Conference rdgeng::railways_uk

Title:	The Ford Prefect

Train:  2 x Class 205 DEMU.

Route:  London Bridge, Tulse Hill, Streatham, Sutton, Epsom, Leatherhead, 
	Dorking, Warnham, Horsham, Ford, Barnham, Bognor Regis (Rev).

	Bognor Regis, Barnham, Ford, Littlehampton (Rev).

	Littlehampton, Worthing, Hove, Preston Park (Rev)

	Preston Park, Brighton (Break).


	Brighton, Lewes, Newhaven Marine (Break).

	Newhaven Marine, Newhaven Town (rev), Seaford (rev).

	Seaford, Newhaven Town, Lewes, Haywards Heath, Three Bridges,
	Gatwick Airport, Earlswood, Purley, East Croydon, Crystal Palace,
	West Norwood, Streatham Hill, Balham, Clapham Junction, London Victoria.


Stagecoach buses had just celebrated 1 year as 'owners' of South West Trains
singing their achievements (that was before their announcment of 200 trains
being cancelled!), whilst various rail users associations have been saying no
difference.
My 6:41 train to London was about 10 minutes late which always starts the day 
off in a nervous state.

The tour started at London Bridge - first time I've had a tour start there.
I arrived on the through line from Waterloo East (first time also on one of 
these Networker's {class 465?} - very very quiet and smooth, a vast improvement
on the old stock, but rather plasticy). Walking along the footbridge from the
through platforms to the terminus platforms I could hear the whine of an idling 
DEMU engine long before I could see the train.

As promised, 2 DEMU's at the station ready to go, so I joined a large contingent
getting food from the station food outlets.
Returning to the train and taking some pictures the train was well full - we 
didn't have allocated seats so it was a question of find yourself a spot and 
sit.

I found space on the rear unit power car, the engines were in the middle of the
train, next to each other. The unit also had an intercom fitted so announcements
were made across the whole train which is useful, and better than the "person
walks down the train and tells everyone - eventually" approach of recent tours.

Starting was punctual and we puttered out slowly from London Bridge.
Being on the power car and at the end we were over the Units powered bogie.
We got a split second advance warning on the unit moving by virtue of a 
disconcerting 'bang' from somewhere in the bogie (which could be felt as well)
immediately before we moved, not sure exactly what it was, traction motor 
engaging drive perhaps.

We snaked out around the London suburbs fairly slowly, taking almost an hour
to travel 25 miles to Dorking, our first "convenience" break.
With only two of each 'facility' the queues were very long, the queue of men
went right down the platform, watched in faint amusement by the few ladies on 
the tour who had no problems.

Setting off again, the further south we went the foggier it got. It was clear
and cold in London (and Hook infact), but within 20 miles of the coast 
visibility progressively decreased.

We were held at Barnham for a long time, and were eventually told by the senior
conductor that the signalling had been disconnected, hand siginalling was in
progress, and there were restrictions on the number of trains that could run
on the line.

We set off slowly and reached Bognor Regis 14 minutes late - we were only 
supposed to be there 11 minutes and we had arrived 3 minutes after we were due
to depart.
The Guard apologised for late arrival but did not tell us how long we would have
at the station, (it was part of the convenience breaks!).
Some went off for photos (in the murky conditions) others for the Gents, (and 
maybe the ladies too).

We departed after a stop of 6 minutes and made faster progress back to Barham.

We arrived at Littlehampton at the time we due to leave, and again, much as the
guard apologised for the late arrival he didn't say at what time we would be
departing, which for those like me who had been drinking and hadn't "been" 
since Horsham, 2 hours ago, this point was of particular interest.
I stayed on the train, again, and this too was a 6 minute stop.

The driver now 'put his foot down' (I don't know the railway equivalent of this
term), and we went like the clappers eastward, almost certainly running flat 
out, (75 mph ish). We covered the 20 miles from Littlehampton to Hove in 24
minutes from a standing start, not going very fast until we were on the main 
line - and at Hove we were back on schedule.
We detoured off to Preston Park before running into Brighton for reasons I know
not, arriving on time.

There was only one thing I was immediately interested in doing at Brighton, and
disaster - the Gents toilets on the station were closed!
The toilets there are in dire need of modernising, not that I suppose that was
what was being done to them, but at that moment I didn't care.
So off I went into Brighton on an urgent quest which was eventually fulfilled.
I ignored pubs as that would make the problem worse on the return journey,
avoided the 'tardis' like toilets which I think are very undignified - 
(surrounded by shoppers), and eventually found some on the seafront, inspite of
signs that had been tampered with.
This all reminded me of the programme 'Clive James on TV' when he was reviewing
Japanese game shows - there was one called "Endurance", where amongst other 
things contestants had to drink large quantities of beer and the winner was the
last to succomb to the call of nature...
If HRT do another DEMU tour I might suggest "Endurance" as a title!



