13th December 2008

Steam Dreams
The Cathedrals Express Carol Concert Special

Locos Used 47245 & steam: 34067 'Tangmere'
Stock Used 35518+5200+1840+5222+13440+9392+99371+5249+1961+5237+5236

Route:
1Z84 : London Victoria to Chichester
1Z85 : Chichester to London Victoria

Loco(s) Route
34067 (1) London Victoria - Voltaire Road Jn - Brixton - Herne Hill - Tulse Hill - Streatham - Selhurst - East Croydon - Purley - Redhill - Earlswood - Gatwick Airport - Haywards heath - Keymer Jn - Preston Park - Hove - Worthing - Arundel Jn - Ford - Barnham - Chichester
34067 Chichester - (reverse of outward route) - London Victoria

Notes :
(1) Banked by 47245 along Victoria platform.
John Clifford comments: This tour started off OK for the first few miles. However, on the curve between Streatham & Streatham Common one of the pipes on the engine touched the third rail. The train stopped in Norbury station (10.10-17) for an examination but then proceeded to Signal T53 (stopped 10.20-11.07) where it was easier to see what had happened. We were told that one injector had been knocked out but that we would continue to East Croydon at least. It transpired that we could continue to Chichester with the one remaining injector. We were running an hour late by the time that we got to the south coast but this increased to an 88min late arrival at Chichester since there was a problem with one of the crossings between Barnham & Chichester. (I think it was Drayton but I didn't make a note.) On the train we were told that Network Rail has refused permission for the train to return an hour late so we would be leaving at the booked 1720. It didn't work out like that! The train was already 88 min late getting to Chichester. The whole train went to Fratton & the engine was booked to turned by going to Fareham North Jn, then Havant & finally back to Fratton. After this an hour & a half had been allowed for servicing. In the event, despite the efforts of the engine's support crew, the water hydrant at Fratton was 'slow' so the empties arrived back at Chichester at 18.23 & we left at 18.28. By not observing the pathing stop at Worthing we picked up some time but this was lost by signal checks from Three Bridges to Redhill & a stop at Gatwick. Eventually we got back to Victoria 42½mins late due to an easy schedule north of East Croydon.

Sources : Nick Bartlett & John Clifford

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Nick Bartlett & John Clifford)

Location Booked Actual   Booked Actual
Victoria 09.25d 09.26½   20.40a 21.22½
Voltaire Road Jn 09/32 09/33   20/34 21/13
Brixton 09/35 09/35½   20/32 21/11½
Herne Hill 09/37 09/38   20/27 21/10
Tulse Hill 09/41 09/41½   20/20 21/06
Streatham 09/49 09/45½   20/15 21/01
Streatham Common 10/06 10/04½   20/10 20/59
Selhurst 10/16 11.18 ~ 11.22   19/56 20/52½
Windmill Bridge Jn 10/24 11.25½ ~ 11.26½   19/53 20/51
East Croydon 10.25a ~ 10.27d 11.32 ~ 11.34   19.49a ~ 19.51d 20.47 ~ 20.49
South Croydon 10/30 11/38   19/46 20/44
Purley 10/33½ 11/42   19/42 20/38
Stoats Nest Jn 10/36 11/44   19/40 20/37
Redhill 10.52a ~ 10.56d 11.54½ ~ 11.57   19.30a ~ 19.32d 20.24 ~ 20.27½
Earlswood 11/00 11/59   19/26 20/18½
Gatwick Airport 11/05½ 12/06   19/12 20.05½ ~ 20.09
Three Bridges 11/09 12/10   19/06 20/00
Balcombe Tunnel Jn 11/13 12/13   19/03 19/55½
Copyhold Jn ? ?   18/57 19/49
Haywards Heath 11/21 12/20½   18w45 ~ 18w55 19.30 ~ 19.44½
Keymer Jn 11/25 12/24   18/40 19/22
Preston Park 11w37 ~ 11w59 12.38 ~ 12.59½   18/31 19/12
Hove 12*04 ~ 12*11 13.06 ~ 13.11½   18/27 19/08½
Shoreham-by-Sea 12/20 13/20   18/18 19/00½
Worthing 12/28 13/28½   17*51 ~ 18*09 18/53
West Worthing 12/30 13/30   17/47 18/52
Angmering 12/37 13/40   17/41 18/46
Arundel Jn 12/43 13/45   17/35 18/42½
Ford 12/45 13/46   17/33 18/41
Barnham 12/49 13/58½   17/29 18/37
Chichester 12.57a 14.25   17.20d 18.28


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