14th July 2018

UK Railtours
The Sunny South Express

Locos Used 73961 'Alison' & 73963 'Janice'
Stock Used 4946+4959+1813+3119+3120+3147+80042+3098+3097+21272

Route : 
1Z40 : Stevenage to Weymouth
1Z41 : Weymouth to Stevenage

Locos Route
73961+73963 Stevenage - Welwyn Garden City - Potters Bar - Finsbury Park - Copenhagen Jn - York Way North Jn - Camden Road Jn - Gospel Oak - Kensal Green Jn - Willesden Junction HL - Acton Wells Jn - Acton Main Line - Ealing Broadway - Southall - Slough - Maidenhead - Reading - Southcote Jn - Newbury - Bedwyn - Westbury - Clink Road Jn - Frome (1) - Blatchbridge Jn - Castle Cary - Yeovil Pen Mill - Maiden Newton - Dorchester West - Weymouth
73963+73961 Weymouth - Dorchester South - Wareham - Poole - Bournemouth - Brockenhurst - Redbridge - Southampton Central - St Denys - Eastleigh - Winchester - Worting Jn - Basingstoke - Bramley - Southcote Jn - (reverse of outward route) - Stevenage

Notes : 
(1) Diverted via Frome, to allow a late running Paddington to Penzance train to overtake .
(2) This tour was originally advertised to run outwards via Virginia Water and Winchester, and return via Yeovil and Newbury.
(3) John Clifford's comments: When advertised this tour was to reach Weymouth via Bournemouth and return via Yeovil. For those going to Weymouth there was the opportunity to visit the Pommery Dorset Seafood Festival. I had hoped to join the tour at Stevenage but as my connection from Hatfield was cancelled I had to settle for Welwyn Garden City. We left there slightly early and before Finsbury Park caught up the 07.30 Hertford North - Moorgate. Once off the East Coast Main Line we had a booked stop at Camden Road Central Jn so that we could follow the 08.15 Stratford - Richmond which checked us outside Willesden Junction, while it carried out its platform duties. Another stop outside Acton Main Line let the 09.02 Paddington - Heathrow Airport go ahead and we followed it to Airport Jn. No further problems were encountered and we gained on the schedule until were we were diverted at Clink Road Jn onto the Frome line instead of using the avoider. This was to let the 10.03 Paddington - Penzance (8 minutes late) to go ahead. This made us late but we found at Yeovil Pen Mill that the train that we were due to pass (11.14 Weymouth - Bristol Temple Meads) was running 22 minutes late. At Dorchester West we found the 12.10 Weymouth - Yeovil Junction waiting and this left 25 minutes late. Arrival at Weymouth was 7 minutes late. On the return the stock was late coming into Weymouth so we had a late start and in the process delayed the 17.30 Weymouth - Bristol Temple Meads by 6 minutes. We set off only to be stopped at Parkstone by a report of smoke coming from our train, believed to be from a dragging brake. When this had been sorted we set off but found ourselves behind the 18.47 Bournemouth - Didcot which should have followed us. From passing Bournemouth 18½ minutes late we left Southampton 24½ minutes late. The Wallers Ash pathing stop was omitted which helped to make up some of the lateness. Our stop at Parkstone had also delayed the 18.03 Weymouth - Waterloo which was 10 minutes late at Basingstoke. Back on the Great Western Main Line things were going well until we caught up the 20.02 Didcot - Paddington near Maidenhead, which we followed to Acton Main Line. We were stopped at Camden Road Jn to follow the 21.10 Richmond - Stratford and also to let the 21.30 Stratford - Richmond go across our path. We omitted the pathing stop at York Way North Jn and this let us get to Finsbury Park early. We had to wait there for the 21.50 Moorgate - Welwyn Garden City to go which we followed all the way to Welwyn Garden City where I got off.


