1970 Paddington - Ilfracombe / Minehead train consists

[30907]

TBF the 65 timetable was the winter one - I imagine the Sunday train ran all summer, and memory says there was a combined Ilfracombe/Bude on summer Sats.

 

[341o2]

TBF the 65 timetable was the winter one - I imagine the Sunday train ran all summer, and memory says there was a combined Ilfracombe/Bude on summer Sats.

There certainly was a Summer Saturday service, Paddington to Bude 1965. Sadly, it was poorly promoted, too late, and as a result poorly patronised, so was not repeated in 1966

 

[Nacht-Zug-Fahr]

Looking at Table 1 for WR on TTWorld, in 1965 there were through trains Ilfracombe to Paddington and return on 'Weekdays' (ie SX & SO).

On the UP it was 11 a.m. off Ilfracombe, which combined with 9.20 a.m ex Falmouth at EX St D, arriving Paddington 3.35 p.m.
On the Down, it was 11.30 a.m. from Paddington, which divided at Exeter, one portion for Falmouth, the other for Ilfracombe, arriving 4 p.m.

For the same year there were also through trains on Sundays, but only for three dates, 30th May, 6th June and 13th June.

UP: 11 a.m from Ilfracombe, which combined with 11.40 a.m. ex Kingswear at Exeter, arriving Paddington 4.45 p.m.
Down: 11.30 a.m Paddington to Kingswear, which had a portion for Ilfracombe, arriving at 4.47 p.m.

By 1967, it appears the only through trains were two UP and two Down, on Saturdays (only) in the high summer, 27th May until 16th September.

UP: 11 a.m. Ilfracombe to Paddington, arriving 4.15 p.m., and 3 p.m. Ilfracombe to Paddington, due 7.55 p.m.
Down: 08.50 a.m. Paddington to Ilfracombe arriving 2 p.m., and 1.18 p.m. Paddington to Ilfracombe due 6.08 p.m.

It would seem the timings changed again by 1968 as Gloster alluded to somewhere up thread. My guess is the Warships were likely diagrammed for the through London's whilst the Hymeks (and NBL's?) may have been charged with working the Ilfracombe portion of through trains and/or local services?

May I ask where I can find TTWorld ? Is it a website ?

 

[Ash Bridge]

May I ask where I can find TTWorld ? Is it a website ?

Here you go…..

Timetable World – Historical transport timetables and maps

timetableworld.com

 

[Big Jumby 74]

TBF the 65 timetable was the winter one - I imagine the Sunday train ran all summer,

My apologies - didn't notice that.........as you say, high summer in its entirety makes sense.

There certainly was a Summer Saturday service, Paddington to Bude 1965. Sadly, it was poorly promoted, too late, and as a result poorly patronised, so was not repeated in 1966

Sadly for those of us looking back today, I think events at the time (end of steam, lack of patronage, railway in general being on a downward slope financially & politically) much of what did run (ie: transition era/early diesel workings) often went unrecorded, especially as many of those individuals who's (steam era) work we now see in abundance in book/DVD format etc, may have lost interest with the demise of steam?

 

[Taunton]

The Cornwall Railway Society, in their usual comprehensive manner, have not only a huge range of photographs on their lengthy page on the line, but also the complete 1970 summer timetable, last year for Ilfracombe. It's two-thirds of the way down the page, here, with seven trains a day on Saturdays instead of the more usual five (search for the word 'timetables', and be aware that in other searches on there Hymek has unfortunately been spelt 'Hymeck' throughout ...) :

Exeter to Barnstaple and Ilfracombe

Exeter to Crediton, Barnstaple, and Ilfracombe

www.cornwallrailwaysociety.org.uk

An embedded link in there is this fascinating film taken in 1898 from a loco front from Barnstaple Junction towards the Ilfracombe line :

 

[Nacht-Zug-Fahr]

Here you go…..

Timetable World – Historical transport timetables and maps

timetableworld.com

Many thanks

 

[Big Jumby 74]

be aware that in other searches on there Hymek has unfortunately been spelt 'Hymeck' throughout

Understandable perhaps these days given when the last of the class was withdrawn. I missed them (only just) myself in BR service, so had to do a double take when passing Edginton Junction by train one day and glanced a brief glimpse of two Hymek's and a Warship in the sidings there.......I was back there within days (with my camera this time) and a quick word with the 'bobby' on duty, and many photo's were taken. For those unaware, these were the loco's that Derby Research had no more use of, namely D7076, D7096 & D832, which had been outberthed from the Research centre to get them out of the way.

 

[341o2]

My apologies - didn't notice that.........as you say, high summer in its entirety makes sense.


Sadly for those of us looking back today, I think events at the time (end of steam, lack of patronage, railway in general being on a downward slope financially & politically) much of what did run (ie: transition era/early diesel workings) often went unrecorded, especially as many of those individuals who's (steam era) work we now see in abundance in book/DVD format etc, may have lost interest with the demise of steam?

I would recommend a read of The Withered Arm by TWE Roche, recording his experiences on the former Southern Railway west of Exeter from wartime to 1968 and the last "Brighton", being the Plymouth - Brighton service via Okehampton

 

[Ash Bridge]

I would recommend a read of The Withered Arm by TWE Roche, recording his experiences on the former Southern Railway west of Exeter from wartime to 1968 and the last "Brighton", being the Plymouth - Brighton service via Okehampton

I have to fully endorse this recommendation, an excellent publication and Mr Roche writes in a very Betjemanesque style. I have the first edition 1968? and also an updated reprint from around 1972 which includes a quite sentimental pilgrimage to Ilfracombe from Barnstaple Junction on board a dmu shortly before the lines total closure. Sadly I believe that TWE Roche passed away shortly afterwards, this book is one of my favourite all time reads.

 

[32475]

The front cover of ‘Diesels on the Western’ by Michael Welch features a photo taken at Williton of an unidentified Hymek with a rake of 9(?) Mk 1s on the 10.25 Minehead to Paddington on 13th June 1970.
Michael Welch’s extensive series of books are a great source of information with quality photographs.

 

[Cowley]

The front cover of ‘Diesels on the Western’ by Michael Welch features a photo taken at Williton of an unidentified Hymek with a rake of 9(?) Mk 1s on the 10.25 Minehead to Paddington on 13th June 1970.
Michael Welch’s extensive series of books are a great source of information with quality photographs.
View attachment 139688

I may have just purchased a copy of this online. Better work a bit harder this afternoon to pay for it.

 

[randyrippley]

The front cover of ‘Diesels on the Western’ by Michael Welch features a photo taken at Williton of an unidentified Hymek with a rake of 9(?) Mk 1s on the 10.25 Minehead to Paddington on 13th June 1970.
Michael Welch’s extensive series of books are a great source of information with quality photographs.
View attachment 139688

Looks like 8 to me

 

[Big Jumby 74]

Michael Welch’s extensive series of books are a great source of information with quality photographs.

Entirely agree. Have several of his fine works myself, his name being known by many of us fellow ex Southern men !