12th October 1996

Pathfinder Tours
Bert Hooker Memorial (train 2)

Locos Used 33046, 33202, 47627 & steam: 35028 'Clan Line'

Route : 1Z71 throughout

Loco(s) Route
47627 Crewe - Madeley - Norton Bridge - Stafford - Bushbury Jn - Portobello Jn - Bescot Stadium - Perry Barr North Jn - Aston - Proof House Jn - Birmingham New Street - Soho South Jn - Galton Jn - Rowley Regis - Stourbridge Junction - Kidderminster - Droitwich Spa - Worcester Shrub Hill - Norton Jn - Abbotswood Jn - Ashchurch - Cheltenham Spa - Gloucester Yard Jn - Standish Jn - Stroud - Swindon - Didcot Parkway
35028 Didcot Parkway - Swindon - Chippenham - Bradford Jn - Westbury - Castle Cary - Yeovil Pen Mill
33202 + 33046 (1) Yeovil Pen Mill - Maiden Newton - Dorchester West - Weymouth
35028 + 33202 + 33046 (4) Weymouth - (reverse of outward route) - Yeovil Pen Mill
47627 Yeovil Pen Mill - Castle Cary - Westbury - Bradford Jn (2) - Bath Spa - North Somerset Jn - Dr Days Jn - Stapleton Road - Bristol Parkway - Westerleigh Jn - Yate - (2) Standish Jn - (reverse of outward route) - Crewe

Notes :
(1) 33046 & 33202 were deputising for 34027 'Taw Valley' which had been failed the night before the tour.
(2) Was booked to run the reverse of the outward route (except reversing at Swindon, not Didcot) but as the line between Swindon & Gloucester was closed overnight the train was re-routed.
(3) Two trains ran this day, both with the same name. Train 1 was organised by L.S.W.R.
(4) It was originally suggested that all three locos were at the head of the train however at least one contributor believes this was not the case and it was the 33's only - confirmation required.

Mike Harries comments: I had chosen to go on this train in the hope of reaching Weymouth behind steam – but it was not to be!. The train had originally been planned for 11th May, and had been re-arranged because Taw Valley was unavailable at that time; but this time it failed too late to permit any further re-arranging. It had been intended that both this train, and the LSW one from London, would have double-headed Bullieds out of Weymouth – this train was to go first, and the locos were then to run back light to Weymouth to haul the LSW tour double headed back to Clapham Junction. Clan Line had problems hauling the LSW train (running tender first) from Yeovil to Weymouth, so that departure of this train was an hour and three quarters late. Because of the severe delay and since the Swindon to Gloucester line was to be closed overnight, this tour was unable to take the booked route Yeovil – Chippenham – Swindon (reverse) – Stroud – Cheltenham, but was diverted at Bradford Junction via Bath – Feeder Bridge Jn – Dr Days Jn – Bristol Parkway – Cheltenham and so back on its booked route to Crewe

Sources : Mike Harries (on the train throughout), Chris Harley & Gordon Jakes

Photo Review
(all photos: Gordon Jakes)


35028 plus support coach backs on to the train at Didcot Parkway.


The class 33's coming on to the train at Yeovil Pen Mill.


Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Mike Harries & Gordon Jakes)

Location Booked Actual   Booked Actual
Crewe 04.50d 05.04   22.25a 23.59
Basford Hall Jn 04/55 ?   ? ?
Madeley 05/02 ?   ? ?
Norton Bridge 05/12 ?   ? ?
Stafford 05.16a ~ 05.17d ??.?? ~ 05.33   21.40a ~ 21.42d 23.30 ~ 23.32
Bushbury Jn 05/30 05/49   21/29 ??.?? ~ 23.15
Portobello Jn 05/34 ?   ? ?
Bescot Stadium 05/38 05/59   21/22 23/06
Perry Barr North Jn 05/45 ?   21/16 23/00
Aston 05/48 06/07   21/12 22/57
Proof House Jn 05/52 06/12   ? ?
Birmingham New Street 05.55a ~ 06.02d 06.15 ~ 06.30   21.01a ~ 21.06d 22.45 ~ 22.47
Soho South Jn 06/10 ?   ? ?
Galton Jn 06/14 06/38   20/55 22/38
Rowley Regis 06/20 06/43   20/44 22/34
Stourbridge Junction 06/28 06/54   20/34 22/25
Kidderminster 06.37a ~ 06.39d 07.07 ~ 07.09   20.24a ~ 20.26d 22.13 ~ 22.15
Hartlebury 06/44 ?   ? ?
Droitwich Spa 06/49 07/22   20/14 22/03
Tunnel Jn 06/54 07/27   ? ?
Worcester Shrub Hill 06.56a ~ 07.14d 07.29 ~ 07.32   20.05a ~ 20.07d 21.53 ~ 21.55
Norton Jn 07/20 07/36   19/59 21/47
Abbotswood Jn 07/22 07/38   19/57 21/45
Ashchurch Loop 07/30 ??.?? ~ 08.10   19/49 21/37
Cheltenham Spa 07.38a ~ 07.41d 08.19 ~ 08.21   19.39a ~ 19.42d 21.28 ~ 21.30
Barnwood Jn 07/47 ?   19/33 ?
Gloucester Yard Jn 07/49 ?08/28?   19/32 ?
Standish Jn 07/55 08/34   19/24 ?
Stroud 08.00a ~ 08.03d 08.40 ~ 08.41   ? DIV
Kemble 08/19 08t57 ~ 09t03   ? DIV
Swindon Loco Yard 08/32 ?   ? DIV
Swindon 08.34a ~ 08.37d 09.17 ~ 09.20   ? DIV
Uffington 08/46 ?  
Foxhall Jn 08/56 ?  
Didcot Parkway 08L58a ~ 09L30d 09.43 ~ 10.35  
Foxhall Jn 09/33 ?  
Uffington 09/50 ?  
Swindon 10/04 11/01   ? DIV
Wootton Bassett Jn 10/10 11/07   ? DIV
Chippenham 10.23a ~ 10.25d 11.17 ~ 11.18   ? DIV
Thingley Jn 10/30 11/23   ? DIV
Bradford Jn 10*45 ~ 10*55 11/37   18/03 20/08
Hawkeridge Jn 11/05 11/47   17/55 ?
Westbury 11c07 ~ 11c17d 11.55 ~ 11.58   17/54 19/59
Fairwood Jn 11/22 12/02   17/51 19/56
Clink Road Jn 11/29 12/08   17/48 ?
Blatchbridge Jn 11/35 12/11   17/46 ?
Castle Cary 11*50 ~ 12*01 12/23   17/35 19/40
Yeovil Pen Mill 12Lp16a ~ 12Lp52d 12.35 ~ 13.05   16L54 ~ 17L15 19.00 ~ 19.26
Maiden Newton 13t17 ~ 13t33 13.25 ~ 13.36   16t31 ~ 16t34 18.12 ~ 18.37
Dorchester West 13/49 13/46   16/20 18/00
Dorchester Jn 13/50 13/47   16/18 17/59
Weymouth 14.01a 13.56   16.03d 17.47

Timings Comments:
(1) Departure from Crewe was reported as being due to the driver being in the wrong position.
(2) The delay at Birmingham New Street in the outward direction was due to awaiting a Guard.
(3) The use of Ashchurch Loop and the delay encountered there was awaiting a Pilotman for the Standish Jn to Swindon line for which the driver did not have route knowledge.
(4) The stop at Kemble was due to awaiting access to the single line.

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