24th October 2007

Steam Dreams
The Cathedrals Express

Locos Used 33025 'Glen Falloch' & steam: 45407 'The Lancashire Fusliler'
Stock Used 35517+5171+5200+5222+1840+5216+13440+9392+5236+1961+5249+5237

Route:
1Z82 London Victoria to Canterbury West
1Z83 Canterbury West to London Victoria

Loco(s) Route
45407 (1) London Victoria - (2) - Factory Jn - Wandsworth Road - Brixton - Herne Hill - Penge East - Beckenham Junction - Shortlands - Bromley South – St Mary Cray - Swanley – Otford - Maidstone East - Ashford - Canterbury West - Minster - Sandwich - Deal - Buckland Jn - Dover Priory – Folkestone - Ashford International – Paddock Wood - Tonbridge - Sevenoaks - Orpington - Bickley Jn - Bromley South – Shortlands Jn – Beckenham Junction - Herne Hill - Brixton - Voltaire Road Jn - Wandsworth Road - London Victoria

Notes :
(1) Banked by 33025 from Victoria to Grosvenor Bridge. 33025 was also on the rear (providing assistance as required) for the section from Canterbury West to Dover Priory only.
(2) Booked route was via Stewarts Lane but instead the train was routed on the Down Chatham Fast.
 Gordon Jakes comments: When the train was first advertised the loco was advertised as 30777, this was subsequently changed to 34067 following problems with 30777.  34067 then experienced its own problems and 30777 was reinstated until the lack of up to date gauging was realized and then 45407 was sourced as the final last minute substitute. 45407 literally arrived south from Bury on the 23/10/07. Due to the 12-coach loading and to the reduced power of the Black 5 it was decided that assistance would be required to climb Martin Mill bank and this was provided by 33025 which was also the empty stock engine at Victoria. 45407 was limited to 60 mph.  45407 performed well during the day with its heavy load but clearly could not keep to the schedule designed for 34067. John Clifford comments: This was a superb effort by the crew with a class 5 engine and 12 on. They produced some great climbs, e.g., out of Maidstone & up to Sevenoaks Tunnel.

Sources : Gordon Jakes & John Clifford

Photo Review
(all photos: Gordon Jakes)


45407 pauses at Canterbury West with the ECS.


Journeys end - 45407 pauses alongside some more modern traction.


Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Gordon Jakes & John Clifford)

M.C Location Booked Actual   Booked Actual M.C
0.00 London Victoria 11.25d 11.26   20.26a 20.49 [P2] 109.17
0.71 Grosvenor Bridge Jn 11/29 11/29   ? ? ?
1.38 Stewarts Lane Jn 11/32 DIV  
1.68 Factory Jn 11/40 11/31   ? ? ?
1.75 Wandsworth Road ? 11/31   ? 20/43 107.22
2.05 Voltaire Road Jn 11/42 11/32   20/21 20/43 ?
2.25 Clapham High Street ? 11/32   ? 20/42½ 106.72
2.70 Shepherds Lane Jn 11/43 11/33   ? ? ?
3.14 Brixton 11/44 11/33½   20/19 20/41 106.03
3.76 Herne Hill 11/45 11/41   20/18 20/40 105.21
5.02 West Dulwich ? 11/44   ? 20/39 104.15
5.57 Sydenham Hill ? 11/45½   ? ? ?
7.15 Penge East ? 11/47½   ? ? ?
7.66 Kent House ? ?   ? 20/35½ 101.31
8.53 Beckenham Junction 11/51 11/49   20/13 20/34½ 100.44
9.57 Shortlands Jn 11/53 11/50½   20/11 20/33 98.24
10.03 Shortlands ? 11/51   ? 20/33 97.78
10.71 Bromley South 11.55a ~ 11.57d 11.52 ~ 11.57   20.07a ~ 20.09d 20.29 ~ 20.31 97.10
11.76 Bickley ? 12/03½   ? 20/27 96.05
12.40 Bickley Jn 11/59 12/05   20/04 20/26 95.43

 

M.C Location Booked Actual
13.17 St Mary Cray Jn 12/00 12/06½
14.57 St Mary Cray ? 12/08
17.31 Swanley 12/05 12/11½
20.32 Eynsford ? 12/16
22.52 Shoreham ? 12/18½
24.06 Otford ? 12/20
24.54 Otford Jn 12/18 12/21½
26.79 Kemsing ? 12/25
29.52 Borough Green & Wrotham ? 12/28½
35.64 East Maling ? 12/35
37.43 Barming ? 12/37
39.76 Maidstone East 12/34 12/41
45.02 Hollingborne ? 12/50
47.36 Harrietsham ? 12/53½
48.71 Lenham DPL 12w43 ~ 12w55 12.58 ~ 13.19
49.11 Lenham ? 13/20
53.11 Charing 13/00 13/26
59.19 Ashford International 13/07 13.35½ ~ 13.42
63.39 Wye 13/18 13/49
68.16 Chilham ? 13/54
70.21 Chartham ? 13/56
73.34
0.00		 Canterbury 13.30a ~ 17.40d 14.03 ~ 17.42
11.37 Minster 17/53 18/01
11.40 Minster West Jn ? ?
11.71 Minster South Jn ? 18/03½
16.19 Sandwich 17/59 18/09
20.29 Deal 18/05 18/14
22.00 Walmer ? 18/16
24.58 Martin Mill ? 18/20
28.58 Buckland Jn 18/15 18/28
29.52 Dover Priory 18/17 18.31 ~ 18.35
36.03 Folkestone East Jn ? 18/48½
37.02 Folkestone Central 18/29 18/50
37.53 Folkestone West 18w32 ~ 18w47 18.52 ~ 19.04
40.32 Saltwood Jn 18/51 19/10
41.39 Sandling ? 19/12
50.63 Ashford International 19/03 19/22½
61.58 Headcorn [UGL] 19/13 19.40 ~ 19.41
65.05 Staplehurst ? 19/46½
67.44 Marden ? 19/49½
72.08 Paddock Wood 19/25 19/54½
77.33 Tonbridge 19/33 20/00½
79.73 Hildenborough ? 20/04
84.66 Sevenoaks 19/44 20/12
86.29 Dunton Green ? 20/14½
90.31 Knockholt ? 20/20
91.50 Chelsfield ? 20/22
93.10 Orpington 19/54 20/23
94.22 Petts Wood ? ?
94.51 Petts Wood Jn 19/56 20/25

Timings continue in first table.

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