27th October 2007

Railway Touring Company
The Sussex Explorer

Route:
1Z82 : London Victoria to Uckfield
1Z83 : Uckfield to Bognor
1Z84 : Bognor to Littlehampton
1Z85 : Littlehampton to London Victoria

Notes :
(1) 37417 on rear.
(2) 45407 on rear.
(3) Booked via Stewarts Lane but ran 'Main Line'.

Source : John Clifford (on the train throughout)

Tour Review
(by John Clifford)

This tour was originally advertised for 34067 "Tangmere" but as that engine had to go for boiler repairs 45407 was substituted. Also the original route was: Victoria - Uckfield (R) - Norwood Junc (R) - West Croydon - Leatherhead - Horsham - Littlehampton (R) - Horsham - Three Bridges - East Croydon - Victoria.

On the day the engine was seen at Victoria with a headboard "Riley 1 - Riley International Rescue" but this was removed shortly before departure. The tour was running as booked until a stop at Ashurst Jn due to a report of trespassers on the line. After leaving Three Bridges it became evident that the brakes were dragging, probably due to a low steam pressure caused by poor quality coal, a problem which has dogged some steam tours this year. We made it to Bognor & reversed to Littlehampton. There are some speed restrictions on the Mid Sussex line for loco hauled trains so our progress on the return was not rapid, added to this the engine was slipping a bit. Anyway we got back to Victoria by the route shown (unusual for steam) & saved some time by omitting the diversion via Stewarts Lane.

A nice touch was the Spa Valley Railway sent down their "Jinty" to Birchden Jn to whistle as we went down & on the return there was a 33 & 25 to mark our progress.

John Clifford

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from John Clifford)

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