14th December 2021

Steam Dreams Rail Co
The Santa Steam Express (3 trains)

Route :
1Z70 : London Victoria to London Victoria
1Z71 : London Victoria to London Victoria
1Z72 : London Victoria to London Victoria

Notes : 
(1) 33207 on rear.
(2) 35028 on rear.
(3) John Clifford's comments: This was one of four trips run prior to Christmas. The others were on 13th, 20th & 22nd December. This was the only one in which 35028 was involved. All others used 61306 'Mayflower'. 1Z70 left London Victoria almost on time. The schedule included a stop at Latchmere Jn to allow the 08.49 Stratford to Clapham Junction and the 09.47 Clapham Junction to Stratford to pass us. There was some slow running after as we followed the 09.47. At Acton Wells Jn the 09.31 Stratford to Richmond passed us, which we followed. For me one of the highlight of the trip was getting steam over the Hounslow Jn to Whitton Jn section, which I had never done before. It was the first of three times that day. After Twickenham we caught up the 09.58 Waterloo to Waterloo via Twickenham, so further slow running ensued. There was an 11 minutes stop outside Clapham Junction as a temporary engineering block had been taken in platform 3 for reasons that I did not discover. Arrival back at Victoria was 13½ minutes late. 1Z71 left London Victoria on time. There was a stop at Longhedge Jn to let the 11.34 Dalston Junction to Clapham Junction and the 12.15 Clapham Junction to Dalston Junction to pass. After this we kept to time and from South Acton we followed the 12.32 Richmond to Stratford. Arrival for the reversal at Willesden SW Sidings was slightly early. Back at Acton Wells Jn we were held for the 12.47 Richmond to Stratford to pass. Water was taken at Kew New Jn, and we then followed the 12.35 Weybridge to London Waterloo. We stopped at Clapham Junction, although not booked to do so, to let the 13.04 Dalston Junction get into platform 2. Arrival at London Victoria was 3 minutes late, as we were held outside Victoria while other trains got into or left the station. 1Z72 left London Victoria on time. The customary stop at Longhedge Jn was made to let the 14.05 Dalston Junction to Clapham Junction and the 14.45 Clapham Junction to pass. There was a signal check at Kew New Jn to let the 14.03 Weybridge to London Waterloo pass (it was 12 minutes late at that point). We reversed at Willesden SW Sidings, but could not proceed due to a points failure. Departure was 48 minutes late. We stopped at Acton Wells Jn for 7½ minutes having seen various North London line trains pass. We didn't take water at Kew New Jn. Without further signal checks we got back to Victoria 43 minutes late.

Source : John Clifford (travelled on all three tours)

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from John Clifford)