Fabled running times

[3141]

Back in 1991, when there was still a loco-hauled train from Banbury to Paddington via High Wycombe in the morning rush hour and one back again in the evening, I was travelling on the evening train and heard two of the regular passengers discussing that morning's run. After High Wycombe the driver had really pushed it along and had thought he had a chance of breaking the record for the trip. It sounded as if he'd managed to join the main line well ahead of schedule and was hoping for a clear run into Paddington. But then he was held up at a signal and missed the record. It was reported that he went straight to signaller and complained about having had to wait at the signal.

Unfortunately I can't remember what the record timing was, and whether it was for the whole journey or just the Wycombe to Paddington section.

 

[thedbdiboy]

For many years I commuted from Sittingbourne - London (pre-HS1). My favoured train was the 0731 ex Sittingbourne, which after Chatham was fast via Sole Street & the Chislehurst spur, booked into London Bridge at 0830. Most days it would be few minutes late, sometimes it would be on time, but on one legendary occasion it had a clear run over Sole Street, made it over the spur without being checked and then had a completely clear run into LBG with no signal checks at all, not at Hither Green or St Johns or on the approach, and we arrived at 0824. That 53 minute run remains my all time record from Sittingbourne to a London terminal...