8th July 2007

Steam Dreams
Southern Sunset

Loco(s) Used at least steam: E850 'Lord Nelson'
Stock Used 35317+5171+5222+5216+1840+5200+13440+9392+5237+1961+5236+5249

Route:
1Z87 : London Waterloo to Exeter St Davids
1Z88 : Exeter St Davids to Clapham Junction

Loco(s) Route
E850 London Waterloo - Clapham Junction - Wimbledon - Surbiton - Woking - Farnborough - Basingstoke - Andover - Salisbury - Gillingham - Templecombe - Yeovil Junction - Honiton - Exeter Central - Exeter St Davids
E850 Exeter St Davids - Taunton - Bridgwater - Bristol Temple Meads - Bath Spa - Bathampton Jn - Bradford South Jn - Westbury (2) (3)

Notes :
(1) This trip was a celebration of it being 40 years since the end of Southern steam.
(2) Train terminated at Westbury due to collapse of brick arch on engine.
(3) The booked route after Westbury was: Westbury - Warminster - Salisbury - as outward - Clapham Junction.
(4) 37248 brought the ECS into Waterloo - was this used on the tour at all?

Source : Charles Baldwin & John Clifford

Tour Review
(from John Clifford)

This was the 2nd trip of the weekend to commemorate 40 years since the end of Southern steam.

There was a late start as there had been problems in marshalling the stock at Stewarts Lane. However some brisk running combined with cutting the generous allowances for water saw us reach Exeter early. There was late start from Exeter due to problems with servicing the engine (possibly connected with the later brick arch collapse). Further brisk running ensued but Bristol water stop was extended as the hydrant was slow. By the time we reached Westbury it was evident that the train could not go further, the crew deciding it was better to stop in Westbury rather than risk stalling on Upton Scudamore bank.

Some passengers returned via local trains in the Salisbury direction but for those returning to London we were allowed to travel by the 2130 ex Westbury. Here Nemesis struck! There was a herd of cows on the line at Castle Cary. The 2130 left Westbury at 2303 arriving in London at about 0045. I finally got to my hotel at 0115.

Because of the problems the stock could not be serviced in time for the following day's trip to Weymouth & that train was cancelled.

John Clifford

Photo Review
(all photos: Gordon Jakes)


850 pulls into Woking on the outward run.


850 at Exeter St Davids.


...and Bristol, where an extended water stop took place.


Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from John Clifford)

Miles Location Booked (out) Actual   Booked (rtn) Actual
0.0 London Waterloo 08.23d [P19] 09.11 -
3.9 Clapham Junction 08.32a ~ 08.33½d [P11] 09.23½ ~ 09.24½   22.14a CANC
7.2 Wimbledon 08/40½ 09/31   22/07 CANC
8.6 Raynes Park 08/43½ 09/32½   ?? CANC
9.7 New Malden 08/46½ 09/33½   22/04½ CANC
12.0 Surbiton 08/50 09/38   22/02½ CANC
13.3 Hampton Court Jn 08/55 09/40   22/00½ CANC
19.1 Weybridge 09/01½ 09/46½   21/50 CANC
20.4 Byfleet & New Haw 09/04 09/48   21/46 CANC
24.3 Woking 09.11a ~ 09.13d [P5] 09.55 ~ 09.59   21.37½a ~ 21.39½d CANC
24.7 Woking Jn 09/14½ 10/01   21/36½ CANC
29.6 Pirbright Jn 09/20 10/07½   21/22 CANC
33.2 Farnborough 09/24 10/11   21/15 CANC
36.5 Fleet 09/29 10/14½   21/11½ CANC
39.8 Winchfield 09w34 ~ 09w42 10.19 ~ 10.29   ?? CANC
47.8 Basingstoke 09/52 10/40½   20/59½ CANC
50.3 Worting Jn 09/56 10/43½   20/57 CANC
66.3 Andover Jn 10/15 11/01   20/38 CANC
82.5 Salisbury Tunnel Jn 10/31 11/16   20/20 CANC
83.5 Salisbury 10w35½a ~ 11w11½d [P4] 11.19 ~ 11.31½   20w04a ~ 20w17d CANC
85.4 Wilton Jn 11/15 11/36½   20/00 CANC

 

Miles Location Booked Actual
86.1 Wilton South Jn 11/17 11/37½
96.0 Tisbury Loop 11/29 11/49
105.2 Gillingham 11*43 ~ 11*48 12/06
112.0 Templecombe 11/56 12/16
118.1 Sherborne 12/12 12/29½
122.6 Yeovil Junction 12/23 12/34
139.4 Chard Junction 12/53 13/01½
154.7 Honiton 13w18 ~ 13w48 13.27½ ~ 13.46
168.5 Pinhoe 14/18 14/06
170.3 Exmouth Jn 14/23 14/10½
171.4 Exeter Central 14.26a ~ 14.28d [P2] 14.14 ~ 14.17
172.1
0.0
Exeter St Davids 14.32a ~ 16.27d [P1] 14.21 ~ 17.31
1.2 Cowley Bridge Jn 16/31 17/34½
14.8 Tiverton Loops 16/46 17/51½
16.5 Tiverton Parkway 16/48 17/53½
30.7 Taunton 17*04 ~ 17*13 18/10
35.6 Cogload Jn 17/18 18/17
42.3 Bridgwater 17/25 18/22½
48.6 Highbridge & Burnham 17/31 18/28½
55.9 Uphill Jn 17/37 18/34½
58.8 Worle Jn 17/40 18/35½
73.7 Parson Street 17/58 18/51
75.2 Bristol West Jn 18/02 18/54
75.5 Bristol Temple Meads 18w04a ~ 18w45d 18.55 ~ 19.56
75.9 Bristol East Jn 18/47 19/58
76.3 North Somerset Jn 18/48 19/59
87.0 Bath Spa 19/03 20/12
89.3 Bathampton 19/08 20/15½
98.4 Bradford Jn 19/19 20/27½
103.7 Westbury 19/27 20.41½a
- Warminster 19/39 CANC
- Upton Lovell 19/45 CANC
- Wylye 19/50 CANC
- Wishford 19/55 CANC

Timings continue in the first table.

Back to "The Railtour Files"