34067. 'Capital Christmas Express'. 17-11-2012

Since the cause of the stall has yet to be made public, there's only supposition at the moment. Maybe it was due to leaves, maybe it was due to Tangmere but maybe it was neither of these. Until then you can rant as much as you like. I will agree though that if rail head conditions were poor then some insurance on the back end would have been in order.

 

What is the load?

 

blimey, conspiracy theories now.

 

Also don't forget how many times tangmere has taken the Dorset Coast Express up there in recent years. Something out of the ordinary is likely which could be anything from faulty dragging brakes through leaves on the line to vandalism. Leaves an obvious first thought I agree BUT I'm happy to await some authoritative statement.

 

Not a rant, merely pointing out that a: Tangmere has previous, Its autumn, it was wet, it was a hill, and a nutter pouring oil on the track was probably outside the risk profile.

Now given that scenario ( we know that was the scenario ) you are the trip planner. What would YOU have done?

 

Problems directly related to Tangmere herself may not have been the reason for the stall. In fact they almost certainly weren't as look how well she performed on the Devon banks during September. It's not the first time she's fallen foul of poor rail head conditions however, so not unreasonable to have added that into the risk profile when planning this tour I would have thought, and kept the diesel attached for the climb of Parkstone. Last year's tour to Bristol on 24 Novemeber, also hauled by 34067, and which started at Poole, (today's train was booked to pick up there), did have a 47 attached at the rear, so why not this year ?

Not very consistent, especially, as has been pointed out elsewhere, that last Sunday's train in Kent had a diesel attached throughout. Events like these confuse the non-enthusiast type of passenger, and can't help the cause of main line steam one bit !

 

Read my earlier reply again and you will see what I suggested should have been done.

 

Exactly, so hardly qualifies as a rant now does it, specially as we are in agreement.

 

Anyone know anything about return times?

 

Just a point on people rounding on Tangmere, I'm not aware that Bulleids ever struggled particularly with Parkstone bank during most weather conditions back in the days of steam. Although that was probably more to do with the fact that that stretch of line, like so many others, wasn't an overgrown jungle back in those days which drop half a tonne of leaves onto the line every autumn. Maybe the fault lies not with the loco or the crew but the penny-pinchers who decided not to bother keeping our linesides under control for the past 50 years? It affects modern traction too, why else do they need to send out all these sandite and RHTT trains?

As for SWT pinning the blame on Tangmere, maybe trying to avoid their staff getting so much grief (I'm willing to bet Joe Public will be more tolerant of a steam train) and, of course, making sure they don't get any of the fine for the delay minutes pinned on them...

Anyway, enough of this seriousness. Here are some photos - Steam tours in 2012 - Railway Galleries

 

Away from Paddington 18:34.

Ta TS

James at SVN

 

With what hauling it? Tangmere or diesel?

 

Not 100% at the minute, will edit the post if I find out what is hauling it.

James at SVN

 

Tangmere is on the Front. Diesel on rear

 

Question answered! Thanks for posting.

James at SVN

 

Out of interest, the tweet highlighted by "Swanny" that mentioned "delays caused by a STEAM train" appears to have been removed from SWT's timeline, (I can only see the earlier ones that merely referred to a "broken down train", so maybe someone thought better of it after reading this ?

 

Looking at the other ML trip today with 6201, she suffered the same problem near Whalley Viaduct on the S & C. Clearly the conditions were poor all round today.

 

Thundered through Shawford at 75(?) 20:16, bang on time!

Nearly knocked my tripod over!

James at SVN

 

Nope, wasn't a 'tweet'. From SW Trains Live train information-line updates, sorry, should have been more specific.

 

Here is a video of the events at Poole that was posted on Youtube:34067 1Z92 Weymouth - London Paddington 17-11-2012 - YouTube