25th March 2010

Steam Dreams
The Cathedrals Express

Locos Used 37516 & steam: 6201 'Princess Elizabeth'
Stock Used 35465+5200+5171+1840+13440+9104+99352+99122+1961+5237+5236

Route :
1Z84 : London Victoria to Bristol Temple Meads
1Z85 : Bristol Temple Meads to London Victoria

Loco(s) Route
6201 (1) London Victoria - Voltaire Road Jn - Brixton - Herne Hill - Tulse Hill - Streatham - Selhurst - East Croydon - Purley - Redhill - Shalford - Guildford - Ash - Blackwater - Wokingham - Earley - Reading - Didcot Parkway - Swindon - Wootton Bassett Jn - Chippenham - Thingley Jn - Bathampton Jn - Bath Spa - North Somerset Jn - Bristol Temple Meads
6201 Bristol Temple Meads - (reverse of outward route) - London Victoria

Notes :
(1) Banked from Victoria to Grosvenor Bridge by 37516.
(2) John Clifford comments: This train was originally booked for 34067 'Tangmere' but as that engine is undergoing an overhaul 6201 was substituted thus making a rare appearance in the south. The first problem encountered was outside Tulse Hill where the route had been set for platform 2 (engine barred) so we stopped (9.58 - 10.04) for the route to be reset for platform 4. There was enough slack in the timing to get us back near to time by East Croydon. Some good running ensued. At Reading we got the road in front of an HST & ran via platform 4 without stopping & then down the fast line slightly below our permitted maximum speed. That was the good part.  After leaving the Challow water stop the fire was becoming clinkered & we were put into platform 3 at Swindon for this to be sorted out & for the following HST's to get by. Eventual arrival at Bristol was 51min late. We were due away from Bristol at 17.36 but the engine did not arrive until 17.40. By the time it had been coupled up & a brake test made there was no chance of getting away until the 18.00 to Paddington had left & so it proved. Being out of path we were held for other trains to pass en route but some more good running & a schedule with recovery time saw us back into Victoria 34min late.

Sources : various including Neil Kearns & John Clifford

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Neil Kearns & John Clifford)

Location Booked Actual   Booked Actual
Victoria 09.44d 09.44½   22.10a 22.44
Grosvenor Bridge Jn 09/46 09/47½   22/07 22/37½
Voltaire Road Jn 09/48½ 09/50   22/04 22/36½
Brixton 09/50 09/52   22/03 22/35
Herne Hill 09/51 09/55   22/02 22/33
Tulse Hill 09/55 10/08   21/58 22/29½
Streatham 09/59 10/13   21/54 22/24½
Streatham Common 10/03½ 10/15½   21/51 22/23
Selhurst 10/12 10/22   21/43 22/16
Windmill Bridge Jn 10/23 10/24   21/36 22/15
East Croydon 10.25a ~ 10.27d 10.26 ~ 10.27½   21.33a ~ 21.35d 22.11½ ~ 22.13
South Croydon 10/29½ 10/30½   21/31 22/08½
Purley 10/33 10/34   21/23 22/05
Stoats Nest Jn 10/34 10/35½   21/22 22/04
Redhill 10.47a ~ 10.49d 10.49½ ~ 10.51½   21.09a ~ 21.11d 21.52 ~ 21.52½
Reigate 10/54 10/56   21/03 21/46
Gomshall 11/07 11/07½   20/48 21/34
Shalford 11w16 ~ 11w31 11.14 ~ 11.31   20w24 ~ 20w37 21.04 ~ 21.22½
Shalford Jn 11/33 11/34½   20/22 21/02
Guildford 11.35a ~ 11.47d 11.38½ ~ 11.49½   20.17a ~ 20.19d 20.55 ~ 20.58
Ash 12/01 12/03½   20/09 20/46
Aldershot South Jn 12/03 12/04½   20/07 20/45
North Camp 12/05 12/06   20/06 20/44
Blackwater 12/11 12/11   20/00 20/39
Wokingham 12/19 12/21   19/52 20/30
Earley 12/25 12/26   19/43 20/23
Reading Spur Jn 12/27 12/29½   19*26 ~ 19*39 20/18½
Reading New Jn 12/28 12/30½   19/24 20/17½
Reading 12/30½ 12/31½   19/23 20.10 ~ 20.15
Reading West Jn 12/32½ 12/33   19/20 20/07
Didcot Parkway 12/49 12/46   19/02 19/51
Wantage Road 12/55 12/52½   18w42 ~ 18w55 19.14½ ~ 19.35½
Challow 12w59 ~ 13w11 12.58 ~ 13.17   18/37 19/08½
Uffington 13/16 13/22   18/33 19/05½
Swindon 13/25 13.39 ~ 14.05½   18/22 18/56
Wootton Bassett Jn 13/31 14/14½   18/16 18/49
Chippenham 13/40 14/24   18/04 18/36½
Thingley East Jn 13/41 14/25   18/03 18/35½
Thingley Jn 13/42 14/26   ? ?
Bathampton Jn 13/50 14/34   17/55 18/26
Bath Spa 13.53a ~ 13.56d 14.39½ ~ 14.42½   17.50a ~ 17.52d 18.20 ~ 18.22
North Somerset Jn 14/09 14/58   17/38 18/06
Bristol East Jn 14/10 14/59   17/37 15/05
Bristol Temple Meads 14.11a 15.01   17.36d 18.02


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