1st July 2010

Steam Dreams
Cathedrals Express

Locos Used 37516, 37706 & steam: 5029 'Nunney Castle'
Stock Used 35461+5171+5200+1840+13440+9104+99121+99127+1961+5237+5236

Route :
1Z86 : Victoria to Worcester Shrub Hill
1Z87 : Worcester Shrub Hill to Clapham Junction

Loco(s) Route
5029 + 37706 (1) London Victoria - Stewarts Lane Jn - Longhedge Jn - Latchmere Jn - Kensington Olympia - Willesden WL Jn - Acton Wells Jn - Acton Main Line - Slough - Reading - Didcot Parkway - Swindon - Stroud - Standish Jn - Barnwood Jn - Cheltenham Spa - Abbotswood Jn - Norton Jn - Worcester Shrub Hill
5029 + 37706 Worcester Shrub Hill - (reverse of outward route) - Latchmere Jn - Clapham Junction

Notes :
(1) Banked by 37516 from Victoria to Grosvenor Bridge.
(2) John Clifford comments: When the tour was first advertised it was booked for 34067 'Tangmere' but as this was being overhauled 5029 'Nunney Castle' was substituted. Also the route was originally to be via Staines (both ways). 5029 is out of gauge that way so the GW main line was used. The engine is also out of gauge into Waterloo & Victoria so the train terminated at Clapahm Junction. A further twist was that the train was advertised as going out via Evesham but this was changed for reasons of which I am unaware. The tour started on time but the first problem was met as we were nearing Kensington (Olympia). The route was set up for the through line although we were due to pick up there. The train did not stop in time & we stopped beyond the signal (10.02-19).  The signalman would not let the train set back so it was arranged that the following Overground train would pick up our passengers & take them to Shepherds Bush where we would stop to let them on. This we duly did (stop was 10.31-33). We made up some time to Reading but lost time afterwards. At the Challow water stop we were held to let a Paddington - Cheltenham train go ahead, then there was a further stop at Swindon Loco Yard to let a Cheltenham - Paddington train come up the single line. By this means we got to Worcester over an hour late. The return journey was far less dramatic although we were checked between Reading & Twyford to let a local train go ahead.


5029 & 37706 in Sonning Cutting near Reading (photo: Bruce Nathan)

Source : John Clifford

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from John Clifford)

Location Booked Actual   Booked Actual
Victoria 09.44d 09.44  
Grosvenor Bridge Jn 09/46 09/48½  
Stewarts Lane Jn 09/49 09/50½  
Longhedge Jn 09/54 09/52  
Clapham Junction   21.38a 21.48
Latchmere Jn 10/00 09/56   21/35 21/44
Kensington Olympia 10.03a ~ 10.05d 10.22 ~ 10.29   21/26 21.36 ~ 21.37
North Pole Jn 10/14 10/37   21/23 21/31
Mitre Bridge Jn 10/15 10/39   21/21 21/29½
Willesden WL Jn 10/16 10/40½   21/19 21/28
Acton Wells Jn 10/19 10/44   21/12 21/24
Acton West 10/36½ 10/49   21/08 21/18½
Southall 10/43 10/56½   21/02 21/13½
Airport Jn 10/48 11/01   20/59 21/05
Slough 11.01a ~ 11.03d 11.11 ~ 11.13   20.48a ~ 20.50d 20.52½ ~ 20.54
Maidenhead 11/11 11/21   20/35 20/39½
Twyford 11/17 11/29   20/29 20/30½
Reading 11.25a ~ 11.29d 11.36 ~ 11.38   20.18a ~ 20.22d 20.12 ~ 20.17½
Reading West Jn 11/32 11/41   20/16½ 20/09
Didcot East Jn ? ?   19/57 19/54
Didcot Parkway 11/46 12/03½   19/55 19/52
Wantage Road 11/51 12/12   19w23 ~ 19w45 19.24 ~ 19.41
Challow 11w55 ~ 12w11 12.18 ~ 12.50   19/17 19/19
Uffington 12/13½ 12/55½   19/15 19/17
Swindon 12.25a ~ 12.28d 13.07½ ~ 13.10   19.01a ~ 19.03d 19.04 ~ 19.06
Swindon Loco Yard 12/34 13.14 ~ 13.35   18/54 19/02
Kemble 12/53 13/49   18/43 18/50
St Marys LC 13/02 13/58½   18/32 18/40
Standish Jn 13/12 14/10   18/22 18/29½
Gloucester Yard Jn 13/18 14/17   18/16 18/22
Barnwood Jn 13/19 14/18   18/14 18/21
Cheltenham Spa 13/29 14.26 ~ 14.31   18/08 18.11½ ~ 18.15
Ashchurch 13/37 14/40   18/00 18/03
Abbotswood Jn 13/46 14/51½   17/50 17/51½
Norton Jn 13/48 14/53   17/48 17/49
Worcester Shrub Hill 13.54a 15.03   17.42d 17.43


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