'Weymouth Seaside Express', 2014

Ah, no, I meant the other way, against the suggestion that the diesel might only come on at YPM, eg, the '33 from Swanage. No path showing for such a move, so it must be coming down with the train.

 

Glen. I can't see RTC paying for an additional diesel when they have one parked up at Bristol.

If it's not the weather it's the FBU. If it's not that, it's a lack of bookings. <BJ>

 

Given the weather forecast, they might prefer to be on the train!

 

Let us assume that this is a wet summer and no fire risk. Firemen FBU strike or not, surely it would make no difference to steam on the mainline as there is no fire risk? So, bearing in the mind the guarantee from the weathermen of a month's rain in a day from early on Sunday giving us one of the wettest summer days for years, why earth does 5029 go it alone in the knowledge that there is no chance of setting off a lineside fire? Okay the rain may never come but if an hour or two before its time of departure from Bristol TM, the storms have moved in, surely that is the time to say no diesel is required and give the fare paying punters what they have paid for. Surely that is possible or am I going slightly mad!

 

Just seen West Country forecast, heavy rain for Sunday...so Nick you are spot on I think.. cant see why the steam cant go to Weymouth as usual..

 

Sunday is the final day of the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta .....expect it to be wet and windy. <BJ>

 

.

 

According to the Icons of Steam website, Nunney Castle's next railtour is on 31st August.
Do they know something that we don't?

Edit: 'Uksteam' now mentions '5029/34046: Bristol-Yeovil PM, Weymouth-Bristol. <BJ>

 

Well 34046's page on Icons of Steam has it scheduled for tomorrow's run so I guess that's the answer.

 

As there is both a Weymouth and a Torbay scheduled for 17/8 and Tangmere must be a doubtful starter fo that date, we may see 5029 earlier than 31/8 ?

 

This could be Tangmere's first trip ?

 

Don't bother Nick. The diesel is 47.237.

Edited at 18:00. Steady rain at Bath at present. 0% chance fire risk. <BJ>

 

Im staying at home Bill, steady rain here in Sherborne at the minute.... didnt see it was a 47 till late last night as I was out all day working on 6024s tender..think Im better off indoors..

 

34046 'Braunton' + 9 Mk 1s + diesel through Keynsham on time at 09:03.
Plenty of clag today with a nice long whistle through the station from the crew.
Diesel at back doing absolutely nothing, 'Braunton' doing it all. Well done.
Sunny conditions forecast for the passengers at Weymouth this afternoon. <BJ>

 

34046 'Braunton' 1Z83 dep Weymouth on time at 17:00. <BJ>

Update: 34046 leading with diesel at rear.

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/tguppy37401/14878047342/
my effort from tonight

 

Just seen You Tube footage of Braunton passing Keynsham in the gloom with the diesel clearly doing nothing at the back.

Great to see steam setting about its work not having to worry about setting off lineside fires!

The only shame for me, and it is only a small point in the overall scale of things, is the lack of route discs on the front. I have seen Braunton on the mainline on dozens of occasions and she always carries the Southern Region discs. It just looks right. To see her without is like a lady walking down the street naked. It is surely an oversight, I guess, by the support crew. Maybe the train up from Weymouth tonight will see Braunton suitably adorned with correct class one express route discs and the "lady" returned to respectability lol

Nick

 

.....or perhaps they had a few other trivial things to deal with ie. ensuring that the engine reached it's destination. <BJ>

 

S&D express lamps I think you'll find, on a loco which worked the S&D and on a route which goes around S&D territory. A nice change from the norm.