The 'DORSET COAST EXPRESS' with Nos.4492 "Dominion of New Zealand" + 37516 - 26/07/2011

The fourth of the 'Railway Touring Company's 2011 'Dorset Coast Express' excursions on Tuesday 26th July. This was a repeat itinery from the excursion on the 5th as only one locomotive was available at this time. SR unrebuilt 'Battle of Britain'-class 4-6-2 No.34067 "Tangmere" had been called up north to work some trains originally booked for BR 'Britannia'-class 4-6-2 No.70013 "Oliver Cromwell". Also, "Cromwell's" classmate No.70000 "Britannia" was needed to haul a 'Steam Dreams' 'Cathedral's Express' from Salisbury to Canterbury on the 27th. The locomotive used on this run was therefore LNER A4-class 4-6-2 No.60019 "Bittern", now running in its new guise of No.4492 "Dominion of New Zealand". This was a welcome return for the A4 as it had worked on the 2010 'DCEs' along with SR N15-class 'King Arthur' 4-6-0 No.30777 "Sir Lamiel" and later LMSR 'Black 5'-class 4-6-0 No.44932. Like the trip with "Tangmere" on the 5th, "Dominion of New Zealand" worked the outbound trip from London to Weymouth; later WCRC Class 37 No.37516 brought the train back as far as Southampton Central with "DoNZ" attached to the rear. Finally "DoNZ" took the final leg back to London via Romsey and Andover.