10th November 2018

UK Railtours
(in conjunction with High Speed Southeastern)
The Victory Javelin

Route :
1Z81 : London St Pancras International to Ashford International
1Z82 : Ashford International to Redhill
1Z83 : Redhill to Bognor Regis
1Z84 : Bognor Regis to Portsmouth Harbour
1Z85 : Portsmouth Harbour to Southampton Central
1Z86 : Southampton Central to Portsmouth Harbour
1Z87 : Portsmouth Harbour to Tonbridge
1Z88 : Tonbridge to Ashford International
1Z89 : Ashford International to London St Pancras International

Notes :
(1) John Clifford's comments: This was the last in an annual series of tours run by UK Railtours to raise money for the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal.
We left London St Pancras on time and followed the 08.12 St Pancras - Margate. It left Ashford International slightly late so we had to wait outside Ashford while it carried out its station duties. The next leg was to Redhill. Although passing Tonbridge on time some slow running ensued as there was a speed restriction on the Tonbridge - Redhill line since the track bed had dried out following the hot summer weather. After reversing at Redhill we set off again. There was a signal check outside Horsham (I don’t know why) and we continued on but were stopped outside Portsmouth Harbour. We were booked into platform 1, but that platform can take only an 8 car train, so we waited until the road was reset to get us into platform 3. On leaving Portsmouth Harbour we ran to Southampton Central but caught up the 12.38 Portsmouth & Southsea - Southampton Central stopper which was a few minutes late, hence our stop at Sholing. We were booked to go down the up line from Northam Jn but didn’t so, presumably due to our late running. It was at Southampton that we learnt that a tree had fallen onto the line at Haslemere. This affected not only the Portsmouth Direct line but also Waterloo - Weymouth trains which were diverted that way due to engineering work. Southampton Central was left on time but we were stopped at St Denys Jn to let the 12.19 Weymouth - Waterloo precede us (it was 14 minutes late at this point). Onwards we went with a stop was made at Portcreek Jn to let the 12.46 Victoria - Portsmouth Harbour get onto Portsea Island. Arrival at Portsmouth Harbour was 16 minutes late. We left 13 minutes late and covered platform 2 at Fratton instead of the booked no.3. By not stopping at Fratton we got back on time but as we were behind the 15.11 Portsmouth Harbour - Victoria there was slow progress from Havant onwards. The 15.11’s Bognor portion was late so we waited outside Barnham. Eventually the 15.11 left Barnham 16 minutes late. Progress was good afterwards (we didn’t observe the Pulborough stop) until we caught up the 17.00 Gatwick Airport - Reading which had left Gatwick 3 minutes late but arrived at Redhill 8 minutes late. There was the repeat of slow progress on the Redhill - Tonbridge line so further time was lost. However the schedule onwards to Ashford included some pathing allowance and hence we got there only 2 minutes late. We kept time on the high speed part to St Pancras arriving there a minute early.

Sources : John Clifford, Nick Bartlett & David Lodwick (all on the tour from/to St Pancras)

Photo Review

395017 at Southampton Central in the pouring rain. (photo: Nick Bartlett)

395018 on the return leg at Portsmouth Harbour. (photo: Nick Bartlett)

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from John Clifford)

Associated E.C.S. Workings

5Z81 : (395017 + 395018) : Ashford Down Sidings to Ashford Down Yard Washer Road
5Z81 : (395018 + 395017) : Ashford Down Yard Washer Road to London St Pancras International
5Z89 : (395017 + 395018) : London St Pancras International to Ashford Down Yard Washer Road
5Z89 : (395018 + 395017) : Ashford Down Yard Washer Road to Ashford Down Sidings
(The E.C.S. from Ashford International to London St Pancras International and return was available for passenger use)

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