Cathedrals Express to Worcester

Could be but Clan Line took 13 + a 67 up Sapperton last week with no assistance

 

Much as I hate to say it, it did have the 67 as "insurance" even though it may not have been used.

 

Only sensible to have a bit of insurance, it certainly added some weight for Clan Line to pull for the run home with Wayne and Butch at the controls

 

It was also noticed at Victoria,very little activity around the engine,hardly anyone on the platform and train rather empty.
First time I've seen this for a long time...

 

According to the Steam Dreams website it was booked for 12

 

The train did not really fill up until Reading.

 

The times handed out also stated 12, although it was 10.

Of the fare paying coaches - 3 dining, 2 first and 3 standard,

Compare this to the York trips 13 coaches, 10 fare paying - 5 dining, 2 first and 3 standard.
( the first of these trips sold out in dining in September).

Tornado is still a big draw.

Stream Dreams have 14 Christmas trips this year, compared to 12 trips last year.
The White Cliff Evening trip is the only one with all classes, classed as Available( rather than limited, very limited , or full)


Bittern handled the load up Sapperton, in the rain with ease.

 

A superb trip with 60019 and the crews yesterday. The return run in particular was quite brilliant even in the terrible weather.

In the end we (my Father and I) decided to make the effort and board at Victoria. I couldn't believe how easy it was to get pictures at Victoria. A very empty train to begin with and as mentioned earlier it didn't really fill up until Reading. There were still a lot of empty seats in the Dining section once all the pick-up points had been reached. A sign of the times perhaps?
After the usual trundle out of London things livened up performance wise after Reading with a magnificent sprint away from the station and 60019 raced along until being checked at Didcot. More spirited running followed the lengthy water stop at Challow and after another pick-up at Swindon 60019 made a good climb up to Sapperton. There was more 75mph running on the stretch from Gloucester to Cheltenham and from Cheltenham to Worcester.

After visiting a very busy and cold Worcester we settled back into our seats in the Buffet carriage to find the heating had given up after working on the outward run. Never mind, we still had the lovely girl serving at the Buffet to keep us entertained with her singing while she served the many customers that visited her.
We could tell we were in for a treat on the return run after the superb running on the first leg back from Worcester with 60019 charging along in the oncoming rain. A short while after leaving Gloucester a crescendo of sound signalled that 60019 was doing battle with Sapperton and she did it in some style. Once over the top 60019 ran in the 70's down to Swindon. Fast running continued after Swindon to the very wet water stop at Wantage Road where the rain really hammered down on the carriage roof. A highlight after the water stop was 60019 flying through Didcot at high speed which was maintained back to Reading. Here we were allowed to depart early due to the signalling problems between Reading and Paddington. Thinking that the spirited running had finished for the day we were surprised as 60019 was coaxed along by her crew for a dash back to the capital. An extended stop was made at Ascot due to a passenger being taken ill. We were deciding whether to bail here as we didn't know how things would go after Ascot and wondered if we would make our connection at Clapham or not. After consultng the time tables we made the decision to get off but 60019 pulled away for London so we had to stay on anyway. I'm glad we did not get off as the crew attempted to get back some of the time lost. It was great to see the looks on the faces of people as we hurried back towards Staines and then on through the suburbs to Clapham where we made the connection for our train with minutes to spare.

Thanks to all involved for providing a marvellous day. It is one I won't forget.

 

thats a brilliant report Green Five, makes excellent reading. I'm sure the unlucky people on the 60007 trip to London are envious at getting back home on time. (Not the fault of Sir Nigel I would add !! )

 

A very nice report Green Five. Could you just satisfy my curiosity though, I was waiting North of Cheltenham and the train passed us some 15 minutes late on the outward run.

 

Bill

We were a minute early at Standish Junction, slowed at the junctions at Gloucester. We had a slow approach to Cheltenham and were held outside and arrived 8 minutes late in the Station. We departed 8 minutes late, and arrived at Worcester 6 minutes late.

 

Are you sure of that? <BJ>

 

The general feeling on the train was that the diesel didn't assist up sapperton but I cant confirm it as I didn't speak to the driver. No assistance on the way home as confirmed by both Wayne and Butch at Watrerloo.

 

Thank you for that Paul. Everything Northbound is slowed into the station but doesn't usually have to wait outside, must have been those slow Voyagers holding you up

 

I think we can say with some degree of confidence that the diesel didn't assist up Sapperton as Clan Line didn't go over Sapperton. I think you may be confusing Sapperton with Savernake.

 

Saw 60019 at Shrivenham

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=305475&nseq=0


STEVE

 

I think they mean Upton Scudamore, in which case the answer is Yes, and in heavy rain.

 

Thanks for your comments on my report. It's not as detailed as I would have liked as I didn't really record the speeds, my Father was doing this. I was simply enjoying the spectacle of an A4 doing what it was designed do: race along the Main Line with ease and style! Have now had time to get my pictures off the camera. Pleased with the night shots taken on ISO 1600 without a tripod. Ah the wonders of digital!

 

OOPS, my mistake

 

My very humble efforts from Saturday are at
http://railphotosbycliffjones.fotopic.net/c1786347.html
Ta