[TRP]

Yesterday saw the much-anticipated Saphos Trains' 'Golden Arrow' railtour from London Victoria to Canterbury and returning via Dover, featuring 70000 'Britannia' running as classmate 70014 'Iron Duke'.
In SR & BR days the 'Golden Arrow' regularly ran from London Victoria to Dover behind a Bulleid pacific or a 'Lord Nelson' 4-6-0, but BR also allocated 2 'Britannia' pacifics to Stewarts Lane Depot to work the 'Arrow' - 70004 'William Shakespeare' & 70014 'Iron Duke'.
However, yesterday's railtour took a different route and unfortunately slipped to a stand on the 1 in 60 Bearsted Bank shortly after passing through Maidstone East at a reported 18mph, which doesn't seem like the best preparation for the climb, and there was no diesel in the formation to assist.
A GBRf class 66 was summoned to assist at the rear of the train and the train eventually arrived at Canterbury more than 3 hours late and had caused major delays to Southeastern services.

Tony