'The Royal Duchy' 2013

I sincerely hope you're right!

 

Another day another change of motive power. It's getting quite bewildering. I wonder if the possible double headed black fives is due to the weather having been basically dry during the week? Less of a fire risk especially if RTC need a nine coach load? Tomorrow morning at BTM will be interesting. The 29th will certainly be a good end to the season if Braunton is the motive power. The ticket letter for next week's Duchy has 70013 as motive power - but that was then!!!

 

From reports Ive seen only 44932 is with 47237 and stock on its way to Bristol...has it changed again or was it only ever one Black 5?? Where is 45231 at the moment??

 

44932 is working on its own as I reported earlier. RTC never planned to run double headed but the idea was discussed.....!!
Load confirmed as 8. (7 + 1)

2 steam locos in Exeter Sunday morning and close together down the Exe as far as Dawlish Warren

Neither train runs through the York control area....!!!

 

44932 with 47237 on rear through Parson St a couple of minutes down.

 

Another great day for the Royal Duchy. 47237 on rear to assist as 44932 banned from running unassisted as it set fires light engine on Thursday. Who'd buy tickets on Steam Hauled Trains these days. Another £160 down the drain. Reason 44932 was sent down was 45231 had failed with injector problems short of Waterloo on the return Dorset Coast and it couldn't be repaired in time.

 

Not a great period for Main Line steam at the moment. Sad news about 45231, she looked to be on fine form on Wednesday. How did 44932 manage to start fires when it was only pulling two carriages on Thursday?

 

Not from sparks from the front end apparently. Best I could glean as not a lot was being said was that it has a fire grate problem.

 

Agree with you completely. It's a shame for promoters and travellers alike that there's such a dearth of Class 7 and 8s around this year to haul trains over the hard routes like the South Devon Banks.

 

Maybe Carnforth made the wrong choice with regard to the engine(s) it sent South to cover for the current traction shortage.

 

46115 would have been ideal but it was needed "up north" and didn't return from York until Friday.

 

SWRG reporting that diesel is leading from Newton Abbot due to a fire at Exminster

 

Can confirm the box is leading up Dainton. Not worth waiting an hour for. I will be photographing Braunton this evening, (which looked superb again today, well done to all involved!) unless anyone knows if the formation on the Duchy will be switched again? I understand the need for a diesel with the ground as dry as it is but not on the front on a 'Steam hauled' trip. But I guess it was a last minute decision as circumstances dictated.

 

If it started a fire en route that congratulations to all involved for having the foresight to have diesel assistance on hand and for acting quickly with minimal delay. It just came past me at Totnes a few minutes later with the Cl.47 in front. Not the picture I was expecting, but still heritage traction and as I'd paid precisely zero pence to pop out for a picture of it (having checked realtimetrains at home and then on my phone to make sure no hanging around was required), nowt to complain about. Hope the passengers had a good steam hauled run for the first half of the journey and might get some more steam haulage later.

 

It's worth considering that two steam-hauled trains passed the location of the fire withing a few minutes of each other.

 

Except for the fact that it sets fire to everything.

 

I was thinking that. Only about 10 minutes apart. Does that mean 34046 will require a diesel pilot on the return as well?

 

Hopefully. If only to annoy all the armchair types who think NR have no right to instigate a steam ban.