70013 Oliver Cromwell; Cathedrals Exp; Reading-Canterbury &rtn 28 Sep 2014

Starting thread for this very interesting trip as it starts from Reading ! I think the steam ban must have been officially lifted around here; Diesel hauled stock and 70013 from Southall ready for 8.18 dep on what seems to be a leisurely day out with 8 intermediate pick-ups on the way to Canterbury. 4 1/2 hrs and a return same route in 5hr20m ! Assume Olly is going alone and the diesel will wait for return to Southall afterwards. Having called the trip 'leisurely' I suppose she will be called upon to do plenty of work with all the stops involved !! Edit...just read route again and yes she returns on a longer route around the south, eh .

 

http://www.uksteam.info/tours/t14/t0928b.htm
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55161/2014/09/28/advanced
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55164/2014/09/28/advanced

I think the box will be attached all day due to the reversal at Canterbury West.
Might try & get to Earley in the evening.

 

What reversal?

 

This?

5Z83
0.0Canterbury Westd 12:5070013ECS+D
Canterbury W s25a 12:52rev
d 12:56Diesel
Canterbury Westa 12:58
5Z84
0.0Canterbury Westd 15:4270013ECS+D
Canterbury W s25a 15:44
d 15:47Diesel
Canterbury Westa 15:49

 

Come on West Coast. Give us a lovely surprise tomorrow and replicate what DBS did today when Braunton arrived at Kensington Olympia en-route to Cantebury with not a diesel to be seen. Heaven. Pure Heaven!

 

Here we go then...train arr Reading 15min early which means Olly will be standing on the old down main for nearly 30 mins waiting for her passengers before leaving. Good start to the day.

 

Through Earley 2 mins down, looking great in cool morning sun, 37706 on back matching coach colours.

 

No pure heaven I am afraid. A diesel on the back and a good shove once clear of the platform at Wokingham, almost as if the diesel driver didn't want the substantial number of photographers, mums, dads and children to see it.

Hopefully my video will underline my point.

That said, Ollie looked magnificent in the early morning sunshine.

 

Through Virginia Water sounding strong. 37xxx on back seemed quiet.

 

Here it is then. 70013 at Wokingham this morning and the disappointing shove from a diesel hanging off the back, with the biggest shove when almost out of view!

 

I am hoping that there won't be too much of this on Thursday but looking at the outward route through Staines and London I fear there will be.

 

Yep, you can hear the tin can chattering for no reason as it goes round the corner.
Was done ok yesterday, so why not today.
Reckon WCRC have got their knickers in a twist over this York business.
"NR York have ruined our operations up there, so we will ruin everybody else's enjoyment".
Simple answer, people don't book on WCRC run trips. I certainly never will.

 

You could even hear it in the distance over the noise of the traffic on the level crossing!!

 

That's rather drastic. No Jacobites, no Royal Duchys, no Vintage trains, etc, etc, etc.
Talk about cutting your nose off to spite your face. <BJ>

 

You know you get upset when I answer someone else let alone you, and then you post this rubbish and wonder why you get the responses that you do..... RTC can and do manage without you, so it's your loss not theirs.

Oh and for your info, I was out on the Lowlander yesterday from Preston, and had a great day out. West Coast/RTC did us proud. Pity I missed the last bit to Crewe as I believe Galatea really finished the day of with a flourish.

 

Agreed, that is rather drastic. As has been said before, there's a cost to having a diesel on the back which eats into the profit margin so it certainly wouldn't be done simply to piss people off. That said, it does seem to be the RTC's tours that attract the greatest instances of diesel assistance by WCR. I can't recall it happening very often on VT's tour for example.

 

Departure from Chiswick station - first pic.

 

70013 seen approaching Egham this morning.http://stephenleek.smugmug.com/Railwayphotos-1/Mainline-Steam-2014/i-97N4VWQ

 

And the fan club waiting at Chiswick station. Left arrow from the first pic to see the other three, including one posted earlier:

Chiswick Station arrival and departure