2003 Main Line Steam Tours

Here's a brief schedule of all the steam locomotives coming through my home town Basingstoke (Hampshire) during 2003.

As you can see, Basingstoke receives lots of steam locomotivies, so this page is updated 'Frequently' to supply accurate information. I will try update the page before or on the day of the tour to supply accurate information. If there are no times and you want them in advance e-mail stephen.newell@steamland.com and ill try to get them for you.

The way to use the tours sheet is simple, the 'Date of tour' is the date when the Mainline steam tour is taking place. The 'Motive Power' is the steam locomotive hauling it (noted by the number the loco currently carries - see table below tours sheet for loco details). The 'route' is where the locotive will be travelling with the excursion. 'Time in at Basingstoke (There)' is when the locomotive will be travelling through Basingstoke Station on its outward journey, and 'Time in at Basingstoke (Back)' is when the locomotive will be travelling through Basingstoke Station on its inward return journey. When there is a ' - ' in one of the boxes it shows that the locomotive will not be travelling through Basingstoke Station on either the outward or inward journey. The Timmings are given in the 24 hour clock, and are the stated times issued for 'Basingstoke station' by EWS or Railtrack. The trains are all expresses and don't stop at Basingstoke Staton unless stated. The 'Tour Opperator' is the company that orgainises and plans the excursions. (see 'Tour Opperators' below tours sheet) Other notes; If there are any changes made on the day regarding the tour, notes will be added to speciffy afterward. The Italic writing at the top of the page eg. 'The Branch Liner' is the name of the express the locomotive is taking.

