Cathedrals Express 1/12/11 hauled by Britannia

Tickets arrived today. Due to gauging problem near Longfield ( see Railway Herald) Diesel hauled Rainham to Willesden ( Out and back ).
Departure and return times now on Stream Dreams website ( See dates rather than latest news)

 

That looked to be the only way round that. Shame, nice to see SD starting steam trips from various locations. Especially in my home county.

 

As the bridge restriction is only in the down direction its a shame that steam isnt working up from Rainham, but presumably its operationaly easier to start and terminate steam at Willesden?

 

You have to consider how the steam loco would get to Rainham in the first place. Presumably it would be on the back of the (diesel hauled) ECS but however it's done it's still out of gauge!

 

Ah yes very good point, would be a long trek via Ashford.

 

Running about 35 min down due to points failure at Willesden. Reading 12:06

 

Passed Ealing Broadway at 1121; 37 minutes late and working flat out by the sound of it. The smoke hung around the platform (down slow) for ages afterwards as it flowed out of the tunnel! Having seen the Kent-Willesden SW section's 47760 dash by about half an hour earlier, I assumed 70000 had still to pass, but was on the verge of giving up when it hove into view.

 

Was still about 35 down at Swindon.

 

This time I managed to get the engine in focus, but no exhaust, or bright sunlight, just a Black Britannia and a murky December sky.

The Cathedrals Express at Bathampton - a set on Flickr

 

Certainly wasn't working to hard when she came through Iver!




View attachment 3693

 

Here's a video of her working hard through Sonning Cutting this morning, sounding superb, after just switching over to the fast line:

[video=youtube_share;r6tM0MZATLA]http://youtu.be/r6tM0MZATLA[/video]

Plus brief footage of Tornado through Twyford Station last Saturday.

 

Britannia reported 26 late through Didcot at 19:07. I noticed that the green coaching stock has had a makeover. Very smart. <BJ>

 

Here's my video of 70000 blasting through Chippenham around 17mins late... She certainly wasn't hanging around!

70000 Britannia blasts through Chippenham at speed - YouTube

 

Superbly atmospheric night shot.

 

Very good indeed. It's so nice to see a video clip which does not appear to have been shot during an earthquake! Good lighting definition and a rock steady view throughout, with a stirring whistle to boot. The reaction from passengers on the platform must have been amusing - or were they all enthusiasts?!

 

Here's my humble still offering from the outward leg - 37 minutes late at Ealing Broadway after the Willesden points failure. 'Britannia' was working very hard at this point, with a short chime on the whistle. The station filled with smoke for minutes afterwards as it drifted out of the tunnel.

 

Superb! I think that's better than the video of 60009 racing through in similar fashion.