CathEx to Cornwall, 17th & 20th Sept

The route for this trip changed from that shown on UKSteam some time ago. It's now Victoria-Kensington Olympia-Slough-Newbury-Penzance. Times are on RTT for Saturday:

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54627/2016/09/17/advanced and
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54630/2016/09/17/advanced

I notice there's a path for a shadowing WCRC DL on Saturday, 0Z84, from Exeter Riverside yard to Penance, which is a bit of a surprise. If any section of the trip needs assistance, I'd have thought it would be Exeter-Plymouth. Never mind - I'm not complaining. http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54633/2016/09/17/advanced.

The loco is 6201 Princess Elizabeth. This suggests that the train is 9 coaches or fewer. I don't think Lizzie is allowed more than that over the South Devon banks without assistance.

Full times for the return are not available yet, as far as I can see, but SD's web-site suggests the following:
Penzance d. 0914
St Austell d. 1012
Westbury a. 1725
Reading a. 1927
Victoria a. 2101

 

9 is the standard limit over the banks with rare exceptions being made for loco's that have proved they can take more, has a Princess Royal turned right at Aller Jcn in pres before ?.

 

Not sure how many times but certainly with 'The Mayflower' on 19/10/2002. May be others.........

 

The return times are up on OpenTrainTimes:

http://www.opentraintimes.com/schedule/U54634/2016-09-20 - 1Z86 to Exeter
http://www.opentraintimes.com/schedule/U54638/2016-09-20 - 1Z88 to Victoria
http://www.opentraintimes.com/schedule/U54642/2016-09-20 - 0Z85 LE Diesel to Exeter Riverside Yard

I can guess that they'll be a diesel on the back from Exeter back to Victoria. A good test to see who performs best up the Devon Banks with the same load, The Duchess or Lizzie.

 

Lizzie did a Taunton-Plymouth and return 'Devonian' on 7th October 2006 as well, I think the better run of the two. Dainton West 25.2 (after a slow run through NA); Rattery 31. On the return, Hemerdon 26 and Dainton 35.

 

Always thought they were being ambitious trying to route a Princess over ex-SR lines through Redhill and Guildford

 

And it's 81 miles back to Laira to turn her, unless there's been a change in the St Blazey situation. 160 miles return trip light engine must be some kind of record for a weekend railtour.

 

What 6201 doing for the two days in between?

 

Sunday turning trip as detailed then remain in light steam,
Monday, Fitness to Run exam, cleaning and support crew sleeping and eating fish and chips!

Cheers, Neil

 

It matters none what the St BZ turntable situation is, a Long Lizzie will not fit on a 65' table. So its off to Laira for coal and water, Diesel hauled due to the foliage situation.

 

Why do people wet their pants over the Devon Banks. They are generally short and sharp. Study the gradients in Cornwall for some really trying banks. Don't forget, there is only one straight mile of track in Cornwall, all the rest is twists and turns.

 

Also, where else can a loco crew get the original and best takeaway food - a pasty! I'm pretty sure that's the best fuel you can get after driving a steam loco along our rails

I would imagine the best thing to do would be get someone to drop them to you at Plymouth and leave them to warm over the firehole door ready for lunch at Blazey


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Sorry, I am confused. Where is the tour diesel hauled now? Does the steam locomotive come off at Plymouth and diesel to Penzance and back to Plymouth?

 

I think @The Man is referring to the turning move Penzance-Plymouth-Penzance on Sunday.

 

Indeed he was. The loco will be tender-first both ways and, to avoid any issues from the lineside foliage, it will be diesel-hauled.

JS

 

Under way. 4E Slough according to RTT. Anyone seen the train yet? Just about to leave home...

 

my gf's uncle saw her at Slough

 

Looks like a late Bedwyn service delayed the train by 20 mins at Newbury, then showimg 49 late leaving Frome caused by a late running Weymouth-Gloucester.

 

Noisy climb of dainton, albeit with two drain taps stuck open. Running around 25 early at Ivybridge.

James