34046 Braunton to Portsmouth 30th May

Pathfinder brochure clattered through the letter box this week and included a trip with Braunton;- Bishops Lydeard to Portsmouth and return on the late May bank holiday Monday.Have booked my seat already. Have been looking forward for a long time to sampling this beautifully restored machine on the main line. Three reasons why I visited the WSR last year:-Braunton, Braunton and Braunton. (Well almost. 5029 figured as well !!)

 

You cant get beter than a Bulleid Pacific.Well yes you can.More of them

 

Good to have a rebuilt out on the mainline!

 

Booked ages ago,should be fantastic,wonderful to have a Rebuilt back.

 

Yes it is. Also we've had 34027 in the 1990's, 34016 in the 00's and now 34046 in the 10's (is that right?). Also it will be nice to see steam in Portsmouth again. Was it 70013 that last went there back in 2009?

 

I photographed 60019 Bittern coming on to Pompey on the 12th December 2009 - I don't believe we've had any steam since then:

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/PkdMnMO7ZFFdNf6BpQbi7g?feat=directlink
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/mhwrNogV-PrvBPdQsR1DDQ?feat=directlink

 

Oh right. Think I saw her that day at Haywards Heath. Hope to go out and see 34046 at some point in the future as I haven't been to Minehead to see her.

 

Interesting that Pathfinder have booked 34046 for this train even though it hasn't undertaken any mainline trials as of yet. 30th May isn't that long away really!

 

She should be well run in by now, so maybe all she'll need are a LE test run and then a loaded test run. Plenty of time between now and the end of May for them to take place.

 

A brief update was posted on the Braunton Management Co website:

 

What is her likily test run route? taunton to didcot? or to Bristol? or will she just do a quick run to westbury , use the triangle and return

 

I would have thought the most likely route would be Bishops Lydeard - Taunton - Bristol - Bath - Westbury - Taunton - BL (or vice versa) as that avoids the need to turn the loco and is probably just about the right sort of distance for a test run, but that's just speculation and I'm sure we will found out the actual route nearer the time.

 

Uksteam now says that 70000 is working this trip to Portsmouth as 34046 is still unavailable. Does anyone know how long it will be before she comes out on the ML? We booked up the 9th July run to Weymouth as 34046 was booked for this along with 48151. However, we have been told this might be hauled by another loco instead of 34046.

 

This is copied from a recent news item on wsr.org - thanks Steven - went on the site on 10th May

No Pompey trip for No 34046 It seems SR 4-6-2 no 34046 is not available for the planned and long awaited return to mainline work on 30 May. The excursion from Bishops Lydeard to Portsmouth and back will now be hauled by BR 4-6-2 no 70000 Britannia. We understand problems with the tender have prevented Braunton from putting in the miles on the WSR and of course it has yet to venture onto the mainline for proving runs. Details of the Pompey Pacific can be found on the Pathfinder Tours website and also the excellent UK steam info.

DH

 

Thanks for that. The story is also in the latest HR (No.150). Still no clues to when she will be ready though.

 

Britannia's railtour to Portsmouth is now fully booked. <BJ>

 

Looks like a good weekend for me. Sunday I'm off to the IOW gala and Monday a Brit comes to the top of my road :-D

 

Times are now up on UK Steam info.

http://www.uksteam.info/tours/t11/t0530a.htm

 

Just wondering will 70000 Britannia be taken off before Portsmouth Harbour? From memory locos are unable enter Portsmouth Harbour because of a weight limit on the pier.

 

70013 went in ok in July 09.