1st November 1997

Pathfinder Tours
The Blackpool Illuminator /
Nor' West Thunderbolt

Locos Used 37079, 37140, 56134 & 60009

Route : 1Z29 throughout

Loco(s) Route
37079 + 37140 Cardiff Central - Newport - Chepstow - Cheltenham Spa - Worcester Shrub Hill - Kidderminster - Stourbridge Junction - Birmingham New Street - Aston - Bescot - Bushbury Jn - Stafford - Crewe - Warrington Bank Quay - Preston
37079 + 37140 Preston - Wigan North Western - St Helens Central - Liverpool Lime Street
56134 Liverpool Lime Street - Allerton - Warrington Central - Deansgate - Manchester Piccadilly - Stockport - Edgeley Jn - Northenden Jn - Deansgate Jn - Altrincham - Northwich - Hartford CLC Jn - Hartford LNW Jn - Warrington Bank Quay
60009 Warrington Bank Quay - Wigan North Western - Preston -Poulton le Fylde - Blackpool North
37079 + 37140 Blackpool North - Poulton le Fylde - Preston - (reverse of outward route) - Cardiff Central

Notes :
An excursion to Blackpool, "The Blackpool Illuminator", (with coach connections at Preston for Blackpool trippers on the outward run), and a mini-tour for cranks, "The Nor'West Thunderbolt, Preston - Liverpool - Warrington - Blackpool

Source : Richard Hughes (Boarded at Preston, left at Blackpool North)

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Janet Cottrell)

Location Booked (out) Booked (rtn)
Cardiff Central 06.06d 00.22a
Marshfield 06/18 00/10
Newport 06.26a ~ 06.29d 00.02a ~ 00.04d
Severn Tunnel Junction 06/41 23/50
Chepstow 06/48 23/42
Lydney 06.57a ~ 06.59d 23.32a ~ 23.34d
Awre 07/07 23/26
Gloucester 07.21a ~ 07.23d 23.09a ~ 23.11d
Horton Road Jn 07/25 23/07
Barnwood Jn 07/26 23/06
Cheltenham Spa 07.32a ~ 07.35d 22.56a ~ 23.00d
Ashchurch 07/43 22/47
Abbotswood Jn 07/53 22/38
Norton Jn 07/55 22/36
Worcester Shrub Hill 08.02a ~ 08.04d 22.29a ~ 22.31d
Tunnel Jn 08/06 22/28
Droitwich Spa 08/12 22/22
Hartlebury 08/18 22/17
Kidderminster 08.22a ~ 08.24d 22.10a ~ 22.12d
Stourbridge Junction 08.29a ~ 08.31d 22.02a ~ 22.04d
Rowley Regis 08/43 21/51
Galton Jn 08/49 21/46
Soho South Jn 08/50 21/44
Birmingham New Street 08.54a ~ 09.21d 21.36a ~ 21.38d
Proof House Jn 09/24 21/33
Aston 09/27 21/29
Perry Barr North Jn 09/32 21/26
Bescot Stadium 09/39 21/21
Portobello Jn 09/44 21/17
Bushbury Jn 09/49 21/13
Stafford 10/02 20/59
Norton Bridge 10/11 20/53
Madeley 10/25 20/44
Basford Hall Jn 10/32 20/40
Crewe 10/40 20/33
Winsford SB 10/52 20/19
Weaver Jn SB 10/59 20/13
Acton Grange Jn 11/03 20/03
Warrington Bank Quay 11/06 20/02
Dallam Jn 11/07 20/01
Winwick Jn 11/10 19/58
Springs Branch Jn 11/17 19/50
Wigan South Jn 11/18 19/49
Wigan North Western 11/19 19/48
Balshaw Lane 11/27 19/39
Euxton Jn 11/30 19/33
Farington Curve Jn 11/33 19/27

 

Location Booked Actual
Preston 11.35a ~ 12.00d ?? ~ 12.00
Euxton Jn 12/09 12/06
Balshaw Lane 12/11 ?
Wigan North Western 12/20 12/15
Springs Branch Jn 12/22 12/17
St Helens Central 12/37 12/30
Huyton 12/51 12/41
Bootle Branch Jn 12/59 ?
Edge Hill 13/02 ?
Liverpool Lime Street 13.08a ~ 13.38d 12.59 ~ 13.39
Edge Hill 13/43 ?
Wavertree Jn 13/46 ?
Allerton 13/50 13/48
Hunts Cross 13/53 13/51
Hough Green 13/58 13/54
Warrington Central 14/07 14/02
Glazebrook East & Sidings 14/18 14/13
Trafford Park East Jn 14/25 14/25
Cornbrook Jn 14/29 ?
Deansgate 14/31 14/33
Manchester Oxford Road 14/35 14.35a ~ 14.36d
Manchester Piccadilly 14/37 14/38
Adwick Jn 14/39 ?
Slade Lane Jn 14/41 ?
Heaton Norris Jn 14/44 14/45
Stockport 14.45a ~ 14.47d 14/48
Edgeley Jn No.2 14/49 14/50
Cheadle Village Jn 14/51 14/52
Northenden Jn 14/55 14/55
Deansgate Jn 15/04 ?
Navigation Road 15/05 ?
Hale 15/08 15.09a ~ 15.12d
Plumley 15/23 15/29
Northwich 15/29 15/34
Greenbank 15/32 ?
Hartford CLC Jn 15/34 15/40
Hartford LNW Jn 15/41 15/42
Weaver Jn SB 15/45 15/47
Acton Grange Jn 15/50 15/52
Warrington Bank Quay 15.54a ~ 16.10d 15.56 ~ 16.13
slow lines
Winwick Jn 16/16 16/19
Springs Branch Jn 16/23 16/28
Wigan North Western 16/24 16/29
Balshaw Lane 16/33 16/37
Euxton Jn 16/38 16/39
Farington Curve Jn 16/43 ?
Preston 16.48a ~ 16.50d 16.47 ~ ??.??
Fylde Jn 16/52 ?
Kirkham North Jn 17/02 ?
Poulton le Fylde 17/09 ?
Blackpool North 17.16a ~ 18.54d ?
Poulton le Fylde 19/00 ?
Kirkham North Jn 19/07 ?
Fylde Jn 19/19 ?
Preston 19/23 ?

Timings continue in first table.

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