Olympia Express special excursion
Saturday 19 December 2009
This article was written and closed on Tuesday 2 February 2010
![[PHOTO: Train in snowy yard: 110kB]](20091219-Willesden-Armitage.jpg "1001 in Willesden sidings.
This is a link to a larger version.")
Our train basks in snowy sunshine at the Railnet reception sidings at Willesden, between the outwards and return portions of the journey. This striking photo was taken by Andy Armitage.
1001 operated the Olympia Express special excursion, a charter from Hastings to Kensington (Olympia) and Shepherd’s Bush part-run by HDL, to convey people to the London International Horse Show.
It suffered slightly from delays on the railway, mostly related to adverse weather, and ran between 9 and 30 minutes late.
In spite of this, a good day was had by many and the train behaved without difficulty. The buffet-car did a roaring trade in bacon butties and coffee on this snowy morning, with demand only thinning out by Bromley South!
The train was formed thus: 60118-60501-69337-60529-60116, with motor coach 60118 Tunbridge Wells leading to London. Despite considerable efforts, 70262 the CEP-coach could not be fully readied for use in time for this outing because it is difficult to persuade paint to dry in a (literally) freezing-cold trainshed!
The publicity leaflet and final timings remain available.
Photos
![[PHOTO: Train at snowy station from on-board: 60kB]](20091219-Wadhurst-Shooter.jpg "1001 calling at Wadhurst.
This is a link to a larger version.")
1001 is seen (above) calling at a snowy Wadhurst, and (below) upon arrival at the recently-opened Shepherd’s Bush (London Overground) station. Photos by James Shooter.
![[PHOTO: Train at station: 41kB]](20091219-SHB-Shooter.jpg "1001 calling at Shepherd’s Bush.
This is a link to a larger version.")