Steam Dreams 2024

Looks like it's not far off schedule and close to Canterbury East at present. Dont know which loco it is - I think it was booked for the Brit.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U21115/2024-08-20/detailed

Bryan B

 

Thanks,

They have changed the schedule from the standard path 1320 arrivals and watering at DVP. That's why I did not spot it.

Nuisance! cannot get to Dover that early, management needs picking up.

 

Just rang Steam Dreams and the very pleasant lady said it is the Britannia today.

Bryan B

 

There isn't anything else at Southall AFAIK

 

I just wanted to make sure it was steam on the front!

Bryan B

 

Many thanks for what became a timely mention of a train I would otherwise have missed today.

Photo attached as 70000 approached Tonbridge station, shut off for the 50 mph restriction that starts near the London end of the platforms.

Following which, and I do know how to treat myself, I had a pleasant picnic of my late lunch in the busy Angel Centre car park in the middle of the town near the station. Sadly in my car as I couldn't find any soft tarmac to spread my picnic rug onto.

Bryan B

 

Bryan you have almost managed to make it look like they have repainted back into black, which I always felt it looked rather good in.

 

The Garden of England Lunchtime Tour, 70000 Britannia, 20th August 2024.
Filmed at Kearsney:

 

I thought the 57 on the rear looked very nicely liveried.

 

Not a fan myself - if they must have a diesel on the back I prefer one of the two tone green class 47s. At least they look like "heritage" traction.

 

Britannia out and about this afternoon, seen at Sandgate.

 

70000 hammering through Hildenborough this afternoon.
2024-08-20 70000 HILDENBOROUGH by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

 

If I'd known you were in town I'd have bought you a pint.

 

Bringing down the curtain of another season of the GOE & SSE:

 

Some great sequences in that wonderful day's work by you.

Interesting to see the third sequence (from 2.11). It makes me wonder if Network Rail are either trying to make up for the deforestation of the Amazon Rain Forest, or, when it rains in Kent, to use that stretch of line as a carriage /loco washing plant?

 

Always nice to see a Britannia out and about.My earliest recollection of then (more years ago than I care to remember), was seeing them hammering through Rhyl station every day on the Irish Mail.
Why Rhyl?on holiday with parents. "where's our Brian gone"? "he'll be at the station watching trains"
Happy days

 

Indeed. For me 70004/14 hammering up the 1 in 100 at Dulwich on the Golden Arrow. And the last big steam loco I travelled behind in BR days was 70044. We ought to have a pure nostalgia thread really!

 

Possibly a good idea. My first sight of a Britannia was on my first train spotting trip to a footbridge to the west of Bromley South, one of the other kids shouted out ‘it’s the Arrer’ and a few moments later an immaculate 70004 appeared on the Pullmans. For years I didn’t understand how that kid knew what was coming before it appeared, he obviously recognised the sound of the chime whistle.

 

Saw my first around 1960 at Wood Green on the GN when some were displaced from the GE by diesels. I was impressed enough to buy the Tri-ang OO gauge model.

 

I wonder if the Chertsey water stop will be re-scheduled if there is a 2025 season. Not once in this season has it run to time there, and last night saw the steam leaving there so late that it ended up following a service train from Guildford onwards. It still arrived back at Victoria virtually on time, so perhaps it doesn't matter, but I'm just curious as to why the water stop always over-runs.