RTC Sherborne Christmas Carols: 3/12/25

3 minutes actually. That enabled us to get away from Basingstoke at 1057 8 late but fortunately the signallers let us go across and in front of the 5 late Portsmouth train at Worting. That’s what set up the great run to Salisbury reached right time. Long time since I had 75 through Andover with steam. Don

 

Was the lack of water at Winchfield planned or a no-show? If the former, and given that the Yeovil service train that would have followed, and caught up with, '28 had been cancelled I wonder why '28 wasn't given the fast from Woking to Basingstoke instead of waiting to cross to the slow line for several minutes just after Woking.

 

Presumably it was due to what is known as ASR - Automatic Route Setting. If that is what is in the system why would a signaller think of changing it, especially if the train is running as scheduled. To the vast majority of signallers it is just a train like any other and they won't see anything special about it. If it is working as planned it wil be left alone.

Peter

 

The load assuming the 47 was just on tickover for this section was equal to 14 Mk 2s or 13 Mk 1s

 

My video from Woking today:

 

My question was because it was already running a little late before the signal stop to await crossing to the slow, and very often when water is taken at Winchfield the following service train is delayed. This time, despite the Winchfield water stop being scheduled, no water was taken, so I was just curious about what was planned and what was spontaneous.

 

35028 Clan Line is seen working the Sherborne Christmas Carol to Yeovil Junction. Enjoy

 

Heres my video of the carol Service Train to Sherborne today..

 

A fine show from the mighty merchant once again, and in perfect sunshine too! The tour captured at Farnborough, Grateley, Semley, departing Sherborne, Templecombe, Andover, Hook & Egham:

 

Some lovely sequences. You did very well to cover all of that. Unless there were two of you leapfrogging each other!

Thanks for posting it here.

Bryan

 

Indeed - I must say I do sometimes wonder about the 'logistics' of these huge chases!

 

There was already a train in the slow line platform at Woking, it left first so we were stopped outside the station while it cleared the section. It probably lost less time than 28 being held outside the station on the slow.

 

Thank you. Yes there were 2 of us doing the shots. But even so a good day chasing with sometimes being very tight to leapfrog but thankfully traffic was on our side.

 

I'm not surprised you say that it can be a bit touch and go. Even when things go well, it must require almost military precison to organise a day like this.

I just went for two shots - one of 35028 doing a nice Atlantic Coast Express sweep into Salisbury station and then at a location I had never tried before, although I think someone on this forum posted a video from the same spot a couple of years agao - Bugley, a tiny hamlet between Gillingham and Buckhorn Weston Tunnel. I certainly had my challenges - a big queue of traffic coming into Salisbury from the A36 then I had to park the car and dash over to the station (Fortunately the station staff at Salisbury have always been pretty enthusiast-friendly and as soon as the man in question saw my camera, he put two and two together and let me through the barrier - thank you, kind Sir!)

Then westwards along the A30 which was replete with noodles (i.e. the sort of driver whose speed stays a pretty constant 42mph, whether it's a 30 limit or a wide, empty straight road subject to the 60mph national speed limit) which added a few minutes onto my journey. Anyway, having navigated my way around Gillingham, I parked on a verge in a quiet country lane close to where I believed the footpath was, but could I find it? Eventually I took a chance, went up a drive leading to a farmhouse and asked a lady who was standing outside if she knew where the footpath was. Thankfully I was pretty close and after another 400 yards or so found myself in a very good location - and the sun was still shining! According to RTT, 35028 was 7 down leaving Gillingham. for which I am profoundly grateful otherwise it could have been touch and go.

I had another commitment in the evening so didn't stay around for the return working, but although I came back satisfied with my day out, the challenges I faced on a less ambitious itinerary than our videoing friends makes me want to take my hat off to them.

Incidentally, this is the third occasion in less than two months that I have set off from home in terrible weather conditions in order to to enjoy a Merchant Navy in action, arriving at my destination in sunshine, getting a successful picture and then driving home through more torrential rain! On 4th October, I was also able to enjoy a ride behind 35005 at the Mid Hants and likewise, on 1st November behind 35006 at the GWSR. Photos only yesterday but I couldn't help reflecting on this curious coincidence as the heavens opened in Chichester late yesterday afternoon!

 

Indeed, but the Portsmouth train had cleared long before the re-start (I was watching from the bridge, and the Portsmouth train didn't need to have cleared the full signal section towards Worplesdon, just the crossover). My point was that, as the following fast line working (to Yeovil, by coincidence) was cancelled, '28 could simply have stayed on the fast to Winchfield (or beyond, if the watering was not in the plans), rather than potentially delaying the Basingstoke stopper as has happened many times in the past. All just curiosity about small details, of course, as everything worked out OK.

 

What I was really wondering, of course, is how much speeding is involved on the roads in these chases. Obviously, I don't expect any honest replies! The only train chasing I do is, generally, by train when schedules allow overtaking etc.

 

I've now edited my footage from yesterday; I saw it at Winchfield in the morning and at speed through Fleet in the evening.

RD29830vid. CLAN LINE at Winchfield and Fleet. by Ron Fisher, on Flickr

Ron.

 

Good luck with chasing by train, it restricts you to stations where half the world will be with you and a lot more expensive if the fuel cost is shared with other occupants of the car. The answer to your question is quite a bit on the motorways but no more so than is normal for that type of road.

 

For anyone on the train who’s interested in the crewing, the driver Victoria - Salisbury was Andy Hawkins, Salisbury - Yeovil - Salisbury Bill Monteith, Salisbury - Victoria, Bob Baines. Firemen Victoria - Yeovil, Jack Johnson, Yeovil - Victoria, Chris Birmingham. As far as I know the only diesel assistance was up Grosvenor Bank as is normal.