Braunton to Salisbury 23 December

617 was neither a fighter squadron nor participated in the Battle of Britain. In fact it wasn't even in existence until three years after the B of B. So didn't exactly meet the criteria for a BB name.

 

Oh dear! Yes of course Al, 34004 was Yeo Vile!

Too many long days and late nights Owl watching recently. Mistook a perching Long-Eared Owl for a Barn Owl last night. Only for a few moments, but the result of total exhaustion.

 

excuse my ignorance, but was there 606,607,608 .. squadrons or does it not work that way ?

 

Doesn't work that way.

Firstly, squadron numbers aren't continuous. So just because there was, for example, a 617 squadron, doesn't mean there were 617 squadrons, then or at any time. There are gaps in the sequence.

Secondly the names commemorate aircraft (e.g. Spitfire, Hurricane); people (e.g. Sir Kieth Park; Sir Archibald Sinclair); airfields (e.g. Tangmere, Manston) or squadrons (e.g. 257 squadron) that played a significant part in the Battle of Britain. So squadrons that were bomber squadrons, or coastal command, or were fighter squadrons but stationed well away from the SE corner of England at that point in time, didn't get commemorated.

Talking of aircraft names, there were "Spitfire" and "Hurricane", but they never went as far as to name one of the locos after the third fighter of the time, "Defiant" - such a fine name for an engine. I wonder why not? Oh, hang on a minute

More seriously, there were one or two things / people which played a significant role in the Battle of Britain but which didn't get a locomotive named after them. So, for example, no "Chain Home" or "Sir Robert Watson-Watt". I guess the contribution played by radar, and those who developed it, may still have been classified in 1946? Certainly in my view, Watson-Watt was more deserving of recognition for his role in the battle than Trafford Liegh-Mallory...

Tom

 

Sorry to mention such things so early in the morning, but I am pretty sure that the GWR named a Castle Defiant as well as Hurricane and Spitfire.

Steven

 

Probably because when compared with the general quality of Swindon products, the Boulton and Paul Defiant was considered a fine machine...

Tom (Sorry - couldn't resist!)

 

The Boulton Paul Defiant did well enough until the Germans realised it had no forward firing guns, and presumably tactics of the era meant a mixture of Defiants and Hurricanes wasn't deemed practical (and weight issues with the turret meant the Defiant couldn't take the weight of adding forward firing guns).

Was pretty successful as a night fighter I believe though.

Steven

 

They did have a Castle called Defiant which ended up at Barry.
Currently on long term loan to Buckinghamshire Railway Centre see http://www.brc-stockbook.co.uk/defiant.HTM

 

Very good.

 

You've got me started now.
Taking WW2 as a time frame. Squadrons 1 - 299 were RAF. The 300 series were given to Free Polish, Czech, Norwegian etc. units within the RAF. The 400 series were given to our commonwealth allies squadrons in the RAF and the 500 and 600 series were allocated initially to Royal Auxilliary Air Force squadrons. The distinctions became blurred in areas and as new squadrons were formed they took vacant numbers within some of the above mentioned blocks. 606, 607 and 608 were RAuxAF units but 617 wasn't. It took a vacant number when formed in 1943.

 

Define successful. More successful as a night fighter than a day fighter but nowhere near as effective in the night role as the Beaufighter and the Mosqutio.

 

And a few other WW2 aircraft. Can't remember the full list without looking it up.

 

Outline times now confirmed on UKRailtours website. Departs Waterloo at 09:55 and into Salisbury at 11:29. Depart Salisbury at 15:41 and back into Victoria at 19:13.

 

Presumably 94 minutes is non stop. And as Al says, with the limitation of the service train in front around Andover.

I'll almost certainly regret this, but I doubt I'll turn out for it.

75 mins to passing Andover is not good, even with the normal "steam only checks" I remember the old 7pm when Andover was first stop. With a decent start and finish and very ordinary running in between you could just about get an even time for the 66.25 miles.

Hmmm, I wonder how many times this post of mine will be quoted back at me when a ten late start ex Waterloo next week sees an 83 minute run non stop to Salisbury with just those steam checks! LOL!

 

This one must be selling slowly! Steam Dreams have just emailed this out:

A Rare Opportunity to Travel by Steam - NON-STOP - to Salisbury down the Mainline!

Monday 23 December -
hauled by 34046 Braunton

Steam Dreams would like to offer this one-off opportunity for our passengers with this special trip by steam, promoted on behalf of the owners of 34046 Braunton. This trip will start at London Waterloo and travel on the Main Line through Surbiton and Basingstoke, reaching Salisbury at approximately midday.

Those with the opportunity to start their Christmas early can enjoy a fantastic day traveling to the spectacular Cathedral city of Salisbury. Everywhere is beautifully decorated for the season, providing a wonderfully festive atmosphere to peruse the charming independent shops for those last minute gifts. Leaving Salisburymid-afternoon, the train will arrive back to
London Victoria around 7pm.

This trip is not a Cathedrals Express trip and cannot be booked online. All bookings must be made by telephone to the Booking Office on 01483 209888 by 4pm on Friday 20th December.

CLASS OF TRAVEL & FARES (per person)
First Class Dining @ £195 -
An English breakfast will be served on the outward journey and a 5 course late lunch on the return.
First Class @ £119 -
Complimentary tea & coffee will be served as well as a Danish Pastry and mince pie.
Standard @ £75 -
A buffet service is available on board where drinks & snacks can be purchased.

Approx. Timings
Depart London Waterloo 09:55 & Return London Victoria 19:05

​

Forward this email

 

Return timings now available thanks to RTT. <BJ>
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54734/2013/12/23/advanced

 

"This one must be selling slowly! Steam Dreams have just emailed this out:............"

I had that today too. Can't be filling well at all. I was tempted by it a couple of weeks ago but I had forgot it costs a small fortune to get up to London for that time of day on a weekday with SWT. I will head out to film this run.

 

That could well be part of the problem. Though we like the idea of a non-stop run down the main, and £75 a seat in 2nd class is pretty good value, there's more to it than just the cost of the tour. Referring back to other discussions, tours that pick up in the suburbs have their advantages. However, given that Mon 23rd will be quieter than a normal Monday, I wonder if there's any scope for discounted "add-on" fares? Probably a bid late for UKRT to negociate that now.