Cathedrals Express 16 June, Southend on Sea to Gloucester

I'm keen to see the route and times for this, with three days to go nothing on Steam Dreams or UK Steam.

Anyone know what route it will take from Upminster?

 

Route and times are on SD website here Steam Dreams - operators of The Cathedrals Express steam train trips

 

Thanks!

 

Via Sapperton in both directions. Let's hope the weather is not as bad as when 5043 climbed to Sapperton in April. <BJ>

 

Just read on Twitter that 60163 has failed its FTR exam. 71000 is reportedly taking the tour on instead, but have no details on any light engine movements from Eastleigh to Southend.

James at SVN

 

It's also now noted on the A1 steam website:

Change of locomotive for 'The Cathedrals Express' on Saturday 16th June 2012

 

Has anybody got insider knowledge or a crystal ball as to the times of the Dukes move from & back to Eastleigh? Cheers

 

66081 with 71000 passed Basingstoke at 22.05pm due reading 22.30 Slough 22.46 Acton West 23.11 arrives Wembley Yard 23.31

 

66081, 71000 and what I presume is the stock for the tour (or is it for the UK Railtours trip?) have all come up together in the booked 5M61 path from Eastleigh to Wembley; most unusually, I am given to understand that DoG will be staying at Wembley overnight. Rather than the stock returning to Wembley on Saturday, it appears to be going to Southall which would make more sense as I can't imagine that the Duke would want to stay somewhere that isn't set up to deal with steam locos for more that a few hours. Unfortunately the crystal ball does not yet indicate how or when everything returns to Eastleigh.

 

Further to the above, the stock that came up from Eastleigh last night is for the UK railtours trip (locos for this are 66081 and 66161 if anybody out there is interested). There is a further stock move (5Z40) from Southall to Southend with 67019 which will have to call at Wembley to collect 71000, this goes via Shoeburyness CS, presumably for water.

 

Announcement at up minster that it is 60 minutes late and just left Southend.., but then he said it will be here at 1020 ?
Just as typed this, it was announced as 24 minutes late... So 1030 ?

 

1038 off Upminster, note no diesel on the rear.
Loco blowing off from arrival to departure, stopped under the bridge in a cloud of steam!

 

Just an observation, I noticed on the c2c line at East ham station (just off the end of the platforms and the station bridge on the up line), there is an intact water tower with crane arm on the Up line inbetween the down c2c and the district line ! What an odd survivor ?
it is visible on google maps.

 

Thanks for the updates...hopefully things are going ok now...any timings available ???? Sunny and VERY windy in Berkshire

 

1230 through West Drayton, so about 45 late

 

Running about 40 late at Swindon

 

Through Iver @ approx 1230 Mainline Steam 2012 - Stephen Leek's Photos | SmugMug

 

Yes, visible on Google Maps and in this video at 04:45
Train Drivers view Aldgate East through to Barking 2 of 2 - YouTube

 

Sandwiched at Tilehurst....
Neil's Photos | Tilehurst, briefly..... | Photo 6

 

Sapperton just before 1800 going well in thevwet