Pembroke Coast Express Sunday 14/7/19 60163

These are the Confirmed Timings off the Pathfinder Website:

Bristol Temple Meads Dep. 0805 Rtn. 2125

Severn Tunnel Jn Dep. 0835 Rtn. 2055

Newport Dep. 0855 Rtn. 2025

Cardiff Central Dep. 0920 Rtn. 1955

Carmarthen arr. 1140 Dep. 1250

Tenby arr. 1335 Dep. 1550

Only 2 lines open between Newport and Cardiff.

 

Full timings now available. <BJ>

Bristol TM to Tenby: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U10715/2019/07/14/advanced

Tenby to Bristol TM: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U10717/2019/07/14/advanced

Tour info: https://www.pathfindertours.co.uk/events/the-pembroke-coast-express-steam-hauled/

 

There are also paths to and from Margam for the diesel needed to tow the train down to Tenby. Comes off at Port Talbot on the return:

To Carmarthen:
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U10716/2019/07/14/advanced
From Port Talbot
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U10718/2019/07/14/advanced

 

Just have to hope that the rumours that DB back in Germany are tiring of the whole shambolic UK rail system are not true.

 

And also possibly why its £125 a ticket?

Looks an interesting day out, pity they cannot service the loco whilst the train is at Tenby as an hour in Carmarthen (nice as it is) is going to be not much use to anyone bar the most athletic.

 

If anyone's interested, I found the hand drawn Gradient Profile that came with a Pembroke Docks Express in 1993. This is the Whitland-Tenby section; also added Carmarthen Jn to Whitland. I did wonder what the Class 66 will do on the return. Been reliably informed that the answer is nothing as the driver is the pilotman on the return. Used to be fun in the old days when we did it with the loco tender first from Carmarthen.

 

Tornado has passed her FTR exam.

Update: 11 coaches today.

Tornado made a wonderful sight at Lockleaze this morning on the new four track section as it powered up Horfield bank.

The light was glorious and so would have chased the train to South Wales but the thought of those ugly catenary masts put me right off. <BJ>

 

Tornado looked and sounded beautiful approaching Cardiff this morning.

Unfortunately the same cannot be said for my photographs, as a result of the fancy new overhead catenary. I checked the location earlier in the week and thought that I could get away with a photograph but this proved not to be the case-hence photographs attached for record purposes only! I shall have to find a new location prior to next weekend; shame, as this used to be a good site and was close to my flat!

 

Don't see what affect overhead masts have for this journey as they stop somewhere around Cardiff so most of the trip would have been without them.

 

My footage of Tornado roaring up Filton Bank in the morning just after leaving Bristol. She performed very well with such a heavy load of 11 coaches in tow. Enjoy.

 

From your video I only count 11 coaches as was mentioned earlier.

 

My Bad. Sorry about that, a typo error. I've changed it now, still a pretty good climb nevertheless.

 

It's not only DB saphos as well.

 

Any idea of what happened to 1550 Tenby to Bristol TM?
Last reported at Severn Tunnel Jn at 2053 then no reports on Real Time Trains or Open Train Times. I have also searched OTT by UID which also shows the last report as STJ. There doesn't seem to be anything with a security train number running out of course on OTT .
Any ideas or has the feed form Network Rail failed only failed for this train?

Thanks, Neil

 

Arrived a couple of minutes early into Bristol. A top day out, thanks to all involved.

 

Thanks for the update. Odd, no other schedules in the Filton/Bristol area dropped out.

Cheers, Neil

 

Tornado at Patchway, the light was going when the train turned up.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/16582147@N07/albums/72157709652745592

 

Courtesy of Tornado's crew and the signallers letting her make up approximately 36 minutes, I failed to get a shot at Porthkerry Viaduct (got there just in time to hear her whistling over the arches.. doh) Still saw her in four locations though as I didn't want to miss a steam hauled tour through my childhood counties. Shots at Pwll, Carmarthen, Kilgetty and Neath

 

As it's a rarely done route, thought I'd post this.

Pembroke Coast Express 14th July 2019

Another rare outing for steam west of Cardiff. Checking back through my 896 tours to date, rare is the right word as we've only been to or from Swansea on proper tours 30odd times in 35 years. Bit sad that for us from the Principality. This was a sort of a repeat of the last time when Tornado only went as far as Carmarthen on 5th August 2017.

