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It is interesting to note that the Hereford - Pontypool Road section of the North & West route had a service of a train every eight minutes - and it was not even a trunk main line. Passenger trains were not especially numerous - there was not room for them - but those that did run were worth seeing. As an example the 12.20 Manchester (LR) - Plymouth is worth quoting. Castle 4-6-0. BSK, SK, SO, CK, BSK, RB, SO, BCK, BSK, SK, SO, CK, BSK (13) It was all LMS stock, most of which found its way into GWR local workings in Cornwall before returning north. The formations of the North & West trains were extremely varied and no two trains were alike. Some had Paignton portions, others not. Some of the sets spent time on GW local services. LMS stock was generally used but see the books 'Operation Cornwall' and Operation Torbay', you should find the subject exhaustively covered. Class 7 engines were diagrammed for the workings with Castles being used in the majority of cases. Kings were used experimentally between Bristol and Shrewsbury in 1951/21 working the 13.00 Plymouth - Salop and the 20.20 Crewe - Bristol between Bristol and Shrewsbury. I have an idea they returned late in their career when Warship diesels were eating into their main duties. When Castle's were not available for the booked turns, a County was the invariable substitute. The loadings were King (14 coaches), Castle/County (13 coaches), Hall, 43xx (12 coaches). These loading could be increased by another coach provided trains were assisted over Llanvihangel. Very late in their careers - circa 1960 - the Kings were cleared from Filton Junction to Cardiff. Source divman of xpress publications
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