The Coronation Express (VT) - April 2nd - Tyseley > Didcot for 6023 Launch

Great photos and videos there already. I saw 4965 + 5043 going through Ashchurch this morning before heading to the GWSR for the first day of their DMU service. Any way, here's the photos and video (HD):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/totally-transport/sets/72157626412046132/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUihb0TDgK0
Hope you enjoy, sorry about the background noises in the video!

 

Climbing up to Sapperton Tunnel in the morning:

 

Video from Didcot, also posted to the 6023 thread:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlMKfPX_x7o

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tom_clarke/5583617136/
...And Cradley Heath, as they dig into the attack of Old Hill Bank...

 

Our contributions from Worcester and Sapperton...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZHnlsr3I6M

 

Those two young men who did the camera work should be proud of themselves.............excellent

 

Here's my video, taken at Sapperton and in the evening sun north of Ashchurch.......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g45KhOaKWvU

 

What a great day for ex GWR steam. Arrival at Didcot some 10 minutes early was the prelude to the fantastic official launch of 6023. I managed to see the return at Swindon and there were many ex Swindon railwaymen out to see 4965 and 5043.

My enthusiasm was dampended somewhat when, today, I picked up a copy of the Railway Magazine for December 1962 and on the second page is a fabulous photograph by the renowned photographer M. W. Earley of none other than 6023 on the 1A35 up Cardiff to Paddington "Red Dragon". This was the accompanying desciption. No. 6023 "King Edward 11" passing Tilehurst, nr Reading with the up "Red Dragon". After more than 30 years on express passenger duties, the Great Western Kings are being withdrawn. No. 6023 was SCRAPPED

 

What a great day for ex GWR steam. Arrival at Didcot some 10 minutes early was the prelude to the fantastic official launch of 6023. I managed to see the return at Swindon and there were many ex Swindon railwaymen out to see 4965 and 5043.

My enthusiasm was dampended somewhat when, today, I picked up a copy of the Railway Magazine for December 1962 and on the second page is a fabulous photograph by the renowned photographer M. W. Earley of none other than 6023 on the 1A35 up Cardiff to Paddington "Red Dragon". The caption reads "No. 6023 "King Edward 11" passing Tilehurst, nr Reading with the up "Red Dragon". After more than 30 years on express passenger duties, the Great Western Kings are being withdrawn. No. 6023 was SCRAPPED at Swindon in October 1962!"If that is the case, what is the true identity of the BLUE king which was on view yesterday. Interesting. Very intersting indeed!

 

Not sure there is any great mystery here - 6023's engine record card on 6023.co.uk shows it as being sold to an indecipherable scrapyard in Briton Ferry on 10/10/1962, crossed out and changed to "Woodham Bros Barry 26/11/62" Its not an unreasonable assumption for a magazine journalist trying desperately to keep up with vast numbers of scrappings to have assumed its disposal date was in fact it being scrapped, if they didn't become aware of the change - bear in mind that the press date for a December 1962 magazine would have been prior to the alteration to Woodham Bros on the record.

 

I think the scrapyard at Briton Ferry was Wards. Regarding the the Kings, as I remember both 6023/4 were stored at Swindon after withdrawel (June '62?) They even had their tenders removed. It was then decided to use these engines for bridge testing in South Wales, so they had their tenders re-attached & towed to South Wales for said bridge testing. Then there is the "scrapyard change" story here #335.

http://railways.national-preservation.com/showthread.php/22607-6023-King-Edward-11/page34

 

Well done to all involved in the tour - a credit to all of you.

I was on Sapperton for the outbound run - the noise was volcanic be interested to know the speed over the summit. Didn't look like they were holding anything back.


Right click on the pics and choose large for best effect
http://www.flickr.com/photos/d1059/5584900723/in/set-72157626419042326/

and Baulking for the return

http://www.flickr.com/photos/d1059/5585493166/in/set-72157626419042326

 

My offering on the subject
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khKgP_1Oh9A
If you thought Sapperton was loud, old Hill was, well you can make up your own mind

From the few points I saw the tour it looked an excellent run, well done to all involved.

