~ 19.17

Timings continue in first table.

Train Fares

Location Adult Child
Crewe & Stoke £4.90 -
Derby, Birmingham & Worcester £4.50 -
Cheltenham & Gloucester £4.20 -


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