We left a very foggy Brighton for a trip round to Newhaven and Seaford.

We fitted comfortably into Newhaven Marine, but the rails were very rusty.
I believe there is a restriction on the length of trains that can use this
station - it was the limiting factor for this tour. There was not much happening
at the Marine, maybe a victim of the Channel Tunnel.

On departure we indulged in a bit of to-ing and fro-ing around Newhaven Town
to change tracks and then set off down to Seaford.
On the subject of tracks - the guy opposite me had detailed track plans of the
whole route. He was marking the specific lines, points, cross overs etc. that
we travelled on! First time I've had a fellow passenger do that.

I visited Seaford by train ages ago (like 1970), I don't really remember it
very well, but I can safely say there was a lot more of it then.
It seemed to be reduced to a single platform.

Departing Seaford we now had a straightforward run back to Victoria - 60 miles
in about 2 hours, less a 20 minute 'convenience' stop at Haywards Heath.

We arrived at Haywards Heath 6 minutes early, and the facilities were more 
suitable than Dorking's - there were more of them for a start.
We were delayed here, the conductor announced we were waiting for a relief 
driver, a comment which resulted in much amusement among the railtourers, as
the word relief had come to mean something completely different on a DEMU tour!

We set off 8 minutes late, and again the driver 'put his foot down' - as a  
passenger it was a case of shake, rattle, bounce and jostle, with extra
helpings of bounce. Looking at the actual timings and distances according to the
tour literature we were averaging 60 mph over the Haywards Heath to East Croydon
section, by the time of which we had slowed, but I'm sure we were running flat
out for periods.

The 12 miles from East Croydon to Victoria was accomplished in 40 minutes.
We might have been caught behind something slow, although our original timings
had this part of the journey taking 35 minutes, so perhaps it's just a slow 
route.

Arrival, at a very busy Victoria was at 17:59 - 11 minutes late.
I reeled off a few pictures then it was time to return home.

I bought a ticket from the machine at Hook to London Brit rail.
What I was wondering was if that ticket entitled me to travel from Victoria to
Clapham Junction to get back to Hook, seeing as I was on SWT territory normally
and I was now on Connex territory.
What I needed was a 'customer services person', you know the type, snazzy 
uniform and hat,  mobile phone and clipboard, as found at Waterloo and Reading.
I couldn't see one anywhere - I assumed Connex have them, perhaps they don't.
Anyway I bought a ticket to Clapham just in case.

The DEMU left Victoria before I did!
It's distinctive sound echoing under the canopy of the station as it went - a 
sound you can't hear so well in the units, only at low speed. It's more 
pleasant than the constant under seat "thrum" of modern DMU's in my opinion.

The 31's and 33's are due for the chop this year, but I believe the DEMU will
solder on for a bit longer, I hope to get many more miles in them before they 
go.


Roger

Further to entry 9.131, concerning the filming of the Deltic from a helicopter,
I got a reply back from Hertfordshire Rail Tours - 

the footage is to be included on a forthcoming video 
	'Royal Scots Grey Resurgence'
out during March 1997 by Oakwood Video Library.

I shall, no doubt, get a copy and let you know how it comes out.


Roger

Title	:	The Lindum Deltic

Date	:	2nd March 1997

Train	:	Class 55 D9000 + 13 coaches

Route	:	Kings Cross, Potters Bar, Stevenage, Peterborough, Grantham,
		Newark North Gate, Newark Crossing East Junction, Boultham
		Junction, West Holmes Junction, Lincoln Central.

		Return as out.


A Merrymaker trip running on a Sunday for the sum of �19.50.

Owing to Engineering works between Farnborough and Woking a replacement bus 
service was in operation between Basingstoke and Woking.
Given that the tour started at 11:05, I thought there would be enough time to
get to Kings Cross under such conditions but I was wrong.

Fortunately I rang for the details beforehand, which were - 
	bus leaves Hook -	7:55
	Arrives Woking  -	9:05
	Train depart Woking -   9:41
	Arrives Waterloo -     10:30.
(Why there is a 35 minute gap between arriving Woking on the bus and leaving
 by train I know not - but that what they reckoned).
I decided that 35 minutes Waterloo to Kings Cross on a Sunday was cutting it
too fine.

