18th July 2007

Steam Dreams
The Cathedrals Express

Locos Used 37248, 50049 & steam: 88 & 34067 'Tangmere'
Stock Used (1) 35518+5249+5236+1961+5237+9392+13440+5200+1840+5216+5222

Route:
1Z94 : London Victoria to Minehead
1Z95 : Minehead to London Victoria

Loco(s) Route
34067 (2) London Victoria - Stewarts Lane Jn - Longhedge Jn - Clapham Junction - Barnes - Richmond - Twickenham - Feltham - Staines - Ascot - Wokingham - Reading - Southcote Jn - Newbury - (via Westbury & Frome avoiding lines) - Castle Cary - Taunton - Bishops Lydeard
88 + 34067 Bishops Lydeard - Minehead
50049 Minehead - (reverse of outward route) - Fairwood Jn - Westbury - Chippenham - Swindon - Didcot Parkway - Reading - (reverse of outward route) - London Victoria

Notes :
(1) 35518 only in consist when 34067 was on the train.
(2) Banked from Victoria to Grosvenor Bridge by 37248.
(3) John Clifford comments: The stock did not arrive at Victoria till 0925 so we had a late start. Because of this we were held at Ascot & Reading for other trains to pass. Arrival at Bishops Lydeard was late so the train was held to fit in with trains on the West Somerset Railway. There was an option to leave the train at Bishops Lydeard & go to Minehead by service train. I took this up, the service train being hauled by 9351. As the outward trip did not arrive till after the booked return departure there was another late start. Despite a valiant attempt to regain time we did not pick up much of the lateness. A signal failure at Clapham Junction delayed us a bit more.

Source : John Clifford

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from John Clifford)

Location Booked Actual   Booked Actual
Victoria 09.25d 09.37   21.28a 21.56½
Battersea Pier Jn 09/28 09/40½   21/25 21/51½
Stewarts Lane 09/32 09/42   21/23 21/50
Longhedge Jn 09/38 09/44   21/20 21/48½
Clapham Junction 09/41 09/49   21/17 21.35 ~ 21.44½
Barnes 09/46 09/54½   21/14 21/30
Richmond 09.50a ~ 09.54d 10.01½ ~ 10.03   21.07a ~ 21.10d 21.22½ ~ 21.23½
St Margarets ? ?   21/04 21/20
Twickenham 09/57 10/07   21/03 21/19½
Twickenham Jn ? ?   21/01 21/19
Whitton Jn 09/59 10/09½   20/58 21/17
Feltham Jn 10/00 10/10   20/57 21/16½
Feltham 10/02 10/12   20/55 21/15
Staines 10.10a ~ 10.12d 10.20 ~ 10.22   20.46a ~ 20.49d 21.07 ~ 21.08½
Virginia Water 10/19 10/30½   20/38 20/59
Ascot 10.28a ~ 10.30d 10.41½ ~ 10.50   20.27a ~ 20.29d 20.48½ ~ 20.49½
Wokingham 10/41 11/06   20/16 20/36½
Earley 10/46 11/16   20/12 20/32
Reading Spur Jn 10/49 11.21 ~ 11.27   20/09 20/28
Reading New Jn 10/58 11/32   20/08 20/27
Reading 11.00a ~ 11.02d 11.34 ~ 11.42½   20.05a ~ 20.06d 20.23 ~ 20.25
Southcote Jn 11/05 11/48  
Newbury Racecourse 11.24 ~ 11.43 12.09½ ~ 12.27  
Newbury 11.47 ~ 11.49 12.32½ ~ 12.33½  
Bedwyn 12/02 12/50  
Woodborough 12/14 13/01  
Lavington 12/22 13/08  
Heywood Road Jn 12/29 13/14  
Reading West Jn   20/02½ 20/20
Didcot Parkway   19/50½ 20/06
Wantage Road   19/46 20/00½
Challow   19/44 19/58
Uffington   19/42 19/56
Swindon   19/33 19/48
Wootton Bassett Jn   19/27 19/43½
Chippenham   19/18 19/35
Thingley Jn   19/16 19/31
Bradford South Jn   19/05 19/18½
Westbury   18/54 19.07 ~ 19.09½
Fairwood Jn 12/32 13/16   18/47 19/00
Clink Road Jn 12/35 13/19   18/45 18/56
Blatchbridge Jn 12/37 13/20½   18/43 18/53
Witham 12/41 13/25   18/39 18/50
Castle Cary 12/51 13/32½   18/30 18/43
Somerton 13/02 13/41½   18/22 18/35½
Athelney 13/12 13/49   18/15 18/29
Cogload Jn 13/16 13/54   18/12 18/27
Taunton East Jn 13/20 13/59½   18/07 18/23
Taunton 13.22 ~ 13.24 14.01½ ~ 14.03   18.02 ~ 18.04 18.20½ ~ 18.21
Norton Fitzwarren 13.30 ~ 13.32 14/11   17.55 ~ 17.57 18/11
Bishops Lydeard 13.44a ~ 13.46d 14.21 ~ ??.??   17.41a ~ 17.43d 18.00 ~ 18.01½
Crowcombe ? ?   ? 17/50
Williton ? ?   ? 17/36
Blue Anchor ? ?   ? 17/17
Minehead 14.40a 16.53   16.45d 17.04


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