11th December 2007

Steam Dreams
The Cathedrals Express

Route:
1Z82 : London Waterloo to Salisbury
1Z83 : Salisbury to London Waterloo

Notes :
(1) 37248 on rear (was booked to be attached at South West Sidings).

Sources : John Clifford

Tour Review
(from John Clifford)

This tour was originally advertised as starting from, & terminating at, Victoria with the return going via Southampton. The letter with the tickets stated "In the detailed planning of this trip it has emerged that our locomotive 30777 Sir Lamiel is too large for certain areas of Victoria station. This has meant that we have had to change our London station to be Waterloo with some minor alterations to timings required. To this extent the train will run via Hounslow, Kew and Kensington Olympia on the return journey to Waterloo".

I understand that the need to attach the 37 at South West Sidings was caused by the fact that platform 19 at Waterloo (into which we were booked) has no "calling on" signal.

On the day we had a late start from Waterloo as the front of train was beyond the starting signal so we needed permission to go. The performance of the engine was muted by the poor coal so we did not go very fast all day. There was a slightly late arrival at Salisbury. On the return the coal problem continued but we got back only slightly late by cutting down the time taken at the water stop & the time needed to attach the 37. Noteworthy, however, was the return route using the Sheepcote Lane curve.

John Clifford

Timings (Booked and Actual)
(from John Clifford)

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