Mid-Hants Railway's Green Train to Exeter

       

"The South Western Standard"

Daylight Railtours Mainline Steam Excursion to Exeter, 2nd October 1999

(all profits from this tour were dedicated to the restoration of "Bodmin" #34016 to working order)

Timetable

Alton dep. 0643 Exeter St Davids dep. 1516
Guildford dep. 0751 Castle Cary (through) 1623
Reading dep. 0843 Frome (watering) 1643 - 1710
Andover (watering) 0952 - 1005 Woodborough (through) 1804
Salisbury (through) 1025 Newbury (through) 1833
Yeovil Jn (watering) 1124 - 1148 Reading arr. 1936
Honiton (through) 1237 Guildford arr. 2027
Exeter St Davids arr. 1259 Alton arr. 2151

A few figures from the run (10-up)
Honiton Bank 1:80 from dead slow at foot 37* mph at summit
Tiverton Parkway to Whiteball Tunnel 1:205 55 mph at summit
Savernake 1:162, increasing to 1: 132 70 mph at summit
There was general agreement that the greatest stirring
of the blood resulted from the bark of the Standard Five
#73096 up Honiton Bank

*Barry Eden's timing gave 34 mph. John Bunch was on
the footplate and claims 37 mph on the (accurate) speedo.
In the best traditions, I quote the better one.

Early morning

Guildford
Taking water at Andover from

the Mid-Hants water tender.
Exeter St Davids
Frome.
Taking water again from the Mid-Hants fire engine. Support crew prepare to shove coal forward in the tender.
No third rail, no overhead wires on this very scenic route.  

Modern signalling, though.
   Theale Loop
Watering at Theale Loop in late twilight attracted attention of a passing motorist who photographed the proceedings

Photos:  Tony Wood

Footnotes:
Passengers on the train who had previously booked with Daylight Railtours:  81%
Sadly, Cedric Johns (Press Officer) missed the train, so there was no report on this excursion in Steam Railway or Mid-Hants News.   

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