Cathedrals Express (Victoria to Corfe Castle & Swanage) 14th June 2012

Originally scheduled for 34046 Braunton but it's not yet in service.
Apparently 70000 Britannia will haul the Steam Dreams train.
Only a few places left it seems: Steam Dreams - operators of The Cathedrals Express steam train trips

 

Times have now been posted. t0614a.htm It will be steam London-Laverstock-Southampton UGL and Swanage-London.

Out of interest, where is Southampton Up Goods Loop?

 

Ah, good old 34046.

Did I hear a rumour that it was planned to be mainline ready in time for the Queens Platinum Jubilee celebrations?

Bit optimistic if you ask me.

 

Thanks. Most helpful.

 

Will still go into Soton UGL otherwise it will delay 1W56. Once 1W56 has passed then 1Z96 will get the road from E753 signal down the UF, passing E769 to beyond Millbrook where it will cross back over to the down line.

 

It should be a nice trip, with some good planning from SD (the climb from So'ton to Basingstoke for example). One point though, the SD website provides different timings to those on UK Steam, suggesting 70000 runs around her train at So'ton then reverses the whole thing down to Swanage in another attempt of what they tried back in April... I am not sure whether I would like a diesel or 70000 to have a go to be honest - on the one hand, I think 70000 would sound superb up the bank from Worgret Jc but also think that a diesel would be better for the general railway network, removes the risk of a slip on a greasy and rusty railhead, and (dare I say) might be a bit better to look at, rather than the tender of a Brit (I'm sure we can all think of more glamourous backsides than that of a 7MT).

James at SVN

 

UK steam now updated to reflect 70000 tender first from Soton - that's thrown my plans for Thursday just a tad - how do I fit the outward trip around work?
DH

 

Making the scheduled 09:11 stop at Chiswick:

Chiswick 1

Chiswick 2

Chiswick 3

 

5 late Winchfield on the slow!

 

Laverstock 12 late. <BJ>

 

Virginia Water this morning....
Neil's Photos | Steam..... | Photo 110

 

Here is a video of her making a typically lusty departure from Woking this morning

Steam Train: 70000 "Britannia" Cathedrals Express to Swanage, 14 Jun 2012, Woking - YouTube

 

1325 top of Parkstone Bank earlier going nicely on the tender first leg to Swanage DH

 

Any news of the return?

 

Just come back from top of Parkstone Bank - luckily heavy rain held off for the climb - pouring again now!

70000 over top of Parkstone Bank very nicely at 1820 with 12 on and return Steam Dreams - one slight slip just before top of bank very quickly checked and she could be heard accelerating away through Branksome loud and clear - considering wet rail was vey nicely done DH

 

32 mins late at West Byfleet.

 

I thought the tour was actually quite a good one today, and I heard mutterings that 70000 arrived ahead of schedule at Worgret Jc - far more successful then than the last time! The timings on the return were fairly decent. My video from this run came from Dean (at a foot crossing, not trespassing), Mottisfont*, Totton (tender first), Redbridge and Winchester.

*If anyone has an explanation as to why 70000 slowed to a crawl through Mottisfont, could they please get in touch. I know there was a freight train around 10-15 mins ahead of the Brit (the freight went through at quite a pace - around 50mph), but the signal at the Romsey end of the platform went green for 70000 around 5 mins before she appeared. I don't think there were any gauging issues or TSRs (no sign of any TSR signs visible from the crossing at Mottisfont and the crew weren't looking out for the side of the locomotive on the platform - I have seen numerous videos of 70000 and 70013 pass through at 70mph on the down line, so can't see gauging being an issue here). Thanks in advance.

The link to my video is here: 70000 - The Cathedrals Express to Swanage 14-06-12 - YouTube

James at SVN