17th December 2010

Steam Dreams
The Cathedrals Express Carol Concert Special

Loco Used steam: 44932
Stock Used 99035+5249+5236+5237+1961+3093+99125+9104+13440+1840+5200+5171

Route :
1Z80 : Ashford International to Oxford
1Z81 : Oxford to Ashford International

Loco Route
44932 Ashford International - Paddock Wood - Tonbridge - Sevenoaks - Orpington - Petts Wood Jn - Bickley Jn - Shortlands Jn (2) - Beckenham Junction - Herne Hill - Brixton - (2) Voltaire Road Jn - Factory Jn - Longhedge Jn - Clapham Junction - Barnes - Brentford - Hounslow - Feltham - Staines - Virginia Water - Ascot - Wokingham - Earley - Reading - Didcot East Jn - Didcot North Jn - Oxford
44932 Oxford - (reverse of outward route) - Voltaire Road Jn - Denmark Hill - Nunhead - Bellingham - Shortlands Jn - (reverse of outward route) - Ashford International

Notes :
(1) 44932 replaced unavailable 34067 'Tangmere'.
(2) Booked route was: Shortlands Jn - Bellingham - Nunhead - Crofton Road Jn - Voltaire Road Jn.
(3) Brian Halford comments: The reason for the late start from Ashford  was unknown. The train was held at Sevenoaks to permit passenger trains to pass. Loco suffered slipping from Sunningdale then slipped to stand in vicinity of signal F321 and the rails were hand sanded by train crew. At Ascot the train ran in error to platform 2 instead of plat 1 where the water bowser was waiting, therefore plat 1 had to be blocked to permit hoses across the track. Operations were hampered by a heavy blizzard. Time was lost Ascot to Wokingham due to slipping on ice/snow covered rails.

Sources : Brian Halford (joined/left the train at Tonbridge), Nick Bartlett, Neil Kearns & John Clifford

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Neil Kearns, Nick Bartlett, Brian Halford & John Clifford)

Location Booked Actual   Booked Actual
Ashford International 08.18d 08.42   21.40a (23.15)
Headcorn 08.41a ~ 08.49d [UM] 08/56   21.16a ~ 21.28d [DM] ?
Paddock Wood 09w06 ~ 09w17 [UM] 09.10 ~ 09.20   21/02 [DM] ?
Tonbridge DLP   20w43 ~ 20w55 [DLP] ?
Tonbridge 09.24a ~ 09.26d 09.32 ~ 09.35   20.39a ~ 20.41d 22.05 ~ ??.??
Sevenoaks 09.37a ~ 09.39d 09.52 ~ 10.16   20.29a ~ 20.31d 21.48 ~ 21.51
Orpington 09/51 [FL] 10/28   20/15 21/35
Petts Wood Jn 09/54 [UFV] 10/31   20/08 [FL] 21/32
Bickley Jn 09/56 [FL] ?   20/04 [DFV] 21/30
Bromley South 09.59a ~ 10.01d 10.38 ~ 10.40   19.58a ~ 20.00d 21.19 ~ 21.23
Shortlands Jn 10/04 10/43   19/55 21/15
Bellingham 10/07 DIV   19/51 21/10
Nunhead 10/11 DIV   19/45 21/02
Crofton Road Jn 10/13 [AL] DIV   19/43 21/00
Denmark Hill 10/14 DIV   19/42 20/57
Beckenham Junction DIV 10/45  
Herne Hill DIV 10/50  
Brixton DIV 10/51  
Sheperds Lane DIV 10/53½  
Voltaire Road Jn 10/18 10/56   19/37 20/51
Factory Jn 10/19 10/57   19/36 [AL] 20/50½
Longhedge Jn 10.20 ~ 10.55 10/58   19/34 20/48
Clapham Junction 11/00 [FL] 11/02   19/31 20/45
Barnes 11/08 11/08   19/23 [SL] 20/35
Chiswick 11.11a ~ 11.13d 11.11 ~ 11.14   19.17a ~ 19.19d 20.27 ~ 20.30
Brentford 11/18 11/18½   19/11 20/22½
Hounslow 11/22 11/25   19/06 20/17
Feltham Jn 11/24 11/28   19/04 20/15
Feltham 11/26 11/31   19/02 20/11
Staines 11.33a ~ 11.35d 11.38 ~ 11.41   18.53a ~ 18.55d 20.00 ~ 20.03
Virginia Water 11/43 11/49   18/45 19/51
Ascot 11w50 ~ 12w00 [P1] 12.25 ~ 13.05 [P2]   18w28 ~ 18w36 19.15 ~ 19.38
Wokingham 12/14 13/28   18/10 19/02
Earley 12/20 13/45   18/02 18/53
Spur Jn 12/41 13/49   17.52 ~ 17.59 18/48
New Jn 12/46 [ML] 13/50   17/40 18/47
Reading 12/47 [RL] 13/51   17.36 ~ 17.38 18.38 ~ 18.45
Reading West Jn 12/49 13/53   17/32 [ML] 18/35
Didcot East Jn 13/11 14/11   17/09 [RL] 18/09
Didcot North Jn 13/12 14/12   17/07 18/07
Kennington Jn 13/25 14/20½   17/00 17/58
Hinksey North 13/27 14/25  
Oxford S90 13w28 ~ 13w44 [UDP] 14/28  
Oxford 13.46a 14.30   16.55d 17.52


