The Cheltenham Flyer

I'll echo that!

 

To me Al, its whether it did it in a net time of 77 mins or less. But even from myself, not a GWR fan and not on or photographing the train, a great sight of relief it wasn't a 40 mph plod. Someone in Control, (or whatever it's called these days), might have been working hard today.

But I do wonder how many on board actually bother how long it takes or how fast it goes? Maybe only a small number of timers like you and me bother about such things. With everyone else happy to be steam hauled on a named train from the past?

Fingers well crossed for you on the return run Al. Update us when you can please.

Cheers,

Bryan

 

Great effort by all concerned. Thanks for the show on Sapperton. Here's my clip:

 

Yes, I'll have a massive slice of that please. I suspected something like this might happen, in fact I hoped it would, but I did not want to build up the old hopes.

At Twyford, an up freight preceded 5043 and the announcer said the Cheltenham Flyer would pass on the up slow but because the signals did not automatically go red, amber, double amber and green following the freight, I knew something unplanned was going to happen and it did. Driver Ray Churchill was hanging out of the cab of 5043 looking back towards the up main as an HST approached. Ah, I thought, this explains why it was going so slow and why the signals did not change to green at Twyford and it happened. In the distance, one could see the feather for up slow to fast and off she disappeared. I just wish I had been at Maidenhead or Slough as I am sure it will have raced through here.

Pity the late comers at Twyford, and there were quite a few, who simply didn't believe lightning could strike twice after the Bristolian when told the train had already passed though 20 minutes early!!

 

Very impressive outward run, well done to the signallers for putting us back on the fasts at reading, and well done ray churchill for keeping it rolling at ladbroke grove to maintain a non stop, plenty of high speed running, very imprssed so far.

 

Superb run up Sapperton Bank, here's a quick teaser shot from my video

Nice to see they used the big GWR style headboard, I also loved what they did with the buffers

 

The Cheltenham Flyer. A wonderful sight at Frampton Mansell .....and that sound !!

An excellent photograph Kristian. <BJ>

 

Thanks very much Bill

Agreed on the sound, could listen to that 4-cylinder bark for hours!

 

12 early through Maidenhead, having run down the mains. Made me smile to read some humble pie eaten; aside from traincrew, men and women in SBs and Sdn Control (and others) have been/are up for making things run well.

 

20 early through Reading, fast line since Ladbroke Grove

 

Lovely to see 5043 on down main at Twyford well ahead of time. Yet again, missed by some who turned up late!

Reference your comment, NR could have avoided a load of grief and insults by timing these trains in the paths which it have actually run today. 63 minutes Reading to Paddington pass to stop was crazy from the start and no one really expected that to happen. As far as I am aware, no trains have been held back, no trains put on the relief lines to make way for 5043. No, just business as usual and yet here we are, 40 early on the up, already 20 early by Reading on the down. Crazy!

 

36 early at Uffington - we let one HST past at Didcot

 

Through Swindon 16:01, slowed right down waiting to get the line to Kemble, now doing 60mph and accelerating....

 

Yeah, never saw that one coming.....!!!

 

43 early past St Mary's Crossing

 

Arrived back at Gloucester 16:51, just 50 mins early!

 

I can't wait to:

(a) Hear from Big Al about the running

(b) Hear what Ben from Vintage Trains has to say on here. Maybe he will quote Matthew 8.26 at the doubters! LOL.

Strewth. If this damned GWR loco keeps doing stuff like this brother Don will be dragging me away from my Owls and Bulleids to have a ride on a Vintage Trains trip with her.

 

If only FGW could run services that early, well done to driver, fireman, support crew, vintage trains staff and those behind the scenes that made those signals stay green . cant wait for the reports, pictures and vids.

 

2 hours in Gloucester, hmm they could turn and service the Earl in that time.
I can dream can't I ?