20106 & 20116 at Cardiff Central (photo: Derek Thompson)
28th July 1991
Pathfinder Tours
The Vulcan Valley Venturer
| Locos Used | 20078, 20106, 20113, 20163, 37138 & 37201 |
Route : 1Z81 throughout
| Loco(s) | Route |
| 20106 + 20113 | Liverpool Lime Street - Huyton - St Helens Junctionn - Earlstown West Jn - Winwick Jn - Warrington Bank Quay - (via WCML) - Stafford - Wolverhampton - Portobello Jn - Bescot Stadium - Aston - Birmingham New Street - Soho North Jn - Galton Jn - Stourbridge Junction - Kidderminster - Worcester Shrub Hill - Abbotswood Jn - Cheltenham Spa - Charfield - Bristol Parkway - Pilning - Severn Tunnel Jn - Newport - Cardiff Central |
| 37201 | Cardiff Central - Barry - Aberthaw - Bridgend - Tondu - Llynfi Jn |
| 37138 (1) | Llynfi Jn - Tondu - Margam Abbey Works East |
| 37138 (2) | Margam Abbey Works East - Port Talbot Parkway - Court Sart Jn - Dynevor Jn - Jersey Marine Jn South - Swansea Burrows Sidings |
| 20106 + 20113 (3) | Swansea Burrows Sidings - Jersey Marine Jn South - Neath N & B Jn - Onllwyn (4) |
| 37138 (2) | Onllwyn - Neath N & B Jn - Jersey Marine Jn South -Swansea Burrows Sidings |
| 37138 | Swansea Burrows Sidings - Jersey Marine Jn South - Dynevor Jn - Briton Ferry UFL Jn - Port Talbot Parkway - Bridgend - Cardiff Central - Newport - Severn Tunnel Junction - Chepstow - Gloucester - Barnwood Jn - Cheltenham Spa - Abbotswood Jn - Stoke Works Jn - Barnt Green - Kings Norton - Camp Hill - St Andrews Jn - Birmingham New Street |
| 20078 + 20163 | Birmingham New Street - Dudley Port - Wolverhampton - (reverse of outward route) - Liverpool Lime Street |
Notes :
(1) 37201 on rear.
(2) 20106 + 20113 on rear.
(3) 37138 on rear.
(4) Both 20's failed at Onllwyn - this makes the TRUST "RT Time" departure of
16.29 potentially suspect (though as the 37 was leading, maybe not!). Subsequent
delays described were 18mins at Newport for brakes and 22mins at
Birmingham New Street for "XC swap".
20106 & 20116 at Cardiff Central (photo: Derek Thompson)
Sources : Simon Bennett & Derek Thompson
Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Derek Thompson)
| Location | Booked | Actual | Booked | Actual | |
| Liverpool Lime Street | 06.28d | 06.30 | 23.21a | 01.21 | |
| Warrington Bank Quay | 06.52a ~ 06.53d | 07.06 ~ 07.09 | 22.45a ~ 22.47d | 00.50 ~ 00.53 | |
| Crewe | 07.17a ~ 07.20d | 07.36 ~ 07.39 | 22.25a ~ 22.27d | 00.19 ~ 00.24 | |
| Norton Bridge | 07/40 | 08/01 | 22/05½ | 23/57 | |
| Stafford | 07.45a ~ 07.47d | 08.07 ~ 08.09 | 21.56a ~ 21.59d | 23.49 ~ 23.52 | |
| Bushbury Jn | 08/02 | ? | 21/44 | ? | |
| Wolverhampton | 08.06a ~ 08.08d | 08.26 ~ 08.28 | 21.38½a ~ 21.40½d | 23.29 ~ 23.32 | |
| Aston | 08/25 | ? | |||
| Birmingham New Street | 08.30a ~ 08.33d | 08.52 ~ 08.55 | 21.15a ~ 21.20d | 22.42 ~ 23.08 | |
| Barnt Green | 20/54 | ? | |||
| Stourbridge Junction | 08/59 | ? | |||
| Kidderminster | 09/07 | ? | |||
| Hartlebury | 09/12 | 09/30 | |||
| Droitwich Spa | 09/18 | ? | |||
| Cheltenham Spa | 09.59a ~ 10.01d | 10.13 ~ 10.15 | 20.12a ~ 20.14d | 21.47 ~ 21.49 | |
| Gloucester | 20/04 | 21/37 | |||
| Gloucester Yard Jn | 10/12 | ? | |||
| Bristol Parkway | 10.52a ~ 10.54d | 11.08 ~ 11.10 | |||
| Newport | ? | ? | 19.00 ~ 19.02 | 20.25 ~ 20.45 | |
| Cardiff Central | 11L43a ~ 12L15d | 11.55 ~ 12.19 | ? | ? | |
| Location | Booked | Actual |
| Bridgend | 12.58 ~ 13.00 | 13.08 ~ 13.09 |
| Tondu | 13.09 ~ 13.10 | ? |
| Lynfi Jn | ? | ? |
| Tondu | 13.50 ~ 13.51 | ? |
| Port Talbot Parkway | 14.49 ~ 14.59 | ? |
| Onllywyn | 16.24a ~ 16.29d | 16.28 ~ 16.29 (4) |
Timings continue in first table.
Back to "The Railtour Files"