70000 Britannia speeds through W Horndon. Up Cathedral's Express. 10-Dec-2011.MOV

British Railways 7P6F Britannia Class No: 70000 Britannia speeds through West Horndon at the head of the Steam Dreams Up Cathedral's Express railtour from Southend-on-Sea-Central to Winchester and return on Saturday 10th December 2011. On present plans that is Britannia's last run this year and what a good show Britannia has given in 2011.
Britannia was running, 30 minutes late, on the C2C main-line from Shoeburyness to London. Britannia started at Southend-on-Sea-Central and came off the C2C line at Barking. My original plan was to film Britannia departing Upminster, its first calling point after Southend. However, I met gordonthegoat last week. He filmed Britannia calling at Upminster on 31st August and said it gets mobbed there. So I went to quiet, rural West Horndon and filmed for the first-time outside of London.
West Horndon has a simple two-track lay-out. I stood on the Down Platform where C2C trains call, 2 per hour, for Shoeburyness. The Up Platform has a 2 trains per hour service for London-Fenchurch Street. This is only the 2nd steam special to run on C2C tracks this year so this is a rare treat indeed. I remember this line in steam days. However, it's the first time I've seen a main-line steam engine run on this line. The line used to be operated, pre-electric, by LMS and BR 2-6-4 tank engines.
West Horndon is on the Direct Southend Line. This was opened by the London, Tilbury & Southend Railway in May 1885 from Barking to Pitsea. This avoided going around the much longer Tilbury Loop. West Horndon opened in May 1886 and was originally called East Horndon. Original LTS buildings still stand on the Down Platform.
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Hope you enjoy and please give me your feedback. I wish all my viewers and subscribers a very merry Christmas and a Happy, Prosperous and Steaming New Year.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• 70000
• Britannia
• speeds
• through
• W
• Horndon
• Up
• Cathedral's
• Express
• 10
• Dec
• 2011

[111672balernabz]

Very good shot of britannia at speed like the detail in the shot look forward to seeing more footage keep up the good work!!

[bkendlerA4]

@111672balernabz Thank you for your comment. I plan to do more even before 2011 goes. Barry

[flydando]

Hey, great video! Nice to see 70000 steaming though. She looks great! West Horndon definently looks like the spot for quite filming. Oh and, I can confirm that she did indeed get mobbed at Upminster! Thanks for showing her at speed!

[bkendlerA4]

@flydando Thanks. Glad you liked it. Barry

[klordger1900]

Hi Barry - thks for taking the time to make your encouraging comments, much appreciated.

I heard over the PA at Upminster that the train was 31 mins late not the 30 you mentioned.

There are so many people taking great videos of trains in stations and long distance shots that I prefer to be a bit different and go for the sounds and atmosphere created by loud steam engines pulling great long trains and that cutting was perfect.

[bkendlerA4]

@klordger1900 No problem. Barry

[bkendlerA4]

@ginga2101 Well the driver couldn't see him unfortunately. Interesting. I didn't know they'd cut out the Barking stop. That explains how some of the time was recovered. Barry

[ginga2101]

Good video, shame about the guy not getting the whistle he wanted lol. Was thinking of filming Britannia at speed at Dagenham Heathway, but she was originally scheduled to stop at Barking and I wanted some photos...then she did not stop...

[bkendlerA4]

@gordonthegoat Thanks Gordon, It's a good spot there with the gentle curve. Barry

[gordonthegoat]

Nice footage. Very well captured. I caught Brit at Woodgrange park after an earlier wild goose chase to Shoeburyness and Thorpe bay !