70013, The Cathedrals Express, 8th Dec.

Can anybody tell me what the procedure is for turning this train round at Oxford?

Does it come to Didcot to turn and, if so, is it just the locomotive or the whole train.

Regards

Dave

 

Loco only. Goes round the traingle at Didcot

t1208a.htm

 

All of the times are here...

t1208a.htm

After arrival at Oxford, 70013 takes the empty coaches into the carriages sidings, then runs light engine to turn on the triangle at Didcot, before returning to Ocford to re-join the train for the return journey.

 

Malc, Will.

Thanks very much for the info.

Regards

Dave

 

I'm on this. Asked the wife if she wanted to go to Cambridge to see Oxford, took it that a blank look meant book two tickets. Will send some updates if my blackberry behaves. Detailed timings on the Steam Dreams website. Would be interested to know if any of our route, meandering around North London is a first for preserved steam.

 

I don't think the route through North London is particularly unique, I was on a steam dreams Bristol Tour that took the same route in August. However, it is interesting as it takes you past the yard for the Channel tunnel trains, through the middle of the Olympic park at Stratford, and around the new London Overground route. The expression on the faces of some of the folks on the stations on the London Overground route was well worth seeing as we chuffed by as that route is now considered by the locals as being part of the Tube network. It was actually one of the more interesting parts of the journey with many folks craning their necks looking out the windows. I shall be waiting at Harlow to watch Ollie C come in. Harlow tends to get used for watering loco's before going through London as one of its platforms is near the fence to feed the water hose through, so I am guessing thats why its scheduled to stop there for 20 minutes or so.

 

Not a first, but use of the Harringay curve is relatively rare for steam.

 

Any news of Ollie this morning? It's blowing a gale in Oxford, but I shall pop out to see her, if I can think of somewhere sheltered from the south-west wind.

 

On its way. Was about 10 late off of Cambridge but not seen any more reports yet.

 

I see the times on uksteam are provisional times to be confirmed. Are these the actual times it is running to?

 

20 minutes late at Ealing.

 

Seems to be but it has dropped time.

 

A bit late but just seen a report of it passing West Drayton at 11:40 behind a stopper.

 

Those are a minute or two ahead of those on Steam Dreams, Steam Dreams - operators of The Cathedrals Express steam train trips
times for Saturday's Southend - Winchester also on SD site.

 

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Going like the clappers, 10 ish down through Iver

 

Nice sight powering through Tilehurst about 12.40. Quite a crowd there. Thanks for the updates, the one from Willesden gave me some idea what was going on & the later update from Sonning (8-9 minutes from Sonning to Tilehurst, not bad going including passing Reading). Seems 2 of us were "on the ball" at Tilehurst with the messages. Was told by a passenger off the local that it passed 70013 at Twyford.
For those who might be interested, whilst waiting 70001 passed through with an up freightliner. Ugly things!

Edit, Iv'e just looked at the timings again, I see there are no water stops mentioned. Surely it can't do that journey on one tenderfull.

 

Regarding the water stop Steam Dreams site quoted a 10 min stop of which it did although 18 mins late arriving on the up slow. I managed to see the departure and pass it and see again
through Reading.

Mike M. (70c )

 

Just to inform any passengers on the train / enthusiasts, there's been a fatality at Alexander palace so the run back up the ecml might be delayed, I'm on the 17:10 and we ain't got to finsbury park yet. Anyway I'm hoping to see her at either hitchin or Gordon's hill and thought I should let you all know.

 

Not another one, there was one somewhere near New Maldon yesterday affecting services out of Waterloo.

 

Indeed there was, very common at new Malden as there are no platform end barriers and you can walk straight onto the fast line, one of reasons for the barriers on the gwml is to try and deter it. I work within LU and had a course with the ERU and they were telling me on average they have a one under once a week. Sad to hear.