73961+73963 at Weymouth (photo: David Lodwick)

Sources : John Clifford & David Lodwick (both on the tour) & Chris Bracey

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from John Clifford & David Lodwick)

M.C Location Booked Actual   Booked Actual M.C
0.00 Stevenage 07.30d [P1] [US] ?   22.54a [P3] ? 361.25
3.52 Woolmer Green Jn 07/34 ?   22/49½ [DF] ? 357.53
? Digswell Jn 07/36 [US] ?   22/47½ ? ?
7.20 Welwyn Garden City 07.39a ~ 07.43d [P2] [US] 07.40 ~ 07.42½ [P2] [US]   22.43a ~ 22.46d [P3] [DS] 22.42 ~ 22.43 [P3] [DS] 354.05
14.68 Potters Bar 07.52a ~ 07.55d [P1] [US] 07.51½ ~ 07.54½ [P1] [US]   22.31a ~ 22.34d [P4] [DS] 22.30 ~ 22.32 [P4] [DS] 346.37
22.47 Alexandra Palace 08/05½ [P1] [US] 08/03 [P2] [SL1]   22/20½ [P3] [DS] 22/13½ [P3] [DS] 338.58
25.04 Finsbury Park 08c12a ~ 08c16d [P1] [US] 08.11½ ~  08.16 [P2]   22.08a ~ 22.13d [P7] [DS] 22.04 ~ 22.08 [P7] [SL1] 336.21
? Holloway South Jn 08/19 [US] 08/18½   22/04 [DS] 21/58 [DS] ?
26.61 Copenhagen Jn 08/22 [US] 08/21   22/02 [DS] 21/57 [DS] ?
? York Way North Jn 08/23 08/22   21*43 ~ 22*01 21/56½ 334.44
27.15 Camden Road Central Jn 08*28 ~ 08*43 08.24 ~ 08.43   21/40½ 21/55 334.10
27.40 Camden Road Jn 08/45 08/44½   21/39 21.50 ~ 21.52 333.65
28.51 Gospel Oak 08/48 [P1] 08/48 [P1]   21/34 [P2] 21/47 [P2] 332.54
32.58 Kensal Green Jn 09/02 08/56   21/22 21/35 328.47
- Sig.NL1043 - 08.57½ ~ 08.59   - - -
33.00 Willesden Junction HL 09/04 [P5] 09/01 [P5]   21/21 [P4] 21/34½ [P4] 328.25
33.65 Acton Wells Jn 09/07 09/04   21/18 21/32 327.40
- Poplar Jn - 09.06½ ~ 09.10   - - -
34.37 Acton Main Line 09/12 [DR] 09.11½ ~ 09.12 [P3] [DR]   21/14 [UR] 21/29 [P4] [UR] 326.68
35.34 Acton West 09/14 [DR] 09/15 [DR]   21/12 [UR] 21/27 [UR] 325.71
35.72 Ealing Broadway 09.16a ~ 09.18d [P3] [DR] 09.16 ~ 09.17½ [P3] [DR]   21c07a ~ 21c10d [P4] [UR] 21.23 ~ 21.25½ [P4] [UR] 325.33
? West Ealing ? ?   21/05½ [UR] 21/20 [P4] [UR] 324.48
39.22 Southall 09/23½ [P3] [DR] 09/24 [P3] [DR]   21/02½ [P4] [UR] 21/16½ [P4] [UR] 322.03
41.41 Heathrow Airport Jn 09/29 [DR] 09/27½ [DR]   20/58 [UR] 21/12 [UR] 319.64
48.52 Slough 09/36½ [P4] [DR] 09/35 [P4] [DR]   20/49½ [P5] [UR] 20/57½ [P5] [UR] 312.53
54.35 Maidenhead 09/44 [P3] [DR] 09/41 [P3] [DR]   20/39 [P4] [UR] 20/50 [P4] [UR] 306.70
61.17 Twyford 09/52 [P3] [DR] 09/48 [P3] [DR]   20/29½ [P4] [UR] 20/42 [P4] [UR] 300.08
? Kennet Bridge Jn 09/57 [DM] 09/54 [DM]   20/25½ [UR] 20/37 [UR] ?
66.14 Reading 09c59 ~ 10c08 [P7] [WL] 09.56 ~  10.06 [P7] [WL]   20c18 ~ 20c23 [P14] [UR] 20.32 ~ 20.35 [P14] [UR] 295.11
? Oxford Road Jn 10/09½ 10/09   20/14 [WL] 20/30 [WL] ?
67.78 Southcote Jn 10/11½ 10/10½   20/11 20/28 293.27

