7th December 2007

Steam Dreams
The Cathedrals Express

Route:
1Z60 : London Victoria to Lincoln
1Z61 : Lincoln to London Victoria

Notes :
(1) Banked by 73136 London Victoria to Grosvenor Bridge.
(2) 37248 on rear.

Sources : John Clifford

Tour Review
(from John Clifford)

There are times when I wonder why I keep going on these tours. From this you may deduce that things did not go according to plan.

My train into Kings X was a bit late but not enough to cause any worry. That was saved for the Victoria line. The passenger alarm had been activated on an earlier train so it was a slow journey to Victoria. By the time I got there the alarm had been about 4 times on other trains. Arrival at Victoria brought forth the information that the 47 bringing in the stock had failed. Eventually it appeared behind an "ED". It was lucky that it was at Stewarts Lane & even luckier that the "ED" driver was one of the few West Coast ones who knew them.

We set off a few mins late due to some speedy work. 60009 was having some problems with the gradients on the West London line so were late passing Willesden Junction where a 313 had been held for us. We made it to the East Coast Main Line 15 late but then followed a Moorgate - Welwyn Garden City stopper all the way from Finsbury Park. After leaving the Stevenage stop we continued on the Slow line. Now I can't recall ever doing all the ECML from Copenhagen Jn almost to Peterborough all the way on a "fast" train. The result was that the Stevenage - Peterborough leg, timed at a fast 47 mins, became very slow 72 mins. In their wisdom Network Rail had imposed a 40 mph restriction on steam on the slow line. After watering in Peterborough West Yard we set off & had our best running for the outward journey on the "Joint line".

It had been hoped that Lincoln would be left on time but this was not to be. Lincoln Christmas Market was in full swing so there were extras from Nottingham as well as the VSOE. The VSOE had loco problems so the ECS arrived very late & eventually left over 130 late. Our stock had already gone through Lincoln being towed from Newark (where it had gone for servicing) by 37248. We left 89 late but stopped again quickly as the TPWS on the 37 had not been isolated. We got going again & at Newark discovered that there had been a signal problem north of York so the ECML was running late. One train passed us there. We then set off & were put into Claypole loop to let 4 more trains pass. By this time we were about 2 hours late & this was the pattern for the rest of the journey despite some good running. Arrival at Kings X was 124 mins late. I just caught the 2336 off Kings X instead of the expected 2136.

As always seems to happen on these occasions FCC local trains were just leaving as we arrived at both Peterborough & Stevenage so no chance of getting them for an earlier arrival home.

I am fully expecting the arrival of the men in white coats to take me away.John Clifford

Timings (Booked and Actual)
(from John Clifford)

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