By Bob McShee
Rail tour firm Steam Dreams, based in Albury, commenced its Christmas specials with a trip from London to Salisbury via Guildford and back on Tuesday (November 29).
The Cathedrals Express train had been advertised as being hauled by ‘West Country’ Pacific 34046, named Braunton. However, the owner of the engine renamed it last year as 34052 Lord Dowding in commemoration of the Battle Britain. You may ask who Lord Dowding was; he was the Commanding Officer of RAF Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain.
The original Lord Dowding engine was in service with British Railways until 1967, when with many other members of this class of light pacific’s were scrapped. Fortunately, a number of West Country and Battle of Britain class engines remain operational on preserved railways and some like Braunton are available to run on the mainline.
After leaving Guildford the train stopped at Wokingham to pick up more passengers, and then proceeded via Reading and Basingstoke to arrive on time in Salisbury. Here passengers could visit the city’s Christmas market.
The journey to Salisbury went smoothly, during which time we enjoyed an excellent breakfast together with plentiful supplies of tea and coffee, which had been preceded by a glass of bucks fizz.
As well as visiting the Christmas market, we went to an optional carol service, arranged by the train company, in Salisbury’s Methodist Church, where as well as singing Christmas carols, we were thoroughly entertained by a group of handbell ringers named the Ringtones.
Before returning to the station we stopped at the Christmas market to do some shopping and partake of a glass of mulled wine to fortify us for our journey back to Guildford.
On our return journey we were served with a four-course dinner, the train then proceeded to West Brompton and Clapham Junction via Redhill.
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Michael Aaronson
December 3, 2016 at 8:54 am
Can you say how the train/locomotive turned around in Salisbury?!
David Wragg
December 3, 2016 at 1:09 pm
Dowding’s official title was ‘Air Officer Commanding Fighter Command’.
John St Claire Lomas
December 3, 2016 at 5:06 pm
Via Laverstock triangle.