The 'CATHEDRAL'S EXPRESS' with No.70000 "Britannia" - 15/03/2014

The first outing of 2014 for BR 'Britannia'-class 4-6-2 No.70000 "Britannia" was on Saturday 15th March hauling a Steam Dreams 'CATHEDRAL'S EXPRESS' excursion from Southend Airport to Salisbury and return as far as Willesden where a diesel would take over for the remainder of the run back to Southend. This trip was originally meant to be hauled by SR rebuilt 'West Country'-class 4-6-2 No.34046 "Braunton", but the 'Bullied' remained at the Mid-Hants Railway following the 'GREAT SPRING STEAM GALA' last weekend in order to use the Wheeldrop at Ropley. In this video we see "Britannia" crawling into Basingstoke on the outward run and making a brief stop for a signal check before proceeding on to Salisbury. Following the train to Salisbury, we see the assisting BR Class 47 'Brush' Co-Co No.47746 taking the ECS out of the platform heading for the East Yard for stabling minus "Britannia" & Support Coach which had been uncoupled whilst passengers were disembarking. Once the stock was clear & a few services had come and gone, the 'Brit' & Coach went to Laverstock Triangle to turn before returning to the Bay Siding next to the station car park where the tender was replenished with coal. Just afterwards, the Class 47 ran 'Light-Engine' around the stock in the sidings order to be on the rear for later on. Later, "Britannia"+Coach leave the Bay Siding and head up to the East Yard to connect to the stock before the Class 47 brought the train into the station to pick-up the passengers. Finally, "Britannia" departs from Salisbury (about 5 minutes late) heading off on the return to Southend Airport (as far as Willesden).