Back to "The Railtour Files"2nd July 2011 / 29th October 2011
Steam Dreams
The Cathedrals Express
Tour postponed to 29/10/2011 then 10/03/2012 due to a combination of factors.
Route :
| Advertised Loco(s) | Advertised Route |
| steam: 60019 'Bittern' (running as 4492 'Dominion of New Zealand') |
London Paddington - Reading - Newbury - Taunton |
| Train splits: Portion 1: | |
| 48151 | Taunton - Exeter St Davids - Plymouth |
| 48151 | Plymouth - (reverse of outward route) - Taunton |
| Train splits: Portion 2: | |
| 60019 | Taunton - Bishops Lydeard - Minehead |
| 60019 | Minehead - (reverse of outward route) - Taunton |
| Train recombines: | |
| steam: 60019 'Bittern' (running as 4492 'Dominion of New Zealand') |
Taunton - (reverse of outward route) - London Paddington |
Notes :
(1) : The train was originally advertised for 60163 'Tornado' but this was not
available so 60019 was substituted.
(2) The letter from Steam Dreams stated: The decision to make this change has
not been taken lightly and has been caused by a number of factors which have
conspired to make the train somewhat different if we were to run it on July 2nd.
It would have meant diesel haulage for over 135 miles (between London and
Taunton) and also a departure from London at 0650hrs and a return at 2300hrs. By
re-dating the train we move into a different national rail timetable period
which enables a better path from London Paddington and therefore a slightly
shorter day. To speed up the day the connection to the West Somerset Railway
will be by road coach from Taunton to Bishops Lydeard before the onward journey
Minehead which will continue steam-hauled. Timings for the necessary shunting at
Taunton to run a portion to the West Somerset Railway would have taken around 45
minutes in each direction adding an hour and a half to the day. Our train to
Plymouth will be steam hauled all the way from London.
Sources : John Clifford & Nick Bartlett
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