Date of Tour (2003)	Motive Power	Route	Time in at Basingstoke (There)	Time in at Basingstoke (Back)	Tour Opperator
Tues 31st Dec	4472	VSOE New years Special Victoria - Andover - Romsey - Southampton - Victoria	20.27	23.40	VSOE
Sat 11th Jan	4472	Victoria - Southampton Docks & Return	12.08	19.21	VSOE
Sat 15th Feb	4472 60009	Victoria - Southampton Docks & Return *4472 replaced by 60009 due to wheel problems	12.24	18.21	VSOE
Sun 23rd Feb	60800	CANCELLED - Motive power Victoria - Salisbury & Return	-	-	PTR
Sat 1st Mar	4472	CANCELLED Victoria - Southampton Docks & Return	-	-	VSOE
Wed 5th Mar	4472 60009 *4472 replaced by 60009	Victoria - Salisbury - Westbury - Basingstoke - Victoria *Revised Route	10.55	18.50	VSOE
Sat 8th Mar	73096	The Branch Liner Alton - Woking - Havant - Southampton - Andover - Woking - Alton (posponed from October 2002) *Train ran 90 minutes behind sheduled time on the return journey	-	16.39	DRT
Sat 15th Mar	73096	Moved from 23rd March The Cathedrals Express Salisbury & Exeter	08.52	20.52	SD
Sun 23rd Mar	73096	The Daylight Countryman Alton - Guildford - Eastleigh - Basingstoke - Guildford - Alton	-	Stopping at Basingstoke for a 30 minute waterstop. a. 13.57 d. 14.27	DRT
Tues 27th March	73096	The Chase Chuffer - (raising money for children) Alton - Guildford - Eastleigh - Basingstoke - Guildford - Alton	-	Stopping at Basingstoke for a 30 minute waterstop. a. 14.08 d. 14.20	SD
Wed 9th April	4472 60009 *4472 replaced by 60009	Victoria - Salisbury - Basingstoke - Victoria *Revised Route	11.24	19.26	VSOE
Wed 9th April	35005 35005 unavaliable (see 'notes')	The Cathedrals Express Sherborne & Yeovil CANCELLED - Motive power	-	-	SD
Sat 12th April	4472 60009 *4472 replaced by 60009	Victoria - Southampton Docks & Return	12.38	18.20	VSOE
Sat 12th April	35005 35005 unavaliable (see 'notes')	The Cathedrals Express Cranmore & Wells CANCELLED - Motive power	-	-	SD
Sat 19th April	4472 60009 *4472 replaced by 60009	Victoria - Salisbury 60009 Salisbury - Victoria Diesel 60009 only taking the the outward journey - return jouney diesel hauled	12.39	18.20 Diesel	VSOE
Wed 7th May	4472 34067 Diesel Both 4472 & 34067 unavaliable	Victoria - Salisbury - Westbury - Reading - Victoria	10.55	-	VSOE
Thurs 8th May	35005 unavaliable 73096	The Cathedrals Express Bath & Bristol	-	-	SD
Sat 10th May	4472 34067 Diesel Both 4472 & 34067 unavaliable	Victoria - Salisbury - Westbury - Reading - Victoria	-	-	VSOE
Wed 21st May	35005 unavaliable 73096	Cathedrals Express - Sherbourne & Yeovil	12.24	19.50	SD
Sun 25th May	73096	The Daylight Countryman Alton - Reading - Basingstoke - Eastleigh - Guildford - Alton	13.01	-	DRT
Sat 31st May	35005 unavaliable 73096	The Cathedrals Express Chichester & Portsmouth Route change	-	-	SD
Sat 31st May	34067	Waterloo - Swanage The Excalibur Express CANCELLED - Motive power	-	-	WXTR
Sat 7th June	34067	Victoria - Salisbury CANCELLED - Motive power	-	-
Wed 11th June	4472 34067 4472 unavaliable. 34067 replaces 4472	Victoria - Salisbury - Westbury - Reading - Victoria	11.03	-	VSOE
Wed 11th June	35005 unavaliable 73096 unavaliable 73096's annual boiler exam	The Cathedrals Express Salisbury CANCELLED - Motive power locos brakes failing	-	-	SD
Thurs 19th June	35005 unavaliable 73096	The Cathedrals Express Bath & Bristol	-	19.03	SD
Wed 25th June	35005 unavaliable 73096	The Cathedrals Express Winchester	12.48	18.35	SD
Sat 5th July	34067	CANCELLED - Motive power locos brakes failing The Excalibur Express Paddington - Bath - Bristol & Return	-	-	WXTR
Sun 6th July	35005 unavaliable 34016/73096	The Cathedrals Express Salisbury & Exeter	09.35	20.33	SD
Sun 6th July	34027	CANCELLED The Arundel Belle 34027 - Victoria - littlehampton - Diesel - Eastleigh - Winchfield - Victoria	-	-	PTR
Tues 8th July	35005 unavaliable 73096 + coaching stock	Light engine movement London - Eastleigh	- [Times not given]	-	Mid Hants Railway
Wed 9th July	4472	The Cathedrals Express (1st of the 2 steam expresses running this Day) Victoria - Salisbury - Westbury - Reading - Victoria	10.43 This train is shedueled to pass the other steam express at speed between of Basingstoke & Woking	Return Via Newbury & Reading This train is shedueled to pass the other steam express outside Waterloo Station	VSOE
