5th October 1997

Hertfordshire Rail Tours
The Blackmore Vale 125 Special

Locos Used 43006 &  43185,  Steam 'Pectin'
Stock 9 x  MK III

Reporting No: 1Z32 out,  1Z33 return

Traction Route

HST

London Paddington - Slough - Reading - Newbury Racecourse - Westbury - Castle Cary - Yeovil Pen Mill - Yeovil Junction
HST Yeovil Junction - Templecombe - Gillingham - Salisbury - Andover - Basingstoke - Reading - Slough - London Paddington

Optional Brake Van Trip:

Pectin Yeovil Junction - Clifton Maybank
Pectin Clifton Maybank - Yeovil Junction

Source : Robin Addison (on the train throughout)

Timings (Booked Only)
(from Robin Addison)

Location Booked (out) Actual(out) Booked (rtn) Actual (rtn)
Paddington 0918d 0919d 2055a 2134a
Ladbroke Grove 09/20 20/52
Acton West 09/23 20/48
Southall 09/25 20/43 21/25
Heathrow Airport Jn 09/27 09/29 -
Slough 0932a  ~  0934d 0933a  ~  0935d 2033a  ~  2036d 2116a  ~  2119d
Maidenhead 09/40 09/42 20/27
Twyford 09/43 20/20 21/09
Reading 0948a  ~  0951d 0947a  ~  0953d 2011a  ~  2015d 2102a  ~  2104d
Southcote Jn 09/54 09/56 20/07
Newbury 10/04 10/05 - -
Bedwyn 10/12 10/15 - -
Woodborough 10/20 10/24 - -
Lavington 10/27 - -
Heywood Road Jn 10/33 10/34 - -
Fairwood Jn 10/35 10/36 - -
Clink Road Jn 10/37 10/38 - -
Blatchbridge Jn 10/39 10/40 - -
Castle Cary 1055a  ~  1112d 1057a  ~  1124d - -
Yeovil Pen Mill 1125a  ~  1140d 1135a  ~  1139d - -
Bramley - - 19/59
Basingstoke - - 19/53 20/45
Worting Jn - - 19/51 20/43
Overton - - - 20/36
Whitchurch - - - 20/31
Andover - - - 20/21
Winchester - - 19/36 DIV
Shawford - - 19/33 DIV
St Denys - - 19/22 DIV
Northam Jn - -- 19/21 DIV
Southampton - 1917a  ~  1918d  c DIV
Redbridge - - 19/12 DIV
Romsey - - 19/02 DIV
Dean - - 18/56 DIV
Tunnel Jn - - 18/45 20/08
Salisbury - - 18/40 2005a  ~  2006d
Wilton Jn - - 18/37
Wilton - - 18/36
Tisbury - - 18/29 19/51
Gillingham - - 1801a  ~  1819d 19/44
Templecombe - - 17/55 19/38
Sherborne - - 17/50
Yeovil Jn 1140a 1143a 1745d 1914d

As part of the Yeovil Railway Festival, passengers could travel in brake vans behind the 0-4-0 Pecket tank 'Pectin' a short distance from Yeovil Jn Down Platform along the Clifton Maybank spur (south of the station) and back, free of charge.

The return HST journey departure was delayed by 89 minutes owing to the GW driver being ill and unable to work. A replacement arrived by car (from Exeter St Davids) and the train proceeded home, but took the Salisbury - Basingstoke direct line rather than the booked route via Romsey and Southampton, in order to recover time lost. In consequence to this late departure from Yeovil Jn, HRT offered passengers a full refund - perhaps a premature move, for as the timings show, arrival back at Paddington was reduced to only 39 minutes late! 

Key;

W: steam engine water stop
a : arrival time
c : crew change
d : departure time
L : add or detach loco
t : token exchange
/ : passing time

Back to "The Railtour Files"