31st May 2014

Pathfinder Tours
The Topper Chopper

Locos Used 20305, 20308 & 37419
Stock Used 4998+4959+4949+4991+1813+1671+3112+3122+6310

Route :
1Z20 : Crewe to Clitheroe
1Z21 : Clitheroe to Kirkby
1Z22 : Kirkby to Crewe

Loco(s) Route
20305 + 20308 (1)

Crewe - Sandbach - Middlewich - Northwich - Hale - Altrincham - Deansgate Jn - Skelton Jn - Northenden Jn - Edgeley Jn - Stockport - Heaton Norris Jn - Denton Jn - Ashton Moss North Jn - Baguley Fold Jn - Philips Park West Jn - Brewery Jn - Thorpes Bridge Jn - Castleton [DGL] - Rochdale - Littleborough - Todmorden - Stansfield Hall Jn - Copy Pit - Gannow Jn - Accrington - Daisyfield Jn - Blackburn
37419 (2)

Blackburn - Daisyfield Jn - Clitheroe - Horrocksford Jn [DM]

20305 + 20308 (1)

Horrocksford Jn [DM] - Horrocksford Jn [UM]

37419 (2)

Horrocksford Jn [UM] - Horrocksford Castle Cement Siding

20305 + 20308 (1)

Horrocksford Castle Cement Siding - Horrocksford Jn - Clitheroe - Daisyfield Jn - Blackburn - Darwen - Bolton - Burnden Jn

37419 (2)

 Burnden Jn - Bolton - Lostock Jn - Crow Nest Jn - Wigan Wallgate - Orrell - Kirkby

20305 + 20308 (1)

 Kirkby - Orrell - Wigan Wallgate - Wigan Station Jn - (via WCML & Warrington RMT) - Warrington Bank Quay - Walton Old Jn - Acton Grange Jn - (via WCML) - Crewe

Notes :
(1) 37419 on rear.
(2) 20305+20308 on rear.
(3) This tour had been previously postponed from 12th April and 24th May due to the new chord at Todmorden not being ready for traffic. Howard Parker comments: The complicated reversing moves at Horrocksford are necessary as it is only possible to enter the Castle Cement siding from the Up Main. At Warrington RMT, the train entered at the north end and crossed to the up slow at the crossover mid-way.


Start of the day sees 37419 (on the rear) at Crewe (photo: Howard Parker)

Source : Howard Parker (on the train throughout)

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Howard Parker)

Location Booked Actual
Crewe 10.02d 10.04 [P6]
Crewe Sydney Bridge 10/05 ?
Sandbach 10/13 10/11
Middlewich 10/28 10/24
Northwich South Jn 10/43 10/36
Northwich 10/45 10/38
Plumley West S.B. 10/49 10/47
Mobberley 10/56 10/56
Hale 11/01 11/01
Altrincham 11/04 11/03
Navigation Road 11/06 11/04
Deansgate Jn 11/07 11/05
Northenden Jn 11/13 11/11
Cheadle Village Jn 11/17 11/15
Edgeley Jn No.2 11/20 11/19
Stockport 11/21 11.20 ~ 11.21 [P3]
Heaton Norris Jn 11/23 11/25
Denton Jn 11/30 11/34
Ashton Moss North Jn 11/36 11/39
Baguley Fold Jn 11/39 11/44
Philips Park West Jn 11/40 11/46
Brewery Jn 11/44 11/48
Thorpes Bridge Jn 11/46 11/50
Vitriol Works 11/49 11/54
Castleton DGL 11*56 ~ 12*01 12.01 ~ 12.06
Castleton 12/03 12/07
Rochdale 12/06 12/11
Littleborough 12/11 12/15
Todmorden 12/17 12/23
Stansfield Hall Jn 12/18 12/25
Copy Pit 12/26 12/36
Gannow Jn 12/35 12/45
Accrington 12/42 12/53
Daisyfield Jn 12/49 13/01
Blackburn 12.52 ~ 13.07 13.03 ~ 13.13 [UDG]
Daisyfield Jn 13/10 13/16
Langho 13/19 13/23
Clitheroe 13/38 13/37
Horrocksford Jn 13.40 ~ 13.50 13.43 ~ 13.50
Clitheroe 13.53 ~ 13.58 13.52 ~ 14.03
Horrocksford Jn 14/00 14/04
Clitheroe Castle Cement 14.07 ~ 14.14 14.09 ~ 14.16
Horrocksford Jn 14/24 14/22
Clitheroe 14/25 14/23
Langho 14/37 14/32
Daisyfield Jn 14/47 14/43
Blackburn 14.50 ~ 14.52 14/55 [UDG]
Darwen 15/00 15/00
Bromley Cross 15/10 15/12
Bolton 15.18 ~15.22 [P3] 15.19 ~ 15.20 [P3]
Burnden Jn 15.25 ~ 15.58 15.23 ~ 15.59
Bolton 16/01 [P4] 16/04
Lostock Jn 16/06 16/10
Crow Nest Jn 16/12 16/15
Wigan Wallgate 16/17 16.20 ~ 16.22
Rainford 16.32 ~ 16.52 16.37 ~ 16.52
Kirkby 17.01 ~ 17.07 17.07 ~ 17.12
Rainford 17/14 14/24
Wigan Wallgate 17.37 ~ 17.44 17.38 ~ 17.44 [P2]
Wigan Station Jn 17/46 ?
Wigan South Jn 17/47 ?
Springs Branch Jn 17/48 ?
Bamfurlong Jn 17/50 17/52 [US]
Golborne Jn 17/58 17/59
Winwick Jn 18/02 18/03
Warrington RMT 18/069 18/09
Dallam Jn 18/08 18/11 [US]
Warrington Bank Quay 18/10 18/14 [UGL]
Walton Old Jn 18/13 18/17
Acton Grange Jn 18.17 ~ 18.26 17.22 ~ 18.26
Weaver Jn 18/35 18/33
Acton Bridge 18/37 18/37 [UF]
Hartford Jn 18/39 18/39
Winsford 18/44 18/44 [US]
Crewe Coal Yard 18/55 18/53
Crewe 19.03a 18.59 [P12]


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