I asked the 'customer service person' if the Basingstoke - Reading - Paddington
services were running normally, and it went silent - then he quitely said yes,
and didn't seem much amused when I said I'd do that route instead.
Must have been an SWT employee!

So the day started with a cycle ride to Basingstoke on a windswept day.
There was chaos at Basingstoke station.
One woman brightly asked the young guy in the ticket office
"Would you like to do something exciting for me like tell me what times the 
trains are running today?",
to which he replied, equally brightly, that the Reading service leaves at 7:40
- which was on all the displays so wasn't difficult to determine.
You got the distinct impression the Basingstoke staff didn't know what was 
happening.

The journey in via Paddington went as timetabled, and gave me a different view
on the way into London, (mainly seemed to be car scrappers!).

I got to Kings Cross with over an hour and three quarters to wait - which was a
bit of a long.

The obligatory Res 47 brought the stock in, and the Deltic entered the station
with about 20 minutes to go and after the usual photos (I'll probably now find I
have loads of pictures of the Deltic at Kings Cross having been attached to the
train from roughly the same postion with varying levels of lightness depending
on what time of the day the tour started!), joined the train - which was a sell
out.

Departure was on time, but very hesitant, like not having enough revs, and 
progress out of the station was slow.
We were then routed around all over the place - snaking in and out of all the 
stations up to Finsbury Park. I can't describe what the lines were, but we were
not on the normal main lines on the Kings Cross to Finsbury Park section.

Nothing else major to report on the journey out really,
-	Nearly stopped too early at Stevenage
-	Some speed restrictions between Huntingdon and Peterborough slowed us a 
	bit.
-	15 minutes late at Peterborough, however a new crew here solved the
	hesitant starts we had been having.
I've not been on the Newark - Lincoln line before so there was a first for me
there.
Arrival at Lincoln was a minute early at 13:45. 

We joined the pack here to photograph the train from various locations before
the Deltic went out to a siding somewhere and run round.

This left everyone to have a 4 hour look round Lincoln before the return 
journey.


Departure was at 17:49, a minute late, where we did the 16 mile journey back to
Newark for a scheduled 2 minute stop for a crew change.
Being 6 minutes late arriving we were held here for 5 minutes for an HST to 
pass, then allowed to continue 9 minutes late.
We soon caught up the time and indeed at Peterborough we were allowed out ahead
of a London bound HST.

Inspite of the same speed restrictions we had on the outward journey, the 
scheduled timings were adhered to on the journey - arrival at Kings Cross was
4 minutes early. All really a result of very slack timings.


About to take the post journey pictures an attractive Oriental lady asked me :-
"Excuse me, can I ask, what is everyone photographing, who's here?",
so I told her it's not a who it's the engine we are photographing,
"Oh. Why?" she asks innocently.
So I told her it used to run here, and has been allowed to again after many
years - something like that.

She half laughed and walked off saying "Just thought I'd ask".


With that I took my photographs, (Another for a growing selection of a Deltic
at the buffer stops at Kings Cross at the end of a journey, invariably at 
night!), and returned home via Paddington, Reading, Basingstoke and a slightly 
less windswept A30 back to Hook.

Roger

Title	:	The West Coast Deltic Pioneer

Date	:	8th March 1997

Train	:	Class 55 D9000 + 10 coaches

Route	:	London Euston, Watford, Milton Keynes, Rugby, Nuneaton, 
		Stafford, Crewe, Wilmslow, Stockport, Manchester Piccadilly.

	(Return) Manchester Piccadilly, Stockport, Macclesfield, Congleton,
		 Stoke-on-trent, Stafford, Nuneaton, Milton Keynes, Watford,
		 London Euston.


Billed as the first production Deltic out of Euston - I would have thought that 
during the class's farewell tours they would have done at least one out of 
Euston but there you go.

Also this tour was a means of getting to the East Lancs Railway Deltic event.
I've not been to the East Lancs railway before so this was an added incentive
to go.

It was also a tour I very nearly didn't get to in time.

A 7:26 departure from Euston, meant the 5:07 train from Hook. I was at the 
station in plenty of time, got my hopes up when I saw a headlight down the 
tracks at 5:13 but this proved to be a 47 hauled freightliner. A guy used the
station phone and found that the train would be on its way at about 5:20 or
5:25 - no reason given for lateness. It arrived at 5:28.
Problem number 2 I was unaware of - owing to resignalling work somewhere around
Surbiton the trains are being diverted from Woking to Addleston, Richmond to
rejoin the route at Clapham Junction, adding 30 minutes to the journey.
I got to Waterloo at 7:00 - 26 minutes to go.
It was taxi time again - and I got to Euston at just gone 7:15 with less than
10 minutes to spare.

