1st June 2008

Steam Dreams
Cathedrals Express

Route:
1Z92 : London Waterloo to Exeter St Davids
1Z93 : Exeter St Davids to Clapham Junction

Notes
(1) 6233 on rear.
(2) Support Coach 99041 only in consist when 6233 hauling, or at rear of, train.
(3) Support Coach 17013 only in consist when 60019 hauling train.

Source : John Clifford (on the train throughout)

Tour Review
(by John Clifford)

This tour was a commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the locomotive exchange trials held in 1948. The original plan was to use 6233 from Waterloo to Exeter & 60019 back, both via the LSWR main line. However, whilst the bridge problem at Sherborne which caused alterations to steam tours last year has been resolved, relaying work between Yeovil & Exeter now means that our steam locos are out of gauge on this section. To overcome this the route & haulage was altered to that shown. It had been hoped that the diesel part would be in the hands of 50049 but this was under repair so 47245 was used. This latter loco was based at Eastleigh in the last months of Southern steam in the guise of D1922 (known to the Southern enthusiasts at the time as "Paint Brush").

On the day, the train ran well for most of the journey. There was a stop outside Salisbury as we were early &, presumably, our platform was occupied. There are some bridge restrictions west of Salisbury so we were slightly late into Yeovil. The section time from Yeovil to Castle Cary was exceeded as there is a further restriction. The result was that we got to Exeter 27 min late. The return was accomplished to give us just a slightly late arrival at Clapham Junction.

John Clifford

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from John Clifford)

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