25th & 26th September 1965

Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society
A.G.M. Special Train

Locos Used D1684, 4079 'Pendennis Castle', 7802 & 7812
Stock Used 10 coaches

Route : 1X82 (?throughout?)

Date Loco(s) Route
25/09 4079 London Paddington - Old Oak Common West Jn (3) - West Ealing - Drayton Green - (3) Greenford - South Ruislip - Gerrards Cross - High Wycombe - Princes Risborough - Aynho Jn - Banbury - Leamington Spa - Hatton - Knowle - Tyseley - Birmingham Snow Hill - Handsworth Jn - Wolverhampton Low Level - Wellington - Shrewsbury
25/09 7802 + 7812 Shrewsbury - Sutton Bridge Jn - Welshpool - Newtown - Talerddig - Machynlleth - Dovey Junction - Aberdovey - Towyn
25/09-26/09 7802 + 7812 Towyn - (reverse of outward route) - Shrewsbury
26/09 D1684 Shrewsbury - Wellington - Wolverhampton High Level - Birmingham New Street - Bordesley - Tyseley
26/09 4079 Tyseley - (reverse of outward route) - Greenford - Park Royal - Old Oak Common West Jn - London Paddington

Notes :
(1) Organised for the Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society by Ian Allan.
(2) Both Manor's were un-named.
(3) Booked route via Park Royal.

Sources : Gordon Jakes & book: 'Talyllyn Railway A.G.M. Specials'

Tour Comments
(from Gordon Jakes)

The handout issued on the train refers to 1965 as being the Centenary Year of the Talyllyn Railway and that this special train carried the greatest number of “pilgrims” ever to the AGM – over 400. The general time-keeping of the train was not good as can be seen from the table below but to the best of my knowledge it was the last steam hauled Talyllyn AGM special and was thus very special [Webmasters note: It wasn't, the 1966 train was also steam-hauled]. Indeed the handout relates that there were fears that the 1964 train might have been the last to be steam hauled: “We said last year that though the 1964 special might be the last to be steam hauled, we remained optimistic and our optimism was justified. Even then, we had never dared hope that we should ever see the Great Western motif at our head again. But the miracle has happened and 4079 in all her magnificence, is to haul the train today between Paddington and Shrewsbury. It is a great occasion”.

It is also interesting that both the ‘Manors’ in use on the special train found their way into preservation together on the Severn Valley Railway.


Photo Review
(all photos: Gordon Jakes)


4079 waits to leave Paddington at the start of the tour.


4079 pauses at Shrewsbury.


7812 & 7802 back on to the train at Shrewsbury (Severn Bridge Jn)
By the looks (below) of the chap on the right he's just got a dud pair!


Rounding the corner northwards at Dovey Junction.


The train, after arrival into Towyn.


A TR train at Towyn Wharf station.


No.1 Talyllyn at Dolgoch Falls.


From the Andrew Fairholm ticket collection.


Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Gordon Jakes)

M.C Location Booked Actual   Booked Actual
0.00 Paddington 07.49d 07.49   07.20a 09.10
1.20 Westbourne Park 07/53½ 07/53   ? ?
3.24 Old Oak Common West Jn 07/56 08/01   ? ?
6.40 West Ealing DIV ?  
- Park Royal ? DIV   ? ?
9.20 Greenford 08/01½ 08/14½   ? ?
11.45 Northolt East Jn 08/04 08/20      
27.75 High Wycombe 08w23 ~ 08w28 08.50 ~ 08.54   06w22 ~ 06w24 08.07 ~ 08.11
36.10 Princes Risborough 08/42 09.12 ~ 09.19   ? ?
? Ashendon Jn 08/51 ?   ? ?
58.50 Ardley 09/06 09/45½   ? ?
63.70 Aynho Jn 09/12 09/51   ? ?
68.75 Banbury 09/17 10/00   05.26 ~ 05.30 06.30 ~ 06.40
88.60 Leamington Spa 09/36 10/25   04.54 ~ 04.58 05.52 ~ 05.54
94.75 Hatton 09/44 10/34   ? ?
101.50 Knowle 09/52 10/43   ? ?
108.70 Tyseley 09/59 10/50   ??L?? ~ ??L?? ?
112.05 Birmingham Snow Hill 10.04a ~ 10.10d 10.58 ~ 11.01  
- Birmingham New Street   04.00a ~ 04.05d 04.35 ~ 04.50
115.20 Handsworth Jn 10/16 11/08  
124.35 Wolverhampton LL 10.30a ~ 10.36d 11.22 ~ 11.26  
- Wolverhampton HL   03.20a ~ 03.30d 03.40 ~ 04.00
144.05 Wellington 10/58 12/05   ? ?
154.20 Shrewsbury 11.11a ~ 11.21d 12.19 ~ 12.30   02.00a ~ 02.12d 02.18 ~ 02.30
? Hookagate 11/39 12/54   ? ?
? Westbury 11/54 ?   ? ?
? Buttington Crossing 12/04 13/15   ? ?
173.75 Welshpool 12w08 ~ 12w18 13/18   ? ?
187.50 Newtown 12/44 ??.?? ~ ??.??   ? ?
193.45 Caersws 12/51 ?   ? ?
201.45 Talerddig 13/02 14/12   ? ?
210.05 Cemmaes Road 13.17 ~ 13.23 14/24   ? ?
215.30 Machynlleth 13w34 ~ 13w42 14/31   ? ?
219.30 Dovey Junction 13/49 ??.?? ~ ??.??   ? ?
225.30 Aberdovey 14/04 ?   ? ?
228.70 Towyn 14.09a 15.00   23.30d 23.36

Mileages provided are via West Ealing which was the actual route used on the outward journey. The booked route for both the outward and return journeys was via Park Royal but this route was only used on the return journey. The increase in mileage using the route via West Ealing is 1m 35ch.
Back to "The Railtour Files"