7th December 2007

Steam Dreams
The Cathedrals Express

Locos Used 37248, 73136 & steam: 60009 'Union of South Africa'
Stock Used 35486+5237+5249+1961+5236+99350+9392+13440+5216+1840+5222+5200

Route:
1Z60 : London Victoria to Lincoln
1Z61 : Lincoln to London Victoria

Loco(s) Route
60009 (1) London Victoria - Stewarts Lane - Kensington Olympia - Willesden Junction High Level - Gospel Oak - Camden Road - Finsbury Park - Welwyn Garden City - Stevenage - Huntingdon - Peterborough - Peterborough Westwood Yard - Spalding - Sleaford - Lincoln Central
60009 (2) Lincoln Central - Newark North Gate - Grantham - Peterborough Westwood Yard - (reverse of outward route) - Finsbury Park - London Kings Cross

Notes :
(1)
Banked by 73136 London Victoria to Grosvenor Bridge.
(2) 37248 on rear.

Sources : John Clifford

Tour Review
(from John Clifford)

There are times when I wonder why I keep going on these tours. From this you may deduce that things did not go according to plan.

My train into Kings X was a bit late but not enough to cause any worry. That was saved for the Victoria line. The passenger alarm had been activated on an earlier train so it was a slow journey to Victoria. By the time I got there the alarm had been about 4 times on other trains. Arrival at Victoria brought forth the information that the 47 bringing in the stock had failed. Eventually it appeared behind an "ED". It was lucky that it was at Stewarts Lane & even luckier that the "ED" driver was one of the few West Coast ones who knew them.

We set off a few mins late due to some speedy work. 60009 was having some problems with the gradients on the West London line so were late passing Willesden Junction where a 313 had been held for us. We made it to the East Coast Main Line 15 late but then followed a Moorgate - Welwyn Garden City stopper all the way from Finsbury Park. After leaving the Stevenage stop we continued on the Slow line. Now I can't recall ever doing all the ECML from Copenhagen Jn almost to Peterborough all the way on a "fast" train. The result was that the Stevenage - Peterborough leg, timed at a fast 47 mins, became very slow 72 mins. In their wisdom Network Rail had imposed a 40 mph restriction on steam on the slow line. After watering in Peterborough West Yard we set off & had our best running for the outward journey on the "Joint line".

It had been hoped that Lincoln would be left on time but this was not to be. Lincoln Christmas Market was in full swing so there were extras from Nottingham as well as the VSOE. The VSOE had loco problems so the ECS arrived very late & eventually left over 130 late. Our stock had already gone through Lincoln being towed from Newark (where it had gone for servicing) by 37248. We left 89 late but stopped again quickly as the TPWS on the 37 had not been isolated. We got going again & at Newark discovered that there had been a signal problem north of York so the ECML was running late. One train passed us there. We then set off & were put into Claypole loop to let 4 more trains pass. By this time we were about 2 hours late & this was the pattern for the rest of the journey despite some good running. Arrival at Kings X was 124 mins late. I just caught the 2336 off Kings X instead of the expected 2136.

As always seems to happen on these occasions FCC local trains were just leaving as we arrived at both Peterborough & Stevenage so no chance of getting them for an earlier arrival home.

I am fully expecting the arrival of the men in white coats to take me away.John Clifford

Timings (
Booked and Actual)
(from John Clifford)

Location

Booked

Actual
 
Booked

Actual

London Victoria
09.43d
09.46
 
Battersea Pier Jn
09/46
09/51
 
Stewarts Lane
09/49
09/53
 
Longhedge Jn
09/55
09.54 ~ 09.59
 
Latchmere Jn
09/59
10/04
 
Kensington Olympia
10/07
10/10
 
North Pole Jn
10/11
10.14 ~ 10.23
 
Mitre Bridge Jn
10/14
10.27 ~ 10.29
 
Willesden Junction High Level
10/19
10/34
 
Kensal Green Jn
10/21
10/35
 
Gospel Oak
10/33
10/48
 
Camden Road Jn
10/36
10/53
 
Camden Road East Jn
10/40
10/54
 
London Kings Cross
 
21.25a
23.29
Belle Isle
 
21/22
23/26
Copenhagen Jn
10/43
10/58
 
?
?
Holloway South Jn
10/45
11/00
 
?
?
Finsbury Park
10.48a ~ 10.50d
11.02 ~ 11.04
 
21/15
23/20
Alexandra Palace
10/54
11/09
 
21/13
23/17
Potters Bar
11/07
11/19
 
21/07
23/02
Welwyn Garden City
11/18
11/33
 
20/54
22/54
Digswell
11/19
11/34
 
20/53
22/52
Woolmer Green Jn
11/21
11/37
 
20/51
22/49
Stevenage
11.24a ~ 11.26d
11.42 ~ 11.44
 
20.45a ~ 20.47d
22.39 ~ 22.42
Hitchin
11/31
11/52
 
20/40
22/33
Sandy
11/44
12/08
 
20/21
22/22
Huntingdon North Jn
11/56
12/28
 
20/09
22/09
Connington South Jn
?
?
 
20/01
22/00
Holme Jn
12/06
12/44
 
Peterborough
12.13a ~ 12.15d
12.56 ~ 12.59
 
19.50a ~ 19.52d
21.45 ~ 21.47
Peterborough Westwood Yard
12w20 ~ 12w55
13.03 ~ 13.38
 
18w58 ~ 19w45
21.05 ~ 21.39
New England North Jn
12/59
13/43
 
18/53
21/01
Werrington Jn
13/04
13/46
 
?
?
Spalding
13/20
14/05
 
Sleaford South Jn
13/45
14/29
 
Sleaford
13/48
14/35
 
Sleaford North Jn
13/52
14/40
 
Pelham Street Jn
14/15
15/09
 
Tallington
 
18/43
20/48
Stoke Jn
 
18/31
20/36
Grantham
 
18/26
20/29
Claypole Loops
 
18/18
20.01 ~ 20.15
Newark North Gate
 
18/14
19.46 ~ 19.48
Newark Crossing East Jn
 
18/12
19/42
Boultham Jn
 
17/49
19/16
West Holmes Jn
 
17/48
19/14
Lincoln Central
14.16a
15.10
 
17.45d
19.04


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