 

My effort at Worcester Shrub Hill yesterday morning:

 

To Didcot to see the King 2 April 2011

The latest tour in Vintage Trains' busy Spring programme was to Didcot via the scenic route, through Worcester, Gloucester and the Golden Valley. The object of the visit was to celebrate the inauguration of the newly restored King class 4-6-0 No 6023 King Edward II - hence the train was titled the Coronation Express. The train of 10 VT coaches was headed by GWR 4-6-0s No 4965 Rood Ashton Hall and Castle class No 5043 Earl of Mount Egdcumbe.

I boarded at Smethwick Galton Bridge and after Stourbridge Junction the pair hustled us quickly up into the sixties through Hagley and Kidderminster to the outskirts of Droitwich: after slowing, another brisk spell followed to the edge of Worcester, our final pickup. Then we sprinted down the mainline, apart from slowing through Ashchurch and Cheltenham, all the way to the water stop at Gloucester.

A short burst followed before a slow approach and dead stand at Standish Junction, then a brisk start up into the Cotswolds. We were doing 53 at Stroud and as the climb steepened, the bark from the two exhausts ensured that we stayed at over 50 all the way up into Sapperton Tunnel, entered at exactly 50 mph. Further sprints before and after Kemble saw us early into Swindon, and early away. Such was our storming start along the 'billiard table' and the speeds maintained for the next ten miles, that we were near even time past Uffington. Slowings around Challow and Wantage Road could not take the edge of what was a sparkling run throughout, and it was no surprise to see the redoubtable Ray Churchill had been on the footplate of the Hall.

Then it was into Didcot Railway Centre to admire the new King, a fine sight in the very early, and short lived, BR express blue - much darker and purpler than the Caley blue of Sir Nigel Gresley. She was displayed in various locations, alongside various resident engines and, of course, our two visitors. Then I took a quick HST ride to Swindon to snap three more of their veteran locos at Steam, before picking up the return run after its first short leg.

The return was as outward, with us passing 60 before the outskirts of Swindon, touching the day's maximum at Shrivenham and staying above 60 to Oaksey. After Kemble, we charged up the 1 in 100/94/90 in the fifties, touching 61 before entering Sapperton tunnel at 59. We dawdled down the Golden valley with the stopper ahead of us, but once again had a number of bursts of high speed along the main line, between checks. Given the Hall is limited to 60, it is frustrating to be unable to report the specifics! On the final stretch, she passed Cradley Heath at 51 and as they powered up the 1 in 51 of Old Hill bank, the speed dropped only slowly through the forties, and the train entered the tunnel at 41. So ended an excellent day, immersed in all things GWR, past and present.

See 18 pictures at http://www.flickr.com/photos/pjhliners/sets/72157626294427061/detail/

Peter, on an evening of heavy showers in Manchester
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pjhliners/

 

Had a great day on saturday,a wonderful trip and to see 6023 was fantastic. Looks and sounds absolutely brilliant,thanks to everyone involved for getting such a lost cause to the state it is in now! Superb!

Just put the one shot on my site,incredibly lucky not to have anybody on the shot!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mark-walker/5586683513/

Cheers,
Mark

 

It was another great day out for all of us. Thanks to Didcot as always for hosting us. Some amazing pictures and video's all over the net.

One word of caution - there were SO MANY people that looked like they were the wrong side of the fences as we were climbing Sapperton Bank it wasn't funny.

It was nice to sit in Kemble for a few minutes - I KNOW someone got some good pics there!


The next outing for the pair of engines in Llandudno on 30th April. We are going all the way into town to be part of the Victorian Festival. Hope to see everyone on the train!

 

I assume the driver(s) did the right thing and reported the trespassers to the Signalmen at Swindon/Gloucester/Didcot? (I don't know which panel/IECC controls that part of railway line).