2nd June 2018

Steam Dreams
The Cathedrals Express (2 trains)

Route :
1Z82 : London Victoria to Portsmouth Harbour
1Z84 : Portsmouth & Southsea to Salisbury
1Z86 : Salisbury to Portsmouth & Southsea
1Z88 : Portsmouth Harbour to London Waterloo

Notes : 
(1) 47746 on rear.
(2) 45212 on rear.
(3) 45212 replaced advertised 61306 'Mayflower'.
(4) John Clifford comments: There was an option to visit the Isle of Wight for a journey on the Isle of Wight Steam Railway or just to look around the island (or both). While the train was at Portsmouth there was an extra tour from Portsmouth to Salisbury and back. The train started from London Victoria on time but was delayed outside Herne Hill by the slightly late 08.28 Victoria - Orpington. Continuing to Wimbledon we were behind the 09.54 Waterloo - Woking stopper until Woking. At Guildford we had to wait for the 09.30 Waterloo - Portsmouth Harbour to leave. The watering at Haslemere took longer than was allowed for. We continued on and in the Portsmouth area we had caught up the 10.00 Waterloo - Portsmouth Harbour. The slow progress into the Harbour station was due to the 11.45 Portsmouth Harbour - Waterloo occupying our platform.
The outward journey from Portsmouth & Southsea to Salisbury was initially slow as we followed the 13.38 Portsmouth & Southsea - Southampton Central as far as Southampton. The late start from Salisbury on the return journey was caused by the late running 14.30 Cardiff - Portsmouth Harbour. Furthermore we had to wait until 15.23 Portsmouth Harbour - Cardiff had crossed our path to get into platform 3. The 14.30 also caused the signal stop south of Laverstock South Jn. Consequently we ran late initially, but recovered some of this lateness by cutting short the stop for reversal at Eastleigh. Outside Portsmouth & Southsea we were held for the 18.11 & 18.15 both Portsmouth Harbour - Waterloo to cross our path and then to let the 18.23 Portsmouth & Southsea - Waterloo to vacate platform 4.
The return journey from Portsmouth Harbour to London was running roughly to time until we left Haslemere. The failure of signal EW 212 meant that we had to get permission to pass it at danger. At Worplesdon there was a sudden stop due to a fault with the T.P.W.S. equipment. We continued on only to be delayed at Woking by the need to change the battery on the T.P.W.S. equipment. While there we saw the trains, which we had delayed at Worplesdon, pass us (20.24 Portsmouth & Southsea - Waterloo, 24' late ex Woking and the 20.45 Portsmouth Harbour - Waterloo, 19' late ex Woking). Arrival at London Waterloo was 43 minutes late.

Source : John Clifford (on both tours throughout)

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from John Clifford)