30th November 1985

F & W Railtours
The Valley Trekker

Locos Used 25325, 33012, 37306, 37234, 47559 & 47602
Stock Used 34537+4474+3727+4476+4806+1671+7663+4372+4804+4787+34681

Route : 1Z05 throughout

Loco(s) Route
47602 Plymouth - Taunton - Weston-Super-Mare - Bristol Temple Meads - Stapleton Road - Filton Jn - Pilning - Severn Tunnel Junction - Newport - Cardiff Central
25325 + 33012 Cardiff Central - Barry - Bridgend - Margam Yard - Port Talbot - Court Sart Jn - Jersey Marine North Jn - Felin Fran - Morlais Jn East - Hendy Jn - Pantyffynon
25325 + 33012 (1) Pantyffynon - Cwmgorse Branch Jn - Abernant
37306 (2) Abernant - Cwmgorse Branch Jn
25325 + 33012 (1) Cwmgorse Branch Jn - Gwaen-Cae-Gurwen
37306 (2) Gwaen-Cae-Gurwen - Cwmgorse Branch Jn - Pantyffynon
37234 (2) Pantyffynon - Morlais Jn - Llanelli - Cynheidre
25325 + 33012 (3) Cynheidre - Llanelli
25325 + 33012 Llanelli - Swansea Loop West Jn - Landore Jn - (via O.V.E. Lines) - Tondu
25325 + 33012 Tondu - Bridgend - Pontyclun - Cardiff Central
47559 Cardiff Central - (reverse of outward route) - Plymouth

Notes:
(1) 37306 on rear.
(2) 25325 + 33012 on rear.
(3) 37234 on rear.
(4) Nick Lawford comments: most of the top and tail working was with all 25/33/37 under power from both ends i.e. banking due to wet day raining poor adhesion etc.
(5) Nigel Curtis comments: The rumour on the train was that 37234 was only put on in place of 37306 because it was the last 37 required by one of the tour organisers for haulage. The big disappointment of the day was missing out Llanwern steelworks and by-passing it on the mainline.
(6) Special DMU connecting train (1Z37) provided from Birmingham New Street to Newport and Severn Tunnel Junction to Birmingham New Street.

Route : 1Z37 throughout

DMU Route
????? Birmingham New Street - ??? - Newport
????? Severn Tunnel Junction - ??? - Birmingham New Street

Source : Richard Szwejkowski (joined/left train at Taunton), Mike Tetlow, Nigel Curtis
& LASERman (joined at Cardiff, left at Bristol)

Photo Review


25325 & 33012 at Abernant (photo: LASERman)


25325 & 33012 at
Gwaen-Cae-Gurwen (photo: LASERman)


37306 at
Gwaen-Cae-Gurwen (photo: LASERman)


Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from LASERman)

Location

Booked

Actual

 

Booked

Actual

Plymouth

05.30d

??.??

 

21.18

??.??

Lipson Jn

05/33

?

 

21/15

?

Hemerdon

05/40

?

 

21/10

?

Totnes

05.58a ~ 06.00d

?

 

20.46a ~ 20.47d

?

Dainton Tunnel

06/07

?

 

20/39

?

Aller Jn

06/10

?

 

20/35

?

Newton Abbot

06.12a ~ 06.14d

?

 

20.31a ~ 20.33d

?

Dawlish Warren

06/25

?

 

20/22

?

Exeter St Davids

06.37a ~ 06.40d

?

 

20.10a ~ 20.12d

?

Cowley Bridge Jn

06/42

?

 

20/08

?

Whiteball SB

06/57

?

 

19/52

?

Taunton West

[RL]

?

 

[ML]

?

Taunton

07.10a ~ 07.12d

?

 

19.37a ~ 19.40d

?

Taunton East

[ML]

?

 

[RL]

?

Bridgwater

07/25

?

 

19/19

?

Uphill Jn

07/37

?

 

19*06 ~ 19*08

?

Weston-Super-Mare

07x40a ~ 07x47d

?

 

19.01a ~ 19.03d

?

