30th October 1976

L.C.G.B.
The Greater London & Southminster Railtour

Route :

Notes :
(1) Timing sheet carried a note : "At time of typing this schedule the line between Dudding Hill Jn and Cricklewood Jn is closed due to a derailment; it may be necessary to run via Brent Jn (reverse)" however from the actual timings provided it is assumed the train went booked route (i.e. did not reverse at Brent Jn).
(2) Booked route up to a couple of days of the tour running was: Stratford - Gidea Park - Shenfield - Wickford - Southminster (reverse) -  - Wickford - Shenfield - Gidea Park - Stratford but due to a derailed sand train on Southminster branch the train was re-routed to Shoeburyness. The following letter was issued to passengers on the tour :

NOTICE TO PASSENGERS
Due to a derailment of 26 sand-hopper wagons between Wickford and Battlesbridge on Wednesday 27th October, I have been advised by British Rail that the Wickford - Southminster branch is closed until Monday 1st November; the normal train service is therefore cancelled and substitute buses are operating between the stations along the branch.

Regrettably, as the line is blocked, the tour will not be running east of Stratford as planned during the afternoon. As an attractive alternative, British rail has agreed to reroute the train to Shoeburyness, via an interesting and unusual route, i.e. the Forest Gate/Wood Grange Park curve, the single line between Upminster and Grays, and the North curve at Tilbury. The former curve is not regularly used by passenger traffic, except certain late evening/early morning trains, whilst the latter is only used by a few Monday - Friday 'peak-hour' trains. The tour will return to Stratford via Barking, and will continue to Fenchurch Street as originally arranged, ie. the Bow Jc./Gas Factory Jc. connection. The arrival time at Fenchurch Street will be as booked, i.e. 16.15.

The train east of Stratford will run under "Control Arrangements" and the following timings will apply. [see below Booked & Actual Times section] Time will be available at Southend for lunch.

The Railtours Committee regret the necessity for the late alteration to the programme, but as you will appreciate this situation is completely out of the Committees control and trust that you will accept the alternative route.

Thanks must be given to the Divisional Office of Eastern Region at Liverpool Street for arranging the "L.T.& S" route at a very short notice.

N J Hayllar,
Hon Fixtures Officer,
for the LCGB Railtours Committee

Sources : David Sheppard & John Broderick

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from David Sheppard & John Broderick)

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