PF/UKRT Western Champion 'One Way Wizzo' Railtour 14/4/24

Iskra · 13 Mar 2024

This may be of interest to some on here, as it looks like a decently priced mini-tour with a heritage diesel on load 13 from London Paddington to Birmingham, the class 52 isn't bad either

Start and end times are fairly civilised too. A joint tour by Pathfinder and UKRailtours.

The One Way Wizzo - Confirmed Timings Added - Pathfinder Railtours

Join us on this quite unique collaboration between Pathfinder Railtours and UK Railtours as we join forces to bring you an unusual opportunity to participate in a one way test trip of the much loved and often requested D1015 ‘Western Champion’. Join at London Paddington only

www.pathfindertours.co.uk

SUNDAY 14 APRIL 2024
JOIN US ON THIS QUITE UNIQUE COLLABORATION BETWEEN PATHFINDER RAILTOURS AND UK RAILTOURS AS WE JOIN FORCES TO BRING YOU AN UNUSUAL OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN A ONE WAY TEST TRIP OF THE MUCH LOVED AND OFTEN REQUESTED D1015 ‘WESTERN CHAMPION’.
Our journey between London and Birmingham is intended to provide a real test for the Western.
Comprising of a train of 13 coaches and a dead locomotive, the trailing load will be in the order of 550 tonnes, a solid examination of the locomotive’s pedigree.
Departing from London Paddington at approximately 14.00, we head west down the Great Western main line through Slough and Reading before deviating north at Didcot. Now in Oxfordshire we pass through the County town, Oxford (which of course is a city) and follow the banks of the river Cherwell towards Banbury where we hope to have a short photo break.
Now heading into the Midlands, we divert to the right at Leamington Spa and traverse the link line passing through the recently reopened Kenilworth station. After passing through Coventry and Birmingham International we take the diversionary line at Stechford towards Aston and Tame Bridge Parkway (estimated arrival 17.40), where passengers can choose to alight.
For those remaining on the train we proceed the short distance into Bescot yard where ‘Western Champion’ is detached. The train then reverses and is hauled by our supporting locomotive (expected to be a GBRf class 57/3) the few miles to Birmingham New Street station (via the Soho loop) where we expect to arrive by 18.30 and where the train terminates.
The fares for this very unusual Sunday afternoon excursion are £89 First Class Non Dining and £69 Standard Class. There is no First Class Dining on this railtour, but there will be a fully stocked buffet onboard.
Please note this railtour is a one way journey between London and Birmingham and this is a formal test run for the locomotive.

BOOKINGS IN ADVANCE ONLY

RailUK Forums

Ashley Hill · 13 Mar 2024

Shame its not going via High Wycombe.

31160 · 13 Mar 2024

I really can't see the point of this at all, one way and expensive at that, if you really want to do a 52 tour just wait for one that goes back to where you started from

Iskra · 13 Mar 2024

31160 said:
I really can't see the point of this at all, one way and expensive at that, if you really want to do a 52 tour just wait for one that goes back to where you started from

It’s clearly advertised as a test run, which they are kindly taking passengers on, at a reasonable price. Presumably, the proceeds go towards funding the Western’s future mainline service. Advance tickets to meet and leave the train make this a reasonably priced day out for me, and similarly priced to a full days tour in total. Also, being a partial tour means the later start and earlier finish allow more people to get to the joining stations. If it was a 0600 start off Paddington and 2200 return that reduces the numbers who can make it without pricey hotels.

How many 52 tours are there currently advertised?

Fair enough if you aren’t interested personally, but I think you may need to view it slightly more objectively. I suspect all 13 carriages will sell out.

31160 · 13 Mar 2024

I'd be very surprised if they did, and if you listen to peeps in the know I can think of at least two other 52 tours this year,they are listed as such yet but pound to a penny that's what they are. If you think its a good day out then fair play definitely not for me

StephenHunter · 13 Mar 2024

I'd consider that but I've got a prior engagement.

