Torbay Express Season 2012

Too much steam with centres too far apart, little or no times between trips for running repairs or preventative maintenance on the main line loco fleet.

 

Agreed. I think we may have to accept less steam in the future to mitigate against this sort of thing. Especially as the skills required to keep steam alive will continue to diminish.

 

Goose that lays the golden egg stuff

 

Who's to say there's an issue with 71000 ?, it could just be as easily be due to unforseen events they are unable to source enough support crew for the day for example, these people have work and lives away from maintaining a loco whch sometimes need to take priority.

 

Let's hope it isn't an issue with the loco preventing her hauling the train. Will have to wait and see. Not certain whether she was up for hauling one of the other two trains in July or not but with 70000 now lined up to share the Weymouth duties with 34067 and 71000's booked appearance on The Tamar Devonian, 28 July it shouldn't be too long before we know the answer.

 

Any news on today's run

 

Roughly on time last post I saw

 

Once again fantastic passing Cockwood.


70000,Cockwood | Flickr - Photo Sharing!


Cheers,
Mark

 

Safely up to Churston. Dry rail and sunshine. There's a novelty!

 

few photos from dawlish at torbay express 8-7-12 - keyhamtrain and video keyhamtrain's channel - YouTube

 

Video of the trip today, taken alongside the River Teign and at Powderham.

The Torbay Express - 70000 Britannia - 8th July 2012 - YouTube

 

70000 Britannia reported to be in steam this evening at Bristol Barton Hill depot. <BJ>

 

Excellent, thanks for spreading the good news !

 

Good news indeed. Looking forwards to another trip on 70000 tomorrow. On the first week Exeter to Whiteball summit was covered in 19 min 42.5 seconds (pass to pass), pretty good. Speed at the summit was 56 mph with a “Whiteball challenge” speed of 59 mph.

70 mph into Flax Bourton summit, MP128.75 to the tunnel in 4 min 4.8 seconds, again pretty good and only 23 min 38 seconds W-S-M to Bristol, third fastest time I have recorded on this leg.
.

 

Anyone got any recommendations for photography locations in the Westbury / Frome / Yeovil areas??

Provided not too much alcohol is consumed tonight during No 2 night of the Somerset Bash, thus rendering waking up difficult, it would be silly to be in the area and miss it!

 

Well I am afraid you WILL miss it (The Torbay Express) if you go there !

 

Not bothered about another Brit - but a Spam can on home territory appeals - and there was no thread for that.

 

Surely it's a GWR route as far as Dorchester ?.

 

The Great Western railway from Bristol to Bath passes under the route of the Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway at Twerton. <BJ>

 

There is a Weymouth Seaside Express thread but with all the new threads started recently its been relegated to page 2 !