1st July 2007

Past Time Rail
The Bright 'n Breezy

Route:
1Z79 : Taunton to Brighton
1Z80 : Brighton to Taunton

Notes :
(1) 35508 in train Bristol Temple Meads to Brighton only.
(2) 47832 on rear.
(3) 76079 on rear.
(4) Booked via Weston-super-Mare, but ran via the avoiding line.
(5) Due to attach 31128 at Salisbury to rear for rest of journey but it is believed this did not happen.

Source : John Clifford (on the train from Bristol Temple Meads [out] to Salisbury [rtn])

Tour Review
(by John Clifford)

This was a tour which changed a few times from being advertised until it ran. It started out as being called "The Pompey Local Standard" & was due to run from Minehead to Portsmouth & Southsea LL with the steam section being Bristol TM to Portsmouth & S & back to Salisbury. Because the resignalling work in the Portsmouth area has overrun it was diverted to Brighton & became "The Bright 'n Breezy". Incidentally, the resignalling work was due to be done in Feb. 2007 but as I write this (July 2007) the latest estimate for completion is Oct. (hopefully 2007!)

When the tickets arrived there was a letter saying that Network Rail had had great difficulty in timing the train due to the recent adverse weather conditions. A late notice engineering possession had been put in place on the up & down relief lines between Norton Fitzwarren & Taunton meaning that the train could not be timed from Minehead until after 0800 which would mean we could not get to Brighton at all. Thus the train started from Taunton. Due to the pathing problems there would be a shorter layover time at Brighton than anticipated & on the return 76079 would haul the train only Brighton to Preston Park.

On the day we heard that there had been a points failure at Norton Fitzwarren & that the train had left Taunton 68 min late. The Weston stop was omitted to make up time, passengers being carried to Bristol by HST. We left Bristol 52 min late behind a Cardiff - Portsmouth train. The engine was driven with some vigour & this, combined with smart work at the water stops, a slack schedule & good operating saw us claw back all the lost time. We could have been even earlier at Preston Park had we not caught up a stopping train along the south coast. Incidentally, we were held at signals between Hawkeridge & Westbury to allow the Portsmouth train to get ahead. This meant we did not stop in Westbury station & got a good run at Upton Scudamore bank.

John Clifford

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from John Clifford)

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