20th May 1995

Hertfordshire Rail Tours
The Pembroke Express
(125 Special No.135)

HST Used 43144 & 43170
Stock used 44049+42089+42144+42143+42333+40752+41136+41003

Route :

HST Route
as listed London Paddington - (via GWML) - Didcot - Bristol Parkway - Severn TunnelJunction -Cardiff - Bridgend - Neath - Landore Jn - Swansea Loop West - Llanelli - Carmarthen Jn - Carmarthen Bridge - Whitland - Clarbeston Road - Fishguard Harbour
as listed Fishguard Harbour - Clarbeston Road - Whitland
as listed Whitland - Tenby - Pembroke Dock
as listed Pembroke Dock - Tenby - Whitland
as listed Whitland - Clarbeston Road - Milford Haven
as listed Milford Haven - Clarbeston Road - Whitland - (reverse of outward route) - London Paddington

Source : Nigel Benning (joined/left train at Reading)

Brief Tour Review
 (by Nigel Benning)

This 125 Special headed deep into Wales with visits to the branches to Fishguard Harbour, Pembroke Dock and Milford Haven. No problems were experienced during the day with timekeeping fairly good throughout the day. The only problems found were getting to and from the tour. Due to engineering works there were no trains between Southampton Parkway and Basingstoke. However I was able to catch the 5:05 Virgin service from Bournemouth (retimed from 05:45) to Basingstoke, which reversed at Southampton Central and travelled via the Laverstock loop.

On the return I was forced to catch a replacement bus service between Basingstoke and Southampton Parkway (a tatty old Leyland National). On being deposited at Southampton Parkway no staff were around to advise passengers when the next service would depart. After 25 minutes a service did appear and I reached Bournemouth at 01:07!

Nigel Benning

Timings (Booked & Actual)

M.C Location Booked Actual   Booked Actual M.C
0.00 London Paddington 07.10d ?   22.14a ? 629.18
1.68 Ladbroke Grove 07/13 ?   ??/?? ? ???.??
5.08 Acton West 07/16 ?   21/59 ? 624.10
5.51 Ealing Broadway 07/18 ?   ??/?? ? ???.??
9.01 Southall 07/23 ?   21/54 ? 620.17
10.66 Hayes & Harlington 07/25 ?   21/52 ? 618.32
17.35 Dolphin Jn 07/32 ?   21/45 ? 611.63
18.31 Slough 07.35a ~ 07.37d ?   21.41a ~ 21.43d ? 610.67
24.14 Maidenhead 07/42 ?   21/36 ? 605.04
3.76 Twyford 07/46 ?   21/32 ? 598.22
35.73 Reading 07.50a ~ 07.53d ??.?? ~ 07.53   21.24a ~ 21.27d 21.24 ~ ??.?? 593.25
53.05 Didcot Parkway 08.07a ~ 08.09d 08.06 ~ 08.09   21.09a ~ 21.10d 21.10 ~ 21.12 576.13
66.34 Uffington 08/19 ?   21/01 ? 562.64
77.18 Swindon 08/27 ?   20/54 20/56 552.00
83.02 Wootton Bassett Jn 8/31 ?   20/51 ? 546.16
94.05 Hullavington 08/38 ?   20/43 ? 535.13
107.07 Westerleigh Jn 08/47 ?   20/35 ? 522.11
111.57 Bristol Parkway 08.51a ~ 08.53d 08.51 ~ 08.53   20.29a ~ 20.31d 20.32 ~ 20.34 517.41
112.79 Patchway 08/55 ?   20/27 ? 516.19
116.45 Pilning 08/58 ?   20/24 ? 512.53
122.31 Severn Tunnel West 09/03 ?   20/19 ? 506.67
123.41 Severn Tunnel Junction 09/04 ?   20/18 20/22 505.57
133.30 Newport 9/17 ?   20/09 20/04 495.68
138.40 Marshfield 09/32 ?   20/04 ? 490.58
145.10 Cardiff Central 09.31a ~ 09.56d 09.38 ~ 09.56   19.32a ~ 19.57d 19.31 ~ 19.53 484.08
165.25 Bridgend 10/15 ?   19/13 19/12 463.73
177.39 Port Talbot Parkway 10/24 10/31   19/03 ? 451.59
183.00 Neath 10/31 10/42   18c56a ~ 18c58d 18.54 446.18
189.42 Landore Jn 10/41 ?   18/49 ? 439.56
189.74 Swansea Loop West 10/42 10/55   18/48 ? 439.24
192.46 Cockett West 10/45 ?   18/42 ? 436.52
197.68 Duffryn West 10/50 ?   18.29a ~ 18.36d 18.28 ~ 18.36 431.30
200.0 Llanelli 10/52 11/10   18/26 18/24 429.18
219.70 Carmarthen Jn 11/15 11/40   18/09 18/04 409.28
220.12 Carmarthen Bridge 11/16 ?   18/08 18/03 409.06
233.54 Whitland 11/28 11/54   17/54 ? 395.44
245.51 Clarbeston Road 11t39 12/05   17/44 ? 383.47

 

M.C Location Booked Actual
261.26 Fishguard Harbour 12.12a ~ 12.52d 12.26 ~ 12.52
277.01 Clarbeston Road 13t11 13/15
288.78 Whitland 13.22a ~ 13.52d 13.31 ~ 13.50
304.62 Tenby 14.15a ~ 14.43d 14.17 ~ 14.43
316.30 Pembroke Dock 15.08a ~ 15.15d 15.11 ~ 15.17
327.78 Tenby 15.39a ~ 15.42d 15.41 ~ 15.45
343.62 Whitland 16.05a ~ 16.25d 16.09 ~ 16.22
355.59 Clarbeston Road 16/36 16/34
360.71 Haverfordwest 16/45 16/41
365.55 Johnston 16/52 16/48
369.53 Milford Haven 17.03a ~ 17.18d 16.55 ~ 17.18
373.51 Johnston 17/26 ?
378.35 Haverfordwest 17.33a ~ 17.38d 17/32


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