24th January 1998

Pathfinder Tours
The Thames Valley Freighter

Locos Used 37379, 37403 & 37408
Stock Used 4902+5025+5030+5029+1863+5040+35453+3098+3112

Route :
1Z68 : Crewe to Morris Cowley
1Z69 : Morris Cowley to Crewe

Loco(s) Route
37403 (1) Crewe - Chester - Wrexham General - Gobowen - Shrewsbury - Telford Central - Wolverhampton - Dudley Port - Soho South Jn - Birmingham New Street - Proof House Jn - Birmingham International - Coventry - Rugby - (via WCML, Weedon) - London Euston
37379 (2) London Euston - Willesden West London Jn - Acton Wells Jn - Acton Main Line - Southall - Southall Traffic Centre
37403 (3) Southall Traffic Centre - Brentford Town Yard
37379 (2) Brentford Town Yard - Southall Traffic Centre - Slough - Reading - Didcot Parkway - (4) - Didcot North Jn - Kennington Down Goods Loop
37403 (3) Kennington Down Goods Loop - Morris Cowley
37379 (2) Morris Cowley - Kennington Up Goods Loop
37403 (3) Kennington Up Goods Loop - Didcot North Jn - (via avoiding curve) - Didcot East Jn - Reading (Up Goods Line) - Slough - Iver - (6) - West Drayton
37379 (2) West Drayton - Colnbrook Elf Oil Siding
37403 (3) Colnbrook Elf Oil Siding - West Drayton - Southall - Acton Main Line - Acton Wells Jn - Willesden West London Jn - London Euston
37379 London Euston - (WCML via Weedon) - Rugby
37408 Rugby - (reverse of outward route) - Chester (5) - Mickle Trafford Jn - Mouldsworth - Greenbank - Northwich West Jn - Northwich South Jn - Middlwwich - Sandbach - (5) Crewe

Notes :
(1) Crewe to/from Euston also operated as "The London Experience". 37403 struggled all the way to Euston and a farce there with a brake problem on coach D meant the train left 80 minutes down.
(2) 37403 on rear.
(3) 37379 on rear.
(4) Booked to run to Foxhall Jn and reverse, taking the Foxhall Curve to Didcot North Jn. Plan abandoned as it had been decided earlier in the day that 37403 was on low power and the lack of reversal meant 37379 would lead out of Euston in the evening. The "problem" with 37403 was actually the sticking brakes on coach D and nothing to do with the loco! Guess also who went on the tour primarily for the Foxhall Curve :-(
(5) Was booked to run direct but last minute advice of engineering works forced a change of routing.
(6) Stuart Smith questions if the train used the Up Goods line from Iver to West Drayton?

Source : Gary Thornton (joined/left train at Birmingham New Street)

Tour Review
(by Gary Thornton)

At first glance this tour did not grab me as a "must do", but on closer inspection I did notice that it was going to do two bits of my required track - the Foxhall Curve and Thorney Mill to Colnbrook. Combined with the prospect of a single tractor along the WCML and I decided it was worth the ching to do this tour. A number of my colleagues were also tempted too, so at least I would have some company on the day.

As Birmingham International was not advertised as a pick-up point it was a case of dump the car, get a day return to New Street and see if any required traction could be got on the short hop. So there I was, stood on the platform as in rolled a Virgin service to London - complete with 87007 on the back - one of my 3 required Class 87's! No time to do it however and I had a choice of 323216 or 47826. I chose the latter, although one of my colleagues decided on the 323 as he required it (to save his embarrassment I'll not mention who he is...so don't worry David, your secrets safe with me...oops!)

Departure time from New Street was 0921 however by quarter past there was no trace of the train on the departure board nor any announcement made. The grapevine however came good and we had just walked down to platform 4 when the first announcement was made! D6607 (37403) "Ben Cruachan" duly arrived and we took our seats in the grandstand (well, first coach) for the WCML thrash.


A pause at Rugby enabled a photo of 37403 (photo: Gary Thornton)

The bash to Euston was extremely entertaining and driver of '403 rarely shut off the power for more than a few seconds. Despite this we never seemed to get to a very fast speed and, combined with some quite tight timings, we ended up arriving some 25 minutes late into Euston. The only frustrating part of the journey was having a booked stop at Birmingham International for 10 minutes to allow a Silverlink County service past. To add insult to injury the same service was held for us further south as we went from the fast to slow lines!

The reason for our losing time despite the thrash was soon evident - the brakes had been dragging on coach D. To sort out this little problem took the combined resources of several fitters, a number of mobile phones and one very large crowbar. Whilst all this was going on our other tractor, 37379, was attached to the train. Time for a lot of photographs and rumours to start about abandoning the tour whilst lots of hammering and head scratching took place. Departure from Euston was finally achieved at 1322, 1 hour and 18 minutes behind schedule.


