It has been a while since our last trip, because of the fire risk caused by the hot, dry weather, so it was good to be out again, earning money.
The trip was another long day for the support crew. We were ready to leave the shed at half past six, with quite a bit of work involved in bringing the fire round having already been done. A fair amount of shunting was needed to form the train, which made us a bit late getting into Victoria, but we were able to depart almost on time.
Because of the fire risk, we had a Class 67 diesel on the rear of the train as far as Willesden. We joined the relief line on the Great Western Main Line, and kept more or less to time as far as Didcot East Junction, where we were met with a red signal. We briefly stopped at Didcot Parkway to pick up a conductor driver who signed the route. After a brief stop at Foxhall Junction, we stopped at Challow to take on some more water.
We were a few minutes late passing Swindon, but a scheduled stop at Kemble allowed us to catch up. A signal stop at Cheltenham Station made our arrival at Worcester a few minutes late.
We were made very welcome at Worcester Depot, where we serviced the locomotive and train. We also made use of the triangle to turn the engine for the return journey. Having reformed the train, with our support coach now on the rear, we were a couple of minutes late leaving Worcester. A further delay at Charlbury meant that we were a little late for our water stop at Hinkley Sidings.
We rejoined the Great Western Mail Line at Didcot, again taking the relief road, and had some more good running. We were held just outside Victoria, making our arrival a few minutes late.
After leaving Victoria on time, we still had a lot to do. As well as taking the stock back to the shed, we had to turn Clan Line on the triangle, and reunite it with our support coach, as well as carrying out some other shunting. It was about one o’clock on Sunday morning before the support crew could stand down.