Rail Quest · 13 Mar 2024

This sounds like a cracking idea IMO! I won't do the tour but I'll certainly go out to see it somewhere! Its on the same that The Great Britain XVI is going through the west mids - should be a good day

Iskra · 13 Mar 2024

Rail Quest said:
This sounds like a cracking idea IMO! I won't do the tour but I'll certainly go out to see it somewhere! Its on the same that The Great Britain XVI is going through the west mids - should be a good day

I’m sure it will be a great sight if you can catch it at any form of speed

peteb · 14 Mar 2024

There's many comments on YouTube about the loco's smokey diesel exhaust. However to put it into context, according to Yougov there are 1.3 million vans on UK roads over 10 years old, 90% of which are diesel. So any pollution from this loco pales into insignificance......and this is a test run so no doubt the engines and exhaust will be tweaked following it.

silverfox58 · 14 Mar 2024

Booked Ticket you never know what's going to happen in thefuture so grab what you can when you can.
This is my first Wizzo excursion since travelling on 26th Feb 1977 last western tour

DarloRich · 14 Mar 2024

31160 said:
I really can't see the point of this at all, one way and expensive at that, if you really want to do a 52 tour just wait for one that goes back to where you started from

not that westerns mean much to me but this seems a strange comment. I can easily get to Paddington and from Brum and sensible hours if I wanted to do this trip. No hotel, no stupid times.

It seems a good way to earn a bit of money while doing a final test run. I might book it just coz I can.

AnthonyRail · 14 Mar 2024

I'm doing it just to say I had western haulage out of Paddington.

Hotel in Birmingham then a 68 hauled back to Maylebone.

Iskra · 14 Mar 2024

AnthonyRail said:
I'm doing it just to say I had western haulage out of Paddington.

Hotel in Birmingham then a 68 hauled back to Maylebone.

Same! Plus, it’s a classic old Virgin Cross Country route. Sadly, I’ll be on a Meridian down and a Voyager back.

Sun Chariot · 14 Mar 2024

Ashley Hill said:
Shame its not going via High Wycombe.

That really would have put the icing on the cake. A Thousand, with thirteen on, vigorously throttling past Risborough 'box...
I'll even forgive the coaches being Mk2s

Skymonster · 14 Mar 2024

Very tempting - day out at a fair price, EMR south on the MML at a reasonable time, Western, then XC back in time for an adult beverage or two!

Train Maniac · 16 Mar 2024

Sun Chariot said:
That really would have put the icing on the cake. A Thousand, with thirteen on, vigorously throttling past Risborough 'box...
I'll even forgive the coaches being Mk2s

Im not sure i understand the reference, whats the significance? To the best of my knowledge, Westerns didnt work the Chiltern route?

Sun Chariot · 16 Mar 2024

Train Maniac said:
Im not sure i understand the reference, whats the significance? To the best of my knowledge, Westerns didnt work the Chiltern route?

Comment is primarily because I fancied a location where a Western can be photographed passing the wonderful GWR signal box.

The Birmingham Pullman (Blue Pullman) used the Ruislip-Wycombe-Risbro-Bicester route to Banbury; and I do believe that the Western-hauled Wolverhampton Low Level services initially used that route as well.
Attached extract from the excelllent article, linked here:

The Class 52 Westerns - Western Locomotive Association

Ashley Hill · 16 Mar 2024

Sun Chariot said:
Comment is primarily because I know of no other location - for that tour - where a Western can be photographed passing a wonderful GWR signal box

Is West Ruislip not still there? Plus Greenford.

Sun Chariot · 16 Mar 2024

Ashley Hill said:
Is West Ruislip not still there? Plus Greenford.

I think the line that diverged off the GWML just after Old Oak Common, is long gone.
1991, I used to take the Paddington to Bicester North, on the loco hauled service (I think it left Paddington 17:33 Mon-Fri). Always a 47, sometimes a no-heat one...

Ashley Hill · 16 Mar 2024

Yes,via Park Royal has gone but can still go via West Ealing.

Harvester · 16 Mar 2024

Sun Chariot said:
The Birmingham Pullman (Blue Pullman) used the Ruislip-Wycombe-Risbro-Bicester route to Banbury; and I do believe that the Western-hauled Wolverhampton Low Level services initially used that route as well.
Attached extract from the excelllent article, linked here:

I can remember my first visit to Paddington as a youngster at the end of August 1962. Haulage of the Paddington-Wolverhampton service via High Wycombe was then being shared by new ‘Westerns’ and the soon to be withdrawn ’Kings’. There were enough new Westerns available by the start of the 1962/63 winter timetable the following month, to run this service on accelerated timings.

peteb · 17 Mar 2024

Train Maniac said:
Train Maniac said:

Im not sure i understand the reference, whats the significance? To the best of my knowledge, Westerns didnt work the Chiltern route?

