Day 7 : Saturday 01 September 1999

It's quiet at Paddington at 06:15. Especially as I'm in the rear carriage and there's no engine on the back. This means no power, so no tea! Both 47815 and 47811 are on the front though.

[1999I094] 47815 and 47811 at platform 8 at Paddington with the sleepers from Penzance and Plymouth.

At Victoria, 455 5824 is the 07:35 to Norbury via Sutton. We climb out of the station, over the river and past Battersea Power Station. Even Clapham Junction isn't too busy at this time on a Saturday. The 08:03 to Rugby is 6 minutes late. Back across the river and into heavy rain at Kensington Olympia. It stops before the Ramsgate arrives.

[1999I095] Eurostars 3008 and 3007 pass Kensington Olympia.
[1999I096] D9000 "Royal Scots Grey" arrives at Kensington Olympia with the 08:56 SO to Ramsgate.

Lots of photographers at Wandsworth Road. We're routed through Herne Hill. An exchange of horns with a Eurostar just before Sydenham Hill. The couple I sat opposite last year are also on the train! This year, they're going to Chatham to the dockyard. Ramsgate. D9000 runs round and is shut down.

[1999I097] D9000 "Royal Scots Grey" running round at Ramsgate after arriving with the 10:43 from Birmingham.
[1999I098] D9000 "Royal Scots Grey" running round at Ramsgate after arriving with the 10:43 from Birmingham.
[1999I099] 1614 at platform 3 at Ramsgate.
[1999I100] D9000 "Royal Scots Grey" at platform 3 at Ramsgate with the 12:10 to Birmingham.

D9000 is started up again just before 12. I'm at the front in this direction - much better. The photographers get wet in a heavy downpour. Light green water in the estuary - it looks like the rain is moving to the north. A dozen or so yachts are out. We halt for a while at Bickley and crawl from there to Bromley South, and another crawl followed by a long stand at Shortlands. Back through Brixton, with figures at the end of the platforms. Over the GWML (and HST is heading in) and the canal. The black 08's (454 and 617) are at Willesden. 66035 is waiting to head north with a ballast train. Acton Main line and accelerating again. Past Acton Yard (66's and 59103 heading west), then routed onto the main (i.e. not the relief) line.

Lots of photographers at Reading. 37's at Didcot and a 14XX and crane in steam at the GWS. Lots of photographers at Oxford too. More heavy rain just after Oxford. A north-bound narrowboat at Heyford. 47358 comes through on a freightliner while we wait at Leamington Spa. We're held just outside Proof House tunnels. After D9000 is uncoupled, it makes a noisy exit from new Street.

[1999I101] D9000 "Royal Scots Grey" at platform 7 with the 16:40 arrival from Ramsgate. 47831 "Bolton Wanderers" at platform 8 with the 16:34 to Manchester. Birmingham New Street.
[1999I102] 43178 at platform 9 at Birmingham New Street with the 16:57 to Edinburgh.

The 16:57 to Edinburgh is 3 minutes late. 43187 is on the front, 43014 on the rear. There are narrowboats in the sunshine on the Trent & Mersey Canal just before North Staffs Junction at Willington. A wagon on a wheelskate is parked on the approach to Derby. The train travels via Wakefield and Leeds. We have to wait on the approach to Leeds. Finally back to Newcastle at 20:44.

Timetable and Mileages

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Text and photographs Copyright J.D.Coleman 1999.