61306 - Cath Ex to Bristol - June 4th

Nice run down especially if you didn't have to jog down from Victoria. A load of 9 was ideal. The B1 was on good form.

 

Can I just put that absolutely ridiculous post in some kind of perspective from someone who was actually on the train rather than someone like yourself who had the offer of a great day out with steam virtually starting from your doorstep but instead chose to make fatuous remarks on here.

The day had all the ingredients that made it ideal:
- a good destination (Actually a choice of two)
- a load that matched the loco's capabilities
- two sets of crews who were prepared to push the B1 along when possible
- some memorable bursts of loco performance
- a lovely warm June day.
- a food and drink service to your seat in Standard. What more could you ask?

We were held up a bit around the water stop at Newbury because of having to trundle down behind a stopper and that made us late away after a long drink at the racecourse. But the run up to Savernake was good - 9 for 355 tons gross. Bill Warriner wound Mayflower up to 64 by Bedwyn and after we passed Crofton at 61 he dropped her over a bit more and blasted over the top at 57. Let's just say that we were quick down the other side although only gained a minute on schedule from Newbury, hindered somewhat by the extended approach control to Heywood Junction. Running onwards to Bath was brisk and we dropped our first load of passengers off in Bath having gained four minutes back from Newbury. A nice spin along to Bristol in time for lunch.

Coming home, we had Dave Hewson. We were on time away from Bath and stormed up to Box Tunnel entering it at a commendable 57. Running onwards through Chippenham was judged so that we were in our path at Swindon. However, FGW demonstrated today that in spite of now having double track to Kemble, they still cannot keep their trains to time on this line. As a result we had to sit at Swindon to let the Paddington service precede us and as a result we were looped at Challow to let another service pass before we finally dropped into the loop at Steventon for our water stop at Milton Bridge. Fortunately, this was done quickly including servicing the kitchen car and we were back on time by Didcot.

At this point Network Rail Control took what I think we should recognise were a number of unprecedented steps. First of all, they put us in front of a late running stopper to Ealing Broadway behind which we could have easily been stuck. This also involved holding a Cross Country service on Didcot East Curve. So we flew up the relief to Reading - max of 69 - and left there about right time. The second unusual decision was to send us ahead of the Reading - Waterloo service and also a northbound ECS, both of which we should have been held for around Reading Spur Junction. Anyway, with this new found freedom we absolutely stormed up to Earley and then after a check before Wokingham, Dave Hewson blasted up to Bracknell (min of 41, which is good) with the exhaust echoing off the trees.

I left the train at Bracknell by which time we were 15 early with all the signs that Control was going to let the Cath Ex hurry home - as indeed it did, half an hour early according to RTT.

Yes, there was a warning message in the day's details about window hanging and yes, Marcus Robertson asked us (nicely) to comply, which everyone did, nearly all of the time. But tbh, it wasn't a major issue except for the minority for whom it is considered 'de rigeur' to have half your body outside of the train. It certainly didn't spoil the day and two of us helped the lady who wanted to photograph the engine on the move by suggesting the curve where she could hold her camera at an open window for her memory shot.

So Buseng, unless there are reasons why it might be difficult for you, for which I would of course be sorry, perhaps you ought to get out more.

 

When you post on an Internet forum telling members where you have been you are then in no position to moan about it being none of our business. You can't have it both ways.
Since we have been told that the ORR are going to be watching WCRC in particular and likely other TOC as well, what do you expect as regards heads out of windows, ignore it and face far more serious sanctions? Once again please take a minute to think about what you have typed before hitting the post button