Beautiful morning and the same forecast all day. Tenby's not my favourite place, but load 11, over 400 tons, plus a Class 66, 126 tons of hopefully deadweight on the drawbar up the branch should make the visit worthwhile.

First time we'd done steam up the relaid 4 track Horfield Bank. Shame they didn't bother putting the mileposts back!!! Our crew on the outward was Driver Steve Mathews; Fireman Steve Rodenhurst and TI Geoff Ewans. Everyone had a good chance to get a good photograph at Temple Meads as unlike most departures that go off Platform 5 where you're shooting against the sun, we were on Platform 7 with the sun behind the cameras. We were in the second carriage, milepost side for most of the outward run.

Off RT with load 11 and a 99%+ loading. A rarity this year. Not a flying start. We passed Barton Hill at just over 20. Braunton and Support coach were visible in the depot. Decent pick in speed and noise level as we passed Dr Day's at 30. On the lesser 1in220, we blasted through Lawrence Hill at 34.7 and Stapleton Road at 41.5. The 1in 75, if that's still the gradient, starts almost as we crossed the M32; our speed was 42. Not the highest there by any means. 1/2 mile later speed had fallen to 39.8 at Narroways Hill Jn that is just past mp2; under the old Midland Bridge at 39; passed Ashley Hill, close to mp2 1/2, at 34.7; mp3 at 31.6; the old Horfield Stn at 28.4, with a minimum of 27.8 at 3.69 miles out from Temple Meads where the summit probably is. Bit ordinary for load 11 and a Class 8.

Plenty of noise from up front still as we joined the mainline at Filton, 50.3. Sometimes you get a boring run down to the big hole, sometimes not. This time not. We ran through Patchway at 52; dropped down into Patchway Tunney at 59 and into the short tunnel at 72; passed mp8 at 76.2; Pilning at 71 and dived into the big hole at 76.2. It's always good to be close to the front of the train as you can hear the change of note from the locomotive as it comes off the short level bit onto the 1in90 climb into Wales. We blasted out into the sunshine at close to 49, the run through the tunnel taking 3m 55.76s. Always nice to do a sub 4 minute time. 600163 had to be eased unfortunately after mp15 1/4 as we had a pickup at Severn Tunnel Junction.

Mainline to Newport as the reliefs were closed in the morning and only the island platform was in use. From a standing start we got to a max of 67.5 at mp154 1/2, some 5 1/2 miles from STJ Station. After our pickup at Newport we set off for the west. We charged out of the station into the tunnel with a 'snarling' sound reverberating around us from the 'quiet' 60163. We blasted past Gaer Jn at 40.8; Ebbw Jn just over 1/2 mile further on at 50.3 ; passed 60 3 miles out at mp161 3/4 and a 70 looked on. Not to be. Our max was 64.5 just past Marshfield at mp164 1/4 before 60163 was eased to join the relief just past mp166.We then trundled down to Cardiff for our last pickup.

Using the 2 miles of 150d after the Taff viaduct, we charged off and hit the level at Leckwith Rd Jn , just under a mile out, at 37. Plenty of noise and use of the chime whistle as we accelerated over the mile+ of mostly level track to 56.2 at mp173. We crossed St Fagan's LC at 62 and kept accelerating up the mile of 1in212/752, 63; the 1 1/4 miles of 1in560, 65, and after a 1/2 mile of 1in118, still at 65. They were doing some good work up front and over the next mile and a quarter speed rose to just under 70 at Pontsarn LC, 8 miles out. The line climbs up a short 1in156, 69.6; then 1/2 mile+ of 1in323, 68.5; 1/2 mile + of 1in169, 68.4. then oddly we lost a bit of speed on 1/2 mile of level track to 66.3 as we began the climb to Llanharan. From mp181 the gradients rise at 1in161/187/379 for a mile through Pontyclun, 65.5; then a mile of 1in379/183 to mp182, 64.8. here the almost mile of 1in106 was met at 61.5, left at 57.6, the only serious bit of the climb, before 3/4 miles of 1in858 to Llanharan, 62.2. decent enough.

