70000 "Britannia" takes on the Surrey hills with 'The Sunset Steam Express' 15&22/08/2023

'The Sunset Steam Express' has proved to be a popular programme for the Locomotive Services Group, operating under their Steam Dreams banner. BR Standard Class 'Britannia' 7MT - 70000 "Britannia" has been rostered for the majority of this years' programme, which operates weekly over the summer months, skirting the Surrey hills on Tuesday evenings. For the 15th and 22nd of August, support would be provided by BR Class 47’s - 47593 “Galloway Princess” and D1935 "Roger Hosking MA 1925 - 2013" respectively.
The tour completes a circular route out of London Victoria, heading through Clapham Junction and Feltham, to Chertsey where a water stop takes place. The tour then carries on through Woking and Guildford, before heading east through Chilworth to Redhill and on to Croydon, before the final dash back to London Victoria.
Filmed over two evenings, 70000 is first captured on approach to Egham, bathed in the evening sun. Subsequently, 70000 would lay the power down as it accelerates the tour away from Egham heading for Virginia Water. After the water stop at Chertsey, the 'Brit' wasted no time in its acceleration away from the station as it led the tour towards Byfleet. Finally, in the very last of the days light, "Britannia" put in a superb performance as it climbed Gomshall bank, leading the tour away from Chilworth.
Footnote: The sequence at Chertsey was filmed on the 22nd of August, and the plan had been to capture the tour at Chilworth station afterwards. The service departed 15 minutes late from Chertsey, gaining back over 10 minutes by the time it reached Chilworth, making it impossible to catch. 70000 "Britannia" would then suffer a failure that evening less than two minutes after passing Chilworth station, which effectively brought an abrupt end to the tour that night; D1935 worked the tour back to London Victoria via Virginia Water and Clapham Junction.
All footage filmed on Tuesday the 15th, and Tuesday the 22nd, of August 2023.

[@michaeltaylor1869]

Nice video great camera work as usual as always I am really enjoying your lovely videos and camera work keep your lovely camera work up I am really looking forward to seeing your next video I hope you get a nice video next time also when is your next video going to be on UA-cam best wishes Philip xx

[@bobingram6912]

I wondered why the tail gunner had had a quick respray🙄 So keen to see the action I didn't read the instructions!!! Good stuff as usual Matthew despite the failing light👍👍👍👍

[@AndreiTupolev]

Takes on the Surrey hills ... but the Surrey hills got their revenge 😶

[@MichaelSmith-wj8zb]

Broken crosshead was the reason she failed

[@IowaTrainGay]

Another amazing video! And thank you for the route details in the description! I'll definitely be tracing said route on Google maps later today!

[@simonal1989]

There were about 15 people waiting for it on the 22nd at Reigate. We hung on for about 1 hour after it was scheduled to pass at 9pm, but we gave up.

[@geoazzo]

Piston Rod exited the building, failing the loco.

[@Pjs75]

Lovely video: careful, yet informative, as always.

[@TheSouthernerYTChannel]

Thanks very much

[@fragglenum]

Great video as always. Does anyone know what her failure was ?

[@TheSouthernerYTChannel]

Thank you. Broken piston crosshead.

[@JoshHemingwayMetcalfe96]

Lovely video of Britannia going

[@TheSouthernerYTChannel]

Thank you

[@SimonTog]

Super video and very nice sound :)

[@TheSouthernerYTChannel]

Thank you

[@RB-hx7rd]

Great work Mr Southerner..

[@TheSouthernerYTChannel]

Cheers