Saphos Trains

Britannia making a great soundtrack powering away through Exeter St Thomas. Got put ahead of a Paignton stopper on the return so got to Exeter 18 early on a single yellow!

 

Couple of shots from yesterday English Riviera Express trip for the Brit.




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Britannia making a great soundtrack along the Dawlish Sea Wall, alongside Clan Line tackling Upwey bank:

 

Britannia runs along the sea wall approaching and passing Dawlish with the English Riviera Express on the 9th July.

 

Is there any chance tomorrow’s tour will run without diesel assistance?

 

It wouldn't be very smart, its like a tinder box out there.

 

Thank you. Feared that would be the case. So 2 steam locos with a tail gunner making itself known.

 

Even if it had rained I think the modus operandi of LSL is to take the Diesel for shunting/ operational reasons

Expect the Diesel will haul the train round laira triangle then back into Plymouth.

 

Not unless you want to cook the people sitting in the air con Mk 2.

 

I was in a Mk I on Saturday with some of the windows open and it was uncomfortably hot then. If I were travelling this week, with the weather now considerably hotter, I would definitely prefer an air con Mk II or Mk III.

 

Do the coaches have a fitness to run examination? If so, does that include the aircon?

 

I think there may have been something in an FTR exam, during VXC days but if a coach in a set from say Oxley or Longsights ETS failed somewhere like Reading on a diagram to say Bournemouth or Portsmouth the simplest thing to do would be to move everyone from that coach to others with working ETS and start giving out free Water until the problem could be fixed.
This time of year GA used to have the windows and vestibule doors open on the short set as well as slabs of free water to help yourself to.
Going back to my yoof I know how hot an aircon Mk2 can get at this time of year from my days chasing loco hauled trains, one summer’s evening coming back from Banbury to New Street I went to just go and sit in the vestibule with the windows open and cool down, something I can’t imagine Saphos letting you do on one of their tours!

Edit I think Riviera possibly sent out a travelling fitter on some of its stock to Cardiff about 20 years ago during the Rugby World Cup and for a few 6 nations tournaments don’t quote me on that.

 

TBF you have mentioned that before Pete, but I can’t imagine Saphos letting me get away with camping out in the vestibule like I did that Summer!
I have to say the earlier Mk2 stock on the North Wales Coast was a lot better with opening windows this time of year.

 

A couple of photos from today's double headed Golden Hind run to Plymouth.......
Laira Junction - https://www.flickr.com/photos/hemerdon/52214318581
Hemerdon - https://www.flickr.com/photos/hemerdon/52214319416

 

Here's my footage of 70000 Britannia and 34046 Braunton roaring up the South Devon Banks with The Golden Hind. I filmed them at Whiteball, Rattery and Hemerdon. I hope you enjoy the video.

 

Any idea of what has happened to 1Z63 1635 Kingswear - Cardiff C?
E D I T It's a RTT failure, live on Charlwood house. access.
http://charlwoodhouse.co.uk/rail/liverail/train/27686956/16/07/22

Cheers, Neil