Non - Stop BRISTOLIAN 17/4/2010!

I've had a text from someone on board saying 1 Hour 48 mins Temple Mead - Paddington, sounds like a belting return run.

 

108 minutes for 118.3 miles sounds good!

 

SOME PHOTOS FROM CHIPPENHAM TODAY AT htt://keyhamtrain.fotopic.net

 

wow what a trip ! 118 miles Bristol Temple Meads to Padd booked 154 mins actual 109 mins 16secs arrived 44 mins early, main line all the way, non stop, not a single signal check (after Bristol Parkway).

 

I have read somewhere that The Earl once achieved 98 mph on the up Bristolian. It sounds as if they've tried to better that this evening .
What a marvellous spectacle the train made today. Well done to the Tyseley folk and to First Great Western. <BJ>

 

Well done to FGW, Network Rail, Vintage Trains, everyone involved. What a great way to really kick off GWR175. What a lot of effort must have gone in to making it happen. The water carrier, the clear path for the up train, everything. Fantastic stuff.

 

Brilliant! Just brilliant! A huge thank you to all concerned for making this happen.

 

5043 has put up an amazing achievement today, definately shows what can be done. It should definately be repeated on the WCML with 6233 or 6201 at the helm!!

 

I find this quite astounding. Absolutely unbelieable. 108 minutes from Bristol to Paddington - only 3 minutes longer than the steam hauled Bristolian of the 50's when speeds in the 80's and 90's were necessary to keep to the schedule.

I am sure I will wake up in a minute and it has all been a dream.......................!

Brilliant and Beautiful.

Does anyone know if Mike Notley was on board? Even at this early point in 2010, I find it hard to imagine any other train will win Mike's "Railtour of the Year".

A massive pat on the back for everyone involved including NR and FGW but most of all, the Tyseley boys for providing a magnificent spectacle in the form of 5043!

 

It was a superb run, thanks to FGW, Vintage Trains, West Coast, and Network Rail.

 

Bittern is going to have a crack at York-Kings Cross in September, looks like strings are being pulled on that trip too

Sounds a cracking run today, there's nowt like being on the fast overtaking standard timetabled trains on a steam hauled special.

 

Well done to all involved - when we heard that the train might run a bit early I don't think anyone was expecting it to be 20 mins up on schedule by Cholsey.

STEVE

 

Massive well done to every one who made this tour happen. Only 3 minutes longer than the 50s Bristolian is an amazing achievement.

 

Well what a day. Vintage Trains team were excellent, FGW pulled out all the stops, stewards were wonderful, WCRC did their bit. Only small down is I feel very very sorry for those on the down journey. Fortunately I had raided the piggy bank and was on both runs.

The return trip was superb. Yes Mike Notley was on the train. Two stop watches in our house got 1 hour 49min 58 sec. That’s an average of 64.2 mph over 117.64 miles.
We retained the Fast Line all the way. Yes ALL the way, no trundling along between Challow and Wantage, no problem with all the restrictions on the slow beyond Reading, 75 mph all the way.

My highlight of the run was racing through Slough at 77 mph passing a HST running on the slow line. Many very bemused passanges staring at our progress on the station. Congratulation to Ray Poole, Alistair Meanley and Andy Taylor for a true credit to the memory of the GWR.

I would close betting on this years ‘Mikes’ now.

Thanks to all involved

 

Just got home from this. in a state of shock to be honest. We were expecting to be looped somewhere and it didn't happen. we overtook a HST at Reading, but it transpired that train was late due to a technical fault (due into Pad at 1814 and we passed it at Reading at about that time), but it meant our run was unimpeded.

Dad says it was the best main line run we have ever done - I think it must be , the timings mentioned are what we were told when we got off on the platform! Also we were told Mike Notley was on the train too. My pics from today.

 

It was a cracking return run. The HST to which people referred (on the relief/slow line) was 1A25 which had experienced brake difficulties at Reading, this helped create a situation whereby the return special could go Main Line from Reading rather than Relief line.

No.7 mentions excellent work by FGW, West Coast and Tyseley, but overlooked (not intentionally I am sure) the NR people in control and the signal boxes on route. As the run unfolded, people started looking how the train could best be pathed to give a non stop run and find a platform at Padd for a 46 early arrival! The 18.51 arrival at Padd says it all. Quite a day. As Steve says, well done to all involved.

 

Just had a look back through my old times. Bittern's 1st run with its second tender in July last year managed 109 miles from York to just outside Peterborough in 96minutes yet this run didn't even get a mention in the press. Oh and that trip was steam both ways and only £74!

 

Indeed, rightly thanks are very much due in that area, I understand people from NR were on the train to help us get the best path. We understood the aim of trying to go under 2 hours was pre-planned if we could get ahead of X-country at Didcot, which we achieved -just what we were told by the Stewards.

 

Well I guess the main publicity aspects of this trip, and the things that distinguish it from Bittern's trip, were
- making it non-stop for the whole journey
- resurrecting a famous name for the train
- getting FGW's buy-in and then more their enthusiasm for it
- tying it into the 175th
and possibly an extra one
- being on God's Wonderful Railway anyway

It all combined to make it more than "just" another steam mainline tour.