37379 at Euston, with 87014 for company (photo: Gary Thornton)

The Brentford branch was our first port of call, following a reversal at Southall. Our to and fro antics did give some opportunity to view the new Heathrow Express units, as several of them passed us. After Brentford we trundled off towards Didcot and my first bit of required track - the Foxhall Curve. We were stopped approaching Didcot then, as we headed through the station, the front of the train could be seen rounding the passenger curve towards Oxford (we were in the rear coach at this stage). So, the curve I wanted was not being done! It later transpired that this move was for two reasons. Firstly, to try to gain some time and secondly to reverse the train formation on return to Euston. A decision had been made that 37403 was low on power and as a result, 37379 would be used for the return WCML thrash.

Those who wanted the Morris Cowley branch were probably quite disappointed - we only made it as far as the entrance to the Rover complex and were dispatched on our way home again. The last time I did this branch we got a long way inside the works, so I was not too bothered.

By the time we got to West Drayton it was nearly 6pm and so the Colnbrook branch was traversed in the dark. At least we did get further than my last visit when that tour was turned round at Thorney Mill. We arrived back at Euston at 1857, just under an hour late. My first reaction on arrival back was just how empty the station was - every platform (except ours) was empty. It soon became clear that all was not well on the WCML. Various problems (broken rail, power off etc) in the Tring area meant that no trains had reached Euston for quite some time.

As we sat waiting to leave, various rumours circulated concerning our return journey - we would have 37379 as far as Rugby where 37408 would take over or our route would be via Oxford and Banbury to avoid the WCML chaos being two of them. In the event the former proved correct and we eventually departed at 1930, 50 minutes down. Coach A now being at the back of the train meant we had a very quiet journey back. As we passed Tring we did have the amusing site (for us at any rate) of train after train in the southbound direction stopped at signals due to the problems being experienced. There were some very bored looking people aboard some of those trains!

At Rugby we pulled up alongside the station platform (much to the disgust of several passengers who wanted to alight there!) as 37379 was exchanged for large-logo 37408 for the rest of the journey. At 2133 we sped through Birmingham International and arrived in New Street at 2141, still around 50 minutes down. Our next problem was getting back to International - most services having been cancelled as the trains were stuck in the Tring area! Eventually we escaped from New Street around 2215 on a Virgin West Coast service using loco 87029. The final indignation was having to scrape the ice off the car windows to get away from the station and head for home.

Verdict - despite the problems and changes made this was quite a reasonable tour. The highlight was undoubtedly the morning thrash along the WCML to Euston with 37403. For me, missing out the Foxhall Curve was the only real disappointment of the day.

Timings (Booked and Actual)

"The Thames Valley Freighter/London Experience";

M.C Location Booked Actual Booked Actual M.C
0.00 Crewe 06.05d ? 23.26a ? 219.02
1.41 Crewe Steelworks Jn 06/08 ? 23/23 DIV
(see *** below)
217.41
10.60 Beeston Castle 06/18 ? 23/16 208.22
21.10 Chester 06.29a ~ 06.31d ? 23.02a ~ 23.03d ? 197.72
23.01 Saltney Jn 06/37 ? 22/58 ? 196.01
33.25 Wrexham General 06.59a ~ 07.01d ? 22.42a ~ 22.44d ? 185.57
38.16 Ruabon 07.08a ~ 07.09d ? 22.32a ~ 22.34d ? 180.66
42.37 Chirk 07.15a ~ 07.16d ? 22.24a ~ 22.25d ? 176.45
45.41 Gobowen 07.23a ~ 07.24d ? 22.16a ~ 22.18d ? 173.41
63.45 Shrewsbury 07.45a ~ 07.50d ? 21.52a ~ 21.54d ? 155.37
73.70 Wellington Telford West 08.04a ~ 08.07d ? 21.37a ~ 21.39d ? 145.12
77.51 Telford Central 08.15a ~ 08.18d ? 21.29a ~ 21.31d ? 141.31
84.22 Cosford 08/25 ? 21/22 ? 134.60
92.62 Wolverhampton North Jn 08/40 ? 21/13 ? 126.20
93.25 Wolverhampton 08.44a ~ 08.56d ? 21.08a ~ 21.10d ? 125.57
98.65 Dudley Port 09/05 ? 21/03 ? 120.17
102.30 Galton Jn 09/11 ? 21/00 ? 116.52
104.08 Soho South Jn 09/15 ? 20/58 ? 114.74
106.09 Birmingham New Street 09.19a ~ 09.21d 09.20 ~ 09.24 20.50a ~ 20.54d 21.44 ~ 21.48 112.73
106.63 Proof House Jn 09/24 09/26 20/48 21/41 112.19
109.74 Stechford 09/32 09/30 20/43 21/37 109.08
114.27 Birmingham International 09*40a ~ 09*50d 09.38 ~ 09.47 20/36 21/33 104.55
125.03 Coventry 10/00 10/00 20/26 21.21a ~ 21.22d 93.79
136.42 Rugby 10.14a ~ 10.20d 10.13 20/15 20.53a ~ 21.08d 82.40
149.26 Weedon 10/32 10/35 19/53 20/41 69.56
162.35 Hanslope Jn 10/42 10/49 19/42 20/30 56.47
169.17 Milton Keynes Central 10/49 10/56 19/37 20/25 49.65
172.36 Bletchley 10/55 11/03 19/34 20/23 46.46
? Ledburn Jn 11/00 11/14 19/26 20/16 ?
187.29 Tring 11/08 11/23 19/19 20/10 31.53
201.47 Watford Junction 11/19 11/39 19/02 19/50 17.35
207.52 Harrow & Wealdstone 11/30 11/47 18/55 19/44 11.30
213.59 Willesden West London Jn 11/35 11/56 18/48 19/38 5.23
219.02 London Euston 11L46a 12.11 18L40d 19.30 0.00