Associated Stock/Light-Engine movements;

5Z79 : ECS (44932 with diesel on rear?) : Southall WCRC to Southall
5Z79 : ECS (diesel with 44932 on rear?) : Southall to Sevington Loop
5Z79 : ECS (44932 ?with diesel on rear?) : Sevington Loop to Ashford International
5Z82 : ECS (44932 ?with diesel on rear?) : Ashford International to Sevington Loop
5Z82 : ECS (diesel with 44932 on rear?) : Sevington Loop to Nine Elms Jn
5Z82 : ECS (44932 with diesel on rear?) : Nine Elms Jn to Southall
5Z82 : ECS (diesel with 44932 on rear?) : Southall to Southall WCRC

Location Booked (out) Booked (rtn)
Southall WCRC 05.00d 01.00a
Southall 05.01 ~ 05.09 [GL] 00.36 ~ 00.49
Southall East Jn 05/10 [RL] 00/34 [GL]
West Ealing 05/16 ?
Acton West 05/22 [GL] 00/30 [RL]
Acton Main Line 05/25 00/25 [GL]
Acton Wells Jn 05/28 00/22 [REV]
Willesden SW Sidings 05/32 [REV] 00/18 [REV]
Mitre Bridge Jn 05/38 00/17
North Pole Jn 05/39 00/16
Kensington Olympia 05.43 ~ 05.46 00.10 ~ 00.13 [DML]
Latchmere Jn 05/53 00/05
Longhedge Jn 05/55 -
Factory Jn 05/57 [AL] -
West London Jn - 23/57 [URV]
Nine Elms Jn - 23.46 ~ 23.54 [RVL]
Lindford Street Jn - 23/44
Voltaire Road Jn 05/58 23/43 [RVL]
Denmark Hill 06/03 23/39
Crofton Road Jn 06/04 23/38 [AL]
Nunhead 06/07 23/36
Bellingham 06/13 23/31
Shortlands Jn 06/18 [FL] 23/27
Bickley Jn 06/23 [DFV] 23/22 [FL]
Petts Wood Jn 06/29 [FL] 23/19 [UFV]
Orpington 06/32 23/16 [FL]
Sevenoaks 06/43 23/06
Tonbridge 06/53 [DF] 22/54
Paddock Wood 07/01 [DM] 22.34 ~ 22.43 [UM]
Headcorn 07w12 ~ 07w27 [DM] 22/19
Ashford International 07/44 [UML] 22/05 [UML]
Sevington Loop 07.48 ~ 08.04 21.51 ~ 22.03
Ashford International 08.10a 21.45d

0Z80 : light engine (44932) : Oxford UCS to Foxhall Jn
0Z80 : light engine (44932) : Foxhall Jn to Didcot Parkway
0Z80 : light engine (44932) : Didcot Parkway to Oxford UCS

Location Booked (out) Booked (rtn)
Oxford UCS 14.20d 15.00a
Oxford 14/21 14/58
Hinksey North ? 14/57
Kennington Jn 14/23 14/55 [GL]
Didcot North Jn 14/32 14/44
Foxhall Jn 14.35 ~ 14.38 -
Didcot Parkway 14.40a 14.42d


Back to "The Railtour Files"