Just time for a few pictures (more worthwhile this time - haven't got a picture
of the Deltic at Euston yet) then join the train.
I was on a coach at the opposite end of the train, so wouldn't hear very much 
on the outward journey.

Departure was bang on time, however we were routed onto the slow line and many
trains passed us, during which time we started to run late (8 minutes at the
peak).

After that things went more than less as scheduled until we got to Wilmslow when
we found we were 22 minutes early!
Then at Stockport - 29 minutes early.
Then at Manchester Piccadilly - 31 minutes early.
Lots of slack time wasn't needed methinks.

As before, the Deltic gets lots of attention even from non-enthusiast people,
probably more as a result of the engine noise and profuse smoking than anything.

Part of the 'Sales Merchandise' on the tour was a commemorative mug for the 
first production Deltic on the West Coast, only 250 mugs produced they say.
A trainload of some 600 people and they only produce 250 mugs.  Hmmmm.
Of the 8 seated together where I was, 3 of us bought mugs, if that were repeated
throughout the train it would mean 3/8*600 = 225 mugs, just enough.
They also had a stand at the Deltic event with seemingly quite a few to sell, so
I wonder about only 250 produced.


Time for another first, two even, first time on the Manchester Metrolink tram,
indeed first time ever on any kind of tram in Britain that I can remember.

I was impressed - smooth and quiet, it could go round incredibly tight curves
and went up some quite steep gradients. Progress was pedestrian through the
streets, but having stopped at Manchester Victoria we then travelled on a
traditional railway line with no other traffic and she could travel quite
swiftly. The service was frequent and looked to be well patronised.

A short walk from the Bury tram station to the East Lancs rail station for the
Deltic event itself.

The station was full of sales stalls and people!
I travelled up and down the line and also got myself outside to watch and hear
the Deltics go, I've always been 'towed' by the Deltic and apart from glimpses
at bends haven't seen what they look like under power from outside, traveling
through the 'fog' apart.
The drivers here are well at home with the engines too - there was none of the
hesitant starts we've had with D9000 on the main line, it was all decisive firm
driving!
I also saw some of the East Lancs other residents - 25, 47 and a 50 plus a 110
DMU and THE class 28 Co-Bo which has just been moved to the railway for 
restoration, none of which were running that day.

After an enjoyable day in superb weather conditions (sunny and warm) I caught 
the tram back to Manchester Piccadilly.

Our stock was only brought in 15 minutes before departure (behind, yes a Res 47)
but we still managed to leave on time.

This time I was a few coaches from the engine, so at low speeds could hear the
engines quite clearly.

We were delayed for a while at Stafford and continued to lose time (up to 9 
minutes) for the end section of the journey, however, as seems normal there is
a lot of slack time scheduled in to the London end of the journey - 30 minutes
to do the 11 miles from Harrow to Euston.
We actually arrived at Euston about 10 minutes early - 21:30.

The Deltic's make a unique noise when running - I find they also make a unique
noise when stopping - sounds as if the engines are shut down by letting all the
lubricating oil run out!

My home journey from Waterloo proved interesting again too.
Still being routed via Richmond and Addlestone, we are in an 8 coach unit which
is split at Woking, the front four coaches bound for Basingstoke and the rear
four for Alton.
The train left Waterloo at 22:12 but was very slow. At Virginia Water we were
passing through the station then came to an abrupt halt - the rear few coaches 
still on the platform. We were stationary for around 15 minutes before we
started off again. No information on what had happened was forthcoming.
At Woking all Basingstoke bound people were told to leave the train and go to 
another platform in order to continue their journey.

It proved a long day, the tour itself was enjoyable, but the process of getting
there and back proved fraught.
I had thought to by-pass SWT trains for my journies from now on unless I'm
desperate, but have since discovered I can't - the alternative route to London
(Basingstoke - Reading - Paddington) doesn't allow me to get to London early 
enough for most railtours - only by using my own transport to Reading would it
be feasible which I'd rather not do.


Roger

Title:	Swineshead Revisited

Train:  33/0 + 33/1 + 8 coaches.

Route:  London Kings Cross, Stevenage, Peterborough, Grantham, Nottingham,
	Bulwell, Newstead, Mansfield, Shirebrook, Worksop, Retford, Lincoln,
	Sleaford, Swineshead, Boston, Skegness

	Skegness, Sleaford, Grantham, Peterborough, Stevenage, 
	London Kings Cross.

