20th December 2007

Steam Dreams
The Cathedrals Express

Route:
1Z92 : London Waterloo to Yeovil Junction
1Z93 : Yeovil Junction to London Waterloo

Notes :
(1) 34067 on rear.
(2) booked via Frome but ran via avoiding line.

Sources : John Clifford (on the train throughout)

Tour Review
(by John Clifford)

This was the usual trip which Steam Dreams run for the carol concert in Sherborne Abbey with the option of continuing to Yeovil if you didn't want to go to the abbey.

On the outward journey we were keeping roughly to time until we were stopped at Byfleet Junc. This, combined with the time needed to get passengers on board meant we left Woking over 10 mins late. To allow a following "444" to pass we ran onto the slow line just before Farnborough, returning to the fast line at Winchfield. Thus we got to Salisbury 20 late, but by cutting down on the time needed to take water we were only 12 late away. Final arrival at Yeovil Junction was 13 late after an extended stop at Sherborne.

Good news for visitors to Yeovil Junction is that the station buffet has reopened after being shut for nearly a year. I found the food to be good.

The return journey was originally advertised as being back up the main line to Waterloo. However, the A30 bridge at Sherborne is still giving problems & our engine was out of gauge there so that meant a detour via Westbury. The diesel expected for this part was 50049 but this was under repair so the usual West Coast 37 deputised. Passengers from Sherborne were conveyed by coach to Yeovil Pen Mill but heavy traffic delayed them & we left Pen Mill 34 late. By missing out going via Frome & some smart work reversing at Westbury we left there less than 10 late.

The rest of the run back was of a high standard and, had we not been diverted to the slow line between Surbiton & New Malden we might have got to Waterloo on time.

John Clifford

Timings (Booked and Actual)
(from John Clifford)

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