Cathedral's Express 25-Jun-2013

A rant from me. Once again a Steam Dreams run that was supposed to be Braunton is not to be. I've been anticipating this engine since 2011 and its never appeared.

Can the owners not make agreements that Braunton will run until it has passed all its tests and will be cleared by all parties that it can run on the main line. Is Braunton going to run the Steam Dreams special to Swanage.? I bet it won't. Please Steam Dreams remove all reference to this engine until it really is ready.

Rant over.

Barry Kendker

 

They've been doing this sort of thing for years - but to be fair so have Railway Touring Company. I never book on any tour with a loco that is yet to be main line certified.

 

They can only go by what the loco owners/operators say. Most of them are grossly over optimistic and bullish. I never accept any loco will appear on any service until a few days before the event. I wouldn't lay money on seeing Braunton this year.

 

Or next ?

 

I would. The Torbay Express people say the test run is on July the first.

 

Brave bet.

 

Is that light engine? It's due to run at ELR 29/30 June.

 

No idea, but the Torbay Express said on their Facebook page...

 

To be fair, Steam Dreams are much less prone to this than some tour co.s.

I think part of the problem at the moment is that mainline Class 7 and 8 locos, espeically those with few route restrictions, are in short supply. Besides, Barunton has been "promised" several times and not quite made it. Let's hope the tests planned for next week are successful.

 

Let's hope Braunton makes it on 9th July on the Steam Dreams Special to Swanage.

Back to the usual - Tornado.

This blew through London yesterday as a replacement for Braunton. The special was Diesel-hauled from Rainham-Kent to Battersea Loop (near the Battersea Dog's Home) and arrived 9 minutes late. The operators changed engines smartly and Tornado passed me, at Imperial Wharf, the 1st station Tornado passed, 1 minute early on the Up West London Line.

Here is my shot.



I was reminded that exactly 1 year ago, 26-Jun-2012 Tornado ran on the West London Line and I filmed it arriving and departing Kensington Olympia. It was a Steam Dreams special which started at Westbury and was heading for Canterbury-West. Tornado was in Brunswick Green 1 year ago.

My two films can be seen at

 

Filmed at Shepreth Branch Junction, Manea, March and Hitchin.