 

M.C Location Booked Actual
83.22 Newbury 10/27½ 10/22 [DM]
96.45 Bedwyn 10/41½ [P1] 10/33 [P1]
109.09 Woodborough 10/54 10/44
118.22 Lavington 11/00 10/51½
124.61 Heywood Road Jn 11/06 11/00
125.63 Westbury 11/09 [P2] 11/03 [P2]
127.17 Fairwood Jn 11/11 11/06
130.39 Clink Road Jn 11/13 11/12
? Frome DIV 11/14
132.41 Blatchbridge Jn 11/23 11.17½ ~ 11.27½
136.51 East Somerset Jn 11/26 11/34½
145.30 Castle Cary 11*35 ~ 11*43 [P3] 11/43½ [P2]
157.06 Yeovil Pen Mill 12t04 ~ 12t12 [P3] 12.07 ~ 12.30½ [P3]
169.76 Maiden Newton 12t32 ~ 12t34 [P2] 12.57 ~ 13.00½ [P2]
177.47 Dorchester West 12.44a ~ 13.14d [P2] 13.17 ~ 13.19 [P2]
177.78 Dorchester Jn 13/15 13/20
184.47 Weymouth 13.24a [P2] ~ 17.35d [P3] 13.31 [P2] ~ 17.43½ [P3]
191.16 Dorchester Jn 17/46 17/55
191.41 Dorchester South 17.47a ~ 17.50d [P1] 17.56 ~ 17.57½ [P1]
197.07 Moreton 17/55 [P1] 18/05 [P1]
201.42 Wool 18/02 [P1] 18/09½ [P1]
206.41 Wareham 18/09 [P1] 18/15 [P1]
213.49 Poole 18/19½ [P1] 18/25 [P1]
? Parkstone ? 18.29 ~ 18.43 [P1]
216.60 Branksome 18/26½ [P1] 18/46½ [P1]
219.29 Bournemouth 18/32½ [P2] 18/51 [P2]
234.45 Brockenhurst 18/52½ [P2] 19/12 [P2]
- Sig.E784 - 19.23 ~ 19.24
245.41 Redbridge 19/04 [P1] 19/28 [P1]
248.12 Southampton Central 19C08 ~ 19C10 [UF] [P1] 19.33 ~ 19.34½ [UF] [P1]
249.16 Northam Jn 19/13 [UF] 19/37½ [US]
250.21 St Denys 19/16 [P1] 19/39 [P1]
253.76 Eastleigh 19/21 [UF] 19/44 [UF]
257.61 Shawford 19/27 [P1] 19/49 [P1]
260.72 Winchester 19/29½ [P1] 19/52 [P1]
266.25 Wallers Ash Loop 19*37 ~ 19*45 [UPL] 19/58 [UM]
277.10 Worting Jn 19/55 [US] 20/07½ [US]
279.50 Basingstoke 19/57½ [P4] 20.10½ ~ 20.14 [P4]
283.68 Bramley 20/03½ [P1] 20/20 [P1]

Timings continue in first table.

