The Atlantic Coast Express 5th-8th September 2014

It seemed to me that we had a good run from Penzance to Exeter, but the videos show Tangmere on 7th going up Hemerdon considerably faster with nine coaches than Braunton and Nunney managed on 8th with the equivalent of only six coaches each. Any offers as to why?

Way back in post 290

As seen in post 315, departure was from Platform 1, so not conflicting with anything.

Although my seat was near the front on the final leg, I rode in the last coach as far as Central to enjoy the sound.

 

And to think, they could have had Tornado to call upon. Talk about cut your nose off to spite your face.

 

If a given locomotive gets near-constant use, it is bound to wear out, for a busy schedule must surely mean that it becomes increasingly difficult to keep on top of things before they become an issue. I'm of the opinion that 34067 might be a victim of its own success as a go-anywhere, do just about anything locomotive that generally has a decent reserve of power. That said, even 'pet' engines can surprise you.

 

Regardless of whether such a modification is (a) technically feasible, (b) would actually solve any problems and (c) within the wider spirit of preservation, it is worth remembering that WCRC were recently taken to task by the RAIB on account of a non-standard modification to something as relatively trivial as the nut that holds part of the motion in place - with the consequences we all know. So I rather suspect "let's remove the steam reverser and all the associated steam plumbing and slot in a screw reverser in its place" is probably something that should only be discussed between the seventh and eighth pint of an evening, and be quietly forgotten somewhere between the third and fourth aspirin of the morning...

Tom

 

Man from West Byfleet talking about a foreign engine on a train from London to Exeter?

Go stand in the naughty corner!

 

Bad news for you oh feathered one, I was born and lived for 6 years within sight and sound of shed 30A and then for the next 12 years near lines that were late but never early.

 

Ahh sorry, my comment was meant tongue in cheek, I was already in position at the top of the bank by the time the train was remarshaled at St David's so I had no way of knowing which platform it would leave from (though I would have guessed at 1 nowadays if I'm honest!)

I was simply referring back to stories by Dad tells me of bygone days and many Summer Saturdays when Southern trains had to cross the Western down lines (both the through and the relief) in order to get from Platform 3 (the up Southern platform) before proceeding up the bank to Central. As far as my Dad can remember it wasn't physically possible to go up the bank from platform one - this platform not being bi-directional in those days (and Western in any case). The Southern express would often be seen whistling impatiently in Platform 3 but the signalmen would always give priority to west bound Great Western expresses, even if on occasions these were running late!

Interestingly it was also at the signalman's discretion whether the train proceeded to Central at all. He made the call on whether there was enough motive power to get the train up the bank. If he said it needed another banker it waited until a banker was found! I suspect he certainly would not have allowed a 12 coach train up there with just two light pacifics on, and one of them running tender first at that!!!

Dad cannot recall many trains of more than five coaches going up the bank and they would regularly take a merchant navy along with two Z class tanks to tackle the climb. Reflecting on this weekends train its interesting that Tangmere on the down run was a big enough risk to require a diesel but the climb to Central wasn't? I would suggest that with a light rain shower may have produced a very different outcome.

I also quizzed my Dad on how the ACE got up to Central but of course as I should have realised, and I'm sure many of you know, it was marshalled in Exeter central. So the Barnstaple portion (usually four coaches) and the Plymouth/North Cornwall portion (usually five coaches) were brought up independently and then marshalled in Central where a restaurant and buffet were also added.

What a fantastic place Exeter must have been back in the day!

 

But what happened on the summer Saturdays? Surely the trains from Ilfracombe, Padstow/Bude were already full length before they got to Exeter?

PS Cowley Bridge Jct in the up direction was another place where SR trains could sit around waiting for what seemed like ever.

 

Fair enough, would it be that non standard however if rebuilds of identical loco's have it ?.

 

The up Ilfracombe portion of the Devon Belle must have been a pretty stiff proposition between the two stations as sometimes it would have been as much as eight or nine Pullmans, at 40 tons tare each. I assume a West Country as train engine and probably at least a couple of Zs or E1Rs, or maybe a passing N class. The climb out of Ilfracombe would generally use an N on the back as banker.

Mind you, the down train could be as much as 12 or 13, and was taken unassisted over Honiton bank - a Metchant Navy job, though I think there were occasions when a West Country stood in apparently without too much problem. Presumably the autumn/winter loads, when rail conditions were worse, would have been lighter.

Tom

 

They are fundamentally different - completely different motion and inside cylinder for a start!

Tom

 

This is what happened quite at lot down there. I took this photo just about 52 years ago in early September 1962. Z class 0-8-0 banking locos based at Exmouth Junction.

 

My video from the Atlantic Coast Express, including the slog up Exeter Bank and the incredible climb away from Milbourne Port. I'll be uploading some more photographs from the weekend to my Flickr account soon, and will post on here when done.

The list of locations visited is included in the video's description.



James

 

Tangmere is not entirely owned by WCR

 

because its not prone to cause problems on the network?

 

Yes quite right Tornado would have looked really out of place on this train called the ACE to celebrate the Southern, if they could have been able to use her there would have been complaints that they used the wrong engine!

 

And the ACE didn't look out of place at Victoria and Staines?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Right then, it may not have had any problems this year because it hasn't been used much on the mainline, but it has had it's problems what about the 20 April last year when the air pump failed somewhere near Rhyl, had to call for a diesel the train arriving back into London 02.00.next morning, also had lot of trouble with the firebox and boiler problems which resulted in her being withdrawn from several SD charters and boiler going back to Germany for rectification. Every engine has it's problems now and again even new built ones!!

 

Can be Rocket or a Pendolino, no such thing as 100% reliability.