Peak District Explorer - 9th June 2018
'On Saturday 9th June 2018 Pathfinder Railtours operated 'The Peak District Explorer from Taunton to Buxton and back. The charter ran into a few problems before departure from Taunton when the empty stock for the train was delayed by a major brake fault on the locomotive (No.66129) when it tried to run around the stock at Westbury. By the time a second locomotive had been found and coupled to the stock, the empty coaching stock was 40 minutes late arriving at Taunton. The DB crew did a fantastic job at Taunton uncoupling and running around the train and got the procedure completed in record time.
The unique white roof Class 66 No.66177 was provided for the tour. The white cab roofs were an experiment by EWS to try and reduce the heat in the cabs during the summer months to help reflect the heat, but the idea seemed to make little difference and wasn't adopted on the rest of the fleet.
The unique white roof Class 66 No.66177 was provided for the tour. The white cab roofs were an experiment by EWS to try and reduce the heat in the cabs during the summer months to help reflect the heat, but the idea seemed to make little difference and wasn't adopted on the rest of the fleet.
The routing of the train from Taunton was via Bristol, Cheltenham, Kings Norton, St Andrews Curve, Birmingham New Street, Bescot. The Class 66 hauled the charter from Taunton to Bescot Yard where a locomotive change took place. No.66177 was removed from the front of the train and added to the rear. and Colas Rail Freight Class 56 No.56302 was then added to the front of the train.
From Bescot the Colas Locomotive hauled the train through Stafford, Crewe, Warrington, diverging at Winick Junction to then pass Earlestown, Eccles, Manchester Oxford Road, and onto Buxton via the mainline route.
After a short break at Buxton the Class 66 then hauled the train out to Buxton URS sidings where the 56 could then access the branch line to Dowlow. The six mile round trip took 50 minutes to complete before ending up back at Buxton where a further break was enjoyed.
The return charter saw the train again hauled out to Buxton URS sidings, this time to allow the Class 56 access to the Peak Forest Branch, the steeply graded line took us through tunnels and deep cuttings to reach Tunstead, Peak Forest and then climb out of the quarries to Chinley East Junction, here we rejoined the mainline network and passed over the Hope Valley line passing Edale, Hope before diverging right at Dore & Totley and routing via Chestefield, Clay Cross and on to Toton Yard. It was at Toton where the final loco change of the day took place, Class 56 No.56302 was removed and No.66177 brought back to the front of the train. The Class 66 then hauled us back to Stenson Junction, Tamworth, Water Orton, Birmingham New Street, Cheltenham and Bristol Parkway. Because of Engineering work the tour did not return to Taunton that night, instead passengers were provided with road coach transfer from Bristol Parkway to Taunton by Chauffeurhire Coaches.
From Bescot the Colas Locomotive hauled the train through Stafford, Crewe, Warrington, diverging at Winick Junction to then pass Earlestown, Eccles, Manchester Oxford Road, and onto Buxton via the mainline route.
After a short break at Buxton the Class 66 then hauled the train out to Buxton URS sidings where the 56 could then access the branch line to Dowlow. The six mile round trip took 50 minutes to complete before ending up back at Buxton where a further break was enjoyed.
The return charter saw the train again hauled out to Buxton URS sidings, this time to allow the Class 56 access to the Peak Forest Branch, the steeply graded line took us through tunnels and deep cuttings to reach Tunstead, Peak Forest and then climb out of the quarries to Chinley East Junction, here we rejoined the mainline network and passed over the Hope Valley line passing Edale, Hope before diverging right at Dore & Totley and routing via Chestefield, Clay Cross and on to Toton Yard. It was at Toton where the final loco change of the day took place, Class 56 No.56302 was removed and No.66177 brought back to the front of the train. The Class 66 then hauled us back to Stenson Junction, Tamworth, Water Orton, Birmingham New Street, Cheltenham and Bristol Parkway. Because of Engineering work the tour did not return to Taunton that night, instead passengers were provided with road coach transfer from Bristol Parkway to Taunton by Chauffeurhire Coaches.
