6th April 2024

Hastings Diesels Ltd
The Cogload Climber

Route :
1Z14 : Hastings to Exeter Central
1Z15 : Exeter Central to Hastings

Notes :
(1) John Clifford's comments: When this tour was first advertised, the return route was to be via Andover. However, late notice engineering works shut the line between Salisbury and Andover. Hence, the train returned with a reversal at Eastleigh.
There had been a problem with the train at the depot at St Leonards. Furthermore, Network Rail were unhappy with the formation of the train. With these matters resolved the train left Hastings about half an hour late. By the time that I joined the trip at Bromley South it was only 9 minutes late. A bit more time was made up en route to Latchmere Jn, where we stopped to let the 08.49 Clapham Junction - Stratford and the 07.27 Stratford - Clapham Junction pass. We were booked to follow the 08.47 from Clapham Junction along the West London line which we did. So, onwards towards the Great Western main line we went. At Acton Wells Jn we stopped to let the 09.10 Richmond - Stratford pass, then stopped again at Acton East Jn allowing the 08.59 Maidenhead - Abbey Wood to pass. This meant that we were now behind the 08.54 Abbey Wood - Heathrow Terminal 4 until Airport Jn. Great Western were on strike this day so that, apart from a short stop outside Reading there were no further delays. This meant that we gained on the booked timings, arriving at Exeter St Davids 24 minutes early. We still left Exeter St Davids early, had a short stop at Exeter Central and arrived at Exeter Central after reversal 14 minutes early.
After a break we returned to Hastings but this time via London Waterloo. Exeter Central was left on time. There was a short stop at Pinhoe (I didn't find out why). At Honiton we passed the 13.15 Southampton Central - Exeter St Davids. London Waterloo to Exeter St Davids trains were starting from Southampton on this day due to engineering works. The stop here was described as a photo stop. We left Honiton 10 minutes early. This meant that the stop at Chard Jn was longer than booked. During this time we were passed by the 14.15 Southampton Central - Exeter St Davids and the 15.25 Exeter St Davids - Southampton Central. At Yeovil Junction we did not stop but saw the 15.15 Southampton Central - Exeter St Davids arrive. At Gillingham we waited for the 16.15 Southampton Central - Exeter St Davids to pass. There was a booked crew change stop at Salisbury which we did not take, so there was a rare transit of the station without stopping. The route was then to Eastleigh with a reversal there. Arrival at Romsey was early, so we had to wait for the 18.07 Romsey - Salisbury to depart. Arrival at Eastleigh was slightly early. We left there behind the 18.30 Southampton Central - London Waterloo. We kept roughly to time. At Woking Jn we were diverted on to the slow line (as booked to let other trains to pass). This meant that we followed the 19.33 Woking - London Waterloo stopper. At Hampton Court Jn we stopped to let the 19.54 Hampton Court - London Waterloo to pass. At Berrylands Jn we finally got back on to the fast line. Arrival back at London Waterloo was slightly late, but we left on time. I left the train at Bromley South where we arrived 3 minutes early.

Source : John Clifford (on the tour from/to Bromley South)

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from John Clifford & Realtime Trains)

Timings continue in first table.

Associated E.C.S. Workings

5Z14 : (1001) : St Leonards T&RSMD to Hastings

5Z15 : (1001) : Hastings to St Leonards T&RSMD

Back to "The Railtour Files"