14th ( - 15th) April 1979

F & W Railtours
The Pixieland Express

Route : 1Z79 throughout

Notes :
(1) This train was reported to have been the first to feature class 37's for haulage into Cornwall. It was advertised to use the Taunton goods avoiding line on the outward leg however the on-the-day welcome letter suggested it may not happen as British Rail had not requested permission for this to the Department of Transport (a new requirement to run a passenger train over a freight line). Whilst a last-minute 'plea' was reportedly made to the DfT it was stated that they required 6 weeks notice of intent so was unlikely to happen. Confirmation is required if the good loop was traversed on the day or not.
(2) 25058 was listed by Pathfinder as having been used on this tour (and now backed up with photographic evidence), presumably passengers were permitted (officially, or otherwise...) to remain on board while the class 37s were released.
(3) Peter Finan adds; At that time 37142, 37267 & 37279 were all based at St Blazey depot for Driver & staff familiarisation purposes & 2 of the 3 were stopped with mechanical issues. The use of a 25 was being mooted for the Newquay section of the tour, however I recall most certainly the use of 37279 was from Par to Newquay & then Newquay to Plymouth. After 37279 was uncoupled & returning Westwards a huge cheer went up from tour participants with Beer glasses & the 2nd man raised his Tea mug in Salute, I am sure this was the 1st time 37's had hauled a passenger train in Cornwall unless of course somebody can tell us differently.
(4) Stock Used above is as given on the timing sheet. The F&W/Pathfinder Archive however contained a seating plan which was based on the stock being formed: BCK+FK+FK+TSO+RB+SO+SO+SO+SO+SO and the timings letter from British Rail also warned that 'some of the 64 seater coaches are in fact SK's at present'. Confirmation of the stock used on the day is therefore required!
(5) As originally uploaded the train was showing as starting at Cheltenham (05.25d) and routing via Abbotswood Jn & Norton Jn to Worcester Shrub Hill however The F&W/Pathfinder Archive only shows timings from Worcester, presumably the train was running as empty stock from Cheltenham?

Sources : Peter Finan, John Chalcraft, Stephen Chandler & Gary Thornton/The F&W/Pathfinder Archive

Photo Review

37011+37276 running round in Gloucester station (photo: A.O. Wynn/The F&W/Pathfinder Archive)

37178+37084 at Trowbridge, on the outward leg (photo: David Bartlett)

25058 on shunt release at Penzance (photo: John Chalcraft/The F&W/Pathfinder Archive)

Get naming! Seminar in an unknown location (photo: John Vaughan/The F&W/Pathfinder Archive)
I'll start - Chris Guntripp on the extreme right...

Timings (Advertised, Booked & Actual)
(from Andrew Dawson/The F&W/Pathfinder Archive)

Advertised Timings and Fares

'* Taunton passengers to join at Exeter on the outward journey by scheduled services, as the train will be using the Taunton Goods avoiding loop'. Ticket letter suggested to use either the 10:40d (08.30 Paddington to Plymouth) or 10.54 (08.15 Birmingham to Plymouth).
'There is a £1 reduction for children under 14'
' Limited 1st class seats available at a £1 supplement'

Advertised Route
Worcester - Stourbridge Junction - Birmingham - Camp Hill - Cheltenham - Gloucester - Bristol - Bath - Westbury - Taunton (goods avoiding loop) - Exeter - Dainton - Plymouth - Truro - Penzance - Par - Newquay - Par - Plymouth - Hemerdon - Exeter - Taunton - Bridgwater - Bristol - Gloucester - Cheltenham - Lickey - Birmingham - Stourbridge Junction - Worcester

Motive Power Requested

Booked & Actual Timings
(Actual timings from Andrew Dawson, courtesy of The F&W/Pathfinder Archive)

Timings continue in first table.

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