61306 Mayflower ~ The Cathedrals Express
Hello, Lewis here. This post is all about my trip on The Cathedrals Express from Southend to Stratofrd-upon-Avon.
On Saturday 22nd August I traveled on The Cathedrals Express, operated by Steam Dreams from Southend Victoria to Stratford-upon-Avon. I started the day by going down to Hockley station to see the empty coaching stock pass through from Southall to Southend Victoria. The ECS was headed by West Coast Railway Company 47760 and on the rear was 47746. The majority of trips now operated by Steam Dreams are diesel hauled to/from WCRC's base of Southall.
On the outward trip 47746 was leading and that took the train as far as Hanwell Bridge Loop where both diesel locomotives detached from the train and steam locomotive 61306 Mayflower attahced for the trip to Stratford-upon-Avon. The first stop after Hockley was Wickford followed by Shenfield and Stratford. Not many trains travel through both Stratford London and Stratford-upon-Avon in one trip surely? The route from Stratford was via the North London Line round to the Great Western Mainline which we followed to Didcot Parkway, where the train paused for a crew change.
From here the train headed North to Oxford and paused at Banbury for Mayflower to take on water. The train arrived at a sunny Stratford-upon-Avon and passengers has approximately 4 hours to sample the wonderful town. The return journey took the same route. At Didcot Parkway we paused for another crew change but in the opposite platform was The Bournemouth Flyer railtour with BR large logo 37401 and DRS 37405 heading North to Nuneaton. At Southall we bid farewell to Mayflower where the diesel locomotives reattached but this time 47760 was leading back to Southend Victoria. A very enjoyable and memorable day indeed.
On Saturday 22nd August I traveled on The Cathedrals Express, operated by Steam Dreams from Southend Victoria to Stratford-upon-Avon. I started the day by going down to Hockley station to see the empty coaching stock pass through from Southall to Southend Victoria. The ECS was headed by West Coast Railway Company 47760 and on the rear was 47746. The majority of trips now operated by Steam Dreams are diesel hauled to/from WCRC's base of Southall.On the outward trip 47746 was leading and that took the train as far as Hanwell Bridge Loop where both diesel locomotives detached from the train and steam locomotive 61306 Mayflower attahced for the trip to Stratford-upon-Avon. The first stop after Hockley was Wickford followed by Shenfield and Stratford. Not many trains travel through both Stratford London and Stratford-upon-Avon in one trip surely? The route from Stratford was via the North London Line round to the Great Western Mainline which we followed to Didcot Parkway, where the train paused for a crew change.
From here the train headed North to Oxford and paused at Banbury for Mayflower to take on water. The train arrived at a sunny Stratford-upon-Avon and passengers has approximately 4 hours to sample the wonderful town. The return journey took the same route. At Didcot Parkway we paused for another crew change but in the opposite platform was The Bournemouth Flyer railtour with BR large logo 37401 and DRS 37405 heading North to Nuneaton. At Southall we bid farewell to Mayflower where the diesel locomotives reattached but this time 47760 was leading back to Southend Victoria. A very enjoyable and memorable day indeed.
