Steam Dreams 2023

You changed it into 34044 too! I did manage to get a sequence at Brockham with pastel sunset tones. Mine was 34046!

 

An oddity I noticed yesterday evening while seeing where the SSE was, is that, when it stopped at the Chertsey water stop, which is in the platform, it was shown on 'Traksy' as being at the next signal section, south of the station. Has anyone else noticed this here (or elsewhere)?

 

Open Train Times works in the same way. [BJ]

 

Has it gone past the signal at the end of the platform to access the water tanker?

 

Yesterday's Garden of England tour near Rainham and Shakespeare Beach in Dover.

 

At Chertsey that isn't possible unless they keep the level crossing down for the duration. Having seen images from it there last night it wasn't past the signal.

 

No because it would block the level crossing.
Open Time Trains and Traksy diagrams are not completely accurate.

Cheers, Neil

 

You are correct of course. Over 50 years ago I used to cycle over that level crossing quite often, funny the tricks the mind plays after all that time I would have bet it was the other end of the station.

 

Not according to shots I've seen, no.

 

I managed a video sequence after all yesterday (being amalgamated into a SSE season-long film). 8K still from Brockham, near Dorking.

 

Heads up to anyone that was thinking of going on a Garden of England / Sunset Steam Express trip:

Apart from the odd seat, they are all sold out in Standard Class. With a Steam Dreams voucher to use up we attempted to book on to either a GOE and a SSE and the only option they had was First Class for a group of 4. With the voucher's expiry imminent we've gone ahead with it on a GOE to use up its value, but it seems these trips are proving popular!

 

Interesting - I wonder if that's because 70000 is to be used (I don't know the proportion of enthusiasts on these trips - probably relatively small) or other factors, but good news.

 

I can understand the logic of that because it is occupying the next section, but for trains definitely not occupying a different section it's odd. Hope the signallers don't have the same issue!

 

No it is because the only standard class vehicle on the train is the RMB so I think there are only 30ish seats.

Andrew

 

I hadn't realised that - the shots I have show several Mk1s with no first class window signs and I assumed they were standard.

 

45231 attached at Crewe on today's Colchester to Carlisle.

 

The morning had remained dull but mainly dry however the forecast for lunchtime onwards was for thundery showers and a fresh southerly wind. I had intended to video the climb out of Blackburn but with no shelter from the wind or rain, perhaps not today. So back to the old favourite and Chapel Lane at the summit of Hoghton Bank. It it was "swilling down" then I could always revert to i-phones (more rain tolerant). Mrs W volunteered to come with me to "hold the brolly", so maybe one camera and an i-phone.

RTT was not updating, nor was OTT or anything else that I had access to; a message on one site indicated that it was a problem with the NR data feed. It would be like the old days, "get there and wait". By the time we arrived at Chapel Lane the problem had been sorted and the train was at Winwick Jn but 10L. It was still dry, so after a bit of discussion we decided to sit in the car until about 5 or 10 mins before the train was due, rather than set up and wait on the bridge and risk a soaking. It proved a wise move as the sky began to darken, a couple of minutes later there was a very heavy shower but gradually it eased and we set off in light rain. A couple of minutes later the rain stopped and shortly afterwards was replaced by sunshine - yes! By this time I had compromised, camera for the approach and phone for the going-away.

In the distance we could here the distinctive bark of a 2 cylinder loco then whistles for the crossings. This was over three minutes before the train eventually came into view. The exhaust beats grew louder, some exhaust showing in the humid air and she rounded the curve and appeared under the occupation bridge. What a treat to see and hear a Black 5 in action on the East Lancs. line. A blast on the hooter for the foot crossing beyond the bridge. She barked away, the exhaust hitting the underside of the bridge obscuring everything in a white swirling cloud. By the time it cleared the first 3 coaches had passed; the next 9 followed and then the 47. We watched 45231 steam off into the distance, the exhaust beat quickening as she found the falling gradient more to her liking. 17C, around 19L & 28mph.

Less than a minute after 45231 had passed over the foot crossing the York-Blackpool N service train passed in the opposite direction - a nearly moment for those photographers by the crossing. One down and one to go - looking at RTT it might be a bit of a lottery when, or if, the CME arrives.

 

15/07/2023 - LMS Stanier Black 5 - 45231 "Sherwood Forester" heads the Steam Dreams Excursion from Colchester (steam from Crewe) captured coasting off Whalley Arches into the Station heading for the S & C and onto Carlisle.