23rd August 2016

Steam Dreams
The Cathedrals Express

Locos Used 47580 'County of Essex' & steam: 6201 'Princes Elizabeth'
Stock Used (2) (99040)+5171+5200+5222+9104+13440+99352+13320+1666+5236+5249+5237

Route : 
1Z46 : London Victoria to Minehead
1Z48 : Minehead to London Victoria

Loco Route
6201 (1) London Victoria - Grosvenor Bridge Jn - Stewarts Lane Jn - Longhedge Jn - Clapham Junction - Barnes - Brentford - Hounslow - Feltham - Staines - Virginia Water - Ascot - Wokingham - Reading - Southcote Jn - Newbury - Heywood Road Jn - Fairwood Jn - Clink Road Jn - Frome - Blatchbridge Jn - Castle Cary - Cogload Jn - Taunton - Norton Fitzwarren W.S.R. (4)
47580 Norton Fitzwarren W.S.R. - Bishops Lydeard - Crowcombe Heathfield - Williton - Blue Anchor - Minehead
47580 Minehead - (reverse of outward route) - Bishops Lydeard
6201 (1) Bishops Lydeard - (reverse of outward route) - Blatchbridge Jn - Clink Road Jn - (reverse of outward route) - Reading (4)
47580 Reading - (reverse of outward route) - Clapham Junction (4)

Notes : 
(1) 47580 on rear.
(2) 99040 was only in the consist when 6201 was on the train.
(3) This was 6201 'Princess Elizabeth's first run since major overhaul. 
(4) On the outward leg 6201 was removed from the train at Norton Fitzwarren W.S.R, due to being too long for the turntable at Minehead. 6201 was turned by using Norton Fitzwarren triangle. On the return leg 6201 was removed from the train at Reading, due to running low on water. There was a scheduled water stop at Ascot, but the Water Bowser was stuck in traffic on the M4 Motorway. The tour train finally terminated at Clapham Junction, as there was no loco available to take the empty stock from London Victoria to Southall.


The return leg of the tour passing Wyke Champflower near Castle Cary.
(photo: Graham Hutton)

Source : Guy Vincent & Nick Bartlett

Timings (Booked & actual)
(from Realtime Trains)

Location Booked Actual   Booked Actual
London Victoria 08.42d [P2] 08.42 23.33a [P2] CANX
Grosvenor Bridge Jn 08/46 ? 23/30 CANX
Stewarts Lane Jn 08/53 [RVL] ? 23/27 [RVL] CANX
Longhedge Jn 08/57 ? 23/24 CANX
Clapham Junction 09/01 [P5] [DF] 09/01 23/21 [P3] 23.45a
Barnes 09/08 [P3] 09/09 23/14 [P1] 23/39
Brentford 09.14a ~ 09.16d [P2] 09.16 ~ 09.18 23.06a ~ 23.08d [P1] 23.32 ~ 23.34
Hounslow 09/21 [P2] 09/24 23/01 [P1] 23/25
Feltham Jn 09/24 09/26 22/58 23/22
Feltham 09/26 [P2] 09/28 22/56 [P1] 23/19
Staines 09/32 [P2] 09/34 22/49 [P1] 23/15
Virginia Water 09.42a ~ 09.44d [P2] 09.42 ~ 09.44 22.36a ~ 22.39d [P1] 23.06 ~ 23.08
Sunningdale 09w49 ~ 09w59 [P2] 09/50? 22/31 [P1] 23/01
Ascot 10.05a ~ 10.08d [P2] 09.53 ~ 10.08 22w16a ~ 22w28d [P1] 22.55 ~ 22.58
Wokingham 10/21 [P2] 10/22 22/00 [P1] 22/43
Earley 10/27 10/27 21/51 22/38
Reading Spur Jn 10/30 10/31 21/47 22/35
Reading New Jn 10/33 10/36 21/37 22/33
Reading 10.35a ~ 10.42d [P7] 10.42 ~ 10.46 21.32a ~ 21.35d [P7] 21L34 ~ 22L32
Oxford Road Jn 10/44 10/48 21/30 21/32
Southcote Jn 10/46 10/50 21/28 21/31
Theale 10/50 ? 21/23 ?
Newbury Racecourse 11w04 ~ 11w20 [P3] 11.07 ~ ? 21/07½ ?
Newbury 11/24 [P1] 11/26 20.56a ~ 21.06d [P2] 21.04 ~ 21.11
Bedwyn 11/37 [P1] 11/41 20/39 [P2] 20/44
Woodborough 11/50 11/53 20w01 ~ 20w23 [UGL] 20.08 ~ 20.29
Lavington 11/59 12/00 19/49 19/57
Heywood Road Jn 12/08 12/07 19/42 19/51
Fairwood Jn 12/11 12/09 19/40 19/48
Clink Road Jn 12/17 12/15 19/34 19/45
Frome 12w19 ~ 12w30 12.17 ~ 12.32 - -
Blatchbridge Jn 12/33 12/38 19/32 19/44
East Somerset Jn 12/38 12/46 19/27 19/40
Castle Cary 12.48a ~ 12.50d [P2] 12.56 ~ 13.01 19.10a ~ 19.13d [P1] 19.23 ~ 19.26 [P1]
Somerton GF 13/02 13/10 18/59 19/12
Athelney LC 13/10 13/19 18/50 19/03
Cogload Jn 13/15 13/24 18/46 19/00
Taunton 13.21a ~ 13.23d [P2] 13.31 ~ 13.35 18.38a ~ 18.40d [P2] 18.50 ~ 18.53
Norton Fitzwarren 13/27 13/39 18/32 ?
Norton Fitzwarren W.S.R. 13L30 ~ 14L00 ? ? ?
Bishops Lydeard 14.12a ~ 14.18d ? 18L10 ~ ??L?? ?
Crowcombe Heathfield 14/32 ? 18/00 ?
Williton 14/50 ? 17/42 ?
Blue Anchor 15.10 ~ 15.12 ? 17.15 ~ 17.20 ?
Dunster ? ? ? ?
Minehead 15.27a ? 17.00d ?


