2nd April 1983

T & N Railtours
The Swindon Ambassador II

Locos Used 40035 & 45012

Route : 1Z42 throughout

Loco Route
40035 Bolton - Kearsley - Manchester Victoria - Miles Platting - Ashton Moss North Jn - Denton - Stockport - Cheadle Hulme - Wilmslow - Crewe - Stafford - Portobello Jn - Bescot - Aston - Birmingham New Street
45012 Birmingham New Street - Proof House Jn - Bordesley - Dorridge - Leamington Spa - Banbury - Oxford - Didcot North Jn - Foxhall Jn - Swindon - Swindon Works (1)
45012 Swindon (station) - Stroud - Standish Jn - Gloucester Yard Jn - (2) - Barnwood Jn - Cheltenham Spa - Lickey - Kings Norton - Birmingham New Street
40035 Birmingham New Street - Soho Jn - Dudley Port - Wolverhampton - Stafford - (reverse of outward route) - Bolton

Notes :
(1) Tour destination was Swindon works for a guided works visit. David Dockray says the train ran into the works for passengers to alight however Ian Dobson disputes this saying that a walk was required from the station to works & back. Peter O'Brien put the matter to rest - he was stewarding on the train and confirms the train went into Swindon but passengers had to walk from there back to the station (i.e. as given above) and this is also confirmed by Steve Carter & Duncan Elsey.
(2) Route originally reported as via Gloucester with a reversal but David Dockray suggests the train went direct from Stroud to Cheltenham, this has since also been confirmed by Duncan Elsey.

Sources : Ian Dobson, David Dockray, Peter O'Brien & Steve Carter

Photo Review
(all photos: Steve Carter, except where stated otherwise)


40035, about to hand-over to 45012 at Birmingham (photo: Duncan Elsey)


The headboard goes on 45012 at Birmingham New Street in the morning.


45012 at Swindon prior to departing homewards.


40035 seen at Crewe on the return leg of the trip.


Timings (Booked & Actual)
(provided by Ian Dobson)

Location Booked Actual   Booked Actual
Bolton 07.43d 07.43   23.00a -
Farnworth 07.49d 07.50   22.55a -
Clifton 08.00d 08.00   22.50a -
Manchester Victoria 08.12a ~ 08.15d 08.11 ~ 08.15   22.27a ~ 22.30d - ~ -
Miles Platting 08/21 -   22/23 -
Ashton Moss North Jn 08/34 08/26   22/16 -
Crowthorne Jn 08/37 -   22/13 -
Denton 08/40 08/31   22/10 -
Stockport 08.48a ~ 08.50d 08.38 ~ 08.50   21.59a ~ 22.01d - ~ -
Cheadle Hulme 08/57 08/54   21/55 -
Wilmslow 09/01 -   21/48 -
Alderley Edge 09/03 -   21/46 -
Sandbach 09/14 09/10   21/34 21/35
Crewe 09.25a ~ 09.28d 09.21 ~ 09.30   21.24a ~ 21.26d 21.28 ~ 21.35
Madeley 09/36 09/43   21/08 -
Norton Bridge 09/44 09/52   20/59 -
Stafford 09/48 09/57   20/54 20/40

 

Location Booked Actual
Bushbury Jn 10/02 -
Portobello Jn 10/06 10/23
Bescot 10/10 10/30
Perry Barr North 10/15 10/37
Aston 10/20 10/40
Proof House Jn 10/23 -
Birmingham New Street 10.26a ~ 10.37d 10.49 ~ 11.00
Proof House Jn 10/40 -
Bordesley 10/44 -
Tyseley 10/48 11/08
Dorridge 10/55 11/20
Hatton 11/00 -
Leamington Spa 11/05 11/31
Banbury 11/24 11/52
Aynho Jn 11/32 11/57
Heyford 11/38 12/03
Oxford ??/?? -
Didcot ??/?? -
Foxhall Jn ??/?? -
Swindon 12.30a -

 

Location Booked Actual
Swindon 18.00d -
Stroud ??/?? -
Gloucester ??.??a ~ ??.??d - ~ -
Cheltenham Spa ??/?? -
Bromsgrove ??/?? -
Barnt Green 19/45 19/26
Kings Norton 19/50 19/32
Church Road Jn 20/00 -
Birmingham New Street 20.07a ~ 20.20d 19.45 ~ 20.07
Soho Jn 20/25 -
Dudley Port 20/30 -
Wolverhampton 20/39 20/26

Timings continue in first table.

The timing sheet carries the apology "We regret that detailed timings on Western Region are unavailable". Nothing much changes then....

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