The Royal Duchy 2016

Anyone know the number of the diesel

 

Open train times gone

 

It's on here -
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55014/2016/08/28/advanced

 

Thankfully there was no diesel attached to the train from Bristol.

'County of Essex', whatever number that is, has set off from Bristol to take the train from Plymouth to Par.

The Duchess looked superb as it exited Flax Bourton tunnel this morning. What a fantastic loco. Many thanks to the folk who have allowed us the privilege of seeing or riding behind the loco during it's visit to the west country. <BJ>

 

Win win for everyone. I really support the idea of a diesel shadowing and it is great to see this today.

 

Photo of 46233 departing Yatton this morning.

 

46233 seen earlier this morning. https://stephenleek.smugmug.com/Railwayphotos-1/Mainline-Steam-2016/i-fw58gFP

 

47 580

 

Is the 47 on the back on the return after plymouth

 

I hope not.

As previously mentioned by David Randles (of uksteam) there is a separate path for the light engine diesel from Plymouth to Bristol. <BJ>

 

Splendid leaving Bristol this morning...

https://www.flickr.com/photos/richandrews/29184624882/in/dateposted/

 

Here’s my video, taken at Tigley and near the bottom of Hemerdon.

 

Good news. The diesel has continued light engine from Plymouth to Bristol ahead of the charter.

From the WRG website: ''47580 up Bridgwater at 20:59 with 0Z39 Plymouth to Bristol Temple Meads''. <BJ>

 

I get a "page not found" error message.

 

All appeared to go well yesterday until the final stretch of the journey into Bristol Temple Meads. The train was set to enter platform 9/10. According to RTT, the same platform that it departed from in the morning. Minutes before it entered the station an announcement was made that the train would now be entering platform 3. Then several minutes later a further announcement to say that the train had been held at Bristol West Jct due to a technical difficulty. A WCRC staff member told us that the driver of the Duchess had stopped the train because he knew that the loco was out of gauge for platform 3. At that stage platform 9 was out of the question because the train had passed the required set of points. The only alternative was platform 5 but there was a service train in the platform. The Royal Duchy had to wait until the platform was vacant and then proceed 27 mins late into the station.

Bristol Temple Meads .....or as the local railway folk refer to it, 'The Bermuda Triangle'.

On the plus side, the Duchess made a wonderful sight as it entered the station with it's nine maroon coaches. What a superb loco.

Special thanks must go to the Railway Touring Co. for requesting the class 47 diesel to run light from Bristol to Plymouth and return. Well done. <BJ>

 

Well done to all those who ensured steam ran unassisted. The 10 min late running (ignoring the debacle at Temple Meads) was caused by delays in Cornwall resulting from a fault on the diesel causing two out of course stops. That said no attempt was made to recover the time with 6233. From a performance perspective the running in the evening was subdued: competent climbing without the loco being extended, as exemplified by the loco blowing off up Hemerdon. I was surprised that running on the Levels was limited to circa 69/70 mph most of the way, I don't know if the loco was being 'nursed' for some reason, availability if steam never seemed to be a problem.

Highlight of the day for me was Tigley / Rattery with an excellent minimum past the church of 37 mph. Time over the measured section was 6 min 16.5 sec making it (I believe) the 2nd fastest in Preservation (only 71000 has gone quicker).

Again many thanks to all who made it happen, it was a pleasure to enjoy pure steam on the mainline.

 

Whoops! Should work now

 

My footage of the Duchess conquering Dainton and Hemerdon Bank. Enjoy.

 

Congratulations to RTC and WCRC for trying the LE diesel method. Hope it is something that becomes standard practice as it worked so well.