Click to expand...

https://www.keymodelworld.com/article/western-diesel-hydraulics-class-history The above website has several photos of westerns working the route via High Wycombe in the 1960s.

Forty29 · 18 Mar 2024

Sun Chariot said:
I think the line that diverged off the GWML just after Old Oak Common, is long gone.
1991, I used to take the Paddington to Bicester North, on the loco hauled service (I think it left Paddington 17:33 Mon-Fri). Always a 47, sometimes a no-heat one...

And later class 50, usually in NSE livery though saw 50012 in large logo.

Sun Chariot · 19 Mar 2024

Forty29 said:
And later class 50, usually in NSE livery though saw 50012 in large logo.

My home from 1991-1993 backed onto the Chiltern line, one mile north of Bicester North.
The "one peak service each way, per weekday", a loco-hauled working, was Paddington - High Wycombe - Risbro - Bicester - Banbury (loco haulage discontinued in mid 1991) - and only 47s (/0, /4 and /7) at the helm of those.

Paddington - Oxford - Banbury loco hauled services - I only saw Hoovers on those until 1989 (fond memory (and photo) of a double-headed haulage, August 1988). By 1991, it was solely 47s on those workings.

Forty29 · 19 Mar 2024

Sun Chariot said:
My home from 1991-1993 backed onto the Chiltern line, one mile north of Bicester North.
The "one peak service each way, per weekday", a loco-hauled working, was Paddington - High Wycombe - Risbro - Bicester - Banbury (loco haulage discontinued in mid 1991) - and only 47s (/0, /4 and /7) at the helm of thos
Paddington - Oxford - Banbury loco hauled services - I only saw Hoovers on those until 1989 (fond memory (and photo) of a double-headed haulage, August 1988). By 1991, it was solely 47s on those workings.

Aah thanks for the information. Used to walk up the vehicle track from the Banbury road to the bridge deck and watch on summer evening's. Wasn't the only one to observe still have photos but only of Hoover's l think. Happy days!!
Always looked forward to Friday lunchtime when 2 x class 20's were on the Chinnor coals and return later on in the afternoon usually good thrash.

Sun Chariot · 19 Mar 2024

Forty29 said:
Always looked forward to Friday lunchtime when 2 x class 20's were on the Chinnor coals and return later on in the afternoon usually good thrash.

Ooh, I'm jealous: I missed out seeing that working
(As compensation, I had the chance to capture the Preston Deepdale domestic coal workings; always a 37 and through some wonderfully-dilapidated old gated crossings near the coal terminal.)

Haywain · 19 Mar 2024

StephenHunter said:
I'd consider that but I've got a prior engagement.

I had a prior engagement but that's gone in the bin!

StephenHunter · 19 Mar 2024

Haywain said:
I had a prior engagement but that's gone in the bin!

My engagement changed dates and I've booked a ticket. Do we know what sort of Mark 2s will be on the train?

12LDA28C · 19 Mar 2024

Ashley Hill said:
Yes,via Park Royal has gone but can still go via West Ealing.

Indeed and Greenford East 'box is very much still operational

Virgin Voyager · 19 Mar 2024

StephenHunter said:
My engagement changed dates and I've booked a ticket. Do we know what sort of Mark 2s will be on the train?

Most certainly the riviera coffins, however I did see that they were fitting some small opening sections to the top of the windows on some of them at least which will let the noise in. Not sure if the plan is to do the full fleet though and whether they will be done in time for this tour

PF/UKRT Western Champion 'One Way Wizzo' Railtour 14/4/24

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SUNDAY 14 APRIL 2024​

JOIN US ON THIS QUITE UNIQUE COLLABORATION BETWEEN PATHFINDER RAILTOURS AND UK RAILTOURS AS WE JOIN FORCES TO BRING YOU AN UNUSUAL OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN A ONE WAY TEST TRIP OF THE MUCH LOVED AND OFTEN REQUESTED D1015 ‘WESTERN CHAMPION’.​

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SUNDAY 14 APRIL 2024

JOIN US ON THIS QUITE UNIQUE COLLABORATION BETWEEN PATHFINDER RAILTOURS AND UK RAILTOURS AS WE JOIN FORCES TO BRING YOU AN UNUSUAL OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN A ONE WAY TEST TRIP OF THE MUCH LOVED AND OFTEN REQUESTED D1015 ‘WESTERN CHAMPION’.

BOOKINGS IN ADVANCE ONLY