23rd April 2010

Steam Dreams
The Cathedrals Express

Loco Used steam: 30777 'Sir Lamiel' (running as 30453 'King Arthur')
Stock Used 5216+5200+5171+1840+13440+9104+3125+99349+1961+5237+5236+5249

Route :
1Z97 : London Victoria to Stratford-upon-Avon
1Z98 : Stratford-upon-Avon to Clapham Junction

Loco Route
30777 London Victoria - Stewarts Lane Jn - Longhedge Jn - Latchmere Jn - Kensington Olympia - Mitre Bridge Jn - Willesden SW Sidings - Acton Wells Jn - Acton Main Line - Southall - Slough - Maidenhead - Reading - Didcot Parkway - Didcot North Jn - Oxford - Aynho Jn - banbury - Leamington Spa - Warwick - Hatton - Bearley Jn - Stratford-upon-Avon
30777 Stratford-upon-Avon - (reverse of outward route) - Latchmere Jn - Clapham Junction

Notes :
(1) John Clifford comments: The tour was originally advertised as going via Beaconsfield but this was changed to via Oxford & a return to Waterloo due to pathing difficulties. A few days before the tour we got a letter saying that the engine was prohibited from using the only available long platform at Waterloo (presumably no.19) so the return train would terminate at Clapham Junction. On the day we passed Acton Wells early & then waited outside Acton ML  (09.37-58) for our path.  There then followed the usual slow running along the GW main line with a number of platform restrictions. After Oxford  there was some slow running due to low pressure causing the brakes to drag but even so were only a couple of minutes late at Banbury. On the return there was a slow start out of Stratford but we got to the Oxford water stop only slightly late. We left there late and an uneventful journey ensued till we got to Acton West where we stopped. There was a problem ahead so we ran via the up Goods Line to get to Acton Wells. Arrival at Clapham Junc was 18 min late.

Sources : Bob Mordue & John Clifford

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from John Clifford)

Location Booked Actual   Booked Actual
Victoria 08.45d 08.47  
Grosvenor Bridge Jn 08/50 08/50  
Stewarts Lane Jn 08/54 08/52  
Longhedge Jn 08/59 08/53  
Clapham Junction   22.03a 22.20
Ludgate Jn   22/01 22/19
Latchmere Jn 09/04 08.58 ~ 09.01   22/00 22/16
Kensington Olympia 09/13 09/09   21.50a ~ 21.53d 22.05 ~ 22.07
North Pole Jn 09/17 09/14   21/38 21/58
Mitre Bridge Jn 09/18 09/16   21/37 21.50 ~ 21.54
Willesden SW Sidings 09.30 ~ 09.45 09/25   21/34 21/48
Acton Wells Jn 09/49 09.28 ~ 09.30   21/32 21/45
Acton Main Line 09/58 09/59   21/26 21/44
Acton West 09/59 10/01   21/24 21.31 ~ 21.40
West Ealing ? ?   21/22 21/27
Southall 10/06 10/07   21/17 21/24
Airport Jn 10/10 10/11   21/13 21/21
Slough 10.19a ~ 10.23d 10.22 ~ 10.24   20.58a ~ 21.01d 21.06 ~ 21.10
Slough West ? ?   20/56 21/04
Maidenhead 10/31 10/33   20/50 20/58
Twyford 10/38 10/41   20/44 20/51
Reading 10/49 10/49   20/37 20/44
Reading West Jn 10/50 10/51   20/32 20/43
Didcot East Jn 11/04 11/12   20/11 20/24
Didcot Parkway 11/09 11.13 ~ 11.15   20.08 ~ 20.09 20.20 ~ 20.22
Didcot North Jn 11/11 11/17   20/06 20/18
Kennington Jn 11/20 11/29   19/57 20/09
Hinksey North 11/22 11/33   19/54 20/06
Oxford Passenger Loop 11w24 ~ 12w07 11.35 ~ 12.08   19w42 ~ 19w52 19.44 ~ 20.03
Oxford 12/10 12/12   19/39 19/43
Wolvercot Jn 12/14 12/19   19/31 19/37
Heyford 12/26 12/31   19/21 19/27
Aynho Jn 12/35 12/38   19/15 19/22
Banbury 12.43a ~ 13.02d 12.45 ~ 13.05   19.05a ~ 19.07d 19.12 ~ 19.15
Fenny Compton 13/12 13/18   18/56 19/01
Leamington Spa 13/22 13/28   18/42 18/47
Warwick 13.26a ~ 13.28d 13.32 ~ 13.34   18.34a ~ 18.36d 18.41 ~ 18.42
Hatton 13/36 13/44   18/28 18/35
Hatton West Jn 13/38 13/46   18/26 18/32
Bearley Jn 13/46 13/54   18/17 18/23
Stratford-upon-Avon 13.53a 14.02   18.10d 18.10


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