30th January 1988

Pathfinder Tours
The Fellsman

Route : 1Z26 throughout

Notes :
(1) 50036 declared a failure at Gloucester on the outward leg.

50008 & 50034 pass Ais Gill summit heading southwards.
(photo: Derek Thompson)

Sources : Jeff Booth (joined/left the train at Birmingham New Street), Derek Thompson, John Chalcroft & John Deeming

Tour Review
(by Keith Williams)

I treated myself to a first class seat on this tour as I was a 50 fan and they were travelling  over their old stomping ground double headed between Crewe and Carlisle as part of the tour. I joined and left the tour at Bristol Parkway both ways. I had left Swansea on the overnight Fishguard  boat train at 04.01  (HST) getting me to dark damp drizzly Bristol  Parkway at 05.31 so a very chilled 45 minute wait.  The train was down about 5 or 6 arriving, booked at 06.14  - 06.16, it arrived at 06.20 and departed at 06.21. At the front was 50 008 Thunder and 50 036 Victorious. Not sure if they had been put on at Bristol TM or had come all the way from Laira with the stock – tour started at Taunton. I took my seat in a nicely warmed middle seat in the mark 2 first corridor.  Coach E no 13 Facing. I think but not certain the stock was from a Waterloo Exeter service. Arriving at Gloucester down 7 at 06.58 something was wrong. Booked for passenger pick up and a run round we remained there until 08.01 – booked off at 07.08 so already a big delay. 50 036 was failed removed and replaced with 50 034 Furious – in NSE livery – the other two locos were in Large Logo livery.

I have some timings at the principle places along the route and timing were only as scientific as my trusty Casio digital watch – so there may be errors but not huge ones. Birmingham NS 08.25 – 08.30 was 09.11-09.15 so about 45mins down that departure. Bescot 09.30 against  08.42 ½. Crewe centre road 10.14 against 09.36. Preston pu  10.52 &  10.58  against  10.28 and 10.30 -so down approx. 28 mins.

 At Carlisle a leg stretch and run round was facilitated at 12.09 – 12.35 against  11.56 – 12.20, so only down 15 leaving for the S & C southbound. Carlisle was cold, the weather not surprisingly  in January was cold wet and damp and with a bit of snow on the Fells, windows were wet both inside and outside the train. Also at Carlisle  86 401 in NSE colours happened to be at the south end of the station so a NSE 86 alongside a NSE 50 both under the wires  was an impressive line-up and great photo opportunity! Was this deliberate? Who knows!  Who cares – it was great !!!! A photoshoot at Ribblehead viaduct was undertaken and the it weather was miserable. Timings here 13.44 – 14.00 actual was 14.00 to approx. 14.06 – it was very short. Skipton  was passed at 14.38 – down 8. Keighley 14.47 – down 7.  We were almost  back on time at Engine Shed Jn a most 15.05- 15.07 was  15.06 & 15.11. Altofts was passed at 15.22 +3 ! and by Doncaster were +4 up 15.58 booked 15.54 actual and left at 16.00hrs on time.

 At Chesterfield was +9 16.38 – booked at 16.47, at Loughborough up + 11mins 17.09 against 17.20. Leicester was dep early 17.25 – 17.26 against 17.32 – 17.35. Birmingham NS arrival at 18.29 booked 18.37 but held until our booked time 18.48.Run via Worcester on time but 5 down at Cheltenham and 3 down on dep form there. Left Glousester 1 minute down and 50 008 & 500.34 were replaced by 50.36 at the other end  for the final  runback  to the West Country. Arrival at Bristol Parkway was 1 min down 21.03 21.05 actual  21.04 & 21.04 ! My return train to Swansea was at 21.16 and my day ended at Swansea High St at 22.50

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from John Chalcroft & Keith Williams)

Timings continue in first table.

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