Cathedrals Express 14/7 Lewes to Cambridge & Ely

The Lewes signaller reported she would arrive at Hampden Park at 8.15am

Just checking UKSteam, this is confirmed that she will depart Three Bridges at 7am headed by diesel and reverse at HP, returning to Lewes at 8.51am

 

Here you go revised times http://www.uksteam.info/tours/t11/t0714a.htm including Hampden Park. My Dad has offered to drop me off at Haywards Heath early as she is at Haywards Heath 7.18 and leaves at 7.42. May see her arrive at 9.20 as well.

Waited an hour waiting at Haywards Heath so at least I know why now. Sadly my phone hates this site for some reason so I couldn't check.

 

Brilliant thanks for the times. My Dad and I are personally well chuffed about this as it's been about five years since we had any steam down to our home town, even if this is an ECS movement - we aint gonna complain!:whoo: My Dad grew up in a railway cottage right next to Hampden Park level crossing during the 1950's/60's and also he says this is the first Brit down to the Eastbourne area since June 1951 when 70009 Alfred The Great came here as part of a BR exhibition of rolling stock.

 

Revised times for ecs - reported 13 late at Kensington Olympia
Due at
Kenny O 1949 (+ 13 -13 LATE)
Factory Jn 2003
Brixton 2011
Tulse Hill 2018
Selhurst 2034
Purley 2048 (then Quarry)
Three Bdgs 2118

 

Came through Streatham at 20.35, so still about 15 down.

Richard

 

8.10 through Lewes on the ECS

 

And passing Cooksbridge at 9.07. Making a superb racket!

 

Arrived at Haywards Heath a few minutes late both ways. Close encounter as a Littlehampton or Ore train left just as 70000 came out the tunnel on the way up but luckily got some pictures. She didn't hang around though just as I got to the stairs down to the station and herd her whistle and she was off. Walked away from the station with sound of the loco accelerating away and a great sound it was. One woman said ''there's something you don't see everyday''.

On the ECS the look on communters faces as they awaited their trains and people taking pictures on their Iphones and Camera phones. Sadly the loco and support coach didn't make the platform so pictures were difficult and better from Platforms 1/2. One man was a bit upset that she didn't nameplates, I said its how she looked as built but still thought she should have had them on. She left on time and just before a late running (I think) FCC service.

Stock is a mixture of Green Train and Maroon WCRC stock with 70000's Blood and Custard support coach and WCRC Class 47 on the back.

Here are some pictures. (Aplogies for the brightness of some as It's difficult viewing my phone screen as it is badly scratched).









(this one was taken through a gap in the cycle storage area.)

The rest are here http://s818.photobucket.com/albums/zz110/DanHill1991/70000 Britannia Haywards Heath 14th July 2011/

 

4 late through West Norwood

 

Looking beautiful and about 6 down through Herne Hill and Camden Road Junction at 11:58 so back on time.

 

Just put up a short clip of the tour passing through Norwood Junction this morning - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8g_VVNp3dGY

 

Some shots from Hampden Park Station this morning with the loco using the cross-over and then departing for Lewes. My Dad's bedroom window used to look-over this crossing when he was growing up in the 1950's/60's and everyday he saw Bulleid Pacifics, Q1's, Schools, Standards, Fairburn Tanks, E4's and many many more locos - the jammy old sod!

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/yD81VMp2MANcsyg9FEWvGw?feat=directlink
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/P-LcTH2USUm2sIV2t9EjIQ?feat=directlink
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ESV72LshM7MVc_Ii6mR80w?feat=directlink

Cheers

 

Saw her on time at Redhill, apparently they did'nt stop for the Three Bridges people and were asked to wait at Redhill for them but did'nt.Hope they caught up elsewhere.

Mike M. ( 70 c )

 

Great pictures. What was the last loco to Eastbourne before today.

I wonder how many got on at Haywards Heath as the stop was very brief. I met a woman yesterday while waiting for the ECS movement who said her husband and daughter would be on there but didn't seem like much boarding time. The Three Bridges one may be understandable as there may not have been many or any boarding there but if there was I wonder how they'd get on it.

 

I managed to catch two very noisy accelerations today, a wonderful sight.

Wivelsfield...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/alts1985/5936427711/in/photostream

http://www.flickr.com/photos/alts1985/5936431669/in/photostream

Merstham...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/alts1985/5936422385/in/photostream

http://www.flickr.com/photos/alts1985/5936424589/in/photostream

My Dads video from Wivelsfield is on Youtube already...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efWcGv-Pihw

 

Anybody interested in the ECS return tonight. The timings are below, from UK-Rail


THE EMPTIES
5Z86

LEWES 23:25
LEWESLW58 23:27 23:29
LEWES PASS 23:31
KEYMERJN PASS 23:47
HAYWARDSH PASS 23:52
BALCMBTJN PASS 23:59
THREEBGES PASS 00:02
GATWICK PASS 00:08
EARLSWOOD PASS 00:15
REDHILL PASS 00:17
STOATSNJN PASS 00:25
PURLEY PASS 00:27
S CROYDON PASS 00:31
E CROYDON PASS 00:33
WINDMLBJN PASS 00:35
SELHURST PASS 00:36
STRETHMCM PASS 00:40
STREATHAM PASS 00:43
TULSE H PASS 00:46
HERNEHILL PASS 00:49
BRIXTON PASS 00:50
SHEPHDSLJ PASS 00:51
VOLTRRDJN PASS 00:52
FACTORYJN PASS 00:54
LONGHDGJN PASS 01:00
LATCHMERE PASS 01:05
KENSGTN O 01:11 01:16
MITREBDGJ PASS 01:20
WILSDNWLJ PASS 01:22
ACTONWLSJ PASS 01:25
ACTON ML PASS 01:27
ACTONWEST PASS 01:29
SOUTHALL PASS 01:37
STHALLWJN PASS 01:38
HAYES GLP 01:40 01:55
STHALLWJN PASS 01:57
SOUTHALL 01:59 02:03
SOUTHLDMU 02:15

 

The last steam to Eastbourne was back in 2006 when Tangmere came down in January and then the Black 5 no.45231 in the September, but since then we've had absolutely naff all up until this morning.

 

Ah right. Going by the reaction of people in Lewes from a Youtube video that there was quite a crowd there waiting. Maybe steam on that part of Sussex may become a bit more popular. I hope so I'd love more steam this way. I must say I wasn't expecting 70000 to come in on Platform 3 at Haywards Heath.

I assume that 70000 will be dragged back to Southall by the Class 47 tonight after the trip.

 

70000 will be hauled back by 47500 as per timings previously attached

 

Great video from Ashley's father at Wivelsfield. Thanks for sharing with us, and particularly continuing to film for the sound effect as 70000 accelerates away.

Looks like the WSR have done a good job sorting out the bearings and running her/him in.