Cathedrals Express to Exeter on 3rd May

Couldn't find a thread on this trip, but noticed on the Steam Dreams website that this is now down for Clan Line.

I think I will be taking a day off for a trip on this one.

Always wanted to travel behind Clan Line and went to Uni in Exeter so think a day off to travel will be needed. When did a Merchant Navy last go to Exeter?

 

Living in Exeter and living across the road from where exmouth junction once stood I always have A something for bullied Pacifica and I'm very much looking forward to seeing 35028.

 

Just got the tickets for this run through. Really looking forward to my third run behind Clan Line (second will be this Friday to Swanage).
The pick-up point problems have struck again. This time the passengers from Staines can't get on at Staines due to the busy morning period. They have to get a coach from Staines to Woking.

 

Poor excuse about stopping at Staines-I've been there when tours have stopped during the 'rush hour'no problem.And since the new footbridge has been built,passengers for the Theme Park can get off the platform much quicker,before it was very busy when a train 'off loaded'.Anyway,it's not the height of summer.
Isn't it typical,they find a way to speed up clearing a platform,and then they place a restriction on it's use.
Gaps inbetween trains,at that time of the morning,of course they could be fitted in..who writes these rules??

 

are there any times for this tour

 

Basic pick up and arrival times with tickets. Not much use if you are linesiding.

 

Steam Dreams give these times Steam Dreams - operators of The Cathedrals Express steam train trips

 

Yes,but they can always change nearer the time

1Z91 0844 London Victoria to Exeter St Davids
Location GBTT Arr GBTT Dep WTT Arr WTT Dep Pfm Line Path Eng Pth Perf
London Victoria 0844 2 FL
Grosvenor Bridge Jn pass 0848
Stewarts Lane Jn pass 0852 RVL
Longhedge Jn pass 0856 1
Clapham Junction pass 0901 5 FL 2
Barnes pass 0908 3 1
Brentford pass 0915 1
Hounslow pass 0921
Feltham Jn pass 0923
Feltham pass 0925 2
Staines pass 0932 2
Virginia Water pass 0943 4
Addlestone Jn pass 0951 1
Byfleet & New Haw pass 0955 SL 1
Woking 1003 1006 5
Woking Jn pass 1008 FL
Farnborough (Main) pass 1018 3
Basingstoke 1033 1035 1 FL FL
Worting Jn pass 1038½
Andover pass 1056 2 2
Tunnel Jn. pass 1113
Salisbury 1116 1126 4
Wilton Jn pass 1130
Wilton pass 1132
Tisbury Loop pass 1142
Gillingham (Dorset) 1150 1202 1
Templecombe pass 1214 ML
Sherborne pass 1221 2 1
Yeovil Junction pass 1229 2
Chard Jn. S.B 1247 1325
Axminster East Junction pass 1330 DM
Axminster pass 1332 2
Axminster West Junction pass 1335
Honiton 1347 1350 1 8
Pinhoe pass 1412 3
Exmouth Jn pass 1417½ 2
Exeter Central 1422 1426 2
Exeter St Davids 1430 3

 

thanks for the times

 

Timings thanks to uksteam. <BJ>

t0503a.htm

 

It looks like a bit of a change of plan (from what the SD brochure says). Instead of the loco & support coach returning to Yeovil Jct for turning and servicing and the train being diesel hauled back to Yeovil, it will now continue steam hauled to Castle Cary, with diesel haulage to Yeovil Jct from there. I'm not sure why this is, but my guess is that it's proved impossible to find a path for 35028 to go tender-first up the mainly single track line from Exeter to Yeovil. Anyway it's probably a good thing as it means less diesel haulage.

Should be a good trip but sadly I can't make it - too much work this week.

 

35005 when she was in Blue livery in the late 1990's? She had a load of 9 I think as she had worked over the South Devon Banks.

Should be a good run if a little empty. Still seems to be plenty of seats left on the SD site.

 

Clan Line went out via Honiton and returned via Whiteball on the 24th March 2001 (a horrible misty day!).

IIRC this was the last trip before a major overhall.

 

You are quite right and you beat me to the comment!
I thought of this on the way home from work. It suddenly came into my head.

 

I've just received a replacement ticket which may indicate a reduction in the rake. Where did the 15 or 16 equivalent come from Al?

 

UKsteam.info suggests there will be a diesel on the rear of the train Exeter - Castle Cary which will then haul the train to Yeovil Junction. Added to 11 or 12 carriages gives a 500+ ton load over Whiteball. This sort of load is not unnusual for Clan Line. IIRC, the VSOE Pullman train is best part of 500 tons, even without a 67 on the back.

On 9th July 2007, she lifted 13 assorted Mk1 & Mk2 coaches, and an idling 66, up Parkstone bank (1 in 60) from a standing start at Poole with just one brief slip on the reverse curve approaching the summit. I'm told her power output was about 3000 ihp on that occassion, though I'm not sure how that figure was calculated.

 

Im sure 35028 would get that weight over Whiteball regardless, but the speed at which it does could be a sticking point, does the schedule allow for a slow slog or is a fast ascent neededwith something on it's tail from Exeter ?.