Wed 9th July	35005 unavaliable 73096	(2nd of the 2 steam expresses running this Day) Poole - Eastleigh - Waterloo & Return	10.43 This train is shedueled to pass the other steam express at speed between of Basingstoke & Woking	17.10 This train is shedueled to pass the other steam express outside Waterloo Station	SD
Thurs 17th July	35005 unavaliable 73096	The Cathedrals Express Bath & Bristol	-	19.03	SD
Sat 19th July	34067	CANCELLED - motive power, locos braking system failing The Excalibur Express Waterloo - Swanage	-	-	WXTR
Sun 27th July	34027	The Bournemouth Belle Victoria - Salisbury - Poole - Victoria	11.50	20.33	PTR
Sun 3rd Aug	73096	The Daylight Countryman Alton - Reading - Basingstoke - Eastleigh - Guildford - Alton	13.01	- Return via Guildford and Havatt	DRT
Wed 6th Aug	4472 Diesel hauled - due to the 'Buckled Rails' Yeah. Right!!!	Victoria - Salisbury - Westbury - Reading - Victoria	Diesel 10.55	-	VSOE
Wed 6th Aug	35005 unavaliable 34016/73096	The Cathedrals Express Salisbury	12.38	19.13	SD
Sat 9th Aug	34067	~CANCELLED~ Motive Power The Excalibur Express Victoria - Salisbury	-	-	WXTR
Sat 16th Aug	34067	~CANCELLED~ Motive Power The Excalibur Express Paddington - Bath - Bristol & Return	-	-	WXTR
Thurs 21st Aug	35005 unavaliable 34016/73096	The Cathedrals Express Bath & Bristol	Route via Newbury	19.03	SD
Sat 23rd Aug	34067	~CANCELLED~ Motive Power The Excalibur Express Waterloo - Swanage	-	-	WXTR
Sat 6th Sept	35005 unavaliable 73096	The Cathedrals Express Cranbourne & Wells	Route via Newbury	20.19	SD
Wed 10th Sept	4472	Victoria - Salisbury - Westbury - Reading - Victoria	10.55	Route via Newbury	VSOE
Wed 10th Sept	35005 unavaliable 34016/73096	The Cathedrals Express Salisbury	12.38	19.13	SD
Sun 14th Sept	34067	~CANCELLED~ Motive Power The Excalibur Express Victoria - Brighton - Winchester - Victoria	-	-	WXTR
Thurs 18th Sept	35005 unavaliable 34016 Bodmin's first 2003 rail tour!	The Cathedrals Express Bath & Bristol	Route Via Newbury	19.03	SD
Sat 27th Sept	34067	~CANCELLED~ Motive Power The Excalibur Express Victoria - Salisbury	-	-	WXTR
Wed 1st Oct	35005, 34016 & 73096 unavaliable 60009	The Cathedrals Express Chichester & Portsmouth Route change - return via Winchester	19.19 Delayed by 30mins	?	SD
Sat 4th Oct	4472	Victoria - Southampton Docks & Return	12.00	Route return via Newbury	VSOE
Sat 4th Oct	34067	~CANCELLED~ Waterloo - Swanage	-	-	WXTR
Sat 4th Oct	34067	Atlantic Coast Express Waterloo - Salisbury - Exeter - Crediton - Okehampton - Exeter - Newbury - Waterloo.	08.54 - 08.57	Route return via Newbury	WXTR
Sun 5th October	60009	Daylight Countryman Guildford - Reading - Eastleigh - Havant	Outward journey via Guildford and Haslemere	13.51	DRT
Wed 8th Oct	4472	Victoria - Salisbury - Westbury - Reading - Victoria	11.05	Route return via Newbury	VSOE
Wed 15th Oct	35005 unavaliable 34016/73096	The Cathedrals Express Sherbourne & Yeovil	12.38	19.52	SD
Sat 18th Oct	34067	~CANCELLED~ Paddington - Bath - Bristol & Return	-	-	WXTR
Sun 19th Oct	60009	The Chandlers Ford Phoenix Alton - Guildford - Basingstoke - Salisbury - Chandlers Ford - Eastleigh (twice /back to Salisbury) Haslemere - Alton	10.03 a -10.05 d Platform 2	-	DLRT
Sat 1st Nov	4472	VSOE Special Victoria - Southampton Docks & Return	12.42	18.20	VSOE
Sun 2nd Nov	34016	Daylight Countryman Alton - Woking - Andover - Romsey - Southampton - Winchester - Woking - Alton	11.47	14.11	DRT
Wed 5th Nov	4472	Victoria - Salisbury - Westbury - Reading - Victoria	10.51	Return via Newbury	VSOE
Sat 8th Nov	35005 unavaliable 34016/73096	The Cathedrals Express Bath & Bristol	Outward journey via Newbury	19.10	SD
Sat 8th Nov	4472	Victoria - Salisbury - Westbury - Reading - Victoria	10.51	- Route Via Newbury	VSOE
Sat 6th Dec	34067	The Royal Wessex Wareham - Winchester - Waterloo & return	10.29	19.14	PTR
Tues 9th Dec	34016	Cathedrals Express Salisbury	12.43	19.13	SD
Sat 13th Dec	34067	The Plum Pudding Waterloo - Salisbury - Eastleigh - Winchester - Waterloo	13.13 At Worting Junction from 13.18 -13.30	15.53	PTR
Mon 15th Dec	4472	Victoria - Southampton Docks & Return	13.32	Water Stop (Platform 4) a. 18.47 - d. 19.05	VSOE
Thurs 18th Dec	73096 (34016 unavailable)	Cathedrals Express Winchester	13.10	18.58 (18.54 at Worting Junction)	SD
Mon 29th Dec	34067	POSTPONED To 28th Feb 04 Cathedrals Express Exeter	-	-	SD
Wed 31st Dec/Thurs 1st Jan	4472	Victoria - Basingstoke - Romsey & Return	20.28	23.39	VSOE

