17th December 2016

Steam Dreams
The Cathedrals Express

Route : 
1Z34 : London Victoria to Minehead
1Z35 : Minehead to London Paddington

Notes : 
(1) 47802 on rear.
(2) D6575 on rear.
(3) 34046 running numbered / named as 34052 'Lord Dowding'.
(4) 35451 was only in the consist when 34046 was on the train.
(5) John Clifford comments: The latest brochure showed the train as being hauled by 6201 'Princess Elizabeth', but as this was unavailable 34046 was substituted. Also the train was due to start from London Paddington, but as there was engineering work the train started from London Victoria. On the day, just as the E.C.S. was leaving Southall, a person was hit by a freight train there. Consequently the railway was temporarily shut while investigations were carried out. The E.C.S. arrived at London Victoria late with the train starting about an hour behind schedule. Some time had been made up when I joined the train at Slough. The Newbury Racecourse stop was shortened which made up much time. Nevertheless we had to wait there for two trains to pass us, one of which was the 09.00 Paddington - Plymouth. By this time we were only 10 minutes late, but there was a signal problem in the Westbury area which further delayed us. The Frome water stop took longer than booked as were held at Frome to let the 10.00 Paddington - Penzance go ahead. At Norton Fitzwarren there was a further delay to let late running trains pass, i.e., 08.44 Penzance - Paddington (63 min late) and 11.49 Bristol Temple Meads - Laira E.C.S. (35 min late). On the West Somerset Railway the loco change was made at their Norton Fitzwarren platform instead of Bishops Lydeard. Arrival at Minehead was 22 minutes late. The locos being used on the W.S.R.’s 'Santa Express' were 44422 and 53808. On the return journey we were keeping roughly to time but there was some slow running after Newbury. I could not see that we were following anything so possibly there was a signal problem. There was some engineering works on the route into London, so we lost time arriving back nearly a quarter of an hour late.

Source : John Clifford (joined the tour at Slough) & Guy Vincent

Photo Review

34046 arriving at Westbury on the outward leg (photo: Guy Vincent)

47802 on the rear at Westbury (photo: Guy Vincent)

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from John Clifford & Realtime Trains)

Associated E.C.S. Workings

5Z34 : (34046 with 47802 on rear) : Southall to Willesden No.7 Jn
5Z34 : (47802 with 34046 on rear) : Willesden No.7 Jn to London Victoria

5Z36 : (47802 with 34046 on rear) : London Paddington to Southall

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