Torbay Express 2018

For our diesel enthusiast(s), the tour loco for tomorrow has been reported as 66.037. <BJ>

 

Now if they could have found a proper diesel I might have ventured out (I would have gone if it had been 35028 by the way).
50s or 40 or even a 47 would have been good but with TOC running it not having them at hand or crews trained on them it has to be a 66..

 

….or a hydraulic Nick. <BJ>

 

Yes of course Bill, but I know 1015 is still awaiting full repair so wasnt in my wish list.. hope its back soon.

 

I seem to remember a green Class 47 being based at Bristol Barton Hill a few years ago which occasionally got pressed into service on the Torbay Expresses. What happened to that?

 

That was D1916 which ran behind the tender of Nunney Castle on 14th and 21st July, 2013. Fire risk was a problem in that year also.

The loco was owned by Riviera Trains but is now owned by Rail Operations Group and is in a blue livery. <BJ>

 

I have often wondered about that, if the TEX had a back up diesel loco ( not an 66) such as a Deltic, 50, or better still a Western, and a policy in place where in the case of non steam availability due to operational reasons, a heritage diesel is substituted it might not be so bad as your still getting heritage haulage, OK it will need either a pilotman, if DB can't train their drivers for the operation on what ever class is used but its not something that can't be done.

 

Well yes I agree, hence my post about the green 47 above - it was definitely preferable to a 66 in my book. However that may pacify some enthusiasts but to the majority of passengers a diesel is a diesel and they wouldn't know the difference.

 

Will it still take water at Taunton?

 

In the words of a famous tennis star "You cannot be serious!"

 

Water, no. Diesel fuel, possibly. <BJ>

 

Looks like its taking water all the way down by the look of the weather forecast...

 

Not the best of days for the steam charter business today. Two Tornado Tenth Anniversary tours cancelled due to problems with the loco, the Cathedrals Express to Swanage diesel hauled and the Torbay Express diesel hauled due to the unfortunate circumstances with Clan Line's support crew.

Let's hope that after this weekend's rainfall, this will now be the turning point for main line steam and 'normal service' will return shortly. <BJ>

 

Sorry I meant will it still stop at Taunton for the allocated time as I was seeing it after Taunton.

 

The weather may have been unkind but there was the Town Crier competition at Dartmouth. Apparently Lichfield has the winner.

 

Well. Al. for what it is worth, the the area where the DSR operates has had a fair amount of rain over the last couple of days, with a little more tonight. The DSR has operated steam locos, as far as I have heard, (I can hear the whistle given favourable wind direction) plus they do have a rail water tanker on stand by.
TBE patrons could be in luck.

 

And it's rained nearly all day again today. How much more does NR want?