A rare event for Digital, I was on a training course from Monday to Wednesday
during which I was getting up at 7:30 ish, and only had to get up at my usual 
time of 6:25ish on the Thursday and Friday.
Come the Saturday and I woke up and saw it was 5:00 I thought, "only been up
early twice, therefore it must be Wednesday, a work day, and I don't have to get
up until past 6 - have a lie in".
It was only when my 'back up' battery alarm clock went off that my thought 
processes started to operate and it dawned on me I was on a railtour today and
had to get up!

The trains from Hook to Waterloo are still being diverted via Addlestone and
Richmond at weekends, however the train ran as 'rescheduled' and I got to Kings
Cross at 8:00, 33 minutes ahead of departure time.

A surprise at the front - two blue engines. Shakespear Cliff (33 051?) has been
repainted blue to match 'Hertfordshire Rail tours', a few minor details apart.
Looks really good in my opinion.
The 'H R T' loco is fine - apparently the problems on the last tour were quite
insignificant - no damage to the traction motors at all by the leaking oil.
It was a fairly short train too - 8 coaches where I had been expecting double
figures.

Like the Deltic tour, this train ran effectively to time throughout, a few 
minutes lost or gained here and there but obviously the thought of penalty fares
has focused minds - or rather introduced large quantities of slack time in
schedules.

There were engineering works at Sandy which slowed us down a bit, but all was
well otherwise.

The tour description in the handouts had an error in that it stated at
Nottingham we would change engines which was incorrect - a 'cut and paste' error
in producing the handout I think. Nottingham had a 20 minute 'punctuality stop'
included which was not really required - so it turned into a photo stop.
Many of us crossed via footbridge to the other platform to get a clear shot down
the train over the tracks, to be regularly told by a station official to stand
back from the platform as the train at that platform would be leaving any 
moment.
That train was still there when we left and the 'official' had disappeared as 
well - no doubt a ploy to keep us 'under control'.

We left Nottingham and then travelled up the 'newly reopened Robin Hood line'
as it seems to be called, linking Nottingham and Worksop.
It was a slow run up this line, perhaps we were stuck behind something, I 
certainly hope that the service trains are faster. Infact speed was not of the
essence from this point to Skegness covering 120 miles in effectively 3 hours.

We had a 10 minute pathing stop at Lincoln, which would have been a good photo
stop, but they had already thought of that, and we were routed on the through
line where we couldn't get out! We were only there for 3 minutes in the end
though.
The next photo stop was at Sleaford - with a solitory British Transport 
Policeman in attendance. Here we went out to a level crossing infront of the 
station to photograph the train, and observed by locals I heard a guy saying 
to his parter "Strange people".

From here on the lines are on very flat land, and for quite some distance
between Hecklington and Hubberts Bridge I think it was, the line has a waterway
on one side and a road on the other. Here we had the indignity of being 
overtaken by an elderly Metro!

Last stop before Skegness was at Boston, scheduled as 9 minutes to pass an
oncoming train, but I didn't get out to take pictures.
The train we passed was a Sprinter bound for Crewe!
I thought at the time I'd hate to spend 3+ hours in one of those things on a 
journey like that, but suppose it's not much different to the journey I do
from Basingstoke to Exeter or Paignton in a 159 a few times a year.
(Though reckon a 159 is a lot more comfortable than a 156).

Between Boston and Skegness the line turns about 180 degrees, which gives a 
good view of the engines when near the back of the train!

Arrival at Skegness was 2 minutes late at 15:37, and revealed handout error
number 2 which stated that the station retains it's buffet facilities - not any
more it doesn't! Closed and boarded up.
The station does still retain 6 platforms which is quite impressive, though they
all contained a large contingent of weeds.
A fading sign gave directions for "Buses to Butlitz", whoops sorry Butlins.

We had 90 minutes at Skegness to have a quick look round.
As I walked down one of the streets I passed a model shop where the propreiter
was just putting up a hand written sign :-
	"Sorry, No browsers today, No Space!"
Welcome to Skegness!

Another slight problem I had was people didn't seem to queue in Skegness - they
seem to jostle for position in shops and dive in when shop assistants look up.
Some of the seaside attractions were open - many of the seaside shops and a 
roller coaster was in operation.
The one thing of interest to me, a nature reserve, was too far away to visit in
the time available.
I was trying to buy a sandwich from somewhere to eat later, rather than pay a 
premium for one on the train,  but couldn't find one in the shops I tried, 
(Co-Op, Somerfield and Iceland). I only noticed a huge 'Safeway' store on the
way out.
Other than that, Skegness was overcast and cold.

