Bellmond Pullman 18/06/16

I'm fairly certain Pacifics were barred from this route in steam days, the challenging bit is Gomshall Bank from a standing start at Shalford. The timings are fairly generous though and Tornado has persistently run early through the London Suburbs

 

yes 34052 (34046) on the Belmond run today iso 60163 aka lubicrous or Alczar LOL - 60163 still at York - unknown as to why she was not aval for 18/06

i thought Braunton had run with the Pullmans before? but my memory maybe wrong

Wayne and James are on it from the S/Lane - expect a good run - usually the diesel only assists the train up the bank from plat 2 VIC but whether it stays with the train today i do not yet know -
no doubt this thread will report as such

 

I don't think pacifics worked the line in a regular basis. The Moguls could work pretty heavy loads up the grades between Shalford and Redhill. I've heard accounts of as many as 15 carriages being tackled by the Redhill crews on Summer Saturdays.

However, both WC/BB and MN pacifics did work over the line in 1966 and 1967 with farewell excursions, including Clan line with the Surrey Rambler (5th June 1966), 35023 with the Four Counties Touring Special (9th October 1966) and 34087 with the Surrey Downsman (5th March 1967). I have obtained this info from the "Sx Bells Junction" website and it was quite a surprise to me. I've only ever seen pictures of 34087's visit. The two MN-hauled trains seem to have been more or less unrecorded.

 

Taw Valley used to be regular on the VSOE in the early 2000's, it coped, but whether this heavy work contributed to its enormous overhaul bill recently is open to debate.

 

Both 34027 and 34067 used to work the VSOE as it used to be called and were always masters of the job. However, I think the heavy loads took their toll on 34027 which is why she required such a long overhaul at the SVR.


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Braunton has run the VSOE before, there is a picture on icons website.

 

Lost 3 min Shalford to Dorking so suggests it's on its own

 

Looks like solo with 13 on ! not my video...

 

It's a Bulleid what do you expect, I've been behind a WC slogging up Upwey Bank unassisted and by then (66/7) they were complete wrecks.

 

Loco performed well, Matt Hunt was being assessed by Gareth Jones and did really well firing. Another new fireman once his paperwork is signed.
Made life easy for Jim and me, we split the driving up between us as Matt was firing. I did to Shalford, Jim back to Vic.
30 mph over the top from Shalford, Jim had her at 50% cut off from what I could see from the other side of the cab.
Good straight forward run except for routed through a platform at East Croydon that we were barred from, so had to get the route re-set. Then congestion getting into Vic.
Good day, with nice company, both crew and support crew.
Good to catch up with so many MNLPS chaps at the lane, they were there working on parts for Clan Line.

 

Leaving Shalford...

 

Here is my video of 34052 putting on a glorious show as she departed Shalford today:





Today was an example of British Main Line Steam at it's best. A big thank you to the DBC crews who really know how to make a Bulleid sing! An absolute treat to watch the departure from Shalford.
Edit: still buzzing from witnessing this magnificent spectacle I forgot to thank the folks at Icons of Steam / LSL for making 34052 available today and for turning her out in first class Clan Line condition.

 

Quick trip up to Redhill after work to watch the get away from Redhill and up towards Merstham from Frenches Road...



https://www.flickr.com/photos/alts1985/27678741981/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/alts1985/27753400965/in/dateposted-public/

 

How good to see that my concerns were unfounded and that the engine looked and sounded faultless and the footplate crew clearly masters of their jobs - there was no doubt she was being worked hard in both the leaving Shalford and leaving Redhill clips (thanks also to both photographers) but you would expect that. Apart from the sheer pleasure of seeing this engine delivering I was also struck by how quickly the exhaust cleared after each round was fired - evidence of complete combustion and a boiler on top of the job of producing enough hot steam to lift this heavy load- and that means a fireman on top of his work as well.

How good was that!

Mike

 

Great sound and glad to see I was wrong about the diesel. So these new loading's that the O.R.R have implemented obviously don't count if you're DBC ! I Can't imagine WCR would have taken that load on one of their operations with a class 7. Bravo to the crew, a great show !

 

Putney.

 

Addlestone and Box Hill:

 

beautiful - thanks for lovely clip , 13 on , well done Wayne and James - these guys are becoming legends