Cathedrals Express 23/ 4 Stratford Upon Avon with 70000

The route for this trip has changed. Letter received from Steam Dreams with the Ticket states :

"We are bitterly disappointed to have to advise you that due to exceptionally late notification of engineering works, imposed by Network Rail, our train has had to be diverted via Reading and Oxford and we cannot pick up at Beaconsfield or High Wycombe. The reason for this engineering work is that the ‘Evergreen Project’ to improve the Chiltern Line is heavily delayed and Network Rail and Chiltern Railways have decided to close the route for four days over the Easter weekend. We only received formal notification of their intention last week and confirmation that the works would go ahead earlier this week. We had even received full timings from Network Rail for our original route."

Coach will be provided for passengers who planned to join at Beaconsfield & High Wycombe.

Times as follows : -
London Paddington (Pl.10)0936 hrs London Paddington 2047 hrs
Beaconsfield (coach) 0900 hrs Beaconsfield (coach) 2100 hrs
High Wycombe (coach)0900 hrs High Wycombe (coach)2100 hrs
Slough (Platform 4) 1000 hrs Slough 2017 hrs
Warwick 1249 hrs Warwick 1729 hrs
Stratford upon Avon 1324 hrs Stratford upon Avon (Pl. 2)1700 hrs

 

They were being a bit hopeful - the Wycombe line has been shut every weekend for weeks. I can't remember if 30777 went that way last St George's Day, although last summer 6024 went up that way and didn't stop at Gerrards Cross - leaving everyone for the pick up stood there on the platform!

 

The trip with 30777 last year was changed to travel via Reading in the week leading up to the tour.

 

The times on uksteam show the original route - I presume this is now not correct? http://uksteam.info/tours/t11/t0423b.htm

 

Not correct. Steam Dreams were given times for the original route, and I presume those are the times.

 

Steam Dreams put detailed timings on their website anyway so we'll know them soon enough.

 

The train is now definitely routed via Reading and NOT Beaconsfield due to anticipated late running engineering works.

No times yet up on mainline steam but sure to follow soon. Over to you Dave!

Nick

 

Steam Dreams have now put the time up for Saturday.
Didcot 11.00ish for those going to see the 2 Kings
http://www.steamdreams.co.uk/executables/GT410WebContent.exe?ActionCode=Timings

 

Looks like the train is booked to take 59 minutes for the 36 miles including a 4 minutes stop at Slough. Very pedestrian indeed and not doubt down the slow line to Reading. Even so, 59 minutes!

It would be fantastic if a path could be found on the down main but clearly that is proving impossible these days. And yet, the Bristolian proved last year that "where there is a will there is a way"!

 

40 minutes Didcot East Junction to Reading West Junction on the return? Same stretch on the down journey is 18 minutes! About the norm.

 

No then. 40 minutes to cover 18 miles. Now that really does take some doing. You can almost run it in that time! You can certainly cycle it! LOL

 

I guess it's simply down to pathing and what actually happens on the day is down to the whim of the signaller and how other trains are running.

 

Most nights on that strech the fast line is closed

 

Reading looks like a pick-up stop, so I guess there will be little point giving it a faster path in the morning, but I wouldn't be surprised if it runs well early on the return. On the other hand, they do have to have the time to serve the diners in Premier and Pullman.

 

Thanks for update juct checked uk-steam changed their, I was going to watch the train at Stratford-upon-Avon, will it still be doing any movments they had some up of it before thanks in advance.

 

The loco will still have to turn on Hatton triangle, if that's what you mean.

 

Yeah that's i ment thanks.

 

The original times for the turn at Hatton were....

0Z41 STRATFD A 14:20 STRATFD A 15:30 STP SO
STRATFD A 14:20
BEARLEYJN PASS 14:27
HATTONWJN PASS 14:36
HATTON 14:39 14:44
DORRIDGE 14:55 15:00
HATTONNJN PASS 15:12
HATTONWJN PASS 15:13
BEARLEYJN PASS 15:22
STRATFD A 15:30

I doubt they would be far off.

 

The timings on Steam Dreams give a departure from Stratford-U-A at 1337, having arrived at 1324, which may be the start of the turn.
They have a similar timing for Paddington with a departure at 2121 which ties in with the UKSteam times for the move back to Southall.

 

Times at uksteam.info have been revised to show the Hatton turning move, and also the 23 min stop at Cholsey on the return leg.
www.uksteam.info/tours/t11/t0423b.htm

David