Getting back to the station the engines had run round and the train was ready
to go from a different platform to that arrived at, however, the best pictures
would be obtained from one of the unoccupied platforms.
A railtrack official (little darlings as Dame Edna would say), had been chasing
everyone off the unoccupied platforms but when I got there he had disappeared, 
so I did manage to get the photos I wanted from the platforms I wanted to use.

We set off on time, but had a false start, which brought back memories of the
last 33 tour, we got off second time but it was very jerky.
Infact from this point on all our departures were jerky - meaning many a split
drink from the passengers/customers.
Good news was , I was now 2 coaches from the engines - so could get the engine
note when under power.

Approaching Boston from this direction you could see the extensive dock sidings
(which I have read are meant to be re-used for steel traffic), also to the right
of the station (from Skegness direction) what looks like an old engine shed and 
refuelling point.

Leaving Boston, and back on the part of the line where it runs between a 
waterway and a road, a Fiesta came along side with the passenger wielding a 
camcorder - definitely proving to be a year for being filmed on trains.

Quite a few times on the return journey the train did some very abrupt stops,
"putting a shine on the rails" as one passenger put it - no apparant reason 
for these sorts of stops.

At Barkston East Junction, waiting to join the main line back to London, we were
held for an IC225 to pass, which we could see approaching from some distance,
then a short while after we joined the main line, we were held at a signal for
an HST to pass us, (think this was where the engineering works are, so it
was let ahead of us to pass these works).

Thereafter we were a bit behind timewise, but we were let out to carry on our
merry way, and I timed us at over 85mph on streches.
Approaching Kings Cross the driver tooted a class 37 which was on engineering
works whose driver duly tooted back.
The driver sounded as if he was trying to emulate the Deltic's last run into
Kings Cross in '82 with numerous blasts of the horn when we also entered.

Arrival was 4 minutes early at 20:41, then we all piled out for the post tour 
photograph.

I spotted a lady on the platform who, you could see, was curious.
	The Paparazzi are here,
	Who's on the train?, 
	One of the Eastenders?, 
	The Spice Girls perhaps?

She walks forward to investigate, and you wait and watch for the penny to drop.
... when it did she smiled and walked back to study the timetables.

The journey back to Hook on SWT when as rescheduled, but was not enjoyable 
owing to having to share a coach with some drunks. Does annoy me a bit when 
there is such strong police presence at stations for railtours - enthusiasts 
do tresspass I'm sorry to say and can be a danger to themselves and others, but 
I would say are much less trouble than drunks and gangs of teenagers you get at 
stations and on trains - the transport police are often no where to be seen 
then.


My next Hertfordshire Rail tour is now in June, however I have booked a number
of Steam railtours with LSW and Days Out limited - some of which have already
been cancelled or postponed.
I'll let you know if any actually happen.!


Roger

Title:	The Wiltshire Wanderer

Train:  Southern Railway S15 Class 4-6-0 + 11 coaches.
	(47 971 return from Eastleigh)

Route:  Clapham Junction, Balham, East Croydon, Redhill, Reigate, Guildford,
	North Camp, Wokingham, Reading, Newbury, Lavington, Westbury,
	Warminster, Salisbury (Break)

	Salisbury, Dean, Romsey, Eastleigh (loco change)

	Eastleigh, Basingstoke, Reading, Wokingham, North Camp, Guildford,
	Reigate, Redhill, East Croydon, Balham, Clapham Junction.


LSW have apparently been trying to arrange a steam rail tour along the Redhill -
Reading stretch for some time and finally managed it.

As seems to have been the norm all this year, engineering works have disrupted
journies into London at weekends, which meant I needed another cycle ride to
Basingstoke in order to catch the train.
Getting my ticket from the office at Basingstoke, the ticket lady commented that
there were a lot of people buying tickets to Clapham Junction (where the tour
started) and asked what was happening there.

The telephone enquiry beaureau had given me the time of a train that would get
me there in time, since I was early at Basingstoke and there was a train going
to Woking (only) at the station, I caught that one.
Once at Woking, the train to take me on to Clapham was that orginally mentioned
by 'the beaureau'.
I got to Clapham Juntion at the allotted time - about 20 minutes ahead of
departure. If I was late I could have got trains to Guildford or Reading to pick
it up there, I did have visions of chasing around the countryside trying to 
join the tour train.

At Clapham Junction, you could see the train in the distance courtesy of all the
steam. The train pulled into the station and I could see then it was a long 
train - I expected a maximum of 8 coaches, it was actually 11.
The tour had 'Premier class' which were the coaches situated next to engine,
I was towards the end with the peasants :-).