Worle Jn

07/51

?

 

18/58

?

Bristol Temple Meads

08.11a ~ 08.13

?

 

18.39a ~ 18.42d

19.39½ ~ 19.45½ [P6]

Dr Days Bridge Jn

08/15

?

 

?

19/36½

Stapleton Road

08/17

?

 

18/35

19/35

Filton Jn

08/21

?

 

18/29

?

Patchway

08/22

?

 

18/28

19/29

Pilning

08/25

?

 

18/24

19/24

Severn Tunnel Jn

08/31

?

 

18.15a ~ 18.17d

19.11½ ~ 19.17

Magor

 

[ML]

?

Steelworks East

 

18/08

DIV

Steelworks West

 

17/48

DIV

Maindee East

 

[RL]

?

Newport

08.40a ~ 08.42d

?

 

17.38a ~ 17.40d

18.49 ~ 18.49½ [P3]

Cardiff Central

09L00a ~ 09L18d

09.10 ~ 09.25 [P4]

 

17L12a ~ 17L25d

18.24 ~ 18.35 [P1]

 

Location

Booked

Actual

Penarth Curve South

09/21

?

Cogan Jn

09/24

?

Cadoxton

09/33

?

Barry

09/38

09/40

Rhoose

09/43

?

Aberthaw

09/46

09/48

Bridgend

10/02

10/09

Water Street Jn

10/12

10/18½

Margam Abbey Works East

10/16

10/25

Port Talbot

10c32 ~ 10c34

10.33 ~ 10.35½

Court Sart Jn

10/38

10/44

Felin Fran

10/45

10/49½

Morlais East Jn

10/58

11/05

Hendy Jn

10/59

11/08

Pantyffynnon

11.07 ~ 11.15

11.22½ ~ 11.30

Cwmgorse Branch Jn

11/36

?

Abernant

11.48 ~ 12.08

12.03 ~ 12.17½

Cwmgorse Branch Jn

12.20 ~ 12.25

12.29 ~ 12.31

Gwaun-cae-Gurwen

12.35 ~ 12.55

12.42½ ~ 12.52

Pantyffynnon

13/20

13.23½ ~ 13.30

Hendy Jn

13/26

13/44

Morlais Jn

13/27

13/46

Llandeilo Jn

13/31

13/52½

Llanelli

13.33 ~ 13.35

13.57 ~ 13.59

Llanelli West Jn

13/38

14/01

Cynheidre

14.08 ~ 14.27

14.52 ~ 15.04½

Llanelli West Jn

14/57

15/58½

Llanelli

14.59 ~ 15.09

16.00 ~ 16.01

Llandeilo Jn

15/12

16/05

Gowerton

15/15

?

Swansea Loop West Jn

15/24

16/21

Landore

15/25

16/22

Neath

15/33

16/32

Port Talbot

15c40 ~ 15c41

16.43½ ~ 16.47

Margam Abbey Works East

15c48 ~ 15c49

16.55½ ~ 17.00

Tondu

16.14 ~ 16.35

17.24 ~ 17.48

Bridgend

16c43 ~ 16c44

17/59

Leckwith Jn

17/04

? [ML]

Ninian Park

17/05

DIV

Penarth Curve North Jn

17/08

DIV

Timings continue in first table.

Special DMU connecting train (1Z37)

Location

Booked (out)

Booked (rtn)

Birmingham New Street

05.52d

20.48a

Stourbridge Jn

??.??a ~ 06.13d

20.25a ~ ??.??d

Kidderminster

??.??a ~ 06.22d

20.14a ~ ??.??d

Droitwich Spa

??.??a ~ 06.34d

20.01a ~ ??.??d

Worcester Shrub Hill

??.??a ~ 06.44d

19.52a ~ ??.??d

Cheltenham Spa

??.??a ~ 07.11d

19.26a ~ ??.??d

Gloucester

??.??a ~ 07.23d

19.15a ~ ??.??d

Severn Tunnel Jn

?

18.35d

Newport

08.20a

-


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