Saphos Trains

Think the general idea is if people want lives to run as planned, trains to run as planned, etc they’ll support the strikes and want things back to normal quicker.

 

Yes we do support the strikes and yes we do want things back to normal ASAP. I still don't see how that applies to a railtour.

 

Nor me. It's like saying a strike by bus drivers and bus station staff means that coach companies can't run day trips on those days.

 

Anyone have any news about motive power for Thursday's WME?
I have no knowledge of Sir Nigel's condition since it had to be pulled from the previous trip, and I assume Royal Scot is still in the south- west and available.

 

It's booked for 60007, test run to Bristol and back was successful.

 

Any chance of this being potentially 46100+60007? Maybe to get 46100 back to Crewe?

 

Here's my footage of 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley blitzing through Abergavenny at speed with an added bonus of a lovely long chime whistle on the Welsh Marches Express to Shrewsbury. She sounded absolutely incredible and at that speed no wonder the A4s are one of my favourite engines to film. I hope you enjoy the video.

 

Fantastic,nothing compares to the sound of an A4, takes me back to my trainspotting days on the ECML.

 

Judging by the sound, the diesel at the back was delivering little if any assistance, so that seems a remarkable speed uphill.

 

The gradient on Abergavenny approach is only 1:153, then it's level through the station. The climbing starts just after the train goes out of sight of the station.

 

Most unusual for the west country class 40 D213 + 35461, 3330, 3231, 3107, 1863, 3125, 3148, 3100, 80044, 3122, 3045 and 17013 + 47.593

1Z27 05:16 Northampton to Kingswear https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U66261/2023-08-05/detailed

D213 to swap for A4 60007 at Taunton. <BJ>

 

'Sir Nigel Gresley' today climbing Goodrington Sands on the outwards leg, and climbing past Greenway and through Torre on the return. Challenging today thanks to Storm Antoni but just about got away with it, the wind blowing sound into the microphone at times. Photos to follow...

 

My footage of 60007's slog up the 1 in 55 past Torre Station with the return leg of the "English Riviera Express".

 

Photos from today...

https://www.flickr.com/photos/alts1985/53095357287/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/alts1985/53096413593/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/alts1985/53096315090/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/alts1985/53096408043/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/alts1985/53096407018/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/alts1985/53095352602/in/dateposted-public/

 

Despite the weather warning I ventured out to see Sir Nigel Gresley on the English Riviera Express.
I videoed the train on the Sea Wall at Dawlish and climbing up the bank at Torre.

 

My footage of 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley storming Teignmouth Sea Wall in high winds with the outward leg of the "English Riviera Express" earlier today.

 

'Sir Nigel Gresley' at Dawlish and Kingswear with todays 'English Riviera Express'...

 

In that video I see at least four cameras or phones outside windows. On the one hand, there is certainly zero danger of being hit by vegetation along that particular stretch of railway. On the other hand, it suggests that Saphos are being less strict than some others about what their passengers do.

 

Is it necessary or indeed a good idea to highlight the problem on National-Preservation? I'm certain that all tour companies are working as hard as they can to reduce any possible risk to mainline operations.<BJ>

 

60007 seen tackling the climb to Whiteball, passing Greenway Halt, and along the Dawlish seawall from Langstone Rock, the latter apparently on the verge of closure.