Down grade for 3 miles to Pencoed, 74.2, and a max of 74.8 at mp187; then 3 miles+ of level to Bridgend, with an easing to just under 60 through the station. After the River Crossover, the climb to Stormy starts. We took 62.7 onto the mile and a half+ of 1in132, left at 58.1; then up the almost mile and a half of 1in163, left at 58.2, then a quarter at 1in231 to the summit, passed at 58.2. Not that steep but always fun to see if 60+ can be achieved. Not today. Downhill to our water stop at Port Talbot, in the platform as there were no trains around so we had a chance to go for a stroll in the sunshine. It was getting noticeably hotter.

Mostly level away from Port Talbot and we did have a noisy getaway and got to 50 by Baglan. After we crossed Neath River Bridge we slowed to leave the mainline for the Swansea and District Line. Nice and noisy up a mile of 1in100/116 before dropping down to Felin Fran. There's a nice 3 mile bank at 1in100 to Llangyfelach Tunnel and beyond, with a 1in165 to the summit. We hit the start at 48.9 but just as it got noisier up front, 60163 was eased and speed slowly fell away to 10 mph. A TSR possibly? Whatever it was it ruined the climb and we only went into the close to mile long tunnel at 16.7. However, 60163 accelerated very noisily through the tunnel up the 1in120 and we left it at 29.5. We left the final 1/4mile+ of 1in120 at 29.9, and picked up to 31.5 over the 1/4+ of 1in165 to the summit. Nice noisy finish to the climb.

Down a long 1in120 through Pont Lliw , over Lougher Viaduct at 52 with superb views of... the sand. Tide was out! Then 5 1/2 miles+ on the level down to Llandeilo Jn. Nothing exciting as 60163 was eased half was through the section. We rejoined the mainline at mp223 1/2 at 30.3. Couldn't do much on the undulating Llanelli approach as there are level crossing either side of the station. Steve still made a noisy pass with the chime whistle sounding at 51. Then we set off for the estuary. 4 1/2 miles+ on the level. Plenty of noise and up a bit of 1in370/770 through Pembrey and Burry Port at 61, then a blast up a short 1/2 mile+ of 1in330 to 64. Back to the snarling big green loco on the level then as Steve got the train up to 67 at mp232 3/4; through Kidwelly at 66.3; then past the holiday residential caravan sites on 3 miles of level/insignificant undulating gradients in the mid 60s.

We slowed for Ferryside, 61.2 but again on the level 60163 was worked nicely to get back to 64; speed held until mp242, 3 miles from Carmarthen. We had yellows at the junction and despite Steve's best efforts, as we were 12 minutes early we were held at the junction for almost 6 minutes for an Arriva Service to leave before being allowed into the station. We passed the Bells and Two Tones Water Carrier as we rolled in.

We went for a leg stretch and heard 60163 come off the train and watched it set back towards the Water Carrier. We went back to the station and had a beer in the Buffet Car with some friends, lamenting the lack of steam west of Cardiff, and on reflection, in Wales full stop!!

Out on the railway things went a bit pear shaped as the Class 66, despite being shown as in the station at 1209, didn't in fact attach to the train until 1250ish; then Tornado's return was delayed for a couple of service trains. When we were ready to leave, a Milford Haven service was due in/out. We finally left at 1315, 22 down.

The Class 66 got up to 61 by Sarnau LC and ran close to 60 across St. Clears LC before braking before Whitland Tunnel, 45. The token exchange at Whitland was done rapidly but we were now 29 down. It's a pity we had to be towed down as there's 3 miles of 1in50/86/85/52 with Narberth and it's tunnel in the middle. After that its undulating grades, through Kilgetty, 39, then down what will be some vicious gradients on the return, like the mile and a half above mp267 3/4 with short sections at 1in112/53/256/99/58/49/54/47/52; then through Saundersfoot, 41, and down towards Tenby, with 3/4 of a mile of mainly 1in47 and right outside the station a mile of 1in75/53/50/70/95 on a curve to look forward to on the return with something like 530 tons if the Class 66 is 'dead' and not assisting as is the DB norm. Weird for linesiders as the Class 66s' whine on 'tick over' and can con them into thinking the locos are assisting.