*** Due to engineering works advised at the last moment, the train was re-routed between Chester and Crewe;

M.C Location Booked Actual
197.72 Chester 23.03d ?
200.45 Mickle Trafford Jn 23/09 ?
204.74 Mouldsworth 23/15 ?
213.58 Greenbank 23/27 ?
215.03 Northwich West Jn 23/29 ?
215.32 Northwich South Jn 23/31 ?
220.22 Middlewich 23/44 ?
223.70 Sandbach North Jn 23/58 ?
228.36 Sydney Bridge Jn 00/02 ?
228.52 Crewe 00.05a ?

"The Thames Valley Freighter"...continued;

M.C Location Booked Actual
0.00 London Euston 12L03d 13.22
5.23 Willesden West London Jn 12/10 13/37
6.59 Acton Wells Jn 12/16 13/41
7.31 Acton Main Line 12/20 13/48
8.10 Acton West 12/22 13/51
11.70 Southall East Jn 12/26 13/56
12.16 Southall 12/27 13/58
12.50
0.00
Southall Traffic Centre 12.29a ~ 12.37d 13.59 ~ 14.06
3.24
0.00
Brentford Town Yard 12.52a ~ 13.02d 14.24 ~ 14.27
3.24 Southall Traffic Centre 13.17a ~ 13.20d 14.42 ~ 14.44
3.41 Southall West Jn 13/25 14/46
? Heathrow Airport Jn 13/27 14/50
12.20 Slough 13/34 14/56
18.03 Maidenhead 13/38 15/01
24.65 Twyford 13/43 15/06
29.62 Reading (Up Main Through) 13/48 15/13
46.50 Didcot East Jn 14/03 15/36
46.74 Didcot Parkway 14/04 15.36a ~ 15.40d
47.39
0.00
Foxhall Jn 14.06a ~ 14.14d DIV
0.54 Didcot North Jn 14/17 15/43
8.20
0.00
Kennington Down Goods Loop 14.26a ~ 14.34d 15.53 ~ 15.55
3.62
0.00
Morris Cowley 14.45a ~ 14.55d 16.07 ~ 16.12
3.62
0.00
Kennington Up Goods Loop 15.07a ~ 15.22d 16.23 ~ 16.33
7.46 Didcot North Jn 15/31 16/42
8.53 Didcot East Jon 15/33 16/44
23.56 Scours Lane Jn 15/54 17/02
? Reading West Jn (cross to UG) ? 17/04
25.33 Reading Up Goods Line 16/00 17/09
30.30 Twyford 16/05 17/14
37.12 Maidenhead 16/11 17/19
42.29 Slough West 16/16 17/25
42.75 Slough 16/18 17/26
43.71 Dolphin Junction 16/20 17/28
46.51 Iver Up Goods Line 16/23 17/33
48.14
0.00
West Drayton 16.32a ~ 16.40d 17.46 ~ 17.48
3.09
0.00
Colnbrook Elf Oil Siding 17.00a ~ 17.10d 18.03 ~ 18.08
3.09
0.00
West Drayton 17*30a ~ 17*34d 18.21 ~ 18.23
? Heathrow Airport Jn 17/37 18/26
7.20 Southall 17/40 18/30
? Ealing Broadway ? 18.35a ~ 18.38d
11.26 Acton West 17/46 18/41
12.05 Acton Main Line 17/48 18/42
12.57 Acton Wells Junction 17/52 18/44
14.13 Willesden West London Jn 18/00 18/47
19.36 London Euston 18L00a 18.57


Back to "The Railtour Files"