The tour started bang on time, with a very slow exit from the station, at low
speeds it felt as if you could feel the train moving in sympathy with the 
pistons, (speed up on power stroke, slow down on exhaust - I believe they have 2
pistons so the strokes should balance out but that's how it seemed).

Unfortunately I seemed to be seated with some irrating 'experts', who spent
a lot of time stating the blindingly obvious, and didn't stop talking about
something for the whole journey - boy was I relieved when they left the train.
A modern accessory was used on the tour to position photographers - 
Mobile phones.
One guy spent a lot of time reporting his position to a colleague who 
presumably would be filming or photographing at certain locations.

We kept broadly to time thorughout the tour - no distances were given on the 
itenary but it was believed by a passenger timing us against milestones that
60mph was the 'cruising speed'.

A feature of steam train travel I quickly had to become accustomed to was
'Ashes', they kept finding there way on to me or any paper infront of me.
My rail atlas now has many black streaks where I have been wiping them from the
pages. Lineside dwellers of all ages seemed to take an interest in the passing
train.

At our first photo stop at Guildford I noticed one onlooker in a 1968 'G' 
registered Vauxhall Viva, which caught my eye, being a rare vehicle to see these
days and also being in what looked very very good condition.

We travelled a short distance then had a water stop at North Camp.
Presumably Guildford was a pathing stop and would have been a water stop if they
had the facilities. The water at North Camp was supplied by a thick hose that 
disappeared out of the station, across a minor road and down a hole by an 
overpass!

Slowly approaching Reading, uphill, an HST was held at a signal outside the
station for us to go into platform 4, the HST followed and was put in platform
5.

The next water stop was at Newbury Race course, where the train went out of the
station, so no one could get on or off!

After the final passenger pick up stop at Newbury we travelled on down the
Berks and Hants route (which as the itenery says isn't in Hampshire at all, so
it's a bit of a misnomer).
A majestic run through Westbury, after which we were on a fair gradient,
however the climb was taken very gently, with no attempt to put on any kind of
a show - the loco owners do seem to be very careful with their engine.

Once at Salisbury there was a pause for photographs, the engine detached and
then went to the bay platform nearest the car park for more water.
And what was in the car park - a white 1968 'G' registered Vauxhall Viva, same
colour and number of doors and overall condition to the one I saw at Guildford.
I couldn't remember the registration number of the car at Guildford, but to see
two such vehicles within 5 hours of each other does seem a bit beyond 
coincidence - I reckon it was the same car.

We had a 2 hour break at Salisbury, being a Sunday not much was open, but then
again there weren't so many people about, and with the sun shining it was a nice
day to have a look round this cathedral city.
  
We departed Salisbury on time for the last steam hauled leg of the journey to
Eastleigh.
This actually proved a very slow run, over what I believe included a freight 
only line from Romsey to Eastleigh avoiding Southampton.
It took 35 minutes to travel about 20 miles, which included a lengthy stop at a 
signal.


On approach to Eastleigh, where we were scheduled for a change to diesel haulage
which the itenary reckoned would be a 'ubiquous 47', though you hoped for 
something else, someone commented we had a 'blue one'.
Into view came a weather beaten Blue large logo 47, numbered 47971, which I 
immediately thought was a re-engined version, but no, when you hear it - 
it's obviously a Sulzer engine. Presumably it was just 47901 (now scrapped) 
that was re-engined, (although reading the Rail magazine I believe this is an 
option for 47's working on Freightliners).

We watched the steam loco get detached and go 'home' to the Eastleigh sheds 
having given a faultless performance.

The 47 was attached at the opposite end - a sort of simultaneous uncouple of the
steamer and coupling of the diesel.
A Basher or Gricer eagerly sought out the tour organiser, and got permission to
join us at that station, he seemed eager for miles behind a Blue large logo 47.
We left on time from Eastleigh on what is familiar track for me.

On arrival at Basingstoke, a set down point for those that joined at Newbury -
they were to be bussed back to Newbury, I pondered whether to leave the train
and hop on my bicycle and go home, but being a serious head case I stayed on
until the end!

We had a slight delay in getting into Guildford, and a little late leaving, and
also delayed at Redhill (I think we had a crew change where the crew weren't
"handy"), and arrival at Clapham Junction was 13 minutes late, and using a 
little used platform as well - extreme right hand side when facing Waterloo.

The train from Clapham J to Basingstoke, routed via Virginia Water was as 
rescheduled, then a cycle ride home - during which I had to stop and put new
batteries in my rear light, putting some in the wrong way round and 'cooked'
one of them.


