29th September 2007

Steam Dreams
Cathedrals Express

Locos Used 47245 & steam: 34067 'Tangmere'
Stock Used 35518+5200+5222+1840+5216+13440+9392+5236+1961+5249+5237

Route:
1Z86 : London Victoria to Gloucester
1Z87 : Gloucester to London Victoria

Loco(s) Route
34067 (1) London Victoria - Stewarts Lane - Kensington Olympia - Willesden West London Jn - Acton Wells Jn - Ealing Broadway - Slough - Reading - Didcot - Swindon - Kemble - Gloucester
34067 Gloucester - (reverse of outward route) - Reading - Wokingham - Ascot - Staines - Hounslow - Clapham Junction - Stewarts Lane - London Victoria

Notes :
(1) Banked by 47245 from London Victoria to Grosvenor Bridge.

Source: John Clifford (on the train throughout)

Tour Review
(by John Clifford)

We didn't get off to a good start as there was a brake problem on one of the coaches so we left late. A slow run down the relief line on the Great Western, signal checks from Langley & a brief stop outside Reading ensured that we did not pick up any time. However, the problem of poor coal came up again with boiler pressure dropping to the extent that the brakes came on near MP 55 & we stood there 11.21-34 while the fire was sorted out to raise pressure. Two HST's came by when we eventually set off & got into the loop at Challow for water. The rest of the run to Gloucester was completed without incident.

Because of engineering work in the Gloucester area the triangle there was not available so the engine had to go to Newport to turn. This would not have been a problem if we had been on time but the consequence was that, having arrived an hour late, we left just over an hour late. One thing worthy of note is that the engine arrived from the sidings propelling its support coach & hauling the train; truly a "Tangmere sandwich".

We set off & there was a magnificent climb over Sapperton. While running through the platform at Kemble the signal suddenly went from green to red. There was a problem with the lineside equipment so we waited there until we were allowed to go. 95 late off Swindon & would we get any later: yes, we did! A succession of yellow signals after Reading meant that we lost further time & by Feltham we had reached the 2 hour mark. The running was very slow coming off the Hounslow loop & onward to Clapham Junction when some time was spent in having a further "blow-up". The final arrival at Victoria was 134 mins late.

John Clifford
Timings (Booked and Actual)
(from John Clifford)

Location Booked Actual   Booked Actual
London Victoria 09.19d 09.31   21.00a 23.14
Battersea Pier Jn 09/22 09/34   20/56 23/10
Stewarts Lane 09/25 09/35   20/54 23/08
Longhedge Jn 09/27 09/37   20/49 23/07
Latchmere Jn 09/29 09/40  
Kensington Olympia 09/34 09/48  
North Pole Jn 09/37 09/52  
Mitre Bridge Jn 09/38 09/54  
West London Jn 09/39 09/55  
Acton Wells Jn 09/43 09/58  
Acton Main Line 09/46 10/01  
Acton West 09/48 10/03  
Southall 09/55 10/08  
Airport Jn 09/57 10/10  
Slough 10/08 10/22  
Maidenhead 10.17 ~ 10.22 10.35 ~ 10.37  
Twyford 10/30 10/46  
Clapham Junction   20/46 22.53a ~ 23.02d
Barnes   20/38 22/40
Brentford   20/29 22/31
Hounslow   20/24 22/26
Feltham Jn   20/22 22/23
Feltham   20/20 22/20
Staines   20/12 22/11
Virginia Water   20/05 22/01
Ascot   19w47 ~ 19w58 21.50 ~ 21.52
Wokingham   19/36 21/33
Earley   19/33 21/24
Reading Spur Jn   19/30 21/18
Reading New Jn   19/29 21/17
Reading 10/38 10/56   19.26 ~ 19.28 21.12 ~ 21.14
Reading West Jn 10/40 10/58   19/24 21/08
Didcot East Jn ? ?   19/10 20/51
Didcot Parkway 10/57 11/16   19/09 20/48
Wantage Road 11/04 11/39   18w35 ~ 19w00 20.12 ~ 20.35
Challow 11w08 ~ 11w36 11.46 ~ 12.18   18/31 20/06
Uffington 11/41 12/24   18/27 20/02
Swindon 11.52a ~ 11.54d 12.42 ~ 12.43   18.14a ~ 18.16d 19.50 ~ 19.51
Swindon Loco Yard 11/56 12/44   18/10 19/49
Kemble 12/09 13/01   17/57 19.09 ~ 19.24
St Marys Crossing 12/19 13/12   17/46 18/58
Standish Jn 12/29 13/24   17/37 18/48
Gloucester Yard Jn 12/37 13/32   17/29 18/39
Horton Road Jn 12/38 13/34   17/28 18/37
Gloucester 12.40a 13.36   17.25d 18.34


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