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Southern Belle Railtour |
An unusual move was observed at Woking. Due to the tour passing through on the up fast line, the 16:15 from Portsmouth Harbour was coming into the station on the down fast. The tour was certainly receiving special attention from signallers. At Byfleet junction, it crossed from the up fast to the curve to Addlestone, with the 16:44 from Alton held on the up slow. The up passenger loop was used from Twickenham to St Margarets, in order to overtake the 17:23 from Windsor. Transit through Barnes was on the Up Windsor Slow line. Some people left the train at Clapham Junction, but more joined. During the day there were over 350 passengers. Not surprisingly, the Cep was well filled and there were slightly fewer in the Cig. The Vep was less popular, but provided plenty of space for those wanting to spread out - rather like the 4Sub that featured in the Group's 2Bil Farewell tour! Despite the best efforts of the signallers, the tour was a few minutes late at Clapham Junction. The South Eastern was regained at Factory Junction, where the train had to wait on the reversible line to follow the 18:11 to Paris. However, once away there was a good path and some spirited driving. There was a slight check approaching Fawkham Junction, no doubt while the route was reset behind the Eurostar. A left turn here would have been a novelty too far! There was further slowing on the approach to Gillingham, but thereafter the driver had a clear road. The schedule was a fast one, so it was not possible to regain the time lost in the London area. |
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Egham It is mid-September, the sun is getting lower on the horizon and the evenings are beginning to draw in - not good conditions for a photographer at this time of day. The tour is about to enter the outer suburbs of London as, at 1740, it speeds through Egham. photograph by Martin James |
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Wandsworth Road In the evening sun the formation is standing on the Up Ludgate Line awaiting the road at Factory Junction. photograph by Colin Duff |
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A few moments later, with an unidentified Eurostar TMST
approaching fast, the tour passes over Factory Junction onto the Chatham Reversible past
Wandsworth Road station. The tour joined the Down Chatham at Voltaire Road
Junction. photograph by Colin Duff |
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Rochester With a hint of "red sky at night" the tour is well into Kent as it approaches Rochester. photograph by Jon Piesing |
| Working Timetable: 1Z23 05.56 Weymouth to Ramsgate Woking Byfleet Addlestone Jn Virginia Water Staines Feltham Feltham Jn Twickenham Jn St Margrets Richmond Barnes Clapham Jn (W) Longhedge Factory Jn Voltair Rd Jn Shepherds Lane Brixton Herne Hill Beckenham Jn Shortlands Jn Bickley Jn St Mary Cray Jn Swanley Fawkham Jn Sole Street Rochester Bridge Jn |
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RAMSGATE -
WATERLOO |WATERLOO - DORKING | DORKING
- BROCKENHURST | BROCKENHURST - WEYMOUTH | WEYMOUTH
WEYMOUTH - WOKING | ROCHESTER -
RAMSGATE - LONDON BRIDGE | LONDON BRIDGE | SLAM DOOR SUNSET INDEX
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This page updated
15th April 2006 by Colin Duff. |
