Western Railrover..1958
 
 
In 1958, I decided that instead of my usual Holiday plans of "One week with the family" and "One week with my mates", I would continue with the former, but replace the latter with a weekly railrover ticket on the Western Region.
 
I chose a week in June that included the last few days of the winter timetable, and the first few of the summer. My start date was Wednesday 4th June. At Birmingham New Street, I joined the 7.55am to Bristol, the 6.10am from Derby. Black 5 no 45262 ran satisfactorily with a light train and was on time at Temple Meads. I then joined the 7.30am Paddington to Paignton, an 8 coach train with 6981 Marbury Hall up front. I travelled as far as Exeter. We were 12 late from Bristol, reduced to 8 late by Exeter. Now the highlight of the day, the Torbay Express, from Exeter non stop to Paddington. Castle class no 5078 Beaufort had an 8 coach train, and three p.w slowings to contend with. No problem, 3 early into Paddington. Then it was back to Bristol on the 4.15pm service, with 6010 King Charles I on a 10 coach train. 3 early into Bristol. Time for a quick cuppa before joining the 7.20pm Bristol to Newcastle back to Birmingham with Black 5 no 44662. On time into New Street. So end of day 1. Five runs, Total mileage for day 546. 
 
Day 2: Thursday 5th June. Up to Paddington on the 8.00am from Snow Hill, with 6006 King George I. 2 mins late in. Then 6023 King Edward II from Paddington to Taunton on the 11.30am to Penzance. 2 late in. Next the Cornishman from Taunton to Bristol with Castle 4037 The South Wales Borderers. 1 late into Bristol. Next, what I hoped would be the highlight of the day, the Up Bristolian. 5043 Earl of Mount Edgecumbe had the usual Monday to Thursday 7 coach load, and was 4 early into Paddington, despite 4 minutes lost by a p.w slowing at Cholsey, and a signal stop outside Paddington. 95 minutes net. Then back to Birmingham Snow Hill on 6006 King George I again, on the 6.10pm down, which had been delayed by a points failure. 41 late out, 28 late into Snow Hill. Total miles for day 526.
 

 
Day 3: Friday 6th June. This is where the gremlins arrived. A streaming summer cold and a throat that felt like razor blades. I decided to give Friday a miss.
 
Day 3: Saturday 7th June: Worse than ever. Still very sore. By early afternoon I decided on a Birmingham to Paddington and back. 7033 Hartlebury Castle took me south on the 3.00pm from Snow Hill, 2 late at Paddington, and 5045 Earl of Dudley got me back to Snow Hill 1 early on the 6.10pm from Paddington. Total miles for day 221.
 
Day 4: Sunday 8th June: This had been planned as a day off. In fact I spent the whole day in bed.
 
Day 5: Monday 9th June: No way was I going to miss a trip on the Cornish Riviera. So it was the 8.00am from Snow Hill with 6011 King James I. But the loco had to come off at Banbury with injector problems. And we got a decrepit looking 4987 Brockley Hall. No way was I going to be in Paddington in time to catch the 10.30am. I need not have worried. 4987 ran superbly and was only 7 late in. And so I joined 6004 on the 10.30am from Paddington. With 16 minutes lost by one signal check and six p.w. slowings, we were 1 early into Plymouth. 224 minutes net. Magnificent. Then back to Bristol on the 12.00pm Penzance to Manchester. 4091 Dudley Castle was the loco, assisted by 5992 Horton Hall over the South Devon banks to Newton Abbot. 3 late into Bristol. Then back to Birmingham on the 7.20pm Newcastle, which had become the 7.25pm Newcastle with the advent of the summer timetable. Black 5 no 44819 ran well, and we were right time into New Street. Total miles for day 553. 
 
Days 6 and 7: Abandoned.
 
Despite only getting in three and a half days out of the intended six, I achieved my principal objectives. To travel on the Torbay Express, the Cornish Riviera Express, and the Bristolian. And in the three and a half days that I was actually able to travel, I clocked up 1846 steam miles.  
 

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