The Cotswold Explorer - 6/4/19 - 7029

Watched it twice, can't make out any assistance. Well worth the punt today, you could be waiting till the back end of this year to get pure steam going by the future tour list which was handed out today ! Plenty of new tourist trips have being added.

 

Missing out the pathing stop at Didcot meant she arrived at Radley , where I planned to film her, 28 minutes early. Unfortunately I wasn’t 28 minutes early. That sinking feeling when you arrive at a location, only to see loads of camera toting enthusiasts heading back to their cars!

 

At Worton, Oxon, this evening.

 

The 2nd shot is absolutely stunning John...well done you!

 

You didn't miss much, 10mph platform slack !

 

I got caught out st Culham too

 

Thanks John, I was a bit lucky with the sun and the fireman put a couple of rounds on just at the right time

 

Culham and Worton, and a quick close up look at the 'beast' during the layover at Oxford. Apologies for the video glitch at 2:06.

 

Sounded in fine form on the approach to Hanborough earlier with little assistance from the rear. Great to see 7029 on the mainline.

My effort: https://flic.kr/p/2fnej3Y

 

Not the characteristic throbbing sound of tickover. Take your word for it as you were on it. Would like to see the milepost 1/4s if anyone was timing properly, or a GPS printout. Clun was certainly steaming well though it was a bit surprising to see the safety valves simmering close to blowing on such a steep bank with 12+ on the drawbar. So much for gentle running in. Have already booked the Marches on the 25th May and the Explorer on 1st June to compare pickups from rest, acceleration etc with 12+ compared with 5043's usual 9 and occasionally 10+Reg. Got plenty of logs to play with. Still going to be so "not us" knowingly joining a train with a Class 47 on the rear. I'll have to shut my eyes!!

 

Climbing from Frampton Mansell to Sapperton tunnel ,from the correct side of fence .

 

Definitely keeping the faith Al, sharewise as well as travelling. Only did a few tours with Clun in the late 80s. The Tyseley-Marylebone was a bit good on Saunderton and we did one Hereford-Gloucester with an excellent climb of Llanvihangel. Looking forward to the engine unencumbered. 12+ when its so fresh out of overhaul is a heavy load, right up to 2016 Industry Load Limit for a Class 7, without taking the significant gradients of Sapperton and Old Hill into account. That's why I was sceptical about the 47 not being powered on the gradients. Still Ray is the master and if he's happy with the load who are we mere mortals to question it.

 

Absolutely, these guys should have our support. Despite the Brush 4 it was a great day with minimal DL interference and some fantastic stack talk heard even toward the rear despite the giggling Gerties in our coach. The noise echoing around Old Hill last night must have been surreal for the residents. So glad we moved to the Midlands away from Steam Dreams country.

 

I am waiting to hear from Ray about yesterday but I have already posted his views on DLs on the back. Now that trains no longer start from the Warwick Road VIntage Trains terminus but at Dorridge won’t they always take a DL?

 

If the diesel is there only for shunting movements, electric heating and/or any emergencies, off or idling the rest of the time, then in effect it's pure steam with an extra load. That seems fine to me. If and when VT decide they can resme doing long trips without a diesel on the back (as they have in the past with West Coast), they can make a first pickup at Moor Street or Snow Hill; or to go south they can shunt out of their site with steam at the back, drop the diesel off, reverse and make a first pickup at Solihull.

 

Ray has confirmed to me that the DL driver was under strict instructions not to provide power unless he asked for it which, apart from leaving Tyseley at no stage did he do so. So pure steam and one I should have been on. He also said that he held back after Standish to avoid being stopped at St Marys Crossing SB by the stopper in front. So Clun looks like its going to be as good as 5043. 25-27 over Sapperton on 12+ is well into class 7 territory, if not class 8. Well done to the boys at Tyseley. See the May Heritage Railway for more detail.

 

I thought that was the case at Standish and through Stonehouse. Thanks for confirming.

 

Return leg through Lye https://www.flickr.com/photos/148441453@N04/47556721441/in/dateposted-public/

 

Ray has asked me to write a reply from him about yesterday's train his quote"At my specific request no assistance was given by the diesel on the outward journey. I cannot comment on the return journey as I was not on the footplate". I myself was on the train and had a fantastic trip, it was a brilliant climb of Sapperton and great to have Ray back driving on the nainline,