14th July 1956

Stephenson Locomotive Society (Midland Area)
Swansea District Rail Tour

Locos Used 7720 & 47479
Stock Used 2x ex-LMS non-corridor push-pull coaches

Route :

Loco Route
7720 Neath Canal Side (R&SB) – Neath Jn (R&SB) - Court Sart Jn (1)
47479 Court Sart Jn – Neath Jn (R&SB) - Dynevor Jn – Jersey Marine Jn South (2)
47479 (3) set back over points at Jersey Marine Jn South
47479 (2) Jersey Marine Jn South – [via VoN Line] - Prince of Wales Dock Jn – Swansea Eastern Depot
47479 Swansea Eastern Depot – Prince of Wales Dock Jn – [via R&SB Line] (2) - Jersey Marine Jn South – Cardonnel Jn – Neath Riverside – Cilfrew – Crynant – Onllwyn – Colbren Junction
47479 Colbren Junction – Ynisygeinon Jn – Pontardawe – Glais Jn – Six Pit Jn – Upper Bank
47479 (3) Upper Bank – Morriston East – Clydach-on-Tawe South
47479 Clydach-on-Tawe South – Morriston East – Upper Bank
47479 ?(3)? Upper Bank – Six Pit Jn
47479 Six Pit Jn – Swansea Valley Jn – Landore – Swansea Loop West
47479? Swansea Loop West – Swansea High Street

    Notes :
(1) Peter Greenough comments: we did not go into Briton Ferry as on the timing sheet but remained on the west side of the mainline. Reversed and changed locomotive.
(2) Peter Greenough's actual timings record a double reversal taking place at Jersey Marine Jn South and the Vale of Neath Line being traversed from there rather than R&SB as booked. On the return from Swansea Eastern Depot however he records the R&SB line was used instead of the booked Vale of Neath Line.
(3) Loco propelling.
 (4) Peter Darke cites photographic evidence of the use of 7773, 47439 & 47849 on this tour but the written records of passenger Peter Greenough do not suggest use of anything except 7720 & 47479. The use of 3x clerestory non-corridor 'Miners' coaches is also suggested but only the use of 2x ex-LMS push-pull coaches is mentioned by Peter Greenough. Are some of the photos cited of a different tour on this or another date?

Sources : Peter Darke, Steve Daly & Peter Greenough courtesy of Ian Clark (SLS)

Photo Review


7720 at Neath Canal Side (photo: The John Debens Collection)


47479 at Swansea East Dock (photo: The John Debens Collection)


47479 again; taking water at Crynant (photo: The John Debens Collection)


From The John Debens Ticket Collection.


Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from John Debens & Peter Greenough courtesy of Ian Clark (SLS))

M.C Location Booked Actual
0.00 Neath Canalside
(near site of former station)		 13.35d 13.36½
1.19 Neath Jn R. & S.B. 13/39 13.45 ~ 13.45½
1.67 Court Sart Jn 13/40 13L48½ ~
- Briton Ferry 13.42 ~ 13.50 DIV
1.67 Court Sart Jn 13/52 ~ 13.56½
3.85 Dynevor Jn 13/55 [via R&SB] 14.00½ ~ 14.00½
4.06 Jersey Marine Jn South
(1st reversal)
(2nd reversal)		 13/58 [via R&SB] 14/04
14.05 ~ 14.05½
14.06 ~ 14.06½ [via VoN]
6.54 Burrows Siding 14/06 [via R&SB] 14/12½
7.75 Swansea Eastern Depot 14w13 ~ 14w30 14.16½ ~ 14.34 [home sigs]
? Prince of Wales Dock Jn 14/34 [via VoN] ? [via R&SB]
11.75 Jersey Marine Jn South 14/44 14/51
12.53 Cardonnel Jn 14/46 14/52
14.66 Neath Riverside 14/48 14/56
16.77 Cilfrew SB 14x56 ~ 14x58 15/04
20.25 Crynant 15/06 15w20 ~ 15w25½
22.82 Ynisdawley 15/14 ?
25.08 Onllwyn 15/22 15/48
26.16 Colbren Junction 15.25 ~ 15.35 15.51½ ~ 15.51½
30.76 Ystradgynlais 15/52 16/11
33.27 Ynisygeinon Jn 16/00 16.15½ ~ 16.17
36.32 Pontardawe 16/13 16/28½
38.53 Glais Jn 16/20 16/30½
41.65 Six Pit Jn 16/35 16/36½
42.82 Upper Bank 16w42 ~ 16w50 16.39 ~ 16.45½
44.57 Morriston East 16/56 16/49½
46.62 Clydach on Tawe South 17.03 ~ 17.08 16.54 ~ 17.03
48.67 Morriston East 17/15 17/08
50.32 Upper Bank 17.22 ~ 17.27 17.11 ~ 17.13
51.59 Six Pit Jn 17.34 ~ 17.39 17/24
52.13 Swansea Valley Jn 17/47 17.34 ~ 17.39
53.15 Landore 17/51 17.44 ~ 17.44
53.55 Swansea Loop West 17.53 ~ 18.00 17.47 ~ 17.50
54.72 Swansea High Street 18.04a 17.57


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