20th September 1998

Pathfinder Tours
The Falmouth Packet

Route:
1Z56 : Gloucester to Falmouth Docks
1Z24 : Falmouth Docks to Gloucester

Notes :
(1) Train departed Gloucester 111 minutes late (10.21am) due to the failure of the booked train loco, 56049. 56078 was sent from Godfrey Road.
(2) 6024 on rear.
(3) 56078 on rear, assisting 6024 to conserve water.
(4) Booked route from Bristol to Gloucester was the reverse of outward. Mike Hunt comments : 6024 was planned to haul the train from Falmouth Docks to Bristol Temple Meads, where it was to have been replaced by 56078. 56078 remained at the rear of the train as far as Truro, for banking purposes, it then formed the 0Z56 16:38 Truro to Bristol Temple Meads light locomotive positioning movement.  However, fate intervened!  How is this for a cock up of the type that Railtrack seemed to excel in; the timings issued, and reproduced below, failed to provide for a Civil Engineer's total possession between Westerleigh Jn and Standish Jn!  In consequence, 0Z56 was extended and ran on to Swindon. 6024 then continued to work 1Z24 forward from Bristol Temple Meads to Swindon.  Here it was replaced by 56078, which then hauled the charter from Swindon to Gloucester via the 'Golden Valley' route through Kemble and Stroud.  I have no revised timings (if indeed any were issued?) to cover this cock up.

Sources : various including Nigel Tregoning, Roger Elliott & Mike Hunt

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Mike Hunt)

Back to "The Railtour Files"