Cathedrals Express to the WSR 21/08/18

On the tour Saturday there were WSR staff selling tickets for their trains on the charter, and said that they could get off at Blue Anchor, although I'm not sure if it was planned. They were given timetables with markings showing trains that would connect with the charter (a service came into Minehead just a few minutes before we left on the return with a few of those who'd disembarked prior to Minehead).

Personally despite the early start and late finish I had a nice day Saturday (I was still able to get something to eat and explore the station a bit) and if SD do another one out of Victoria I may consider it as Victoria is a more convenient station for me to get to with even less of an early start for myself .

 

Saw the return at Reading West where it was held for the signal, strangely it stopped more than halfway down the platform waiting for the signal which is at the end of the platform.
Said HST passed through shortly before 60009. Several "normals" on the platform were taken by surprise. Looked fairly full to me.

 

Spirited return through Hungerford and Theale

 

I mostly agree, except that I did go through to Minehead. We did go faster coming back, though only reaching 75 mph once that I was aware of, and up to about 50 at best after Reading.

After we had dropped the pilot at Taunton we sat for a few minutes. The platform indicator showed one Down train running about an hour late and I heard that there had been a fatality somewhere beween Weston and Taunton; but we eventually left only slightly late, at the same time as 1A96, Newquay to Paddington, also running just slightly late. So we toddled along (what was once) the down road until we could cross over and slot in behind it. Although that train was scheduled to stop at Castle Cary it should still have been comfortably ahead of us at Heywood Road Jn, but somehow it managed to reach Westbury 10 late, so it was that same train that we were held for at Heywood Road Jn.

I had considered getting off at Reading and getting a service train to Paddington in preference to the 2 hour trundle in the dark to Victoria, but in the end I stuck with it.

Our coach steward was muttering while we waited for the road at Reading, but we were never seriously late and (as can be seen from RTT) our lateness went up and down and we reached Victoria only minimally late.

 

Two shots of the train for me, not my best days work behind the camera ( I seem to be saying that a lot lately..must do better..) Filmed at West barn Bridge near Witham Friary and Brewham Close Farm near Bruton. I only used going away shot for last one as the other shot I did I got the settings all wrong and I decided it was un-useable.

 

The same HST held us up on Saturday as it was stopped by a freight movement at East Somerset Jct. On every occasion I have been on the GWR in the last few years the operating has been appalling and our charter held up by late running service trains.

 

My footage from Dun Mill Bridge and Batts Farm, just before the summit of Brewham Bank. Also includes a shot of Saturday's run, filmed at Wolfhall Bridge. I hope you enjoy it!

 

A bit late to the party but 60009 glinting through Castle Cary



Matt

 

I like that video, superb