At the head of Saphos Trains final Golden Arrow Excursion of the year, 70000 Britannia would do the honours of the steam legs, as it took on the circuit round Kent to Canterbury West.

The tour began at Norwich with diesel haulage, travelling via Ipswich, Shenfield & Stratford before heading to Willesden where Britannia would attach. The train would then head with steam haulage via Kensington & Brixton to reach Bromley and head up to Canterbury via Maidstone & Ashford. The return would head via Deal, Dover & Tonbridge back down to Willesden, where Britannia would leave the train for diesel haulage back to Norwich.

Starting out on Bearsted, we were witness to the Brit on maximum attack as it tackled the steep grade in the sunshine. A water stop at Charing allowed us to overtake, and we headed to Cradle Bridge Footbridge, as the train powers away from Ashford on the final leg to Canterbury. Before the return journey, we made a quick visit to the RH&DR, and captured No. 9 Winston Churchchill on the 1500 service from Hythe at the disused Burmarsh Road station.

For the return journey, we setup at the foot crossing at Walmer on the start of Martin Mill bank, with Britannia once again putting on maximum effort on the grade in the evening sunset. A stop at Dover made for another overtake, setting up on a footpath bridge just after Folkestone West as the Brit gets up to speed towards Ashford. With another water stop later on at Paddock Wood, it would be easy to get one more shot, and we headed to Otford, where Britannia accelerates away from Sevenoaks in the fading light.

Britannia appearing on this train was a personal record for me, as it meant I captured three different steam locomotives wearing the Golden Arrow Regalia within a fortnight.

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