34028 "Eddystone" leads 'The Rochester Dickinsian Christmas Express' 06/12/2025

Описание: Another day, another Christmas railtour, with this occasion featuring Ex-SR Rebuilt 'West Country' Class - 34028 "Eddystone" at the sharp end of 'The Rochester Dickinsian Christmas Express'; chartered by the Railway Touring Company. Support would be provided by West Coast Railways Class 47 - 47812.

The tour began out of Newbury, working east to Reading and along the Great Western Mainline to Acton, where the tour would navigate through the fabric of lines around south-west London to skirt around to Rochester. The return run would retrace the outbound route.

The route and timings for this tour gave the fortuitous opportunity to witness steam working up the GWML in a morning, which was taken advantage of at Sonning Cutting as 34028 accelerated the tour away from a passenger stop at Reading. A brief delay at Willesden Junction would see 34028 making up for lost time as it crossed Battersea Railway Bridge over the River Thames; powering well as the hazy sunlight cast a slight silhouette of the Bulleid pacific. Finally, on the return run, 34028 is seen climbing the gradient into Sole Street station, with assistance, as the tour worked away from Rochester. A more relaxed approach resulting in only a brief chase, all things considered.

00:00 - Sonning Cutting
01:16 - Battersea Railway Bridge
02:39 - Sole Street

All footage filmed on Saturday the 6th of December 2025.