6th September 2003

Steam Dreams
Cathedrals Express

Locos Used steam : 73096, diesel : 31452 & 31602

Route:
1Z96 : Victoria to Cranmore
1Z97 : Cranmore to Victoria

Loco(s) Route
73096 (1) London Victoria - Stewarts Lane - Longhedge Jn - Clapham Junction - Hounslow - Staines Central - Ascot - Wokingham - Reading General - Newbury - Westbury
31602 + 73096 Westbury - (via Frome avoiding line) - Witham - Cranmore
31602 (2) Cranmore - Witham - (via Frome avoiding line) - Westbury
73096 Westbury - Warminster - Salisbury - Andover Jn - Basingstoke - Woking - Chertsey - Staines Central - Twickenham - Clapham Junction - Longhedge Jn - Stewarts Lane - London Victoria

Notes :
(1) banked by 31452 Victoria - Grosvenor bridge.
(2) 73096 on rear.

Two options were available at Cranmore. One was a coach trip to Wells to visit the town & the cathedral. The other was a visit to the East Somerset Railway where ex GWR 56xx 5637 was operating.


The tour departing Victoria (photo : www.railway-images.co.uk)

Source : John Clifford

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from John Clifford)

Location Booked Actual
Victoria 09.05d 09.39
Battersea Pier Jn 09/08 09/41½
Stewarts Lane 09/12 09/43½
Longhedge Jn 09/15 09/45
Clapham Junction 09/21 09.48½a ~ 09.49½d
Barnes 09/27½ 09/57
Brentford 09/33½ 10/03
Hounslow 09/38½ 10/09½
Feltham Jn 09/47 10/11½
Staines 09/59 10.20a ~ 10.21d
Virginia Water 10/07½ 10/31
Ascot 10/17 10/42
Wokingham 10/33 10/54
Earley 10/41 10/59½
Reading 11.05a ~ 11.09d 11.10 ~ 11.12
Newbury Racecourse 11.30a ~ 11.50d 11.36 ~ 11.54½
Newbury 11/54 11/58
Bedwyn 12/10 12/14
Woodborough 12/23 12/26
Lavington 12/31 12/38½
Heywood Road Jn 12/38 12/42
Westbury 12.42a ~ 13.06d 12.44 ~ 13.07½
Fairwood Jn 13/09 13/11
Clink Road Jn 13/14 13/16
Blatchbridge Jn 13/17 13/18½
Witham 13/21 13/26
Merehead Quarry Jn 13/29 13/38½
White's Crossing 13.32a ~ 13.37d 13.47 ~ 13.47½
Cranmore 13.52a ~ 17.36d 13.50½ ~ 17.36
White's Crossing 17.51a ~ 17.56d 17/41
Merehead Quarry Jn 17/59 17/46
Witham 18/07 17/55½
Blatchbridge Jn 18/12 18/03½
Clink Road Jn 18/17 18/06½
Fairwood Jn 18/22 18/11
Westbury 18.25a ~ 18.39d 18.15½ ~ 18.41½
Warminster 18/53 18/53½
Wilton Jn 19/15 19/11½
Salisbury 19/19 19/15
Tunnel Jn 19/22 19/18
Andover Jn 19.42a ~ 19.56d 19.38½ ~ 19.53
Worting Jn 20/17 20/16½
Basingstoke 20/19½ 20/19
Farnborough 20/33 20/30
Woking Jn 20/42 20.44a ~ 20.45½d
Byfleet 20/47 20/51½
Addlestone Jn 20/49½ 20/55
Virginia Water 21/03 21/04
Staines 21.12a ~ 21.13d 21.12 ~ 21.13½
Feltham Jn 21/22 21/20
Twickenham 21/25 21/23
Richmond 21/27½ 21/28
Barnes 21/31½ 21/34
Clapham Junction 21.38a ~ 21.39d 21.38½ ~ 21.42
Longhedge Jn 21/43 21/45
Stewarts Lane 21/45½ 21/47
Battersea Pier Jn 21/48 21/49
Victoria 21.51a 21.52½

Late start was caused by the late arrival at Victoria of the ECS. It had got stuck behind a failed EMU in the Staines area.
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