Blackmore Vale Express 16th of July.

Some good points there James. With no mention of WCR's own role on Tangys wonderful day out.

And yes, us SR freaks do get a bit hot under the collar at times. The very nature of our railway means that the good scheduling the LNER guys can get, as can happen on the Northern end of the LMR and for parts of the Torbay Express for the GWR guys, means we feel left out of it!

But as said above, (Clapham Junction), and as I said on the Tangy thread, (Woking), we do know that very great effort is needed to try and get a decent pathway though the myriad of normal service trains we have down here. Hence some of my views about future main line steam operation.

With such a lot of main line steam down here it would just be nice to have more than one decent schedule a year. Especially when 35028 has her rare run away from the VSOE. We do know that good scheduling just cannot be the norm. I doubt any of us SR freaks are asking for that.

I won't be in tomorrow's trip now. But for my eldest daughters wedding I would have booked and accepted what I was given just to be behind 35028 again. Even though to me if would have been the lineside photters equivalent of her running with a large face on the front and adds all over the tender.

But I do wish everyone a good day, and I am sure that the loco crews and all others involved will still do their best to try and give as much enjoyment to as many people as they can.

 

We were mulling this one over but have decided not to go as the price has put us off. I can't see why they have felt the need to charge so much (£89.50) for standard class. We went on the last UKrailtours charter with 35028 (Waterloo -Weymouth return) which was IIRC about £10.00 less than this one and had longer route mileage. The SD trip last week was a bit cheaper and featured haulage by two loco's. Looking at the UK railtours website earlier it says they still have seats left. I can't say I am surprised. Still, I hope those on board have a good day. You might even get to see 34067 at Yeovil if they get her out of the shed.

 

I notice that the Oborne Road bridge still has a 5 mph speed restriction on the up. <BJ>

 

About 3 minutes late dep Waterloo, 67029 brought stock in and detached is following light engine.

 

Clapham Jn. 09:14, Barnes 09:17 on the slow.

Brolly ready. Here we go. <BJ>

 

19 mph through Isleworth

 

Seen passing Ashford Middlesex at a reasonable pace http://stephenleek.smugmug.com/Rail...Steam-2011/17580045_BxQB2R#1385909307_Vh8w62z

 

Now on the mainline and doing nearly 23 mph

 

Just got up after a truly lovely but emotionally draining eldest daughter wedding yesterday. This who know my circumstances will understand why such a great day would be so draining for me, and why I was physically ill when I got home late last night. But it went superbly without a hitch for my "Tig" and she looked really lovely, (no funny face on her head or advertising on the dress ! LOL!). Both daughters now married in the space of 9 weeks. Phew......!!! Yesterday it was at Cooling Barn next to Cooling Castle where Jools Holland lives and he came out and said hello to her. Good man.

Anyway, enough rambling from me, (you'll be lucky), it's too late for me to make a last minute decision to go today!

But I hope the are plenty of updates today here, so I can follow progress and see piccies and video of a superb steam locomotive, (please, please use a tripod or other suppport and don't zoom and jerk the camera all over the place! LOL!). And I really have my fingers crossed that the 28 miles form Overton to Salisbury is done start to stop in the scheduled 28 minutes. Would love early details of that and other running as soon as possible.

And for those who knew him please remember Fred Hoare when the train is at and around Salisbury. IMHO the very best and most consistent of that wonderful 1964 Salisbury Top Link. Superb engineman and a true gentleman as well. A few of us did stand in trubute to him leaving Salisbury behind unrebuilt Tangy last week on a non stop schedule to Waterloo on 9th July 2011. And on 9th April 1964 I left Salisbury behind unrebuilt 34002 on the up ACE with Fred driving, on a circa 76 minute net time run to Waterloo.

It was on 24th July 1964 that Fred Hoare, on his last down ACE working, drove 35028 herself into Salisbury on time after a late start from Waterloo, a severe tsr at Allington Box and a short signal stop outside of Salisbury. Net time not much above 72 minutes. Around 90 mph through Andover, which won't be repeated today of course.

 

Don't you do leaving that water stop early Clan Line! You know you can do 28 mins to Salisbury. 75 by Hurstborne, a steady 75 down through Andover, (Fred will forgive you, things are different now. My best with Fred there on the down ACE was 94 mph with 35022), nice and noisy climb over Grateley. Back up to 75 as quick as poss. Late but still safe braking for Tunnel Junction and a normal ACE entry into Salisbury.

Go for it Clan Line!

LOL!

 

Booked to run fast line through Farnborough, but crawled into the station on the slow and held at signal presumably to allow following express to pass. Running to time at this point, maybe a minute early.

 

We didn't bother to go out in the end. Weather absolutely foul here in Aldershot.

 

I'm told 29 mins 27 secs Overton-Salisbury. Fractionally over 75 mph max and 62 over Grateley. 13 cars.

 

I'm surprised it was only 62 as I filmed the train at Grateley .....she was flying. Rain, rain, rain but a superb sequence of Clan Line at speed. <BJ>

 

Couple of shots from today, not overly happy with either but nice to see clan line;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmeB7sO1xl0

 

My vid of Clan Line this evening @ Southampton Airport Parkway, running approx' 35mins late:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7Y_nJVujxs

I'm surprised at the mega lack of Railtour updates today. There were none between the Farnborough one this morning & my Southampton one this evening, plus the couple more we've had since. It was the same for Britannia the other night. I'm on the Dorset Coast Express on the Bournemouth Weymouth leg on Tuesday so I'll endeavour to put out a few updates. Thanks to those peeps who do txt in updates, it's much appreciated.

 

Thanks for that.

Interesting that the box had been attached before it's once scheduled attachment point of Eastleigh. Unless I'm having several senior moments all at once!

Hopefully get the full story of the day tomorrow.

 

That's correct Bryan. See note from timings schedule sent in earlier post.

The coaching stock looked quite reasonable today .....thankfully <BJ>

 

Many thanks Al. Very glad you had a good day. I guess many others did too.

Be interested in the climb up Roundwood and some more details including start to stop times.

I presume you didn't get a clear run in from Clapham? I don't think a platform 19 arrival ever allows that. Maybe a 22 minute run from Woking to passing Clapham? Would be good with a very heavy load like that, (ie 13 plus a box, equiv to circa 16 cars in old money).

But I guess you need some sleep first after a long day.

And re a smoke screen of clag. Well, Tangy is an original Bulleid, so we have to make allowances!