26th September 2010

Vintage Trains
The Tamar Special / The Looe Branch Explorer(s) / The Royal Albert

Locos Used 37685 & steam: 9466
Stock Used 9101+5177+5157+5198

Route :
2W10 : Plymouth to Liskeard
2W11: Liskeard to Looe
2W12 : Looe to Liskeard
2W13: Liskeard to Looe
2W14 : Looe to Liskeard
2W15: Liskeard to Looe
2W16 : Looe to Liskeard
2W17: Liskeard to Looe
2W18 : Looe to Liskeard
2W19 : Liskeard to Plymouth

Tour Name Train Reference Loco(s) Route
Tamar Special - 37685 (1) Plymouth - St Germans - Liskeard
Looe Branch Explorer A 9466 (2) Liskeard - Coombe Jn
Looe Branch Explorer A 37685 (1) Coombe Jn - Looe
Looe Branch Explorer A 9466 (2) Looe - Coombe Jn
Looe Branch Explorer A 37685 (1) Coombe Jn - Liskeard
Looe Branch Explorer B 9466 (2) Liskeard - Coombe Jn (4)?
Looe Branch Explorer B 37685 (1) Coombe Jn - Looe
Looe Branch Explorer B 9466 (2) Looe - Coombe Jn (4)?
Looe Branch Explorer B 37685 (1) Coombe Jn - Liskeard
Looe Branch Explorer C 9466 (2) Liskeard - Coombe Jn
Looe Branch Explorer C 37685 (1) Coombe Jn - Looe
Looe Branch Explorer C 9466 (2) Looe - Coombe Jn
Looe Branch Explorer C 37685 (1) Coombe Jn - Liskeard
Looe Branch Explorer D 9466 (2) Liskeard - Coombe Jn
Looe Branch Explorer D 37685 (1) Coombe Jn - Looe
Looe Branch Explorer D 9466 (2) Looe - Coombe Jn
Looe Branch Explorer D 37685 (1) Coombe Jn - Liskeard
Royal Albert - 9466 (2) Liskeard - St Germans - Plymouth

Notes :
(1) 9466 on rear.
(2) 37685 on rear.
(3) Ticket holders were entitled to travel on any normal timetabled FGW service west of Newton Abbot (inclusive) in order to access the special workings (sleeper service excepted).
(4) Andy Pullar comments: I travelled on train D and overheard one of the stewards on the train coversing with someone that asked why the train didn't run to Coombe station. The response was that this was done with train B and it was announced through the train as the last steam hauled service at the station when it did so. Running train B into Coombe station was confirmed by someone I met since who travelled on it. I can't remember, though, if the train went there before or after running to Looe. I would presume after but stand to be corrected.

Sources : various including Neil Kearns, Roger Geach & Andy Pullar

Photo Review


37685 crossing St Germans Viaduct on 2W10 (photo: Roger Geach)


37685 leading on 2W11 near Sandplace (photo: Roger Geach)


9466 & 37685 on 2W16 at Terrace Crossing (photo: Roger Geach)


Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Neil Kearns & John Clifford)

Location 2W10   2W19
Booked Actual   Booked (original) Booked (revised) Actual
Plymouth 09.35d ?   19.55a 19.49a 19.35
St Budeaux Ferry Jn 09/43 ?   19/44 19/38 19/29
Saltash 09.48a ~ 09.51d ?   19.34a ~ 19.37d 19.28a ~ 19.31d 19.24 ~ 19.25
St Germans 10/00 ?   19/25 19/19 19/17
Liskeard 10.20a ?   19.10d 19.04d 19.04

 

Location 2W11 2W12   2W13 2W14   2W15 2W16   2W17   2W18
Booked (out) Booked (rtn)   Booked (out) Booked (rtn)   Booked (out) Booked (rtn)   Booked Actual   Booked Actual
Liskeard 10.50d 12.10a   13.00d 14.15a   14.55d 16.10a   17.10d 17.11   18.30a 18.20
Coombe Jn 10.57 ~ 11.02 11.55 ~ 12.00d   13.07 ~ 13.12 14.00 ~ 14.05   15.02 ~ 15.07 15.55 ~ 16.00   17.17 ~ 17.22 17.19 ~ 17.19   18.15 ~ 18.20 18.12 ~ 18.12
Looe 11.20a 11.35d   13.30a 13.40d   15.25a 15.35d   17.40a 17.40   17.55d 17.51

Timings continue in first table.

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