THE AVON GORGEOUS

“On 1^st August 1966, two days after England won the World Cup, D1948 entered traffic. Sixty years later Locomotive Services are celebrating its anniversary, to the day, offering a day excursion to the City of Bristol. The train will be operated by what is now 47712 along with another Class 47, in Top & Tail formation, from Crewe to Bristol T.M.

The train will leave Crewe around 08.30 picking up at Shrewsbury (09.00) and Hereford (10.10). From Hereford the train will run via Ledbury, Worcester Shrub Hill and Evesham to Oxford. This route is little used by locomotive hauled trains these days and provides the opportunity to do so. From Oxford we will travel via Foxhall Jn (Didcot), Swindon and Bristol Parkway to Bristol T.M. ( 13.45) where customers can alight if they wish to.

For those wishing to do something a little different the train will then depart Bristol T.M. and head towards Portbury Docks. Leaving the main line at Parson Street Jn we will traverse the Portishead branch as far as the Stop Board for Portbury Docks. On arrival there you will be able to view where the branch to Portishead used to run and which will hopefully reopen in 2028, having closed in 1964. After our reversal we will then head back to Bristol T.M., but not via the direct route as we will traverse the line via St Philips Marsh. On arrival into Bristol there will an opportunity for a 2/3-hour break away from the train.

Once back on the train we will return to Crewe from Bristol T.M. (17.45), this time via the alternative route of Bath Spa, Swindon, Kemble and Cheltenham Spa to Worcester Shrub Hill. From here we will retrace our steps, setting down at Hereford (21.00) and Shrewsbury (22.00) before arriving back in Crewe (22.30).