Great Western Coffee Shop

Whilst killing time this morning waiting for a passport interview I saw the above pull into platform 2 at Victoria

I offered to take some pictures for couples going on the journey and they told me it was going to Bath so it got me wondering what route it took

I've tried looking on RTT for about that time but can't find it, is that because it is a charter service?

I think it can vary, but this is the journey today: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/P94147/2014/12/02/advanced

Blimey (and thanks) Ollie that was quick !

How come I didn't find it on RTT?!

I noticed it was sceduled for 75mph Max - may in order to avoid spilling the champers :)

That's odd - there were two steam trains to Bath today! The one you saw arrived in P1 2 minutes early, and had to shoot off promptly to make way for The Cathedrals Express that was 30 minutes late. Oddly, RTT shows its ECS move from P2 though on the DM.

The OE (107A) went round via Brixton, Tulse Hill, and Tooting to get from Victoria to Wimbledon, then via Salisbury to Bath. The CE (1Z89) ran to Bristol from, of all places, West Brompton (short platforms and all), through Clapham Junction P17 then Balham, Selhurst and East Croydon to Redhill on the slow lines. Then it was along the North Downs Line and up through Wokingham (but I missed it as I was out shopping) to Reading. It then went via Newbury Racecourse (for water) to Bath and Bristol. It was due to leave from Victoria too, but I guess it was squeezed out by the Orient Express.

On the way back the OE (108A) varied its route at Weybridge and went via Virginia Water and Richmond to return to Victoria 2E again. The CE (1Z91) went through Bath over an hour later (and 20L) and this time went through Swindon to Reading, past Wokingham (where I heard it and saw it - just - go past) and back along the North Downs Line. This time when it got to Streatham it turned off via Tulse Hill and Brixton to Victoria.

So all sorts of interesting routings there - but a bit dark on the way back.

You're welcome :)

I wouldn't want to assume about why you didn't find it, but my guess is that you was looking at what RTT defines as the "simple" view rather than the "advanced" view.

Many thanks both for your interesting replies.

Ollie, I did start by using the simple view but couldn't find in advanced either.

For a long time I worked in an office that had a view of Reigate station and remember the specials coming through sometimes.

Once again many thanks

Interesting one went via Brixton - Tulse Hill Crystal Palace Norwood  that is also on the route from off the MML Cricklewood to the Brighton ML. Going via Dudding Hill, Kew, Clapham Jn, Brixton  then Crystal Palace Norwood . Between Brixton and Tulse Hill it is mostly on a winding viaduct and in my day early 60s was banned for 45/6s which by used to haul the Scotish Newhaven Motorail.

Therefore,  they were routed via Dudding Hill, Acton Wells, West Ealing, Greenford East, OOC, North Pole, West London Line to Clapham Jn, Platform 17  (as per 107A but only from West Brompton South). With North Pole now disconnected from the GWM this rioute is no longer available,  you'd have to reverse in Acton Yard.

Railway Group Standard GO/RT3440 Issue 2 defined the limits for steam engines based on driving wheel diameter as follows:

 <5ft 0in max 35mph
 <5ft 8in max 50mph
 <6ft 2in max 60mph
 >=6ft 2in max 75mph

I think that specific locos can get derogations from this standard (Tornado has one I believe, but then it is brand-new), but most owners stick to the standard speeds, after all higher speeds will place greater wear on their toys and with limited acceleration abilities might not make much difference to the journey times. 

Thanks Tim. I believe the VSOE was diesel pulled - it certainly was on arrival at Victoria but couldn't see the other end. Having said that I think loads of smoke may have been a giveaway if it had been steam hauled

RTT does suggest it was diesel in which case ignore my earlier post. 

Interesting the current speeds for steam locos, as there are well authenticated reports of 9F 2-10-0s with their 5' wheels getting up to 90 mph on both the GC and ECML.

So was the other one - which certainly was steam hauled. It was timed at 60 mph rather than 75, for whatever reason (and given as 715 tonnes rather than 455). So maybe there is no code in the system for steam traction any more.