'Weymouth Seaside Express', 2014

Thank you, good sir. All correct now, this is what happens when I stay awake for more than 24 hours!

 

Morning All
I have added some photos taken by Alan Costello of Weymouth Seaside Express 27-7-14
Tour Locos 5029 Nunney Castle & 33029
5029 Nunney Castle Weymouth Jersey Sidings
http://railway-photography.smugmug.com/Railtours-Year-by-Year/2011-/2014/Weymouth-Specials/i-DtVwMs6
http://railway-photography.smugmug.com/Railtours-Year-by-Year/2011-/2014/Weymouth-Specials/i-Q79z6gF
http://railway-photography.smugmug.com/Railtours-Year-by-Year/2011-/2014/Weymouth-Specials/i-2H5NMtp
33029
http://railway-photography.smugmug.com/Railtours-Year-by-Year/2011-/2014/Weymouth-Specials/i-ZWHm9N9
http://railway-photography.smugmug.com/Railtours-Year-by-Year/2011-/2014/Weymouth-Specials/i-sL46m5s
Neil

 

An okay day for stills, and Nunney did sound great through my home station at Yetminster on the down, but sadly the return was a 33 trip. I watched as Nunney was shoved up Evershot on the return by a fully notched diesel. Not a very good day all in all. :-(

 

It looks like the Sun 10 August Weymouth Seaside Express will be diesel hauled from Yeovil Pen Mill to Weymouth due to the FBU strike. The rest of the trip should have steam all being well.

 

Well thats going to be a total waste of shoe leather then. I guess its a day at home!

 

If its the Crompton might go out to Evershot and Bincombe for it...

 

Yeah

Yeah right Venturer. Even YOU aren't that sad!

 

I hope it is another telephone call for 5029 for the steam portion

 

It is down for the Castle, but it won't be any good if its like 2 weeks ago.

 

I'm probably missing something obvious, but I don't see how having it diesel-hauled just from Yeovil to Weymouth helps much to reduce the fire risk. Surely the risk is greater going up Upwey Bank. And what about the route north of Yeovil? Sounds more like operator convenience to me, but as I say, I'm probably missing something!

 

The point of doing this is to avoid using a steam loco on NR during the FBU strike, 12:00-14:00 on Sunday. Nunney can run direct from Pen Mill to the SW Steam Trust depot at the Junction before the strike starts, use the turntable, etc, then run light to Weymouth in the usual path later in the afternoon.

I presume that they'll take the DL along for the whole day, couple it inside the steam for the outward run and leave it there, so it's on the rear going home. Since the train + DL will be more than Nunney can take up Bincombe unaided, the DL will have to assist on that climb, but how much assistance it gives, and whether it is used anywhere else, will depend on the ground conditions on the day. I'd expect it to take its own weight and 1 or 2 carriages on Bincombe, but not to give much other help, given the forecast for the weekend - unless Nunney has adhesion problems on wet rails! ;-) Of course, I don't actually know what WCRC's plan is. I'm only thinking aloud about what the most likely options might be. They might surprise us all and only use a diesel for the outward Yeovil-Weymouth section. For instance, if they hire the Swanage 33, that might be a sensible plan

 

Or unless they notch it wide open like they did 2 weeks ago! Bloody shame. Glad I was fortunate enough to travel behind her on the Torbay last Sunday unassisted!

 

Ah, thanks. I didn't realise the strike was only for two hours. Shame the diesel will likely be behind the loco going down.

 

The alternative is a lengthy shunt at Pen Mill - unless, of course the DL is waiting at Pen Mill... We probably won't know until we see what rolls into Temple Meades on Sunday morning.

 

It's due at YPM from10:37 to 11:59; plenty of time to move the diesel from the rear end. It's almost certain to be the WC diesel that brings the ECS from Southall. There's no light engine path to YPM.

 

The punters are really going to love that - stuck at YPM for over an hour!

 

At least there's a pub next to the Station!

 

Some people like steam locos, some like diesels. The fortunate folk are those who can appreciate both. <BJ>

 

According to the weather forecast the chance of a lineside fire on Sunday is non existent. <BJ>

 

The light engine movements are now available. <BJ>
0Z82 Yeovil PM to Yeovil Jct. http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U50579/2014/08/10/advanced
0Z83 Yeovil Jct. to Weymouth http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U50580/2014/08/10/advanced