*All steam tours that start with 'Cathedrals Express' leave from either London Victoria or London Waterloo. Click herefor details or email webmaster at stephen.newell@steamland.20m.com

Saturday 4th October 2003 - #34067 'Tangmere' is back in service after major repairs to the locomotive and its vauum brakes. Its first return haul is the Atlantic Coast Express on the Saturday 4th October 2003.

22nd August 2003 - #34016 'Bodmin' has returned to steam and has passed its mainline fittness to run exam on the Mid Hants Watercress Line. The locomotive is sheduled to haul the 'Weymouth Boat Train' on Saturday 23rd August and haul remaining Cathedrals Expresses for 2003 and relieving Standard 5 class #73096 of its duties, although it is the reserve engine for Bodmin.

18th July 2003 - #34016 'Bodmin' has been out of action since January after recent problems over the inner firebox stays arroused. She is well on her way to recovery and will relieve Standard 5 class #73096 from the Cathedrals Expresses. It is planned for her to return to steam in late August.

17th June 2003 - #4472 'Flying Scotsman' is now back in service after its 5 month withdrawal from mainline workings. #34067 'Tangmere' and #60009 'Union of South Africa' have been covering for #4472 but normal planned service for VSOE will resume as from Wednesday 18th June 2003.

1st May 2003 - #35005 'Canadian Pacific' which was originally scheduled to haul the Cathedrals Expresses for 2003 is currently of service, hence the cancellations and cut backs of many of 2003's trains. 35005 is not expected to haul any of 2003 Cathedrals Express, therefor West Country Class #34016 'Bodmin' and Standard 5 Class #73096 (see table below for loco info) shall share the trains, with 34016 taking most of them in the later season. For More information see Steamdreams.

(list of the locomotives scheduled to pass through Basingstoke during the course of the year)

Any other information e.g. the full route, compleate journey timing sheets or general information, e-mail stephen.newell@steamland.20m.com and I will try my best to help you.

A big Thank You to www.uksteam.info for a lot of the information provided!

Number	Name	Wheel arr.	Class	Railway	Find out more about the loco at...
60800	Green Arrow	2-6-2	V2	Ex. LNER	National Railway Museum
4472 /60103	Flying Scotsman	4-6-2	A3	LNER	Flying Scotsman Railways
60009	Union of South Africa	4-6-2	A4	Ex. LNER	Somerset & Dorset Railway
35005	Canadian Pacific	4-6-2	Merchant Navy	Ex. Southern	Watercress Line & Steamdreams
34016	Bodmin	4-6-2	West Country	Ex. Southern	Watercress Line & Steamdreams
34027	Taw Valley often runs as classmate 'Ottery St. Mary'	4-6-2	West Country	Ex. Southern	-
34067	Tangmere	4-6-2	Battle of Britain	Ex. Southern	Wessex Trains
71000	Duke of Gloucester	4-6-2	8P	BR	Duke of Gloucester Society
76079	-	2-6-0	4MT	BR	-
73096	(was 73080 - 'Merlin')	4-6-0	Standard 5	BR	Watercress Line & Steamdreams