A "Days Out" Steam tour scheduled for April 26th got cancelled by Railtrack 
because of the fire risk. Shame - it was raining on the day before, and there
was heavy rain on the day (or what would have been the day) in many places
so it could have gone ahead.


Roger

Title:	The 14:00 Euston to Manchester Piccadilly

Train:  One of the refurbished Virgin MK3 sets (sadly without a repainted
	class 90 at the front !)

Route:	Euston, Watford, Birmingham International, Stoke, Macclesfield,
	Stockport, Piccadilly.

I wasn't looking forward to this trip as the Sunday services are so slow
because, for reasons only known to themselves, they go via Birmingham
(fastest Euston to Manchester is 2h30m, this was scheduled to take 3h40m !).

Anyway I had the option of waiting an hour at Euston for the 15:00 (which is
faster and gets in at 18:10, only half an hour after the 14:00), or sitting
on the train, so I got on the 14:00.

Anyway on walking down the ramp to platform 7, I was pleasantly suprised to
see it was one of the refurbished sets, as I'd not been on one yet.

First class looked posh; little table lights etc., and I could have done
that "weekend supplement" thing, except that coach A isn't included
and I didn't fancy paying �8 for the privilege of not being able to have a
fag for 3� hours.

Up the common end of the train, all they seem to have done in "Standard"
class is replace the carpet, wall coverings, tables, and the upholstery on
the seats (same seats though). Anyway it was tastefully done, and it was
novel to travel on a train with all the doors, toilets and air conditioning
working in all the coaches.

Also quite amusing to see the reaction of people on the platforms at other
stations as the new paint job is quite striking.

Anyway there I am comfortably installed in coach M, when two lads arrive at
the table opposite (is it herd instinct I wonder or do I just attract
nutters - the coach was nearly empty, anyway I digress).

One of them keeps looking down the coach and after Watford I hear him say
"he's coming". One of the lads promply nips off to the toilet, obviously to
avoid the ticket collector/conductor/train captain or whatever they call
themselves, as I noticed the 'engaged' light didn't come on.

Unfortunately, not only was there the usual ticket collector bloke, but a
senior inspector as well (I have seen them work in pairs before, maybe the
first guy was new to the job, or maybe it was a random check).

Whilst the first guy is checking our tickets, the other goes to the end of
the coach and checks the toilet, then comes back and asks the first guy if
he put the 'out of use' sign on the door. Evidently the lad had been
resoureful and aquired a sticker from somewhere, and thought they wouldn't
check if the toilet appeared to be out of order. Sadly for him, he had
chosen the flagship of Virgins West Coast fleet to travel on. On a normal
train, he might have got away with it, as in my experience, 90% of the
toilets seem to be out of order. On this train, probably Richard Branson
himself would need telling if anything went wrong. 

So the Senior conductor goes to investigate. Mysteriously the 'engaged'
light now comes on. 

I try to look as invisible as possible !

After much hammering on the door, Senior conductor extracts the lad from
the toilet and asks him for his ticket.

Lad produces a crumpled piece of paper which turns out to be an Army Travel
Warrant. 

Lad now receives the full wrath of the bureaucracy of the combined forces
of Virgin West Coast and Railtrack:

1.	The warrant is out of date.

2.	The warrant has been altered to make it a return trip rather than
	a single.

3.	The warrant is from London to Darlington, not a 'reasonable route'
	via Manchester.

I try to make myself even more invisible and merely succeed in being more
obvious by making a hash of nonchalantly picking up the paper to hind
behind.

Lad tries to get out of the problem by saying the Warrant had been altered
by his C.O.

Conductor bloke argues that it would be just as easy to issue a new warrant
with the correct details, and its a court matial offence to alter one
yourself, but Senior bloke is obviously more experienced and tells the lad
not to worry as he'll give him the benefit of the doubt this time.

I then have to suffer 30 minutes of the two lads telling each other how
clever they have been and what a bunch of losers BR are. (Well, when I
say "losers" you know what I mean, this is a family notesfile after all).

I was therefore suitably impressed when we arrived in Stoke and two
Policeman and two large Railtrack navvies, complete with orange jackets
(presumably in order to look even more menacing), get on the train in a well
rehearsed 'pincer' movement, two from either end of the coach.

There was a bit of scuffling and "you'll never take me alive, copper" etc,
but basically that was it. The other lad had the option of staying on the
train or accompanying his mate, and fortunately decided to leave.

I'm now left wondering if I can sue Virgin for the mental anguish...