Associated E.C.S. Workings

5Z45 : (47580 with 6201 on rear) : Southall to London Victoria

Location Booked
Southall Depot 06.25d
Southall Yard 06.35 ~ 06.45
Southall East Jn 06/46
West Ealing 06/49
Acton West 06/54
Acton Main Line 06/56
Acton Wells Jn 06/59
Willesden SW Sidings 07.02 ~ 07.20
Mitre Bridge Jn 07/25
North Pole Jn 07/27
Kensington Olympia 07/31
West Brompton 07.34 ~ 07.38
Latchmere Jn 07/42
Longhedge Jn 07/44
Stewarts Lane Jn 07/48
Grosvenor Bridge Jn 08/00
London Victoria 08.04a [P2]

5Z48 : (47580 with 6201 on rear) : London Victoria to Southall (cancelled)

Location Booked
London Victoria 23.58d [P2]
Grosvenor Bridge Jn 00/02
Stewarts Lane Jn 00/05
Longhedge Jn 00/08
Latchmere Jn 00/12
West Brompton 00.18 ~ 00.21
Kensington Olympia 00/24
North Pole Jn 00/28
Mitre Bridge Jn 00/29
Willesden SW Sdgs 00/33
Acton Wells Jn 00/37
Acton Main Line 00/40
Acton West 00/43
West Ealing 00/46
Southall East Jn 00/50
Southall 00/51
Hayes & Harlington Loop 00.54 ~ 00.59
Southall West Jn 01/01
Southall Yard 01.04 ~ 01.08
Southall Depot 01.18a

5Z?? : (6201 with 99040) : Reading to Southall

Location Revised
Reading ?d
Twyford ?
Maidenhead ?
Slough ?
Southall Depot ?a

5Z48 : (47580) : Clapham Junction to Southall

Location Revised
Clapham Junction ?d
Latchmere Jn 00/12
West Brompton 00.18 ~ 00.21
Kensington Olympia 00/24
North Pole Jn 00/28
Mitre Bridge Jn 00/29
Willesden SW Sdgs 00/33
Acton Wells Jn 00/37
Acton Main Line 00/40
Acton West 00/43
West Ealing 00/46
Southall East Jn 00/50
Southall 00/51
Hayes & Harlington Loop 00.54 ~ 00.59
Southall West Jn 01/01
Southall Yard 01.04 ~ 01.08
Southall Depot 01.18a


Back to "The Railtour Files"