5029 on the 9th May

Many thanks to Bob for clear expositions of some relevant facts.

Given that 5029's trouble on Hemerdon was due to insufficient time to get the fire right before leaving Plymouth, it's clear that otherwise both locomotives were in fine form and well on top of the jobs they were given.

 

Supporting everything Bob said about Nunney being in top nick, and on the right road with the right load a 2 row single chimney castle can hold its own with a 4 row double chimney castle, on the section from Taunton to Bristol Temple Meads, both flashed through Taunton at 77/8; 5043 took near as dammit 37 mins 10 secs to a stop at the end of Platform 4; 5029 took 37 mins 24 secs to the train length longer end of platform 3.

 

Bob

I take the plated weights but then check the coach numbers against a reliable modern source which takes into account the things you mention. I know that the load on 9th May is correct but I wasn't on the 19th May trip so can't comment on that but I am sure you are correct. With a full train I then add 8% for passengers etc and I deal with Reg in the same way that you have.

Thanks very much for your comments on the reasons for the differences in performance between 5029 and 5043 on the other thread. Very interesting. 5029 is very much weaker on the climbs as the minimum speeds on Whiteball, Dainton and Rattery going down showed, plus also the fall off in speed over Flax Bourton coming back. The difference in superheat and single chimney really showed there. Nevertheless I was very pleased with the way 5029 went all day and the final stretch to Bristol was simply wonderful. I caught my FGW Sprinter home thinking what a great day it had been, rivalling many of the good steam runs I have timed, both from the train and footplate, over the last 55 odd years.

Doesn't do my street cred much good though as my friends all think I am now a copper cap man rather than the Southern where I most of my steam interest has always been.

Don

 

Alan

Yes you are right. Its getting the NR planners to think differently. Even so I think finding a path on the SWT lines is more difficult though it was done for Clan Line a couple of years back and the 24th May path for 34046 isn't bad. Even so an 80 minute path could be found behind one of the xx20 Exeters I am sure if the will was there. Brother Yeti has proved on paper that 80 minutes to Salisbury could be kept even with the 75 limit. My fastest in the days of steam was 76 mins 04 secs max 82 mph. All it requires is a very fast start and sustained running. Must break off now and write my article on 5029 for the next HR.

Don

 

Yes, the 80 min run to Salisbury I worked out is with the slack just after MP31 as well as the 75 mph limit. And a slow, unbanked start out of Waterloo from platform 19. Based a lot of the 35028 run in May 2009, and I haven't made much of an adjustment for the box we dragged around that day. So on just 11 cars there should be some margin. Many 1960s down ACE runs I was on also helped me. There was plenty of room in the schedules back then for tsrs etc, as such as Fred Hoare proved so often. And seeing how well the MNLPS look after 35028 I would be amazed if she is not in as good as, if not better condition than in those bygone days. But of course working out the capability of such as 35028 at 75mph on that route is easy. I did the route so often in the past, including parts as a guest on the footplate, (sadly never on the down ACE). The hard bit these days is getting a pathway. And I know little about normal traffic these days, except there is rather a lot of it!

But this thread is about the GWR, and a route where those involved in running such as 5043 and 5029 clearly have a much better chance of getting a decent pathway, with obvious tremendous support before hand and on the day from all of those who matter. So good on all you GWR types for making the very best of the opportunities. And personally I think the prices charged were excellent value for what was achieved. A lot of very happy people around and no doubt there will be more to come in the future. Not my cup of tea, but I did enjoy following the trains on RTT. And that is about as close as I ever expect to get to one of those copper cap steam locomotives these days.

 

My footage of 'The Anniversary Limited' and 'One Zulu 48', featuring 5029, 5043 and D1015. Locations featured are Langport Viaduct, Rattery, Hemerdon, Whiteball, Shrivenham, Dainton, Yatton Foot Crossing, and Dauntsey Bank.

 

My video from Friday and Saturday. Friday's footage features 5029 at Stoneycombe, Newton Abbot and my favourite shot of the day at Tiverton Parkway. Saturday's video is of D1015 at Dainton, Totnes and Hemerdon (two cameras), and 5043 at Hemerdon (two cameras), Worle (two cameras) and my favourite shot from the 10th, speeding past Newton St Loe:



James

 

Thanks for the videos, chaps. Some memorable images and an excellent double commemoration of the original 1Z48.

As for Bob's comments about the extra power of 5043 because of the modifications undertaken in the 1950s, one could put it that 5029's run showed what excellent machines the original Castles were while 5043's run showed the results of taking a good design and making it even better.