61306 - Norwich to Windsor 11/02

The timings are on RTT for 61306's first railtour from Norwich to Windsor...

Outward: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55223/2015/02/11/advanced

Return: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55225/2015/02/11/advanced

James

 

And I see its having a runaround and service at Battersea Loop

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55224/2015/02/11/advanced
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U63540/2015/02/11/advanced

Leaving Windsor more or less at sunset, if the weathers good there could be some excellent chances for 61306 & Windsor Castle in setting sun silhouette shots if you pick your spot.

 

I think Staines has sidings and some reverseable working, but no loop - based on those RTT entires there is a reverse at Battersea

 

Looks like this is a triangular move. Assuming there's a DL on the back, it will lead from Windsor to Willesden, steam will lead Willesden - Kensington Olympia - Battersea, and after servicing, the DL will lead Battersea - Chiswick - Windsor. It means all the coaches will be turned, so everyone stays at the front/back for the steam-hauled sections. However, there's a final reverse at Willesden on the return when steam comes off, and the diesel takes over for the trip back to Norwich. Actually, the section from Willesden South Western sidings is amazing - all the way to Barnes, Clapham Junction and Kensington Olympia back to Willesden Junction to gain the West London Line (I think?) an hour later, less than a mile from Willesden South Western sidings! If they didn't have to drop the B1 off, the train could have gone directly from Acton Wells to the West London Line, as it did in the morning. A bonus for the track bashers (the chord from Gunnersbury to Chiswick must be quite rare) but a bit of a frustration for everyone else, I suspect.

 

That section of the return run certainly is remarkable. All presumably just for the sake of (a) dropping steam off somewhere near Southall and (b) avoiding having to run the diesel round to the end that the steam has just come off.
But a couple of corrections. The line through Kensington Olympia is the West London Line. The line from Willesden Junction towards Gospel Oak is the North London Line (and I wish TfL would use those, and some other, names within the Overground brand, by analogy with the various Underground lines, but that's a digression). And there is no "chord from Gunnersbury to Chiswick" AFAIK. The route from South Acton is via Kew East Jn and New Kew Jn.

 

Thanks for that. My ancient Ian Allen railway atlas is not very clear, and I'm not a native of the district ;-)

 

The alternative might have been Windsor-Clapham Jn-Kensington Olympia-Hanwell (reverse), but I suspect that paths may not be available on the GWML in the rush hour.

 

Staines does have a loop that can be used for reversals but I'm not sure a full length charter would fit in there. Road access is limited too I think so wouldn't be great for coaling/watering.

 

Given the maze of lines around Willesden and Acton, there are several ways it could be done. One would be like that but only as far as Acton Yard to detach steam for a short run to Southall, with no need to run the whole train onto the main line. Possibly the shortest would be Brentford - South Acton - Acton Wells Jn - West London Jn - Olympia (reverse and drop off steam: reversing any further north, such as at the site of North Pole Jn, does not seem possible) - Mitre Bridge Jn - Willesden Jn (High Level).

 

I found a video taken from the foot crossing at Staines loop the other day and it did show a complete loop - in the past, 71000 has reversed in said loop. I'm trying to find the video and will edit my post as and when I find it.

James

 

The West London Line isn't a healthy place to start detaching locos nowadays, even if the signalling is suitable.
4 LOROL trains plus 1 Southern train plus freights each way each hour create pathing problems. Kensington Olympia and North Pole Jn have 3rd rails which makes climbing around between vehicles an unpleasant and risky business. North Pole Jn doesn't have any lighting either. As a duty of care responsibility to staff/volunteers it makes sense to travel further and do any attachment or detachment in non electrified sidings.

Staines Up Loop is electrified and from memory can just about take a 10 car emu formation. There is no road access to the Up Loop and difficult access for the hose from a road tanker to the signal in the Down Loop.

Road vehicle access to Battersea Loop is restricted. From memory it has to be agreed with Battersea Dogs Home.

Cheers, Neil

 

Battersea is a massive construction site right now, with redevelopment, flats being constructed, an extension to the dogs home, gas towers being removed, northern line extension and of course the Power station being rebuilt... I couldn't imagine a more inconvenient location to be doing anything other than traveling straight past...

 

It was bad enough for the rebuilding of "Bridge 6" where the Chatham Mains cross Battersea Yard, Down Stewarts Lane and Battersea Reversible lines.

Cheers, Neil

 

On RTT, it shows "REV" in the line notes for Westbourne Rd Jcn on the journey to Windsor. Does that mean "reverse" or something different, does anyone know? I hope it's not coming from there with the B1 on the back!

 

The times on Realtime trains are different to UK mainline steam e.g. ecs to/from Southall and return times and operating/loco plan. Which is correct? From Steam Dreams website Realtime trains is correct.

David

 

Change of plan. The return is now diesel hauled throughout. The ECS from Windsor returns to Southall instead of Battersea loop.

 

I shall certainly stay well away from this one

Don