Dorset Coast Express - 2014

Certainly not. See message 154 to see who I was replying to. <BJ>

 

Well going by the photo below that Neil Dimmer posted up on behalf of his friend, I'd guess the view of the tender will probably give you the answer as to why the 37 was working and suggest that Tangmere wasn't recoaled for whatever reason.

http://railway-photography.smugmug....y-Year/2011-/2014/Weymouth-Specials/i-jjvBHvx

 

I believe the problem is that from when they were first introduced , RTC has increased the repeat itinerary tours they run in the South East and South West.The DCE'S first ran in 2010, there were only 2 Weymouth Seaside Specials, and Royal Duchy's did not start until 2012.I think they need to reduce the number of trips to match the likely available locos and more inportantly support crews.They also need to look at what others are planning to run ( Torbay Express Limited and SD) , and plan accordingly. Steam Dreams are using 60007 on a number of trips in next June , before their trip to Ireland .60007 does not return North until the 5th July. How about seeing if 60007 is available and run one with that and 35018 in the last 2 weeks of June.

 

I was away last week so did not see the trip but can offer a comparison for coal consumption with a run I did witness in a previous year (9 Aug 2011).

2011 was in the days when the two engine operation was running on the DCE and I called in at Yeovil Pen Mill in the evening to see Tangmere reverse to go up to Junction. She was out of coal and being fed with whatever scrap timber and logs could be found in the lineside junk. On that day she would have done London - Weymouth - Wareham (IIRC) - Weymouth - Yeovil which I think is a shorter mileage than London - Weymouth & a return via Salisbury.

If Tangmere wasn't re-coaled at Weymouth coal could have been running low thus creating an issue although I hasten to add I'm not saying it was the cause - merely offering the comparative evidence of the earlier event.

 

Tangmere looked and sounded great today. Couldn't hear any action from the 37 at either Battledown or leaving Southampton. Anybody know which 37 it was?

Don

 

37706

James

 

Tangmere and 37706 down on time this lunch time top of Parkstone bank and judging by amount of coal in tender Tangy had done her share of the work
12 early tonight with both locos working well and Tangmere sounding nice.
DH

 

Morning All
I have added some photos taken by Alan Costello today of the Dorset Coast Express 3/9/14
Tour locos 34067 Tangmere & 37706
34067 Tangmere nameplate & plaque
http://railway-photography.smugmug.com/Railtours-Year-by-Year/2011-/2014/Weymouth-Specials/i-zBp23XG
34067 Tangmere leaving Jersey Sidings Weymouth 3-9-14
http://railway-photography.smugmug.com/Railtours-Year-by-Year/2011-/2014/Weymouth-Specials/i-XjC3kmp
http://railway-photography.smugmug.com/Railtours-Year-by-Year/2011-/2014/Weymouth-Specials/i-NjJpSXS
34067 Tangmere slipping on leaving Jersey Sidings Weymouth 3-9-14
http://railway-photography.smugmug.com/Railtours-Year-by-Year/2011-/2014/Weymouth-Specials/i-RRbgVqc
37706 on the rear
http://railway-photography.smugmug.com/Railtours-Year-by-Year/2011-/2014/Weymouth-Specials/i-4LWTDSx
34067 Tangmere leaving Weymouth on the rear of the return Dorset Coast Express 3-9-14
http://railway-photography.smugmug.com/Railtours-Year-by-Year/2011-/2014/Weymouth-Specials/i-fPmPJH9
http://railway-photography.smugmug.com/Railtours-Year-by-Year/2011-/2014/Weymouth-Specials/i-h6h3xjJ
http://railway-photography.smugmug.com/Railtours-Year-by-Year/2011-/2014/Weymouth-Specials/i-9BNc5Kn
Neil

 

The tender looks more full of coal than last time.

 

Yesterday's DCE/Royal Wessex arrival looking magnificent at the front end, shame they didn't bother to clean the diesel on the back!

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=637473206372184&set=pcb.637473279705510&type=1&theater

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=637473189705519&set=pcb.637473279705510&type=1&theater

 

Are there any turntables around or would a new one have to be made .there is one at swindon but think it is in bad condition

 

Loads of the scattered around Europe.

 

There is already a turntable earmarked for installation at Weymouth.

 

This Wednesday's trip is booked to run about an hour later than usual - 09.44 from Victoria (See UK Steam info) . 34067 in charge, assuming she gets back from Exeter today without any problems..

 

Afternoon All,

As nobody else seems to have been out and about to see Tangmere this morning, I thought that I'd start a thread.

I went to the bridge at Southwood; not ideal as it means shooting into the sun, but none of the other bridges locally are any better. Anyway, I managed two quick shots and here's the first one; clicking on it will enlarge it and take you to the Photostream and the other one :

RD10090. 34067 TANGMERE passing through Southwood with the &#x27;Dorset Coast Express&#x27;. by Ron Fisher, on Flickr

Hope that they are of interest and that other people's pictures will appear on the WWW as the day progresses.

 

Ahem!

 

More nice Tangy noise!

 

Was sounding, and (by Tangy standards) looking good!

 

Dr Jekyll today then.

So far.

Wish I could find who made the Jekyll/Hyde comment originally here, only within the last week but I can't find it. I could then acknowledge my use of his copyright.