What to do in an hour and a half in Tenby. We sort of went in search of the oldest pub in Tenby, the Coach and Horses, that I remembered from the 1990s. We found it but unfortunately it was a Gastro Pub. Seem to remember 6/7 real ales in the old days. Now there was only Doom Bar. Their menu looked good and as It was too hot to keep wandering we stayed there to eat. The Chicken Breasts were excellent as was my rib-eye steak. I went for a stroll to try to find some local ales but in a 15 minute walk all I found were Gastro Pubs with .... Doom Bar!! And in one pub an Australian IPA??? Obviously the wrong part of Tenby for ale drinkers. Never mind. I went back and had a jam roly pudding and custard dessert, a meal in itself!! Mrs S and I wandered up to have a look at the beaches, then it was back to the station.

Vince Henderson was our Driver; Tony Jones had come south to be our Fireman; Tommy Rees was TI. Found out that the Class 66 was being manned so asked what the instruction was to the driver as I was told they had stalled bringing the train back into the station. The reply was they would not call for assistance unless they felt they were coming to a stand. We rejoined the train and settled down in the seriously hot temperature for the return journey.

We mused at how optimistic NRs timers had been - 15 1/2 miles in 25 minutes to Whitland. Seriously? We were still in the second carriage behind 60163, but not on the milepost side for the return. I decided it wasn't going to be worth trying to spot mileposts up the branch. It was very overgrown and sun was strobing through the trees and bushes. Mrs S did some excellent milepost spotting for me to sync the GPS. Leaving the station there's a short bit of level track and we got to 4.8 as we passed the platform end. With the safety valves lifting up the short bit of 1in264 we struggled to 6.3 after a slip or two. Then, yikes, speed fell to 3.2 on the GPS on the 1/4m of 1in75/53. Out with the egg timer.... If there was any doubt about diesel assistance it was here and we got none. Up the 1/2 mile+ of 1in50/70/95 speed slowly rose to 11.6. Then a quick pickup down 1/2m of 1in450/750/level to 32. Next was 1/4m+ of 1in151 where we got to 34.6; but then we hit the Mur de Tenby. Up the first 1/4m of 1in47 speed fell back to 27.5; up the second quarter to 19.5; then up a quarter of 1in47/50 to 9.6, recovering to 12.6. Thankfully there was 3/4m down 1in126/103/129 next where speed rose to 42.

With 530 tons even a bit of 1in185 dragged us back to 39, and the 1/4 of 1in86 to 34. Up through Kilgetty and a mile with short bits as steep 1in67/51/47 that dragged us below 30. Around mp268 1/2 down 3/4m of 1in250ish, with a bit of 1in77, we got to 46.5, flying along. A touch of brakes, possibly an under bridge slack(?) at mp267 1/2, saw a drop to 40.8 as we were on 1/4m of 1in112/53. This was followed by 1/4 of 1in53/256, 33.7; then 1/4m of 1in99/58, 32.7. The next 1/4 of 1in49 saw a fall to 28.6; then over the next 1/4 of 1in49/54 to 19.9. Getting serious now and the next 1/4 of 1in47 saw a worrying fall to 13.9. Not sure if my GPS minimum of 7 was accurate after a final short bit of 1in52 to the summit after 8.65 miles of some interesting gradients, many on curves. It took us the full 25 minutes we were timed for the 15 1/2 miles to Whitland to get that far. We were told on the train that the driver of the Class 66 confirmed he left the climb to 60163 as the train kept moving forward, albeit very slowly at times. It always surprises us that an A1 can seemingly slog its way up the steepest of banks with heavy loads.

Serious climbing over, down the steep 1in52/85 to 39.4 before braking hard for Narberth, 23.3; then down the 1in56 and mule of 1in50 to mp263, passed at 49.7; then quite slowly down the bank into Whitland where we arrived for the token 34 down. Inside a minute we were away down the mile+ of 1in440/448/495, 42; then on the level through Whitland Tunnel at 48.5. 1/2 mile further we hit a fun almost mile and a half of 1in87 at 53. Plenty of noise from up front as 60163 lifted the 530 tons up this bank. The weight really told and we left it at 40.8. The mile of 1in102 above St Clears saw a fall from 63 to 55.5. the remainder of the route back to Carmarthen Jn is undulating and Vince got us up to 63 max before braking hard for the junction signal.

