20th March 1999

Pathfinder Tours
(in association with the Bristol Evening Post)
The Bristol Branch Explorer(s)

Route :

Notes :
(1) Each train was sold as a separate ticket.

Sources : Gary Thornton (on 1Z40), Mike Harries (on 1Z39 & 1Z40) & Kevin Stroud

Tour Review
(by Gary Thornton)

With several tours to chose from on this particular Saturday, I decided on the only one which was going to gain me some required track - and two quite rare freight branches they were too. The Bristol Evening Post had got together with Pathfinder to run a series of mini tours in the Bristol area, using steam traction, over the weekend. On the Saturday the highlight (for me at least) was the use of "standard tank" 80079 over the Tytherington and Westerleigh freight branches - neither of which had seen a passenger train in some years.

I booked on just one of the tours - the 12.50 "Yate to Yate" which took in the two freight lines I wanted. With such a late start I decided to call in to Didcot on my way to view another railtour, Hertfordshire Railtours' "The Edge Hill Secret" which was due through around 9.30am by my guesswork. Arriving a bit before it appeared, I soon met up with a couple of friends who were travelling on it. Gen was 47786 from London with 37250 assisting over the Morris Cowley branch - we were stood within a few feet of the latter which was just being prepared and would follow the tour to Oxford. I saw the tour in and out and watched 37250 depart before leaving. Other tractor's noted were 37133, 37174, 37708 and 37718. Not a trace of any 66's (yet...), this location is still very much "tractor city". Other locos noted were 08904 and 58014.

Arrival at Yate was still an hour ahead of my booked tour's departure time and there was the opportunity to see several Virgin XC services passing through. 80079 pulled in about on time from its first run along the branches. With a full compliment of passengers aboard (mostly I noted they were locals who had probably booked as a result of the newspaper publicity) we set off on time. With almost 3 hours allowed for the sub-20 mile tour, fast running was not exactly order of the day. Three level crossings on the way to Tytherington further slowed our progress. The climbing gradient to the quarry at least gave 80079 a chance to work a bit, though it made light work of the 6 coach load.

80079 being watered at Tytherington Quarry

At Tytherington quarry 80079 was watered (as were the loco crew, with cups of tea handed out from the train buffet) and then run round to the other end of the train. Steady running soon had us the 6 miles back to Yate where, after a short pause, we regained the mainline for the run to Westerleigh. A mere quarter of a mile later and we left the mainline and ran onto the Westerleigh branch. This short line (about 2.5 miles) was soon traversed and another wait ensued whilst 80079 ran round the stock again (no watering this time). Although we set off about on time, we only ran to the end of the loop and were held awaiting our path to Yate station. A late running Virgin XC service meant our wait was somewhat longer than planned, resulting in a 18 minute late arrival back at Yate.

We all baled out to allow the next load of passengers on for another round trip - over half of which would be done in the dark. Me, I headed for home and was sitting in front of my pc just about the time that trip (1Z41) left Tytherington!

Verdict : It was a good way to get both these required branches, though for many of the "normals" (and, to be honest, myself too) the long waits at Tytherington and Westerleigh were just a bit boring.

Gary Thornton.

Timings (Booked and Actual)
(from Gary Thornton & Mike Harries)

1Z39 (Train A)

1Z39 (Train B)

1Z40 (Train C)

1Z41 (Train D)

1Z42 (Train E)

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