20th September 2018

GB Railfreight
Out of the Ordinary (Day 1 of 4)

Route : 
1Z10 : London Victoria to Bridgend
1Z11 : Bridgend to London Paddington

Notes :
(1) 73961 + 73963 on rear.
(2) 73963 + 73961 on rear.
(3) 66766 on rear.
(4) John Clifford comments: This was day 1 of a 4 day (& 1 overnight) trip organised by GBRf to raise money for charity. The original plan was to visit Celsa Steelworks just east of Cardiff for haulage by a Class 08 in the steelworks there. About a week before the tour Celsa had a change of heart and decided that they could not allow the train onto their infrastructure. Other options were explored but to no avail in the short time available. The revised plan was to run the train to and from Bridgend with haulage by an extra Class 66 from Pengam Sidings. On the day we left London Victoria a few minutes late and continued thus to Woking. At Woking Jn we were due to cross to the slow line to follow the 09.42 Waterloo to Basingstoke, but as that was running 10 minutes late we continued on the fast line so gaining on the schedule. At Worting Jn we were booked to follow the 10.20 Waterloo to Crewkerne, but as we were early we preceded it but eventually caught up the 09.50 Waterloo to Salisbury. Hence we waited at Salisbury Tunnel Jn and were stopped again outside Salisbury. We continued towards Bristol, being held at Bristol East Jn to let the 11.30 Paddington to Bristol get into the station and the 12.30 Cardiff to Portsmouth to come out. After reversal at Bristol Temple Meads we continued into South Wales. In Pengam Sidings there was a loco swap. We left there after waiting for the 12.30 Manchester to Milford Haven to pass which was 11 minutes late at that point. At Bridgend we were booked to reverse on the Maesteg branch but, instead, the reversal was on the up main line. Hence there was a wait in the station for the 15.03 Carmarthen to Manchester to pass which was on time. On the return we left late but did make up the lost time. However the loco change at Didcot took longer than allowed for so we left late and didn’t go on the main line. Instead we use the relief line and caught up the 20.08 Didcot to Paddington stopper which had left Didcot 9 minutes late. This caused an eventual late arrival at Paddington. This was the first time that an electric loco has reached London Paddington on a passenger train.

Sources : John Clifford, Alan Sheppard, Matt Walker & Stuart Hicks (all on the tour)

Photo Review

66782 at London Victoria with the start of the tour (photo: Matt Walker)

73963+73961 at London Victoria with 5Z10 (photo: Matt Walker)

87002 on arrival at London Paddington (photo: Matt Walker)

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from John Clifford)

Mileages taken from tour brochure. However the tour was revised after Pengam to Bridgend and return, so these require confirmation.

Associated E.C.S. & Light Engine Workings

5Z10 : (73963 + 73961 with 66782 on rear) : Eastleigh Arlington to London Victoria

0Z11 : (66782) : Bristol Temple Meads to Eastleigh

0Z12 : (66728 + 87002) : Wembley H.S. to West Ealing Loop
0Z12 : (87002) : West Ealing Loop to Didcot West End

0Z16 : (66728) : West Ealing Loop to Hanwell Bridge Loop

0Z13 : (73961 + 73963) : Didcot West End to Didcot Parkway
0Z13 : (73963 + 73961) : Didcot Parkway to Foxhall Jn
0Z13 : (73961 + 73963) : Foxhall Jn to Tonbridge Sig.AD2032
0Z13 : (73963 + 73961) : Tonbridge Sig.AD2032 to Tonbridge West Yard

0Z14 : (66728) : Hanwell Bridge Loop to London Paddington

5Z11 : (66728 with 87002 on rear) : London Paddington to Willesden No.7 Jn
5Z11 : (87002 with 66728 on rear) : Willesden No.7 Jn to Acton Lane Reception Sidings

0Z15 : (87002) : Acton Lane Reception Sidings to Wembley H.S.

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