We had a further 4 min stop at a signal to allow the 1655 Carmarthen-Paddington Service to clear the next block. Vince made a noisy departure and 60163 roared up the mile of 1in276, left at 30 and Vince took advantage of the mile of 1in264 down to mp242 to take 52 onto the level alongside the estuary. It took us a further mile and a half to get to 60, and the noise level increased as 60163 snarled along the level to reach 64 through Ferryside, mp238 1/2. We left 3 miles+ of gentle down grades at 71; passed Kidwelly, mp234 1/4 on the level at 73, and to a cacophony of sound reached 75.2 on mostly level track by mp233. Down through Pembrey and Burry Port at 75; then a slight drop off to 72 a mile into a long section of level track before a brake application 2 miles short of Llanelli.

Anyone who'd looked at the gradient profile of the return journey couldn't have failed to notice that on the direct route there was a vicious climb from Gowerton to Cockett Tunnel, almost a mile and a half of 1in53 followed by a mile and a quarter+ of 1in50. Gowerton is only 5 1/2 miles from Llanelli that we passed at only 38. No high speed through the station as there are level crossings either end. We rattled over Llandeilo Jn on the level, 1 3/4m out at 54.2; crossed Loughor Viaduct at 62.3 and down a stretch of 1in770 speed rose to 65.9. The 1/2 mile+ of 1in181 was dismissed and speed rose to 67.4 as Vince charged the bank. 60163 snarled through Gowerton on the level at 66.3. 1/2 mile into the 1in53 at mp219 speed had only fallen to 65.6; then the Mur de Cockett really started taking its toll and speed was only going one way: down!!

The attrition was 4.5/5 mph per 1/4 on the 1in53 to the change of gradient to 1in50 at mp218, passed at 48. 60163 was really raising the echoes and as we surged past Cockett West Jn at 44.8, then mp217 3/4 at 43.4. The final 1/4s were: 217 1/2, 38.4; 217 1/4, 34.8; 217, 28.3; with a min just after of 25.4 before we reached the 'sanctuary' of the 1in71d into the tunnel, 27.1. Exhilarating stuff with such a heavy load. Down the bank and past the sad sight of an empty Landore Depot and then out onto the mainline at Landore Jn, 14.8. We crossed Landore Viaduct at 15, then we charged down the 1/2 mile of 1in109, 29, and across 1/4 mile of level, 39.3 to attack the climb towards Llansamlet. Nothing like Cockett, what is? But the 3/4 mile of 1in106, met at 44.7 produced another snarling climb and we left it at 45. The 1/2 mile of 1in91 only saw a fall to 41.3 before the track levelled off through Llansamlet station, 38. We lost a few mph to the level before 60163 was eased down the 1in143 through Skewen, 43, and the brakes were on the tight right hand curve down almost 2 1/2 miles of 1in88/99/90; much more fun going west. We made a short operational stop at Neath, mp208 1/4.

There's not much in the way of adverse gradients between Neath and Port Talbot but we still had a noisy restart and run across the level. 2 miles out we got to 50 and to a max of 55 through Baglan. We drifted into the Up Relief at Port Talbot to water Tornado and detach the Class 66 for it to return to its home, Margam Yard, after we'd left. We were in the shade of the modern station building and the carriage cooled down nicely. 3 miles away from Port Talbot there's the climb to Stormy to look forward to; with a lightweight train! There was plenty of recovery time in the 38 minute layover here, and despite us arriving 25 late we actually left 2 early.

Mrs S spotted the first 1/4 after we set off so I synced the GPS again. There's a nice bit of down grade for a couple of miles to Margam East Jn, 51, followed by almost 1 1/2 miles on the level where things got noisy and speed rose to 62 past Margam Abbey. The foot of Stormy is 1/4m+ of 1in250, left at almost 64. Then it's a solid 1 3/4 miles of 1in139 before it gets steeper. 60163 really snarled up this section of the climb and only lost just over 3mph to pass mp197 at 60.7. Seriously noisy from up front as we hit the 1/2 mile+ of 1in102 at 60. A short 1in95 took us through Pyle station (lev) at 59, before a short 1in79 took us onto the almost 1 1/2 miles of 1in93 to the summit at 58.9. The noise level rose as 60163 dug into the 1in93. 1/2 mile in speed had fallen to 57.4 and fell slowly to pass mp195 1/4 at 55; then mp195 at 54. The minimum at the summit was 52.4. We'd hoped for closer to 60 mph but then again expectations are always high with 60163. Never heard the chime used as much as today!!

