CATHEDRALS EXPRESS LONDON - YEOVIL - WEYMOUTH 9 JULY

Great shots, superb loco, good time had by all............I'm envious...........can we ooop north borrow it please?

 

Yes - fireman on the final leg was Don Clarke's son. He told me it was only his third main line firing turn!

 

I mentioned to Don Clarke at Waterloo that a few crews in the great loco shed in the sky would have been envious of him getting through what was once called "Stop All Junction" like that! And Basingstoke and Surbiton and Wimbledon!

I think that's my fastest start to stop Earlsfield - Overton time Al.

A quick glance at the times up from Southampton this morning and some quesswork on the computer indicates the running was around the 77 minute mark if it had been non stop. That allows extra for a much slower entry into, say Platform 16 at Waterloo, (it was platform 19 last night), than would have happened in the 1960s. And assumes a gentle accceleration all the way up Roundwood to the 68.3 mph we were running last night at the top. Rather good for a train close to the equivalent of 12 cars running to, and keeping almost exactly to a 75 mph limit.

A 1960s equivalent with the race in from Clapham we used to get back then, (they did manage to stop before the buffers at Waterloo. Well mostly they did), could have been less than 76 minutes. Again with the 75 mph limit.

Oh finally, (no, not really, it won't be my last post on this thread, no use kidding myself about that. LOL!), I hope Wayne posts here before too long.

With the crew change over at Eastleigh none of us had to the chance to thank him or his fireman for what they did to make yesterday so memorable for so very many of us, as we were able to do with the other crews. And to maybe hear his take on the day.

 

I can only add my thanks to all involved with yesterday's magnificent run. I joined the queue of people at Waterloo to shake Driver Clarke's hand and thank him for an unforgettable experience. Passing through Basingstoke at 71mph and Woking at 75mph (Video here: End Of Steam Special: 35028 at speed at Woking - YouTube ) was breathtaking! Thanks also to the other crews for their efforts on the other legs. Hello also to Andover who remembered what I had written about wearing a Sgt Pepper T-shirt and came to say hello and have a chat.

 

That was my second 9th of July run. I really thought it would be impossible to improve on last year's excellent day with Tangmere but this was even better. So thanks to everyone at Steam Dreams, MNLPS, DBS and the much maligned Network Rail for their contributions to a memorable trip.

I was 3 years old in 1967 so have no memories of the real steam days bugt it doesn't matter. Trips like this give some idea of what fun it must have been. Things are very different now on the railways but it's just great to be able to enjoy steam on the main line in 2012. That's something we should savour and not take for granted.

 

That video has reduced me to tears, silly old s.d that I am.

So many memories it has brought back.

Brother Don will have the date, but we watched, I think Merchant 30, come through Woking at around 90 mph on the up Royal Wessex one day in 1962?. Rocking and rolling all over the points and crossings at the West end of the station. It was almost frightening to watch. The trackwork is one hell of a lot better nowadays.

And in the same year I came through at 92mph on the up ACE. 35003 of course. That was a very, very fast and free running Merchant Navy. Saunders and Young from Salisbury top link, on the way to a circa 72 minute net run Salisbury to Waterloo.

35028 may have been constrained to 75 mph last night, but that wonderful video view from the platform was every bit as exhilerating as those days in 1962. As it was also on the train last night. I do hope someone can get a link to that video to Don Clarke and his crew.

Cheers,

Bryan

 

I can understand your feelings.......a superb run...........wish I'd been on it......

 

Brilliant videos. Steam racing through stations is far for exciting and hair raising to me than in the open countryside.

Anyone take a video at Basingstoke?

 

I also had a fantastic day yesterday on the train. I'm another who is too young to have been there in 1967 but being a fan of Bulleid's I can easily connect with 1967. The run home last night was quite superb and storming through Basingstoke and Woking was what hairs on the back of your neck were made for. In fact it was just fantastic to travel behind a Merchant Navy on it's old stomping ground. Thanks to all who made the day possible.
Some of my grabbed photos of the day can be seen here Main Line - Monday 9th July 2012 - Paul Gildersleve's Photos | SmugMug

Regards,

Paul

 

Found this on Youtube(not mine).
35028 "Clan Line" passes Basingstoke at speed 09/07/2012. - YouTube

 

SOme great pictures there Paul especially the last one from Waterloo. Even my wife was impressed.

 

The "way out" sign swinging after it passed says it all.

 

Yeah that was brilliant with the sign. Showed she was really going for it. Looked a fantastic trip and a typical fantastic 35028 performance.

 

An excellent day indeed. Well worth doing, even if it did mean only being able to get home as far as Bristol, and wait for the first train to Weston-super-Mare this morning. Only 5 hours, and plenty of steam pics / vids to view online helped the time pass. This almost creates what would be the ideal of being able to enjoy the on train feeling and off train views simultaneously, albeit with a few hours delay.

As has been said extensively already, I think yesterday was a great tribute to all involved in its organising and operation. It just goes to show what can be achieved when the thinking is joined up, and everyone pulls together towards the same aim. Great atmosphere on board as well which always seems present on those trips which are a bit special.

Clan Line has been my favourite main line steam locomotive from the first day I started travelling on steam tours 25 years ago. Fantastic the routes that have opened up to steam since then, as well as the sheer number of trains being run. Long may it continue I say so we can all go on enjoying the kind of show we did yesterday.

Of course we all go away wondering what higher speeds the train could have reached without restriction, and I suspect most of us have a similar figure in mind. Who knows, maybe someday those of us born after the end of steam will get to experience those high speeds from the past mentioned in KentYeti's "steamy memoirs". Pretty sure though it'll only ever be a very select few locomotives, and on anniversary specials like this one only. Also expensive, as I'm sure someone would insist on a lighter load before it was allowed to happen.

 

Can only echo what's already been said. Superb run. Travelled down from Liverpool for this one and I wasn't disappointed in any way. The running was top-notch throughout, a great credit to all involved. 35028 can make a fair old noise when put to it! We were near the front on the down run (J), I was very impressed to say the least. Also we were 'really' motoring at a few points on the down run - those who were aboard will know what I mean! - The up run was what most had come for and boy we weren't disappointed. The videos go some way to show what it was like. Thanks to all; the Crews, SD, NR, SWT and the signalmen for keeping us on the fast and just letting her run. Pity we couldn't shake all their hands for such a good job well done on such a high-intensity route. Brill.

Alan.

 

The last part of your post is well made re the efforts needed to give us a lengthy 75mph schedule. That part of the Southern Region, ( I will never call it anything else), is an incredibly busy railway.

Stand at Woking waiting to board a steam special that has been forced by pathway issues to come the usual long and slow way from London, (usually Victoria), and just watch the intensity of traffic.

Or wait at Battledown for a steam special and watch an almost non-stop traffic flow, most heading up and down the Bournemouth line.

That's what makes events like last night, (and last years 9th July trip too), so very special. The opportunites for lengthy running by steam at 75 mph, as seen on lines like the East Coast, just don't exist on the SR. Except very, very occasionally and with a lot of work by all concerned.

 

Absolutely agree. To do anything else could jeopardise the whole thing, and as has been pointed out elsewhere, sustained high speed running in the 80s and 90s wouldn't be that authentic. If anything is allowed to do more one day it'll be Tornado I expect which isn't a heritage machine like the others. That said, it's recent boiler issues show that although the fabric may be "new", the design isn't, and should be respected as such.

 

Thanks to Steam Dreams, DBS, MNLPS and Network for yesterdays trip. Photos from the trip -Zenfolio | Paul Simpson | Cathedrals Express to Weymouth