Cathedrals Express to Weymouth Sat 9 July, t0709a

I'm the one nearest the loco Ralph.

 

Is that Dave Sprackland on the right?

 

Yes!

And in the middle, and the one who has changed the very least, is John Clifford.

All fit and well. But not 35023. Very sad to lose such a superb steam loco. Wonderful run down that day. Mid 90s down Roundwood. And my only sub 30 minute run from Soton to Bomo. But only just!

And at this time, 04.33 all on this equivalent day all those years ago we were at Winchester on the 02.45 ex Waterloo. Waiting a rather long time because good old Gordon Porter had run rather fast, (like he did), from Basingstoke. 34095. Nothing very high speed from him for once. Into the low 90s down the bank. Maybe the 75 mph limit parcels vans held him back. Got 78 before Eastleigh after leaving Winchester. From a tsr to 44 at Shawford Jctn!

Now for today!

 

We have just left Waterloo on time, and crossed straight onto the Down Main Fast.

 

And through Winchester 2 minutes early at 0902.

 

Wish i was on this trip.......hope it's a great run and a good day out for all on board!!

 

Bang on time at top of Parkstone Bank at 1036 closely behind SWT service train stopping at Parkstone and with steam to spare!! Hope those on board are enjoying a good run DH

 

David is still very recognisable, even though he is not wearing his shorts and sandles!

Saw 34067 through New |Milton, very poignent, lovely blast on the whistle, regulator well open going a fair ole speed.

 

Cracking run down here, fantastic to Woking, little trouble with the fire up past mp31 but the run down to Winchester wad something else. Hope my updates are ok

 

Receiving you, loud and and clear.

 

A rather gloomy Fleet this morning:

 

You should have been at Brookwood! It was sunny there when it passed.

Nice picture though.

My video is at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kT9271xw1Jo

Sorry about the wobble, I was balancing on top of the old rails around the car park.

I really enjoyed the view of the train approaching, with the exhaust as it was.

 

Through Basingstoke on time 20.20

 

Through Woking onetime too, 2043. Despite some signal checks at Basingstoke, farnborough and Woking, we're still on the fast line and going like the clappers. Just through Walton on Thames.

 

Heres my video of the train;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bq7L__MMt6c

 

Well we made it to the final signal outside Waterloo at 2106, where we had to wait for platform 16. We ended up arriving 2122, 1 minute late.

 

You were about ten minutes behind time at Farnborough; the 20.30 to Waterloo went out in front of you. The light was failing, but I managed a couple of record shots.

They are now on Flickr in the 'Stop Press!' Latest Pictures!!' collection; see the set dated10th July :

http://www.flickr.com/photos/train-pix/collections/72157627090322278/

 

I think it might be an error on the UKSteam timings - showing 3 mins Basingstoke to Farnborough! I was working off the sheets issued onboard which had us through Farnborough at 2034, and the CIS screen I saw was showing 2033 as we passed through.