2019 'West Somerset Steam Express'

Must have been a different train. 6233 only crested the summit at 44.6.

 

I assume so but did not bother to watch the cam, but that is where it has been when I have stewarded previous trips.
This was the WSR timetable, it was a couple of minutes late through Williton on the way back and of course those on the last train from BL had nearly an hour at Williton to wait for the charter to pass.
http://cgibin.wsr.org.uk/cgi-bin/r-tt.cgi?date=20190817

 

I thought you would have been a bit happier today as the train didn't have a diesel at the rear.

The trip is not all about breaking records. Cheer up and try to enjoy yourself. <BJ>

 

Probably the most shackled loco on the mainline, its reigns rarely loosened. Its still a favourite of many regardless.

 

Very true. To be honest that wouldn't have been good for a Class 7 with load 11.

 

My video of The West Somerset Steam Express, taken at Cogload Junction (out and back) and on the WSR.

 

The view from Hungerford Common this morning.
www.railimagesuk.co.uk

 

It's certainly a favourite of mine. The train yesterday comprised of a crimson Coronation class hauling 11 maroon coaches. It looked really good.
The sound of the engine on the return at Cole was amazing. I could hear it all the way from Castle Cary. A superb day out. <BJ>

 

Yes but if that’s how the loco owners want it then fair enough. Still a great shame that all that power is restrained as performance wise it would rival Clan Line and Tornado

 

RTT does now show a more plausible time of 85 minutes from Minehead to Norton Fitzwarren, though it still doesn't show a stop there to change locos.

 

A few shots from yesterday - Twyford and Cogload Junction

 

The WSSE is one of RTC's trains in the south we haven't done before so we thought we'd give it a go. We really booked it to do another run behind No.9. Not having much luck getting miles behind No.9 this year. Should have had a closer look at the paths. The outward was no doubt all JS and his folk could get. Keeping time was a real doddle but it was still unusual not to see some sparkling running on the GWML between Paddington and Reading followed by easing and gentle running into the stations. 55 max on the GWML to Slough and 53 between Slough and Reading. We were tucked up behind the 0756 Didcot Stopper on the relief. Ironically the open path at 0800 is on the Main, but not if you want to pick up at Slough and you'd really have to go for it. The Theale Water Stop ruined the normal dash to Newbury. Then the hoped for acceleration away and 70+ onward to Newbury didn't happen either, a max of 56. We had a clear road from Newbury, but again nothing like the sparkling runs we normally get on the climb to Savernake. It took until mp63 1/2, 10 1/2 miles out to get to 60; and for a Class 8 to only pass Savernake Summit at 48.3 puts it at the bottom of the table for Class 8 performance; and the load was only 11. Began to wonder if the injectors were playing up. Will put something together later perhaps but can't remember anything all day that bears comparison with 35028 and 60163 with 12 up on the same road.

 

Yes the Duchess did everything it needed to but no more than that didn't lose time apart from delays

 

Actual times were Minehead depart 1708, BL arrive 1815, depart 1836, and then as shown by RTT.

The subsequent hiccups in the timings were down to two separate attempts by NR signallers to misroute the train, by sending us up the main rather than into the loop/platform, first at Woodborough and then at Newbury. Not impressive.

 

Decent turn of speed here.

 

How do you actually tackle banks like Beattock without close to maximum effort Ralph? No doubt will get shot down yet again, but load 11 or 12 wouldn't have been considered challenging for a semi on Beattock. Sounds good. As you've put these up, give them some meaning. What were the loads and summit speeds?

 

There's certainly a few occasions where's she's been unleashed notably Hemerdon in 2016. I always remember when the Duchess returned in green and she did her first run over Shap with Gordon Hodgson, and she absolutely stormed over it and was worked hard a week later and then after that Gordon was never seen on her. I remember Steve's video of her blasting away from Crewe on the flat and I thought, wow !

 

I had been working on 6024s tender all day so only one shot of 6233 on the return run..
Tried a pan shot but not entirely happy with it.. well here it is anyway..

 

I like it very much