14th July 2018

UK Railtours
The Sunny South Express

Route : 
1Z40 : Stevenage to Weymouth
1Z41 : Weymouth to Stevenage

Notes : 
(1) Diverted via Frome, to allow a late running Paddington to Penzance train to overtake .
(2) This tour was originally advertised to run outwards via Virginia Water and Winchester, and return via Yeovil and Newbury.
(3) John Clifford's comments: When advertised this tour was to reach Weymouth via Bournemouth and return via Yeovil. For those going to Weymouth there was the opportunity to visit the Pommery Dorset Seafood Festival. I had hoped to join the tour at Stevenage but as my connection from Hatfield was cancelled I had to settle for Welwyn Garden City. We left there slightly early and before Finsbury Park caught up the 07.30 Hertford North - Moorgate. Once off the East Coast Main Line we had a booked stop at Camden Road Central Jn so that we could follow the 08.15 Stratford - Richmond which checked us outside Willesden Junction, while it carried out its platform duties. Another stop outside Acton Main Line let the 09.02 Paddington - Heathrow Airport go ahead and we followed it to Airport Jn. No further problems were encountered and we gained on the schedule until were we were diverted at Clink Road Jn onto the Frome line instead of using the avoider. This was to let the 10.03 Paddington - Penzance (8 minutes late) to go ahead. This made us late but we found at Yeovil Pen Mill that the train that we were due to pass (11.14 Weymouth - Bristol Temple Meads) was running 22 minutes late. At Dorchester West we found the 12.10 Weymouth - Yeovil Junction waiting and this left 25 minutes late. Arrival at Weymouth was 7 minutes late. On the return the stock was late coming into Weymouth so we had a late start and in the process delayed the 17.30 Weymouth - Bristol Temple Meads by 6 minutes. We set off only to be stopped at Parkstone by a report of smoke coming from our train, believed to be from a dragging brake. When this had been sorted we set off but found ourselves behind the 18.47 Bournemouth - Didcot which should have followed us. From passing Bournemouth 18½ minutes late we left Southampton 24½ minutes late. The Wallers Ash pathing stop was omitted which helped to make up some of the lateness. Our stop at Parkstone had also delayed the 18.03 Weymouth - Waterloo which was 10 minutes late at Basingstoke. Back on the Great Western Main Line things were going well until we caught up the 20.02 Didcot - Paddington near Maidenhead, which we followed to Acton Main Line. We were stopped at Camden Road Jn to follow the 21.10 Richmond - Stratford and also to let the 21.30 Stratford - Richmond go across our path. We omitted the pathing stop at York Way North Jn and this let us get to Finsbury Park early. We had to wait there for the 21.50 Moorgate - Welwyn Garden City to go which we followed all the way to Welwyn Garden City where I got off.

73961+73963 at Weymouth (photo: David Lodwick)

Sources : John Clifford & David Lodwick (both on the tour) & Chris Bracey

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from John Clifford & David Lodwick)

Timings continue in first table.

Associated E.C.S. Workings

14/07/18 :
5Z40 : (73963 + 73961) : Eastleigh Arlington to Peterborough
5Z40 : (73961 + 73963) : Peterborough to Stevenage

5Z41 : (73963 + 73961) : Weymouth to Jersey Sidings (propel)
5Z41 : (73963 with 73961 on rear?) : Jersey Sidings to Weymouth
5Z41 : (73961 with 73963 on rear?) : Weymouth to Jersey Sidings
5Z41 : (73963 with 73961 on rear?) : Jersey Sidings to Weymouth
5Z41 : (73961 with 73963 on rear?) : Weymouth to Jersey Sidings
5Z41 : (73961 + 73963) : Weymouth to Jersey Sidings (propel)

5Z42 : (73963 + 73961) : Stevenage to Peterborough

15/07/18 :
5Z43 : (73961 + 73963) : Peterborough to Eastleigh Arlington

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