21st - 22nd October 2005

Pathfinder Tours
The Growling Grockle

Train postponed (due to lack of bookings) until 01/04/2006.

Planned route & locos:
1Z37 : York to Plymouth
1Z38 : Plymouth to Penzance
1Z37 : Penzance to York

Loco(s) Route
374xx + 374xx York - Doncaster - Sheffield - Chesterfield - Derby - Burton-on-Trent - Tamworth - Birmingham New Street - Cheltenham Spa - Bristol Parkway - Bristol Temple Meads - Taunton - Exeter St Davids - Newton Abbot - Plymouth
374xx (2) Plymouth - Liskeard - St. Austell - Truro - Falmouth Docks
374xx (2) Falmouth Docks - Truro
374xx (2) Truro - Penzance
374xx (2) Penzance - Truro - St Austell - Liskeard - Plymouth - Newton Abbot - Exeter St Davids - Crediton - Barnstaple
374xx (2) Barnstaple - Crediton - Exeter St Davids
374xx (2) Exeter St Davids - Tiverton Up Loop - Taunton - Bristol Temple Meads
374xx + 374xx Bristol Temple Meads - Bristol Parkway - Cheltenham Spa - Birmingham New Street - Tamworth - Burton-on-Trent - Derby
374xx + 374xx Derby - Long Eaton - Toton Centre - Chesterfield - Sheffield - Doncaster - York

Notes :
(1) At time of postponement it was rumoured that 37417 & 37427 were rostered to work the train.
(2) Locos working top-n-tail.

The Pathfinder Tours Website carried the following statement :

When originally planned, along with several other class 37 hauled excursions this autumn, it was to mark the end of these machines in main line service, hence the 'Premium' price charged by EWS to us, which we found acceptable for a finite situation. The advertised fares reflected this premium. Then, after the excursion was announced through the railway press that in fact they would be keeping a pool of class 37's for the foreseeable future, this taking away the urgency and finality. However, the premium price for the provision of the locos has not come down accordingly and a good number of potential passengers have clearly said they will not 'pay over the odds' now that there is no urgency. Hence, despite waiting for a late EWS rethink, we do not have enough revenue to make the excursion viable. Being keen to operate it we are currently working on another way of running (Class 37 hauled), at a cheaper price for everyone, which will then bring in the other passengers waiting in the wings. Unfortunately, it has not come together in time for the 22nd October. With winter days ahead we are selecting SATURDAY 1st APRIL 2006 as the suitable new date of running (and no, its not a wind up), giving reasonable hours of daylight.

Sources : Alan Sheppard

Timings (Booked Only)
(from various including Alan Sheppard)

Location

 Booked (out) Booked (rtn)
York 19.42d 22.51a
Colton Jn 19/47 22/44
Hambleton North Jn 19/53 22/38
Temple Hirst Jn 19/58 22/29
Shaftholme Jn 20/05 22/22
Doncaster 20.10a ~ 20.13d 22.13a ~ 22.17d
Hexthorpe Jn 20/17 22/07
Mexborough 20/24 22/01
Swinton 20/28 21/57
Aldwarke Jn 20/32 21/54
Holmes Jn 20/36 21/51
Wincobank Jn 20/38 21/50
Nunnery Main Line Jn 20/43 21/48
Sheffield 20.46a ~ 20.58d 21.43a ~ 21.46d
Dore Station Jn 21/05 21/37
Chesterfield 21.14a ~ 21.17d 21.23a ~ 21.26d
Clay Cross South Jn 21/22 21/19
Ambergate Jn 21/31 ?
Alfreton & Mansfield Parkway - 21/13
Pye Bridge Jn - 21/11
Langley Mill - 21/08
Trowell Jn - 21/04
Toton Centre - 20/59
Toton Jn - 20/58
Trent East Jn - 20/56
Sheet Stores Jn - 20/54
Spondon - 20/48
Derby 21.43a ~ 21.50d 20.25a ~ 20.43d
Stenson Jn 21/57 20/19
North Stafford Jn 21/58 20/18
Burton-on-Trent 22.04a ~ 22.07d 20.07a ~ 20.10d
Wichnor Jn 22/13 20/00
Tamworth High Level 22.20a ~ 22.23d 19.50a ~ 19.53d
Kingsbury Jn 22/33 19/45
Water Orton 22/37 19/40
Landor Street Jn 22/43 19/33
Proof House Jn 22/45 19/31
Birmingham New Street 22.48a ~ 22.51d 19.25a ~ 19.28d
Selly Oak 22/59 19/15
Kings Norton 23/03 19/11
Longbridge 23/09 19/06
Barnt Green 23/14 19/03
Bromsgrove 23/18 18/57
Stoke Works Jn 23/20 18/54
Abbotswood Jn 23/29 18/46
Ashchurch 23/38 18/37
Cheltenham Spa 23.46a ~ 23.48d 18.28a ~ 18.30d
Gloucester, Barnwood Jn 23/54 18/21
Gloucester Yard Jn 23/55 18/20
Standish Jn 00/01 18/14
Charfield 00/12 18/03
Yate 00/17 17/57
Westerleigh Jn 00/20 17/55
Bristol Parkway 00.26a ~ 00.28d 17.48a ~ 17.50d
Filton Abbey Wood 00/30 17/45
Stapleton Road 00/34 17/40
Dr. Days Jn 00/37 17/39
Bristol East Jn 00/39 17/38
Bristol Temple Meads 00.41a ~ 01.11d 17.18a ~ 17.37d
Parson Street ? 17/15
Worle Jn 01/27 17/01
Uphill Jn 01/30 16/58
Highbridge & Burnham ? 16/53
Bridgwater 01/44 16/48
Cogload Jn 01/53 16/41
Taunton 01/58 16/37
Tiverton Parkway 02/10 ?
Tiverton Loops 02/16 16/22
Cowley Bridge Jn 02/28 16/10
Exeter St Davids 02/30 15.55 ~ 16.07
‡ See Table at
Bottom of Page
Dawlish Warren 02/39 12.44 ~ 12.53
Newton Abbot 02/52 12/32
Totnes 03/03 12/21
Ivybridge 03/20 12/09
Hemerdon 03/26 12/01
Lipson Jn 03/32 11/54
Plymouth 03.35a ~ 03.50d 11.49a ~ 11.51d
St Budeaux Ferry Rd Jn 03/55 11/42
Saltash 03/58 11/38
St. Germans 04/04 11/32
Liskeard 04/14 11/22
St Pinnock Viaduct East 04/19 11/15
Largin 04/20 11/14
Lostwithiel 04/28 11/03
Par 04/35 10.47 ~ 10.55
St Austell 04/40 10/40
Burngullow West Jn 04/42 10/37
Probus 04/49 10/29
Truro 04/55 10/22
Penwithers Jn 04/56 -
Falmouth Docks 05.21a ~ 05.36d -
Penwithers Jn 06/11 -
Truro 06.13 ~ 06.21 -
Penwithers Jn 06/22 ?
Camborne 06/38 10/04
St Erth 06/46 09/53
Long Rock 06/57 09/48
Penzance 07.00a 09.45d

Location

 Booked (out) Booked (rtn)
Exeter St Davids 13/08 15.55 ~ 16.07
Cowley Bridge Jn 13/10 15/49
Crediton 13*19 ~ 13*39 15/42
Eggesford 14*14 ~ 14*17 15*21 ~ 15*24
Barnstaple 14.46a 14.52d


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