Royal Duchy series 2014

Everyone has taken some amazing footage but going to post this up anyway - just managed to catch 45407 on her return with 5 minutes to spare at Bodmin on my way back to work. Filmed on my iphone with no time to set up!



You could hear her working up from lostwithiel log before she appeared!

 

Proving yet again the ability of a well managed Five in good condition to excel when sensibly loaded.

 

Black Fives look great anywhere - would have been a memorable sight at Plymouth Friary, but if the turntable issue has been sorted out that is even better!

Looking forward to more of the same,

John - once a Janner, always a Janner!

 

Thank you. Hemerdon was taken faster than I expected with not a hint of it being a problem to 45407, a great performance. I wonder what the speed at the top was.

 

Read elsewhere, 20mph.

 

I have done this trip in the past (with 70013) and very good it is too. The current schedule for the outbound run is pretty bad though - it leaves Bristol half an hour earlier than it used to and arrives at Par half an hour later with what looks like an hour and a half sitting around at Plymouth North Road (not the most inspiring place to wait). I know that extra time was allowed to turn the train on the Laira triangle which is no longer needed but is it not possible to send it on it's way to Cornwall sooner? Is the Cornish main line really that busy on a Sunday or do the single line sections at the Royal Albert Bridge and Largin cause issues? Just curious!

 

4936 is down to possibly work the Bristol to Welsh Valleys tour on 20th July. I was wondering, as 4965 has recently worked to Plymouth, would a Hall be able to go to Par and work this train, in theory if not in practice?

 

Would it be too far fetched that 45407 would stay in Bristol for further duties after these 3 royal duchys?

 

Well as the video's have shown, 45407 was on top form yesterday and proved what she could really do. I have been out with 54 on many occasions now but yesterday has to be the best performance I've experienced with the loco (from a personal point) and I've been going out with her for 9 years now.

Great to have also seen Mr Churchill doing what he does best but, credit must go to the two chaps allowing Mr Churchill and Mr Warriner to use the power when it was required. Brilliant stuff from messers Christie (who fired out) and Birmingham on the return.

A great trip to have been involved and one that will live long in the memory with so keep the video's and photo's coming please!

 

There is only another Dutchy this month on the 5th. There are 4 more in September.

 

No, Halls are out of gauge for Cornwall because of their wide cylinders, the same applies to them going down to Paignton, they would smack the edge of the platform at Torquay on the down line but are ok coming back on the up line, that why when Kinlet Hall went down to work on the Paignton and Dartmouth railway a couple of years ago she went down on a low loader but come back by rail.

 

Edit: Maureen beat me to it.

 

i believe yesterday's issue at Plymouth was caused by the Engineering Work on the Berks and Hants. The Padd-Newquay was diverted around Swindon, Bath, BTM and as it was due at Plymouth at 1326. NR obviously didn't consider the 5 capable of staying ahead of it. Next Sunday we should be following the 1303 as usual. It was very poor regulation holding us short of the bridge for the Exeter stopper to cross.

 

For everyone who wasn't on the train, the running after Taunton was exceptional. Whiteball was reached in 14 mins 32 secs, very creditable, at a speed of 38 mph, rising to 48 by MP 174. Exminster was passed at 62, Star Cross and Dawlish Warren 61. the 5 was doing 57 through Newton Abbot, and 58 at Stoneycombe. the climb to Dainton was superb with the tunnel speed at 22. We had the usual signal check approaching Totnes but Ray Churchill had the 5 back up to 59 through the station for the attack on Rattery. The summit was passed at just under 17 mph, the second summit at 22, into Marley tunnel at 36.
after the issues of the wet rail climbing to the Royal Albert Bridge, the run from Saltash to Par was exceptional, taking only 37 mins 10 secs for the 30 miles. We flew thriugh St Germans at 49, only falling to 39 at the summit.
The return was possibly better. The sharp climb to Brownqueen Tunnel was noisy and we held 23 into the tunnel. The long climb to Doublebois was started at 51, we did 44 through Bodmin, slowing for the curve and then picked up to 51, speed steadily falling to 33.
Bill Warriner took over at Plymouth and forgot we had a 5 on the front. we hit 57 by MP 244 1/4 and as Bill said, went a little over the 60 flying through Tavistock Jc, so much so that we crested the summit at 23. We passed Totnes at 55 and were still doing 31 at 218 3/4 but the last half mile won out again and the tunnel entry speed was a creditable 18. The climb of Whiteball was spectacular. Stoke Canon was passed at 58, Cullompton at 61, Tiverton Jc at 64, Parkway at 60, the summit was passed at 56 and we dived into the tunnel at 58. we did a liberal 60 down Wellington bank and stopped at Taunton in only 35 mins 31.28 secs for the 31 and a bit miles, way quicker than any of us imagined it could do.
The acceleration out of Taunton - in front of the BTM stopper - led to Cogload being passed in excess of 60, as was Bridgwater and Highbridge. We slowed to a little by Uphill Jn and held the speed until the approach to Yatton. Taunton-Yatton, 33 miles was achieved in 33 mins 34.47 secs, almost an even time so do the maths guys! A signal check prevented anything spectacular after that and we got into BTM a mere 4 minutes down on the schedule.
All credit to Ian Riley for the magnificent condition of 45407 and to the drivers and firemen on the day for a superb day.
Let's hope next week with Andy Taylor to Par and back to Plymouth, and Pete Roberts back to BTM rise to the challenge in a similar way.

 

An excellent report. Very interesting. Thank you. <BJ>

 

some photos i took of the royal duchy at http://keyhamtrain.weebly.com/

 

45407 confirmed for this Sunday as previously stated.
34046 not available for this work

 

Updated timings for the outward 'Royal Duchy' railtour on Sunday, 6th July.
Note that the return leg runs as last Sunday. Thanks to RTT. <BJ>

Bristol Temple Meads [BRI] Dep 08:48
Yatton [YAT] 09:05 - 09:08
Bridgwater [BWT] pass 09:29
Taunton [TAU] 09:42 - 09:46
Whiteball pass 10:01
Tiverton Parkway [TVP] pass 10:04
Tiverton Loop pass 10:06
Exeter St Davids [EXD] 10:27 - 11:19
Dawlish Warren [DWW] pass 11:32
Dawlish [DWL] pass 11:34
Newton Abbot [NTA] pass 11:44
Dainton Tunnel pass 11:49
Totnes [TOT] pass 11:57
Hemerdon pass 12:20
Plymouth [PLY] 12:30 - 13:04
Saltash [STS] pass 13:18
St Germans [SGM] pass 13:25
Liskeard [LSK] pass 13:37
Par [PAR] arr 14:07