Associated E.C.S. Workings

14/07/18 :
5Z40 : (73963 + 73961) : Eastleigh Arlington to Peterborough
5Z40 : (73961 + 73963) : Peterborough to Stevenage

Location Booked
Eastleigh Arlington 01.50d
Eastleigh 01/52
Winchester 02/02
Worting Jn 02/18
Basingstoke 02/20
Farnborough (Main) 02/33
Woking Jn 02/41
Woking 02/42
Byfleet & New Haw 02/49
Addlestone Jn 02/51
Virginia Water 02/58
Staines 03/07
Feltham 03/12
Feltham Jn 03/13
Hounslow 03/15
Brentford 03/18
Kew East Jn 03/21
South Acton Jn 03/23
Acton Wells Jn 03/29
Willesden Junction HL 03c32 ~ 03c25
Kensal Green Jn 03/37
Gospel Oak 03/45
Camden Road Jn 03/48
Camden Road Central Jn 03/49
York Way North Jn 03/51
Copenhagen Jn 03/52
Holloway South Jn 03/55
Finsbury Park 03/59
Alexandra Palace 04/04
Potters Bar 04/12
Welwyn Garden City 04/19
Digswell Jn 04/20
Woolmer Green Jn 04/22
Stevenage 04/26
Hitchin 04/30
Biggleswade 04/37
Sandy 04/40
Huntingdon 04.53 ~ 05.07
Holme Jn 05/18
Peterborough 05/24
Peterborough Eastfield Jn 05.27 ~ 06.25
Peterborough 06/29
Fletton Jn 06/32
Conington South Jn 06/40
Huntingdon 06/48
Sandy 07/02
Biggleswade 07/05
Hitchin 07/14
Stevenage 07.21a [P1]

5Z41 : (73963 + 73961) : Weymouth to Jersey Sidings (propel)
5Z41 : (73963 with 73961 on rear?) : Jersey Sidings to Weymouth
5Z41 : (73961 with 73963 on rear?) : Weymouth to Jersey Sidings
5Z41 : (73963 with 73961 on rear?) : Jersey Sidings to Weymouth
5Z41 : (73961 with 73963 on rear?) : Weymouth to Jersey Sidings
5Z41 : (73961 + 73963) : Weymouth to Jersey Sidings (propel)

Location Booked
Weymouth 13.47d [P2]
Jersey Sidings 13.50 ~ 14.25
Weymouth 14.28 ~ 14.50 [P2]
Jersey Sidings 14.53 ~ 16.14
Weymouth 16.17 ~ 16.31 [P3]
Jersey Sidings 16.34 ~ 17.25
Weymouth 17.28a [P3]

5Z42 : (73963 + 73961) : Stevenage to Peterborough

Location Booked
Stevenage 22.58d [P3]
Hitchin 23/03
Biggleswade 23/10
Sandy 23/15
Huntingdon 23/29
Holme Jn 23/38
Peterborough 23/44
Peterborough Eastfield Jn 23/47
Peterborough Virtual Quarry 23.51a

15/07/18 :
5Z43 : (73961 + 73963) : Peterborough to Eastleigh Arlington

Location Booked
Peterborough Virtual Quarry 13.20d
Peterborough Eastfield Jn 13/24
Peterborough 13/25
Conington South Jn 13/33
Huntingdon 13/40
Sandy 13/56
Biggleswade 13/59
Hitchin 14/07
Stevenage 14/12
Woolmer Green Jn 14/15
Digswell Jn 14/17
Welwyn Garden City 14/19
Potters Bar 14/26
Alexandra Palace 14/33
Finsbury Park 14/40
Holloway South Jn 14/43
Copenhagen Jn 14/46
York Way North Jn 14/47
Camden Road Central Jn 14*51 ~ 14*57
Camden Road Jn 14/59
Gospel Oak 15/04
Kensal Green Jn 15/18
Willesden Junction HL 15c20 ~ 15c22
Acton Wells Jn 15/25
South Acton Jn 15/29
Kew East Jn 15/32
Brentford 15/35
Hounslow 15/39
Feltham Jn 15/41
Feltham 15/44
Staines 15/50
Virginia Water 15/58
Addlestone Jn 16/08
Byfleet & New Haw 16/10
Woking 16/14
Woking Jn 16/15
Farnborough (Main) 16/25
Basingstoke 16/40
Worting Jn 16/44
Winchester 17/01
Eastleigh 17/14
Eastleigh Arlington 17.17a


Back to "The Railtour Files"