19th August 1990

Class 33/1 Preservation Group
The Thames Severn Crompton

Locos Used 33064 & 37697
Stock Used 2x 4TC stock

Route :

Loco(s) Route
33064 (1) London Waterloo - ??? - Basingstoke
33064 Basingstoke - Southcote Jn - Reading West Jn - Didcot Parkway - Swindon - Bristol Parkway - Pilning - Severn Tunnel Junction - Newport - Cardiff Central - Barry
33064 (2) Barry - Penarth Curve South Jn - Penarth Curve North Jn - Radyr
37697 (3) 14.00 Radyr - Llandaf - Cardiff Queen Street - Cardiff Bute Road
33064 (2) Cardiff Bute Road - (reverse of outward route) - Radyr
37697 (3) 15.00 Radyr - (reverse of outward route) - Barry
33064 Barry - Cardiff Central - Newport - Severn Tunnel Junction - Pilning - Filton Abbey Wood - Dr Days Jn - North Somerset Jn - Bath Spa - Bathampton Jn - Freshford - Trowbridge - Westbury - Warminster - Salisbury
Service Train(s) Salisbury - London Waterloo

Notes :
(1) Was booked to have been double-headed class 33's but the other loco was reported to have failed at the last minute, resulting in 33064 working the train on its own. Train believed to have been 45-60mins late arriving into Cardiff Central before setting off on what was advertised as a mystery tour. Jim Rowe comments; I took over as the driver of this tour at Basingstoke on the outward leg. Originally it was supposed to be a Push-Pull Crompton (33/1) and then a 33 each end when a 'pusher' wasn’t available. Eventually we had just the one; 33064. The train arrived at Basingstoke very late and we had to run-round. The organiser was concerned and asked me if we would continue. The problem was the 33 couldn’t supply train heat and lights. This meant that in the Severn Tunnel, the train would be in darkness, with just perhaps a glimmer of battery lighting. I requested an electric tail lamp and advised the organiser to notify all passengers about the tunnel and to remain seated. So off we went. As I signed the route as far as Didcot, then to the north, a WR conductor joined us at Reading West. At Didcot I offered him the controls but he declined. He was not familiar with the Auto Brake and Triple Valves. The Severn Tunnel was negotiated without losing any passengers! We arrived at Cardiff Central where another conductor driver joined us to Barry. The 37 came on the back and towed us to Radyr where we then worked to Cardiff Queen Street. We were relieved there by a Salisbury crew who then did the Bute Road trip and the reverse to Cardiff Central.
(2) 37697 on rear.
(3) 33064 on rear.
(4) Matthew Miles adds: Thirty years ago I was chairman of the Class 33/1 preservation group who are now proud owners of 33108 & 33111. To raise funds for these engines we ran the above tour which comprised of a 2 X 4TC rake and 33064. We didn’t go into Temple Meads in the evening but via Dr Days Junction. On its return trip from Barry this train was terminated at Salisbury as the train engine couldn’t provide lighting for the set. Our punters were then transferred onto a service train back to Waterloo on which their tickets were honoured.


33064 paused at Barry (photo: Keith Mantle)

Sources : John Simmonds, Simon Cresswell, Jim Rowe & Matthew Miles

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