1st July 2018

GB Railfreight
The Itchen Scratch

Route : 1Z76 throughout

Notes : 
(1) 66755 on rear.
(1) John Clifford comments: There had been a GBRf staff outing to Weymouth the previous day. This trip was used to raise some money for charity on what would otherwise have been an empty stock working back to Eastleigh. At Tonbridge our booked platform no. 1 was occupied by the coaches for the 11.29 Tonbridge - Redhill. Platform 2 was used by the 09.50 Hastings - Charing Cross which, at that point, was running 9 minutes late. Hence we had a late start. We more than made up the lost time so that we passed Clapham Junction 10 minutes early. We then had to wait at Latchmere Jn for the 11.59 Clapham Junction - Stratford to go ahead and for the 11.05 Stratford - Clapham Junction to cross our path to get into platform 1 at Clapham Junction. We waited for time at Kensington Olympia but at Acton Wells Jn we were just behind the 11.43 Stratford - Richmond, which is why we stopped outside Acton Central. From Hounslow we followed the 12.14 Waterloo - Windsor to Staines. For a while there were no more trains to slow us down. On the Portsmouth direct line we were booked to follow the 13.00 Waterloo - Portsmouth Harbour (all stations Guildford - Havant) but this was running late (16 minutes late leaving Guildford) so we ran early, but were then held at Cosham Jn and eventually followed the 14.42 Portsmouth & Southsea - Southampton Central as far as Fareham. The only other check was at Eastleigh South Jn to the 15.26 Waterloo - Portsmouth Harbour come over the single line from Eastleigh.

66786 arriving at Kensington Olympia (photo: Nick Bartlett)

Sources : John Clifford (on the tour throughout) & Nick Bartlett (on the tour from Kensington Olympia)

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from John Clifford)

Associated E.C.S. & Light Engine Workings

5Z76 : (66755 with 66786 on rear) : Tonbridge West Yard to Tonbridge

5Z77 : (66786 with 66755 on rear) : Eastleigh to Eastleigh East Yard (cancelled)
5Z77 : (66755 with 66786 on rear) : Eastleigh East Yard to Eastleigh Arlington
(actual ran direct from Eastleigh to Eastleigh Arlington)

0Z77 : (66755 + 66785) : Eastleigh Arlington to Eastleigh East Yard

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