The Merchant Venturer 21 November 2009

I spoke to the crew and they confirmed the Diesel didn't do a thing! And hats off for making up times during the run!! From Waterloo to Bristol and Bristol to Waterloo!

Pretty sure the crew wanted a good run and did what they could and achieved it!! Some timings were within reach and some weren't?

I think the crew did really well on the return leg to Salisbury!! I think Wayne knows what I mean? That will certainly stick with me, with dreadful weather, 13 coaches and a Diesel (I think about 575 Tonnes Tare)

Well done to the crew! Support and Driver/s, Firemen!

Andy

 

Really enjoyed it despite the weather, and was certainly impressed with her chattering up Upton Scudamore. The climb up Savernake was also fantastic, and the sprint along the South West Mainline was very enjoyable. Well done to all concerned!

 

I think 90 tonnes is circa 89 tons? Are you getting mixed up with USA short tons? Or have I got it wrong! We made it 452 tons for the 13 cars before adding the 67, and I'm not sure how many people were on the train. So I think the gross weight falls somewhere between 575 and 580 tons. Unless I've got that tonne/ton calculation messed up!

Re steam days loads. The later Bournemouth Belle consist usually gave a gross of circa 465 tons, (from memory). But 12 normal cars was the usual max load for a 2 hour express to/from Bournemouth, (circa 440 tons gross), and towards the end, the ACE was more often 11 cars, (circa 405 tons). So Wayne and Co were way above the norm for the latter part of the steam era, (as they are regulary on the VSOE). Even ignoring the dreadful weather they had to deal with on Saturday!

My highest load in steam days was on the 12.10 ex Southampton in June 1965. Unrebuilt 34019 with 14 vehicles, circa 500 tons gross. Over 20 late from Winchester after single line working and the crew of Sullivan/Rowe reached 54½ mph at Roundwood summit starting from Winchester. Then 76½ mph at Fleet starting from Basingstoke, and despite a signal stop at Woking Junction we left Woking only 7 late. Sadly more signal stops near London led to a 30 late arrival at Waterloo.

 

Thanks. Nice to be in agreement.

Yes. I had guessed that re the check at Farnborough. Especially as one of the group I was with had a blackcurrant device, (or similar!), and identified the 20.12 ex Woking as a problem for us.

 

Looking forward to the next thrash with 35028! And pretty sure the crew don't go for a thrash with her on the VSOE? Of course i could be wrong and if so - I hold my hands up to it!

 

That advertised sprint up the ECML from KX to York looks rather interesting. I'll see how my finances are after a trip down to Penzance behind 'Tangmere' and 'Princess Elizabeth' between Euston and Crewe. I also intend to do a Cath-Ex to Exeter in July. Too many good tours, not enough money!

 

Sounds like a fantastic run, despite the weather! Big well done to all involved.

Does the return of 'Scotsman' next year free up Clan Line for more non-VSOE runs? Hope so!

 

I sincerely doubt that 4472 will be doing any VSOE runs unless they are charters run using the VSOE Pullmans in a similar fashion to 60163 and the Yorkshire Pullman earlier in the year.

Regards,

Dan

 

I think the Non-VSOE trips are a tad more exciting and I for one will be keeping both ears and eyes open for the next one!

 

Spot on, what I notice is that on YouTube and Flickr that the day after say, a Cathedrals Express there are at least a few people with videos and photos, but after a VSOE nobody usually bothers to see it, it runs so regularly that, dare I saw it, it's boring. But despite this, I still want to see it a couple of times before the year is out. At school in Hildenborough I would occasionally see 35028 on the VSOE glide by during double French and it would make my day.

 

4472 was contracted to do the VSOE (under Marchington) but stopped when the loco was bought by the NRM. IIRC I think 4472 was to run the trips until Clan Line came back. It would be nice to see more non VSOE outings for Clan Line. I've been behind CL twice before The Canturbury Belle in 1998 (my first main line trip) and The Treacle Eater in Octorber 1999 and what a loco.

 

Bit of an unspecific question, I know, but what is the nature of the arrangement between the MNLPS and VSOE?

 

Saw her arrive at Bath on the return leg! I went meeeeeeeental! I was hurrying my girlfriend to get back to the station as I had a sneaking suspicion that I might just catch her going through...and sure enough!

Everyone on the station seemed to smile when she came in, I think its terrific! I did go a bit mental and my girlfriend as a tad bit embarrased I think, she doesn't get it!

 

A Portsmouth to Waterloo via Winchester had gone up in front of us.
After Basingstoke they are Fleet, Farnborough then non-stop to London.
We caught it up at Farnborough as it was moving from slow line (platform) to the up fast.
I had noticed we had adverse signals ahead, from about three miles distance. So eased Clan line up to save us coming to a stand, much better to keep moving.
Then hit our slot all the way to Clapham.
We could have been right time at Waterloo but we were routed through the up main loop at Clapham, 15mph, for no reason. There was then no point in dashing the mile up to Queenstown road where we were to go over to the 'Windsor lines'. This cost us the two/three minutes that made us late into the terminus.

 

Butch and myself only took over at Bath, so not to sure. I think it might have been as they did a 'pull away' test for the buckeye. Maybe to much steam in the steam chest?

As for the support crews, they do a fabulous job. If it wasn't for them we would not see steam on the mainlines. Everyone talks about what we, the footplate crew do, but they are the people that put the long day in. Don't get me wrong, I am very lucky to drive/fire on the mainline but all of us mainline footplate men appreciate the dedication and hard work they put in. Long may it continue!

 

Hi Wayne,

Thanks to all you guys for such a fantastic run - We all had such a fantastic day!!!

I think the shunter might have called the crew on with the support coach pulling into Bristol and told to pull away when Clanline was coupled up with the Buck-Eye coupling to the rest of the stock?? I got absolutely covered in Ash!!!
The support crew do such a fantastic job as photographed them too shovelling the coal forward and Watering up.... Hence been given permission to opt for mainline support crew by the misses!!
I said on Saturday evening on the way home about the hours all you guys put in - Cleaning the loco to her glory etc... Then back at Stewarts Lane at 11:15pm or around that time??
Unbelievable and I had been riding on Clanline all day and got up at 3:59am Saturday Morning and know that you would have all been busy by then.....
Left home at 4:45am... And i didn't get home till 10:55pm. I think its alot more hard work being on a trip, rather than being involved with a trip!!

I know that from firing all day and being up early and firing all day and heading back home afterwards and not being home till late....

All this will certainly continue, I am sure of that!! Looking forward to the next run with the ole girl!!!!

 

35028 on Saturday

Just to add my thanks to the enginemen for great performances from Clan Line. I had to cut the day short at Bristol and was very sorry to have to do so after finding out that Wayne was booked to take the train back. I knew the run back would be good after his great effort getting to Worting inside ACE timings on 23rd May.

And yes Alan the train did eventually get to Wimbledon!

 

You missed out on a fantastic return trip!!