18th March 2000

Pathfinder Tours
The Exmoor Belle

Locos Used 47746, D1010 'Western Campaigner', D7017, steam: 6024 'King Edward I' & 7820
Stock Used ?????

Route:
1Z80 : London Victoria to Minehead
1Z81 : Minehead to London Victoria

Loco(s) Stock Route
6024 load 13 London Victoria - Stewarts Lane Jn - Longhedge Jn - Latchmere Jn - Kensington Olympia - Mitre Bridge Jn - West London Jn - Acton Wells Jn - Acton Main Line - Ealing Broadway - Slough - Reading - Didcot Parkway - Swindon - Wootton Bassett Jn - Chippenham - Thingley Jn - Bradford Jn - Westbury - Frome - Castle Cary - Cogload Jn - Taunton - Norton Fitzwarren - Bishops Lydeard
7820 + 6024 load 13 Bishops Lydeard - Williton - Minehead
D7017 + D1010 load 12 Minehead - Williton - Bishops Lydeard
47746 load 12 Bishops Lydeard - Norton Fitzwarren - Taunton - Cogload Jn - Bridgwater - Uphill Jn - Worle Jn - Bristol Temple Meads - North Somerset Jn - Bath Spa - Thingley Jn - (reverse of outward route) - London Victoria

Notes:
(1) Brian Halford comments: This tour was spoilt by short notice advice from the organisers that the trip was starting one hour earlier than originally planned.  Nice haulage by King class 6024 King Edward I with the (unknown) top speed between Castle Cary and Taunton. The outward run was spoilt by long waits for loco servicing and pathing stops of 42mins at Didcot and 52 minutes to pass through the Frome loop. The early start, plenty of beer and dark evenings contributed to me sleeping through most of the return trip after Taunton with return home after 0100. In my opinion too much for a day tour.


Brian Halford's ticket.

Sources : Brian Halford & Bill Pugsley

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Brian Halford)

Location Booked Actual   Booked Actual
Victoria 06.35d 06.35   22.35a 22.23
Grosvenor Bridge Jn 06/38 ?   22/32 ?
Stewarts Lane Jn 06/41 ?   22/29 ?
Longhedge Jn 06/46 ?   22/27 ?
Latchmere Jn 06/49 ?   22/25 ?
Kensington Olympia 06/55 06/50   22/19 ?
North Pole Jn 07/00 06/55   22/14 ?
Mitre Bridge Jn 07/01 ?   22/12 ?
West London Jn ? 07.00 ~ 07.04   ? ?
Acton Wells Jn 07/17 07/07   22/04 ?
Acton Main Line 07/23 07/23   22/01 ?
Acton West 07/25 ?   21/58 ?
Ealing Broadway 07.27a ~ 07.29d 07.28 ~ 07.30   21.55a ~ 21.56d 21.55 ~ 21.56
Southall 07/34 07/39   21/46 ?
Heathrow Airport Jn 07/38 07/42   21/42 ?
Dolphin Jn ? ?   21/36 ?
Slough 07.52a ~ 07.53d 07.52 ~ 07.53   21.33a ~ 21.34d ?
Maidenhead 08/02 08/05   21/27 ?
Tywford 08/09 08/12   21/22 ?
Reading 08.16a ~ 08.19d 08.18 ~ 08.22   21.13a ~ 21.16d ?
Didcot Parkway 08.41a ~ 08.43d 08.45 ~ 08.48   20.54a ~ 20.56d ?
Didcot West End 08.46 ~ 09.28 08.50 ~ 09.20   ? ?
Foxhall Jn ? 09.24 ~ 09.30   ? ?
Wantage Road 09/42 09/42   ? ?
Challow 09.50 ~ 10.02 09.50 ~ 10.02   20/44 ?
Uffington 10/07 10/07   20/42 ?
Swindon 10.23a ~ 10.38d 10.23 ~ 10.38   20.30a ~ 20.32d ?
Wootton Bassett Jn 10/47 10/46   20/25 ?
Chippenham 11.00a ~ 11.01d 10.57 ~ 11.01   20.11a ~ 20.12d ?
Thingley Jn 11/06 11/07   20/08 ?
Bathampton Jn   20/00 ?
Bath Spa   19/57 ?
North Somerset Jn   19/47 ?
Bristol East Jn   19/46 ?
Bristol Temple Meads   19.33a ~ 19.45d 19.30 ~ 19.45
Parson Street   19/28 ?
Worle Jn   19/13 ?
Uphill Jn   19/11 ?
Highbridge & Burnham   19/05 ?
Bridgwater   19/00 ?
Bradford Jn 11/21 11/22  
Westbury 11/35 11/33  
Fairwood Jn 11/38 11/36  
Clink Road Jn 11/43 11/43  
Frome North 11.46 ~ 12.07 11.46 ~ 12.06  
Frome 12.08 ~ 12.30 12.08 ~ 12.30  
Blatchbridge Jn 12/34 12/35  
Castle Cary 12/50 12/56  
Cogload Jn 13/11 13/16   18/54 ?
Taunton 13.18 ~ 13.19 13.22 ~ 13.23   18.47 ~ 18.48 18.47 ~ 18.48
Norton Fitzwarren 13.25 ~ 13.28 13.27 ~ 13.29   18.38 ~ 18.42 18.24 ~ 18.41
Bishops Lydeard 13L43a ~ 14L00d 13.41 ~ 14.21   18L00a ~ 18L20d 17.46 ~ 18.11
Crowcombe Heathfield 14/13 14/29   17/47 17/38
Williton 14/28 14/44   17/32 17/25
Blue Anchor 14/48 15/00   17/12 17/10
Minehead 15L00a 15.12   17L00d 17.00


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