Steam Dreams 2019 - New Summer and other tours

Mayflower on yesterdays Windsor and Sunset runs, with the engine giving a very loud performance through Staines under a literal "Sunset Steam Express"

 

Do you mean diesel on front for Weymouth - Eastleigh?

I note that the outward trip is timed for 75mph (is 61306 passed for that?) and the return for 60mph. Any reason?

 

Yes the diesel leads from Weymouth to eastleigh then the train reverses so Mayflower can lead.

 

Mayflower passed through Ashtead more or less on time. Spike Hodges driving.

 

SAM_0746 by seawright posted Aug 15, 2019 at 1:02 PM

Mayflower passing Bedhampton at 10:53 this morning.

 

Thank you, Al, I do appreciate what you say and, despite appearances, have absorbed it from your previous attempts to educate me!! The reason I asked this this time was the comment that the diesel was on the back from Weymouth and I wondered if this meant that the down train had a diesel heading it (thus 75 mph) and the return would be steam hauled by 61306 at 60 and that it would climb up out of Weymouth. If the latter, I would have gone down there this afternoon.

But I tried to cut corners and write a very brief message . . . . didn't work !!!!

 

Mayflower seen Whistling through Imperial Wharf station bound for Clapham junction.

 

Mayflower approaching Wareham, whistling for the infamous foot crossing as well as the station. Only went here because the sun was out, if it was on time would still have been, but 5 minutes late so cloudy. 30 seconds after it passed sun back out again. We have all been there before!

 

Climbing up through Horsley this morning...



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Minor kerfuffle at the Haslemere water stop just now in that train was signalled wrongly into P2 rather than the booked P3 beside which the water tanker was waiting. There was a short delay while the following service train was sent through on P3, and then a block was taken so that the hoses could be stretched across the P3 line over to P2. This was organised quickly and they did well to get away only 21L (the train had arrived 15L anyway). Train looked very well filled with few spare seats.

 

My friends own stables by the lineside just north of Haslemere station and I told them that a steam train was due through but running about 15 minutes late. They waited because they wanted to see it pass albeit in the gloom. They thought they could hear the steam engine in the distance presumably taking water. They waited and waited only for me to get a text as the train passed to say it was hauled by a diesel - eek! Can that be right? Was the diesel on the back? Even in the dark, and accepting that it is downhill, surely if Mayflower was on the front, they would have heard her? Any clarification would be welcome, for their sake at least.

 

Yes, 47 on the back, and did not seem to be pushing.

 

Mayflower on yesterday's Steam Dreams Excursion seen at some rather unique locations with the engine giving a great performance in the morning!

 

Just been looking at SD website and apart from 3 tours the rest of 2019s schedule is to be hauled by Mayflower (excluding the 25th August with Scotsman), the other 3 being

14th Sep London Euston to Carlisle (Carnforth loco pool)

5th October Bluebell Rly to Bath Spa (6233 Duchess of Sutherland)

and the one that surprised me and I look forward to seeing

8th December Kings Cross to Lincoln (60163 Tornado)

 

As well as seeing Mayflower at the same location, she was also going pretty well on the climb back up to Buriton in the evening even with some assistance from the 47 on the rear of the train.

 

Jeremy,
Currently all steam services to Weymouth have to be hauled back, to Eastleigh in this instance, because there are no turning facilities at Weymouth. On the return journey, steam remains at the (now) rear of the train providing some extra propulsion up Bincombe and Parkstone Banks if required [not likely with the 47]. After the train arrived at Eastleigh, 61306 then resumed haulage by taking it back via Botley, etc.
Most other steam trips returning from Weymouth are (generally diesel) hauled back to Southampton. Steam takes over to retrace its steps to Millbrook then, using a 'loop' via Romsey, Laverstock and Andover, rejoins the main line at Worting Junction continuing towards London.
The apparent NR speed limits shown on RTT can, sometimes, be taken with a pinch of salt perhaps.

 

The signaller really messed up. The local service Woking to Haslemere had to arrive at P1 (instead of P2) where it should have changed ends to return to Woking but was prevented from doing so by the express behind it. Consequently had to run as ECS to Petersfield before it could get back onto the up line resulting in it departing 15 minutes late by the time it got back to Haslemere.

 

Mayflower on today's Windsor Steam Express:

 

60103 Steam Dreams Excursion...Paddington - Oxford - Newbury - Oxford - Paddington. All seems to be going to timetable...surely some info and photos on here soon ??