Steam Dreams 2024

My memories of Waterloo, during the last years of steam there, are that just about any loco could slip, and I have always assumed that was mainly due to the copious quantity of oil on the track.

 

OK - moving on from the fascinating debate over whether Bulleids slip or not, are we sure what is hauling tomorrow's trip to Bath? Steam Dreams website says 70000 but I wouldn't entirely rely on that.

 

Brit as far as I am aware

 

It was negative something as I arrived at Digswell Viaduct yesterday morning, and as I checked RealTime Trains I was worried to see the ECS into the cross delayed by 50 minutes at Finsbury Park. I stuck about (with Geoff Silcock for company) but was worried that the steam had failed. Thankfully, our fears were quashed when Braunton finally appeared.

Later than anticipated but pretty pleased with the shot, despite the overheads. I had tried a position in the field to my left but the sun was too high at this point and I would have been shooting directly into it.

 

No report from 1Z60 in a while. I take it is diverted? Does anyone know where it is?

EDIT: just found it, now approaching Epsom only 4 minutes down. Must have been diverted via Wimbledon

 

According to the timing sheet given on the train the route was always via wombledon with the Cheam pick up taking place at Epsom. Shame no one told the signaller as the route was set via Mitcham at Streatham which caused the bulk of the delay.

70000 and 57311 for anyone who is interested.

Andrew

 

Indeed - went via Wimbledon and confused me when I checked Traksy and saw it in p3 at Epsom! Hope the Cheam boarders were well-informed beforehand. I went to Effingham Junction to film and had settled down on the over road bridge to await the train. A elderly local had climbed over the road bridge waist-high railings well to the side of the line and was sitting on them to await the train. I assumed there was a fence below and he was on the public side of the railway boundary. However, a few minutes later an unmarked police car drew up and enquired what was going on as they had been informed of a potential suicide on the bridge! I said there was a steam train due and the young policeman beamed and said he would wait for it. Shortly after that a marked police car also arrived and they also joined the spectators! During all this two service trains were cautioned under the bridge. People - PLEASE don't threaten our hobby by climbing over railings/fences like this, even if it may seem inoccuous to you. Video to follow.

 

Britannia this morning through Artington near Shalford Junction Guildford

 

Thought about heading there this morning until I saw the gloom so have been beer shopping instead.

 

Would the signaller not have the same NR feed as shown in RTT?

 

It was quite the sight to see steam on the Epsom and Effingham Junction lines again, and possibly the first time 70000 has graced it? I thought something was up with the Cheam pickup when the SD website said N/A for Cheam on the outward, having asked them they said they couldn't stop at Cheam for some reason and would be going via Worcester Park, picking up the Cheam pax at Epsom instead. As such I went to Motspur Park for another attempt at steam through there given how rare it is, except the signaller still wanted to send it to Cheam! Luckily the train stopped and the route was soon corrected towards Wimbledon. A dash to Horsley then followed where the Brit managed the climb from Effingham despite various wheelslips, before catching it coming out of Guildford Chalk tunnel:

 

After being informed of the route change through Wimbledon this morning, 70000 Britannia is seen through Motspur Park, Guildford Chalk Tunnel and Artington Shalford Junction. Enjoy

 

Well now, a non-Bulleid pacific slipping. That's the headlines sorted for BBC's News at Ten tonight!

Very nice filming.

Bryan

 

Yes, Britannias were also rather prone - there are many similarities in terms of adhesion, tractive effort, etc., with the Bulleid lights. Pacifics are lighter-footed than 4-6-0s in general as there is a greater distribution of weight in a pacific.

 

My film from this morning at Effingham Junction and Shalford Junction. When the police arrived I expected us all to be shepherded away but they were happy once they realised it wasn't a 'jumper' in our midst! Nevertheless, two service trains at caution and two police vehicles was a significant issue just because someone wanted to sit/stand the other side of the parapet railings! The culprit scuttled off down the road afterwards so I assume he was a (very) local.

 

Nice video, but forget the possible jumper, I think you were very lucky not to be told to move from that very narrow piece of "pavement" on that side of the bridge.

 

My post was a tongue in cheek continuation of a few posts that started at #529.

Bryan

 

Thanks - I did wonder if we would be, but the road is wide enough and its alignment there means that vehicles are travelling relatively slowly and at a distance from the parapet. Not much different from pedestrians walking along a road/lane without a pavement really. Given that both police cars just drove onto the pavement and remained there while they watched the train from the same area as me (with 'blues' on) I wouldn't have been pleased to be told I was in the wrong place!

 

The Class 47 due to meet the train at Salisbury has apparently failed, hence the cancellation of the move on RTT. Most likely Class 57 will run round and haul the tour from there, but it will certainly be a different run home without another diesel to haul it out of the terminus at Victoria.