The White Rose II

Now at Eastfield yard for water. All I can say so far about the return is WOW! Sustained high speed running, shame about the Peterborough Kings Cross schedule.

Andrew

 

hello
passing through litte bytham at www.stevebottrill.zenfolio.com
regards

 

Looking at RTT it would appear that she is cruising along gaining many minutes on that extremely slow schedule and then periodically being held back to her path at the water stops. Disappointing. But at least she was allowed into KX early.

 

Well, the weather gods smiled upon us this evening - but only just........... 10 minutes or so before she turned up a bank of cloud started forming just where I didn't want it.......

BUT thankfully she was running approx 5 early chasing down a stopper........ so just before the available light in the tree lined avenue that is the ECML at Welham Green disappeared!!

Fingers crossed, I've got a glint shot or two....... How about you 5944???.......

 

I've got some lovely glint shots from this evening. 365s, HSTs, 180s and a 66 on the Lafarge! Braunton, well, errrm....

Braunton by 5944, on Flickr

That bank of cloud appeared at the wrong time! Exhaust dropped down too. Ho hum. Rest of the shots are at https://www.flickr.com/photos/5944/sets/72157645177301775

 

Very dramatic & clag too!!

I saw clag as she came round the corner...................... then she was shut off........

She was running early, so why couldn't they have let her in front of the damn stopper?..... then she would've flown through instead of coasting - the ruddy things got steam to spare!!

 

Phenomenal performance by Braunton today despite the A4's difficulties. She did make the ECML look like a piece of cake though filling in for Bittern. I hope the passengers thought it was still a special day and occasion. The condition of the locomotive is superb.

 

Yes indeed.

I have heard that there was a small earthquake in the Midlands last night. It was eventually traced to a very small area in Netherseal, South Derbyshire.

 

Lovely to see Braunton on the ECML some images from the outward and return journey

https://www.flickr.com/photos/10257146@N05/14445483063/ Barrel Hill foot crossing north of Newark on Trent

https://www.flickr.com/photos/10257146@N05/14423896772/ Causeway Lane foot crossing Gamston Bank


https://www.flickr.com/photos/10257146@N05/

 

About time I had a run behind 34046 on the mainline! It seems as though yesterday was a pretty good day for mainline steam overall, whether in Cumbria (where I was savouring the Coast route) or York...

 

Load 9

That would have been HNG having a chuckle at people getting excited over 75 mph. 2509 would have done that with the regulator shut.

 

As 34046 probably did yesterday!

One very good even time start to stop section I am told. Sticking to the 75 mph limit.

I wonder what the late Gordon Porter would have done with 34046 on just 9 on the ECML. I can well think what he would have done on the run up from Southampton with that load.

 

Talking of light loads, so I am just on topic still, but it would be great to get a MN on just 7 cars again. Yes, of course I know it will never happen now for all sorts for reasons, so I'm back to dream mode. Again!

With the 75 mph limit, Weymouth-Waterloo would be best. Stops at Dorchester, Wool Wareham, Pool, Bomo, Brockenhurst, Soton, Eastleigh, Winchester, Basingstoke, Woking, Surbiton and Waterloo. Someone like Wayne in control could give some very interesting accelerations and some very fast start to stop times.

Such trains and loads gave some wonderful runs in the 1960s with crews that weren't too bothered about timetables, (or speed limits back then). Could do it in the other direction, but it would be so sad going down Roundwood at 75 mph!

I did record a superb run on the 11.30 behind 35003, (of course), with the late Rubens Hendicott and fireman McQuade on a 7 car Sundays 11.30, ( 6 from Soton). First stop Basingstoke then semi fast. One highlight was an almost even time start to stop, New Milton to Christchurch, 5.80 miles. A run amongst the fastest ever short distance times recorded for steam with 6 on I think. Only we did a bit more than 5.80 miles as we overshot the station a teensey weensey bit, (under clear signals). Reached even time 5 minutes from the start and there are level and one uphill bit before the descent starts. 86 mph max. Crawled down Roundwood earlier at 95mph. Rubens may have been a bit concerned about braking distance with 7 on.

So don't decry light loads. In the right circumstances they can give a totally different sort of performance to the normal 11 or 12 car trains.

I am told there were some very fast accelerations yesterday behind 34046.

 

They'd need to close the regulator. Only way to stop it slipping. For your Gordon Porter I raise you a Bill Hoole.

 

Ha, this railway tribalism is almost as bad as that the surrounds football. All good fun I guess, but as one not from that generation I just enjoy steam, whatever and whoever make up it's origins, : )

 

Lovely shot

Don

 

There always was great rivalry in the 1960s between the Bulleid and Gresley camps.

By all accounts on Saturday 34046 put in a sparkling performance on the return run on a moderate load. No doubt 60019 could have done just as well if handled correctly. I really should have been on it but the awful schedule and mega early start from home put me off. Must be getting old..........

 

Aaah, the Bulleid v Gresley rivalry.

Often surfacing in the rear car of the club train, (Saturday night 07.15 ex Southampton). One particular night an especially noisy Bulleid fan was extolling OVS's virtues rather loudly as Roy Sloper gave a cracking run. Until 34098 failed at Walton! Hot box if I remember correctly. One of my very few Bulleid/Jarvis failures.

That led to the first recorded British Yeti hunt as the Gresley fans tried to find the noisy Bulleid fan.

 

My efforts from Saturday......

AM FULL DULL......

PM THE GLINTY SHOT

 

Full Dull or not, I like it.