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1Z43 05:10 Taunton - Bescot
1Z44 13:40 Buxton - Buxton via Dowlow 1Z45 16:40 Buxton - Bristol Temple Meads via Peak Forest & Toton 66177 05:10 Taunton - Bescot 56302 10:14 Bescot - Buxton 66177 13:40 Buxton - Buxton URS 56302 13:55 Buxton URS - Dowlow 66177 14:35 Dowlow - Buxton URS 56032 15:20 Buxton URS - Buxton 66177 16:40 Buxton - Buxton URS 56302 16:55 Buxton - Toton Jn 66177 19:32 Toton Jn - Bristol Parkway (Coach) CP15CHP 'Ellenor Rigby' - Bristol Parkway - Taunton Consist: 4991 4959 4927 1832 3121 3110 3123 1671 3066 3068 21269 Miles: 66177: 259.57 56302: 184.05 |
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EWS liveried Class 66 No.66177 arrives into Taunton Station on Saturday 9th June 2018 running 55 minutes behind schedule at 05:41 in the morning, hauling the late running empty coaching stock for Pathfinder Tours 'The Peak District Explorer' charter, which started at Taunton. The 5Z43 02:20 Eastleigh - Taunton was hauled to Westbury by No.66129 however a brake fault at Westbury with that locomotive resulted in No.66177 being used to haul the stock to Taunton (and subsequently the rest of the charter).
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Pathfinder Tours operated 'The Peak District Explorer' charter from Taunton on Saturday 9th June 2018. The tour featured a Class 66 locomotive from DB Cargo from Taunton to the West Midlands (and also assisting with movements in the Peak District) and a Class 56 from Colas Rail Freight from the West Midlands. After the late arrival of stock from Eastleigh, the unique white roof Class 66 No.66177 is seen being coupled to the charter at Taunton ready to form the 1Z43 05:10 Taunton - Buxton. Because of Engineering work the tour did not return to Taunton that night, instead passengers were provided with road coach transfer from Bristol Parkway to Taunton by Chauffeurhire Coaches.
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TFL Bombardier Aventra Class 345 No.345035 stands at Crewe ready to be delivered to Crossrail in London on 9th June 2018.
Transpennine Class 185 No.185127 passes over the Ordsall Curve bridge linking Manchester Piccadilly with Manchester Victoria. The 1P73 11:47 Manchester Airport to Middlesbrough service passes through the bus scene on Saturday 9th June 2018.
Colas Rail Freight Class 56 No.56302 stands at Buxton having arrived with Pathfinder Tours 'The Peak District Explorer' charter from Taunton on the 9th June 2018. The 1Z43 05:10 Taunton - Buxton charter also had a Class 66 No.66177 on the opposite end of the train to allow shunt manoeuvres in the Buxton area.
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This Statue at Buxton Station was made by the firends of Buxton Station who cleared the former Depot buildings of railway scrap and comissioned this stunning piece by local artists Andy Hill. The statue was named Joe but comedian Alexei Synes in honour of his dad who was a life long guard on the railway.
Former First Great Western Class 150 No.150129 stands at Buxton waiting to depart to Manchester Piccadilly, while oposite Class 56 No.56302 stands having arrived with Pathfinder Tours 'The Peak District Expolorer' charter from Taunton on the 9th June 2018
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End of the line at Dowlow on the 1Z44 Buxton - Buxton 'Mini Tour'. Colas Class 56 No.56302 is pictured at the head of The Peak District Explorer on the 9th June 2018.
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Northern Trains Class 156 No.156461 is pictured stabled in the central platform at Buxton out of use, while former First Great Western Class 150 No.150128 stands in Platform 2 with a stopping service to Manchester Piccadilly.
Colas Rail Freight Class 56 No.56302 arrives back into Buxton Station from the sidings ready to collect passengers for the last leg of Pathfinder Tours, The Peak District Explorer charter to Taunton via Peak Forest.
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Having returned Pathfinder Railtours 'The Peak District Explorer' charter back to Toton as the 1Z45 16:40 Buxton - Bristol Temple Meads, the locomotive comes off the train at Toton where it ran light engine to Doncaster. From here DB Class 66 No.66177 came to the front of the train to take passengers back to Bristol where a road coach was provided for the run to Taunton due to Engineering work.
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