23rd May 1987

Pathfinder Tours
The Gwent Valley Explorer

Locos Used 37220, 37280 & 40122

Route : 1Z37 throughout

Loco(s) Route
40122 Crewe - Stoke-on-Trent - Derby - Burton-upon-Trent - Birmingham New Street - Cheltenham Spa - Gloucester - Lydney - Newport
40122 (1) Newport - Gaer Jn - Park Jn - Lime Kiln Jn - Ebbw Vale
37280 (2) Ebbw Vale - (reverse of outward route) - Newport
37220 (1) Newport - Gaer Jn - Park Jn - Machen
37280 (3) Machen - Park Jn
37280 Park Jn - Ebbw Jn - Cardiff Central - Barry Island
37280 Barry Island - Cardiff Central
40122 Cardiff Central -Ebbw Jn - Park Jn - Lime Kiln Jn - Oakdale
40122 Oakdale - Lime Kiln Jn - Park Jn - Gaer Jn - Newport - Bristol Parkway - Cheltenham Spa - Birmingham New Street - Crewe

Note :
(1) 37280 on rear.
(2) 40122 on rear.
(3) 37220 on rear.

Sources : Richard Swejkowski (joined train at Newport/left at Cardiff)
Howard Harrison, Richard Spedding & Nick Lawford

Photo Review


From Andrew Fairholm's ticket collection.


40122 in the wet at Ebbw Vale (photo: 'Bista')


...with 37280 on the other end (photo: 'Bista')


37220 pauses or a photo-stop near Machen (photo: 'Bista')


40122 at Oakdale Colliery (photo: 'Bista')

Sources : Richard Swejkowski (joined train at Newport/left at Cardiff)
Howard Harrison, Richard Spedding & Nick Lawford

Timings (Booked & Actual - from/to Birmingham only)
(from Howard Harrison)

Location Booked  Actual
Birmingham New Street ??.??a ~ 09.30d ??.?? ~ 09.33
Gloucester 10.21a ~ 10.23d 10.31 ~ 10.34
Lydney 10/43 10/53
Newport 11.11a ~ 11.19d 11.34 ~ 11.50
Aberbeeg 11.59a ~ 12.00d 12/36
Waunllwyd North 12.12a ~ 12.30d 12.49 ~ 13.06
Aberbeeg 12.42a ~ 12.43d 13/19
Newport 13.23a ~ 13.40d 13.59 ~ 14.13
Machen 14.05a ~ 14.20d 14.43 ~ 14.52
Cardiff Central 15/01 15/36
Barry Island 15.23a ~ 15.44d 15.57 ~ 16.18
Cardiff Central 16.05a ~ 16.19d 16.41 ~ 16.50
Ebbw Jn 16/34 17/05
Oakdale 17.41a ~ 17.56d 18.10 ~ 18.40
Lime Kiln Jn 18.46a ~ 18.47d 19/26
Newport 19.07a ~ 19.09d 19.47 ~ 19.49
Bristol Parkway 19.38a ~ 19.40d 20.26 ~ 20.36
Cheltenham Spa 20.20a ~ 20.22d 21.23 ~ 21.28
Birmingham New Street 21.23a ~ ??.??d 22.26 ~ ??.??


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