The Railtour Files

Loco(s)	Booked Route
E3049	London Euston - (via WCML) - Rugby - Coventry - Birmingham New Street - Wolverhampton HL
D323	Wolverhampton HL - Shrewsbury
D5140 + D5145	Shrewsbury - Machynlleth - Minffordd
Linda + Blanche	Minffordd - Tan-y-Bwlch - Garnedd West (2)
Linda + Blanche	Garnedd West - Tan-y-Bwlch - Minffordd - Portmadoc
Blanche	Portmadoc - Minffordd
D5140 + D5145	Minffordd - Machynlleth - Shrewsbury
D323	Shrewsbury - Wolverhampton HL - Birmingham New Street
????	Birmingham New Street - ??? - London Paddington

Notes :
(1) Richard Billinge comments: The sound of two class 24s (they were Derby Type 2s in those days of course) taking a fully loaded train up to Tallerddig at the dead of night was one to be remembered and one which current, and future, generations will probably not experience. Richard also adds that Other FR locos may have been in use on the day.
(2) Reversal point originally uploaded as Tan-y-Bwlch however Martin Tester has commented: The Festiniog train actually ran beyond Tan y Bwlch to Garnedd West (i.e. the entrance to the 1st tunnel) & then reversed back to Tan-y-Bwlch. The extension beyond Tan-y-Bwlch to Dduallt didn't open until the following April (6/4/68) but in April 1967 it was possible to give Society members their first short journey on the extension. I have confirmation of this from the FRSoc's Magazine 37 (Summer 1967).

Sources : Richard Billinge & Martin Tester (both joined/left the train at Birmingham) & John Debens

Timings (Advertised Only)
(from Martin Tester)

Location	Advertised (out)	Advertised (rtn)
Paddington	-	'soon after 6am'
Euston	07.50d	-
Birmingham New Street	09.36d
Wolverhampton	09.50d
Shrewsbury	10.37d
Minffordd	14.05a	23.15d