29th November 2008

Steam Dreams
The Cathedrals Express

Locos Used 47245, 47760 & steam: 34067 'Tangmere'
Stock Used 5236+5237+1961+5249+99371+9392+13440+5216+5222+1840+5200+35518 (1)

Route:
1Z45 : Paddington to Chester
1Z47 : Chester to Paddington

Loco(s) Route
47760 (2) London Paddington - Acton West - West Ealing - Greenford South Jn - Greenford West Jn - South Ruislip - West Ruislip - Beaconsfield - High Wycombe - Princes Risborough - Aynho Jn - Banbury - Leamington Spa - Kenilworth - Coventry - Birmingham International - Stechford - Aston - Perry Barr North Jn - Bescot Stadium - Darlaston Jn - Portobello Jn - Bushbury Jn - Stafford - Norton Bridge - Madeley - Crewe - Beeston Castle - Chester
34067 Chester - (reverse of outward route) - London Paddington

Notes :
(1) 35518 was only in the consist when 34067 was on the train.
(2) 47245 on rear.
(3) John Clifford comments: This tour was originally advertised as being a class 50 out & 60009 'Union of South Africa' back. The '50' was not available & 60009 had been temporarily withdrawn from main line running after some problems so the tour ran as shown. On the day the tour left Paddington & arrived at Chester on time although we were behind at one stage. 47245 had brought the stock into Paddington & came with us 'dead' as there was no driver to take it back to Southall. The return journey started of well enough but the old problem of poor coal caused problems. We passed Stechford late & were then held by signals outside Birmingham International before we could get into platform 1 for water. Departure from there was 26 late & our slow progress meant that we were held on the through line at Leamington to let a Voyager & a Chiltern train pass. Progress continued to be slow with an eventual arrival in Paddington 48mins late.

Source : John Clifford

Photo Review


47760 (leading) & 47245 (trailing) passing Canley (photo: Neil Treadwell)


Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from John Clifford)

Location Booked Actual   Booked Actual
Paddington 08.48d 08.48   21.58a 22.46
Ladbroke Grove 08/51 08/52   21/55 22/35
Acton West 08/54½ 08/55   21/50 22/29
West Ealing 08/58 08/58   21/47 22/26½
Drayton Green 09/01 08/59   21/44 22/24½
Greenford South Jn 09/05 09/04   21/31 22/18
Greenford West Jn 09/06 09/05   21/29 22.15 ~ 22.15½
South Ruislip 09/11 09/10½   21/16 22/08½
West Ruislip 09/14 09/13   21/13 22/05
Gerrards Cross 09/20 09/18½   21/06 21/59½
Beaconsfield 09.25a ~ 09.27d 09.25 ~ 09.27   20.57a ~ 20.59d 21.50 ~ 21.53
High Wycombe 09/34 09/38   20/51 21/43
Saunderton 09/40 09/44½   20/46 21/37
Princes Risborough 09/45 09/48   20/42 21/32
Bicester North 10/05 10/09½   20w04 ~ 20w22 20.50½ ~ 21.09
Aynho Jn 10/16 10/21   19/51 20/37
Banbury 10.21a ~ 10.23d 10.27½ ~ 10.30   19.42a ~ 19.44d 20.26½ ~ 20.29
Fenny Compton 10/32 10/40   19/29 20/15
Leamington Spa 10/41 10/49   19/16 19.45 ~ 19.55
Milverton Jn 10/43 10.51 ~ 10.54   19/12 19/40½
Kenilworth 10/48 10/59   19/07 19/36
Gibbet Hill Jn 10/50 11/01   19/05 19/33
Coventry 10/55 11/06   18/59 19/28
Birmingham International 11/08 11.24 ~ 11.25½   18w21 ~ 18w46 18.44 ~ 19.12
Stechford 11/14 11/37   18/12½ 18/25
Aston 11/26½ 11/44½   18/07½ 18/18
Perry Barr North Jn 11/31 11/48   18/04½ 18/13½
Bescot Stadium 11/35½ 11/54   17/48½ 18/05½
Darlaston Jn 11/36½ 11/56   17/56½ 18/02½
Portobello Jn 11/39½ 11/59   17/53½ 17/58
Bushbury Jn 11/55½ 12/02½   17/48½ 17/53½
Rickerscote ? ?   17.25½ ~ 17.32½ 17.30½ ~ 17.33
Stafford 12/13½ 12/15   17/22½ 17.20½ ~ 17.24
Norton Bridge 12/18 12/20   17/16 17/12
Madeley 12/27 12/28½   17/01 17/01½
Basford Hall Jn 12/35 12/34   16/52 16/52
Crewe 12/41 12.40 ~ 12.42   16/46 16.44½ ~ 16.46
Crewe Steel Works 12/46½ 12/46   16/40 16/39½
Beeston Castle 12/55 12/55   16/29 16/29
Chester 13.06a 13.06   16.12d 16.15


Back to "The Railtour Files"