27th August 2009

Steam Dreams
The Cathedrals Express

Locos Used 37706 & steam: 34067 'Tangmere'
Stock Used 5249+5236+5237+1961+99121+9104+13440+35518+1840+5171+5200

Route :
1Z96 : London Victoria to Stratford-upon-Avon
1Z97 : Stratford-upon-Avon to London Victoria

Loco(s) Route
34067 (1) London Victoria - Stewarts Lane Jn - Longhedge Jn - Clapham Junction - Barnes - Brentford - Hounslow - Feltham - Staines - Virginia Water - Ascot - Wokingham - Earley - Reading - Didcot East Jn - Didcot Parkway - Didcot North Jn - Oxford - Aynho Jn - Banbury - Leamington Spa - Hatton West Jn - Bearley Jn - Stratford-upon-Avon
34067 Stratford-upon-Avon - (reverse of outward route) - Didcot North Jn - (via avoiding line) - Didcot East Jn - (reverse of outward route) - London Victoria

Notes :
(1) Banked by 37706 from Victoria to Grosvenor Bridge.
(2) John Clifford comments: The tour ran well to Reading but after this the effect of poor coal caused some slow running. At Oxford we found that the 11.23 Oxford - Banbury, which should have followed us, had already gone so we followed it. Fresh coal was taken at Banbury which improved matters but arrival at Stratford was still 21mins late. On the return the engine had trouble finding its feet on the difficult climb out of Stratford. Consequently at Hatton the 16.52 Snow Hill - Marylebone had gone ahead instead of following us. Then we were stopped outside Leamington for 7mins to let a Voyager come off the Coventry line. All this meant that we were now running over 20mins late. By cutting down on the time at the Hinksey water stop & some good running we were almost on time at Reading. It helped that we were well behind the 18.37 Oxford - Paddington stopper instead of on its tail. Arrival at Victoria was slightly early.

Source : John Clifford

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from John Clifford)

Location Booked Actual   Booked Actual
Victoria 08.45d 08.46   21.35a 21.33
Battersea Pier Jn 08/48 08/50   21/33 21/27
Stewarts Lane 08/51 08/52   21/27 21/26
Longhedge Jn 08/56 08/53   21/21 21/24
Clapham Junction 09/01 09/03   21.15a ~ 21.17d 21.17 ~ 21.19
Barnes 09/08 09/09   21/08 21/09
Brentford 09/16 09/16   21/00 21/02
Hounslow 09/22 09/24   20/55 20/59
Feltham Jn 09/24 09/26   20/53 20/56
Feltham 09/26 09/28   20/52 20/54
Staines 09.32a ~ 09.34d 09.34 ~ 09.36   20.44a ~ 20.46d 20.45 ~ 20.48
Virginia Water 09/41 09/44   20/37 20/35
Ascot 09w50a ~ 10w05d 09.52 ~ 10.12   20w17a ~ 20w29d 20.18 ~ 20.27
Wokingham 10/19 10/25   20/06 20/02
Earley 10/24 10/30   20/00 19/51
Spur Jn 10/28 10/34   19.45 ~ 19.56 19/47
New Jn 10/34 10/36   19/43 19/45
Reading 10.35a ~ 10.45d 10.37 ~ 10.45   19.38a ~ 19.41d 19.41 ~ 19.43
Reading West Jn 10/47 10/49   19/33 19/36
Didcot East Jn 11/02 11/04   19/07 19/17
Didcot Parkway 11/03 11/09  
Didcot North Jn 11/05 11/11   19/06 19/16
Kennington Jn 11/13 11/19   18/54 19/09
Hinksey North ? ?   18w13 ~ 18w51 18.37 ~ 19.04
Oxford 11.17a ~ 11.19d 11.24 ~ 11.30   18.09a ~ 18.11d 18.30 ~ 18.33
Wolvercot Jn 11/23 11/34   18/04 18/26
Heyford 11/31 11/44   17/54 18/19
Aynho Jn 11/36 11/49   17/49 18/14
Banbury 11w41a ~ 12w04d 11.59 ~ 12.16   17/43 18/09
Fenny Compton 12/14 12/28   17/35 18/00
Leamington Spa 12/24 12/39   17/24 17/48
Warwick 12.29a ~ 12.31d 11.59 ~ 12.16   17/43 18/09
Hatton 12/37 12/55   17/13 17/25
Hatton West Jn 12/39 12/57   17/11 17/23
Bearley Jn 12/46 13/04   17/03 17/12
Stratford-upon-Avon 12.51a 13.12   16.57d 17.02


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