Request for help
 

Hi

I just wondered if there's anyone out there that can help!

I am writing a book that is set in the late 50s. The hero wants to travel from Manchester to Pembroke Dock.

What route would be available to him at this time? I'd like this section to be an unashamed homage to the pre-Beeching network so station names would be great.

And the cost of the ticket, approximately?

This is probably a very big ask, but any help or guidance would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

I would have thought from Manchester to Birmingham(new street),walk over to Snow Hill(GWR)and catch another train to Cardiff and then onwards to Pembroke dock!Long time since I travelled that way,Gloucester had (if I remember correctly)two stations ,one was Midland and another was GWR connected by a very long footbridge,so travel from New Street could have been possible ,you would need timetables!!!Others out there will appear before long!!Sorry cannot recall prices!

Thanks very much, 41225.

Do you think there was a trans-Wales route, via Shrewsbury and Aberystwyth?

Appreciate your help!

Hi Rich,
I think the most direct route (although possibly not the quickest) would have been the Central Wales Line. Using this line the route would have been Manchester (London Road) - Crewe - Shrewsbury - Craven Arms - Llandrindod Wells - Llandeilo - Carmarthen - Whitland - Pembroke Dock.
This route still exists today except for the section between Llandeilo and Carmarthen which closed in 1963.
A change of trains would probably have been required at Shrewsbury, Llandeilo and Carmarthen although it's possible that the Manchester - Swansea through train was still running in the 1950's which would enabled the traveller to reach Llandeilo before any change was required.
The only timetable that I have is from 1921 and then the journey from Manchester to Pembroke Dock would have taken approx. 10 hours via this route. I have no idea of ticket prices.
HTH.

Thank you very much indeed.