15th August 2007

Steam Dreams
Sunny South Special

Route:
1Z91 : Kensington Olympia to Weymouth
1Z92 : Weymouth to London Waterloo

Notes :
(1) 37248 on rear.

Source : John Clifford (on the train throughout)

Tour Review
(by John Clifford)

This was a tour which went wrong from the start despite efforts to get it back. The ECS was blocked in at Stewarts Lane by a freight train so left there late. In an effort to save some time the ECS only went to Kensington Olympia (instead of Willesden) & the engine came up from Willesden to attach to the train there.

There has been some poor quality coal in use this summer & this was the case again here. A slow run ensued. I learned afterwards that the fire had been clinkering up before the first water stop at Winchfield. Anyway there was a stop at Worting Jn to try to sort the fire out & our progress was bit better afterwards. Another extended stop was made at Brockenhurst by which time we were over an hour late. Things deteriorated on the climb to Dorchester to the extent that speed dropped to single figures. At this stage the diesel assisted.

Further problems ensued at Yeovil (where the engine had gone for servicing) because of a signal failure and despite the best efforts of everyone involved departure from Weymouth was nearly an hour late. The diesel provided assistance up Upwey bank & for some of the journey after Eastleigh. A special stop was made at Clapham Junction for passengers to make connections & arrival in London was just under a half hour late. I finally got home to Hatfield at 01.30

John Clifford

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from John Clifford)

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