September 5th Exeter Cathedrals Express changed again.... to 30th October!

Westbury 12.36

 

Here she is running past Deepcut:

[video=youtube;444DL8gjbCE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=444DL8gjbCE[/video]

Sorry it's a bit shaky, I'd got quite cold by the time the train eventually arrived!

Nice autumn colours to admire anyway.

 

Hark at that smelly tin can on the back give it some! Feel very sorry for the punters who paid good money for a STEAM TRIP. Bear in mind this is what I think is a fairly flat stretch of main line & not pulling away from a stop.

 

Seen at Arn hill nr Warminster 37 was doing most of the work on the back,good to see that a lot of time has been made up.

 

Anybody know if water was taken at Overton as planned? Might be why the 37 pushed so much if it was decided to save water.

 

I estimate it was travelling at 70mph past me, which it probably would not have managed by that point unassisted, so I guess they were under instruction to make up as much time as possible.

 

just another "heritage multiple unit" with power at both ends

 

In fairness, and I am a crusader against diseasals, this tour was planned with a more powerful loco that could have managed the load. Symptomatic of the multiple engine failure that has dogged this season. The A4 is just not up to it - no criticism. I guess the options were to postpone again, reduce the load and off load customers before the date or just cancel. Is today the least of many evils? I just hope that in the interest of transparency, all customers today were given an explaination.

 

60019 Scratchbury Hill, Warminster very colourful in the autumnal sunlight.

Class 37 + train + 60019 T/F from Westbury to Exeter, Witham 13:00, 35(ish) late. Light engine move not required.<BJ>

 

At Winchfield this morning:

 

With today's given route, the diesel was a necessity. <BJ>

 

That's what I basically said

 

A disappointing morning. We are very glad we didn't spend eighty or so pounds on another "Heritage multiple unit" run today. We went to Winchfield where we met a friend who had travelled all the way from Overton with the hope of seeing 60019 speeding along on the fast line rather than seeing her at the water stop. There was also a guy there who had come especially to see an A4 in action for the first time but left when hearing of the delay. We started to get the impression that something was wrong when there was a succession of units on the fast line very close to each other. We then got the message from someone at the other end of the station saying that the train had failed. This saw a mass exodus of those who had gathered to see 60019. With a only a few us still waiting around we then had a message saying the train had left Waterloo around 10.00. Then with some updates from B1 and Mrs B1 (Many thanks for these) we heard that 60019 wasn't far away at around 10.45. 60019 then crawled into view on the slow line before accelerating through the station with the Class 37 furiously pushing at the rear. A disappointing shot taken not far from Swannys position:http://steamtube.ning.com/photo/bittern-winchfield-301010?context=latest

 

Why is an A4 not up to it? On the Mayflower Bittern took 12 and its second tender to Taunton, the support crew were more than confident that it would have made Exeter with no problems. I wont repeat what was said about NR and not letting them have a crack at the Banks solo

 

Don't think people are talking about the presence of a box as such, it is how much shoving it does. If it is there for shunting or similar purposes, then that is all it should do. As a matter of interest, why has has this suddenly become a problem? Steam has been back on the main line since 1971 & we have had wet rails, leaf fall etc for as long as one can remember. So why is it now been decided that virtually all steam specials require box assistance, particularly this year. Due to the regular uncertainty, I think my travelling on main line steam tours are over. No way am I paying something approaching £100 for something that is not 100% what I am paying for. I think tour operators should made to make it clear from the start either on the tour itinerary or the booking form that a box will shoving on most of a particular tour, then people can make their minds up from the start whether to book or not & not find out on the day. Steam Dreams statement of 95% exclusive steam haulage on a box assisted tour is a total joke, more like the other way round. I think they can be legally taken to task over that statement.

 

Worried I might have been in your way! Followed the various updates before setting out so thanks to everyone who posted/texted. Hoped to catch it on the fast but I guess just depended on the path available at the time.

 

I tend to agree with that - however it will be interesting to see what happens on the return trip assuming it leaves Exeter on time. I guessed that this morning's run would have a diesel on the back since it would be required from Westbury to Exeter anyway and given how late the train was they probably wanted to make up lost time. However on the return trip it should not in theory be required for anything other than to remove the ECS from Paddington tonight - so let's see.

Frankly the debate about diesels on the back of trains is getting tiresome and there doesn't seem to be any ready solution to the problem. I think it's something we'll just have to live with although I can understand why some people feel short-changed. The problem is that I don't think the tour operators can say in advance whether diesel assistance will be necessary - surely that depends on conditions on the day and whatever requirements Network Rail have imposed.

 

Any news of progress on the return leg?

 

Reported 4 minutes early through Taunton. <BJ>