In Carmarthen at the layover we'd reminisced about the amazing run we had with Duke of Gloucester when it truly flattened Stormy at 63 mph in both directions with load 12. Must see if I've got the details of that in one; though no doubt someone will find them.

We drifted down towards Bridgend in the low 60s and after the station we joined the Vale of Glamorgan Line at Cowbridge Road. Over 3 1/2 miles of 1in100/200d before the only 'bank' on the line, close to 4 miles of 1in140 from Southerndown towards Llantwit Major. Things got noisy as we hit the climb at 44 and Tornado being what it is actually accelerated noisily up the first 2 miles to a max of 47.8. Speed did fall to a minimum of 46 at mp12ish just before the summit. We dropped down through Llantwit Major, 50, and ran in the mid to high 40s all the way down to the coast at Aberthaw. There's a mile of 1in200, left at 37, then a mile and a half of 1in165 with Rhoose station, passed at 49.4, in the middle of it. Could have sworn we passed the airport miles back!! And 60163 accelerated to top the 'climb' at 50.

Down through Porthkerry Tunnel No2 and onto the splendid Viaduct with views of the sea and cries of "are we there yet?" that the sight of the sea always seem to generate. On the pan flat railway we trundled through Barry, 23; the Docks Station, 14.1; Cadoxton, 14, quite a few interested folk there; Dinas Powis, 20, only a few spectators there, but it's the posh end of the Vale. We were rather early and drifted through Eastbrook at 24 before drifting through the tunnel and into Cogan 11 early. We had an exciting time watching Valley Line Pacers plying their wares. Nice run along the riverside and an around the Penarth Curves, with a stop at a red signal, where again we watched a few Valley Line Services pass. Finally we arrived right time for our set down in Cardiff Central. Vince our driver left the train there and I understand Newport's Tommy Rees, our TI took over for the rest of the journey. Wayne Thompson was TI.

We left Cardiff RT and trundled out on the relief as far as Rhymney Bridge Jn, 21, then we cut across to the Down main and eventually the up main, joined at 22. Then we few enthusiasts wondered how close to 70 we would get up the main towards Newport. It's pretty much on the level, but despite best efforts up front our max was 67 at mp161, close to Ebbw Jn. We drifted through the tunnel into Newport and arrived in P3 2 early. We left 1 late but were Relief Line after Maindee East. Bit boring that. We crossed Bishton LC, mp153 at 42.5; then climbed over the flyover, 40.5 on the 1in99. We drifted down to Severn Tunnel Jn for a set down a minute late. Hate the set down there as it spoils the run down into the big hole.

Sure enough we entered the big hole at only 48.4. 4m 13.52s later we emerged into England on the 1in 100 at 51. Despite plenty of noise up front, our speed dropped to 45.7 at the end of the 1in100 through Pilning. On the level we picked up to 52, but then speed fell steadily up the 1in100 to enter Patchway Tunnel at only 46. We left it at 43 according to the GPS. Rather disappointing but it had been a hard run back from Tenby. All down grade from Filton Jn for a 3 minute early arrival into Temple Meads. It was good to go west of Cardiff again. The loading was really good and we hope it might become an annual event.

Thanks to Pathfinder for running the train; always good to catch up with their friendly folk; to DB for their excellent crews and the use of Margam's Class 66 that behaved itself on the climb out of Tenby and onwards to Port Talbot; to Riviera Trains or the use of their stock. The Firsts seem to have had a facelift and the Standards were OK, better than on the Cornishman; to the A1LST for the provision of the excellent 60163 and it's Support Crew, proving yet again that the 'new' A1 is master of all routes, regardless of the load; and to Network Rail for letting us enjoy steam on the mainline in 2019.