We hit the buffers at 15:17 and it was piddling it down!!!!! So where do you go in Southampton when its raining??? Well we tried the Marina Village but it was shut and there was nothing to do except eat over priced fish and chips at Harry Ramsdens. So it was time for pub move number 2!!! We sat and watched the footy scores coming in with Scunthorpe having beat York, and Everton having beat Leicester!!! It pleased me, but other results didn’t please Daniel!! (did they????). We also had a meal, although it was long enough waiting but the meal was really worth it!!

So we walked back to the train in the rain, and stood around (albeit not knowing that a few hours later that’s all we would be doing!!!!). We departed Southampton Eastern Docks at 18:00, had a little kid singing Bob the Builder, and on passing Eastleigh noticing that most of the locos had come off depot and had managed to get themselves in to the yard. After Basingstoke the return was to be the same as the outward, and thus straight forward. 

HOWEVER………

After Pirbright Jct we were informed that there was a signal problem in the Woking area and that trains were queuing up at each signal section. However, just outside Woking Station we were informed that the situation was worse than expected and that Wimbledon box was on Fire. Basically most of the South West Routes out of Waterloo were unavailable.We came in to Woking station at 20:02 and rumours began to circulate about what was to occur. At one point we had left the train when all seemed to be lost, to make our way in to London. Anyway, the following routes were rumoured.

Woking – Guildford (rev) – Epsom – Sutton – Streatham – Clapham Junction – Victoria

Woking – Guildford – Redhill (rev) – Gatwick Airport (rev) – Victoria

Woking – Basingstoke – Eastleigh – Chichester – Hove – Gatwick Airport – Victoria But in the end they decided on the following:

Woking – Basingstoke (rev) – Reading – GW Main Line – Acton – Willesden West London Jct – Mitre Bridge Jct – Latchmere Jct – Longhedge Jct – Victoria. All of which required 73109 “Battle of Britain” (with the nickname of BOB). Road coaches had been sought, but due to the short time requested were unable to find any. There thing was, the train could not go anywhere near the Wimbledon signalling area, so Reading – Ascot – Staines – Waterloo was out of the question.73108 had already departed and run round the train for the journey to Guildford. 73109 came out of the Bay platform and was finally put on to the train. The timing sheet was to disappear out of the Window!!!!! We departed Woking 2hrs and 15 minutes after we arrived, and the ED’s gave an electrifying performance to Basingstoke where the fun and games didn’t end. The two locos were required to run round but due to a points problem had to go to Micheldever to Run Round!!!!!! So we ended up being sat in Basingstoke for one hour!!! We finally departed Basingstoke at 23:51 out to Reading on diesel power. 2 ED’s were utilised because it was feared that one on diesel would not get there with 12 coaches and the generator car (oh and up Acton Bank!!!).We arrived at Reading at 00:14, and departed at 00:15. The ED’s departed Reading and gave a good steady performance as they accelerated along the GW Main Line not getting overtaken once!!! (that was probably because there was nothing else still out at that time of the night!! - Gary).

A crew change was taken at Acton Main Line, with a 66 seen also on engineers. Quite a few engineers trains were seen in the Acton and Southall areas. Another rumour was that we would require banking up to Acton Wells Jct. Anyway, we departed unaided and headed up the bank to be held up at the top!!!! So 2x73s on diesel with 13 coaches unaided on a hill climb. Acton Wells Jct was passed at 01:16, and may I say that there was a Dunkirk Spirit in our coach (well our area anyway!) with lots of mickey taking, banter and laughter evident. With the locos back on juice at Mitre Bridge Jct we headed down the West London Line to Kensington Olympia, Latchmere Jcts, Longhedge Jct, Stewarts Lane Jct and finally arrived at Victoria at 01:38 nearly 5 hours late (well 298 minutes late actually). Not bad timing!!! Hertfordshire Railtours, had organised together with EWS Taxis to get people to their destinations like Northampton, Kings Lynn, Bristol (Why not change at Reading?) and Chester!!!!!! The lasting impression of the tour, was of both 73108 and the “South West Trains thunderbird” 73109 sat in enemy territory in Victoria station!!!

So at 2am, we departed in Taxi on a taxi ride to Cockfosters witnessing the various sights and sounds that London had to offer. What amused me was the amount of traffic on the streets of London at 0200 in the morning! Lots of taxis, buses and limousines. We headed out via Marble Arch, St John’s Wood, Swiss Cottage, Finchley, East Barnet and finally getting to Cockfosters at 02:40.  We finally arrived back in to Scunthorpe at 06:00!!!! Time to depart for another railtour I think!!! We arrived some 24 hours after getting up!!!! For me though, it was time for bed, as some of the early morning paper people were heading out to carry out their duties.

What can be said about the Railtour as a conclusion??? The weather was pretty poor, the people who I was sat with were boring!!! (only joking Daniel!!!!), and the loco was the same as last year. Oh, with Wimbledon box having a barbecue, and 73109 pulling the train on what may be its first / last charter in to Victoria (does anyone know if 73109 has been there before as SWT Thunderbird or done a charter???), this provided the tour to be very interesting!!! Quite a few engineers who had started their work looked at us in shock!!!!

 So as everyone asks about Bob the Builder, Can he Fix it??? The answer to that after Saturday night / Sunday morning (together with 73108) was YES HE CAN!!!!!!!!!! So long live Class 73’s.

David Clark (2001)