Solihull to Portsmouth

Yes I know its T&T DLs but at Pompey it connects with the PS Waverley for a round the IOW trip. Gun Wharf Quay is the place to be to see the PS which arrives about 11 ish from Soton and departs at 1140

 

47.773 plus 46.760. Waverley PS cancelled

 

I reserve a special hatred for 47760, ruined plenty a steam experience for me, if I win the lottery it'll be in Booths before you can say sold.

 

Hearing from a mate on this that Waverley has thrown a hissyfit of sorts too

 

I joined 'Waverley' at Southampton this morning for the one-way paddle 'doon Soton waatter' forgetting about the DL charter to Portsmouth. She's had boiler problems the morning which couldn't be rectified before the master cancelled the sailing about 1045. He didn't expand in the details of the problems but I guess when timings for the day (especially when the excursion passengers have a hard-deadline on their return time) and maybe tidal conditions etc are taken into account with no idea when the problem may be fixed, the right decision was made.

Disappointing for all no doubt but at least people can do something else with the day & not left hanging around on the quayside.

 

Don, for the future, if you can get to the Round Tower (not far from Portsmouth Point and the Still & West pub) that is a far better place for viewing with a good view up harbour & out to sea. Gun wharf can be a bit restrictive especially if their are lots of yachts in the marina. Alternatively, if you time it right the view from the top of the Spinnaker Tower isn't too bad either!

 

Thanks

Yes we walked to the Round Tower yesterday and also a bit further along to sus out spots for this Saturday when it should run at the same times. Better from the sea wall coming in and the Round Tower going out, with shots of her at the berth from the jetty opposite the IOW ferry terminal. Weather yesterday was perfect but bet it wont be on Saturday.

 

I reserve a special hatred for diesels, period!!

 

I'll have the gas bottles ready! 512 Brush was 512 too many!

 

Yes, they could have built 1024 Class 50's to do the same job. And before I hear howls of anguish, I do like Class 50's.

 

They could have tried to make the class 47s similar, rather than 512 different variants!

 

Nothing wrong with the 47s as long as they don't get involved in trains which should be steam hauled. I have had some fantastic runs with them over the years including one where the 47 kept the HST schedule Paddington to Cardiff.

 

Good God. What is the world coming too. And there was me thinking you were a steam man through and through. How wrong I was. Sob. Sob.

 

Sometimes you love 'em, and some times you hate them. Just depends what mood they're in. Hopefully I will still love 6201 when we run in to PZ tomorrow.

 

I shouldn't really knock the 47's, they've been a fantastic servant to our railways BUT there has been a fair old amount of times that something has failed and I have been cursing 'Spoon'!

 

There has always been "bowl out" machines, when you were hoping something more interesting/glamourous would turn up, but no, you got one of them, in steam days it was the Black Five, aftewards it was the 47, and today it's the 66, not to say they were not good at the job, but I think the phrase familiarity breeds contempt is apt.

 

For those of us who grew up on the Southern's third rail EMU dominated network, anything with a loco up the front end was welcome. As a teenage trainspotter, I always appreciated seeing a 47, although, apart from the 33s and 73s which were reasonably common, the more unusual machines were more exciting. I feel the same now about the 66s - much more interesting than a 377 or 375 any day, but I'd still rather see a Bulleid Pacific or even a Deltic given the choice.

Having stated my clear preference for locos, however, in 2017 there are two multiple-unit journeys I am very much looking forward to - a DMU trip from Swanage to Wareham and a run in the resurrected Brighton Belle.

 

Agreed! I remember the first time I saw 20002, at Horsham. Quite a wow moment. My first non steam main line loco.

 

The only one I ever saw. Copped it at Brighton on a spotting trip while on holiday in Chichester. Enjoyed the run along the coast in a 2-BIL. A tad different to what we had on the GN at the time.