Saphos Trains

Royal Scot at Shrewsbury today

 

On approach to Ludlow and going well !

 

The only capture worth saving today was this back-shot at Burgs Lane, the train was pushed up to the bridge with the regulator closed, I would call this a rare coincidence except that exactly the same happened just before Onibury earlier in the day........ ffffttt.....



Cheerz,

Alan

 

Diesel shovage up hills on return due to our late running. It was the responsible thing to do. No complaints from anyone on my coach about it (complaints were all about the heating not working!)

 

The rain in Shropshire today was equally as heavy as anything I experienced in Scotland over the weekend though fortunately less in quantity. But I was lucky enough to see the train in the dry on both runs.
This is from the southbound trip at Little Stretton, the autumn colour still hasn't set in. Couldn't have done this first thing today but I let myself be tempted having seen Network Rail in the process of some tree removal, the exhaust was a bit unpredictable however.

 

Also there was a severely late running Manchester to Cardiff right up your gearbox. Thankfully the 47 had eased of by Stokesay Castle.

 

A quick report on yesterday's "Welsh Marches Express", hauled between Bristol and Shrewsbury by 46100 Royal Scot. No speeds or performance notes, as I'm not interested in that stuff, simply just my uneducated observations on the events of the day.

Boarding at Worcester, I was curious to see how well-loaded the train would be, as Shrewsbury is just an hour's drive away. There were around 30 passengers that got on at Worcester and, upon our departure, only 5 tables in my coach were occupied. A load of people got on at Cheltenham and the two Bristol pickups though, so when we departed Bristol every table in my coach was occupied and it was comfortably busy.

As per what RTT said, after a short stop at BTM we proceeded to Bristol West Jn south of the station where 46100 was attached. Departure time came and went, and the ominous "clunking" sound of the brakes being regularly released, plus LSL staff in orange hi-vis walking alongside the train looking at the bottom of the coach made me suspect we had an issue. Sure enough, confirmation from the steward that there was a brake issue which was being looked at.

All got resolved after around 20 minutes and off we went. A spirited departure from BTM, which I noticed had attracted quite a crowd of curious office workers in the windows of those huge office blocks that have recently been built at the north end of the station.

A curious operational note is that I emerged from the loo around Patchway to find the guard was in the vestibule sliding closed the door windows. Engaging him in conversation, he told me that it's an NR operational requirement to have all vestibule door windows closed during the Severn Tunnel and so he was doing a train walk-through to make sure this had been done.

Weather was atrocious most of the day so spent the two hours in Shrewsbury dashing from shelter to shelter. A curious thing I noticed is that they still have a coin-operated payphone at Shrewsbury station (photo attached). I've not seen a payphone that accepts just coins only for many, many years. 60p now to initiate a phone call! In 2023, I wonder how often it gets used?

The train was late leaving the depot - we were just given the generic "issues at the depot" excuse and I didn't pry further. That meant diesel assistance was inevitable in places but, even despite that, we were running late all the way back to Bristol.

I was in a Mk2 coach with sealed windows and it was pretty clear the heating wasn't working. It did get decidedly chilly in there. Conversely, the Mk1 coach next to us was like a sauna, even with all the windows open. So on the return trip there was some table swapping. Those in the Mk1 who were hot swapped places with people from my Mk2 who were freezing. The stewards were even providing ice cubes to those in the Mk1 who were hot, and blankets to those in the Mk2 who were cold.

The hospitality service was it's usual exemplary standards. Plenty of hot drinks, bottle of Bucks Fizz, glass of white wine, generous snack boxes etc. At £185, their First Class offering is the same price as Pathfinder's, yet on Pathfinder you just get vouchers to use at the buffet. Makes you realise that LSL's First Class is actually quite good value.

All in all, a good day out with the Scot. I'm not into recording speeds or anything like that, I just like to watch the scenery go by, the steam to float past the window, and the loco to chatter up ahead, and I got all that yesterday.

 

Thank you for your report Nathan. We saw your train depart from Bristol when it was approaching the summit at Horfield bank. Royal Scot was working well hauling load 12 but although 27 mins late, the 47 at the rear appeared to be on notch 1, certainly not working hard. According to RTT, by the time the train passed STJ it had lost another minute. Compared to other operators, Saphos appear to let the steam loco haul the train rather than take the easy option. As you mention, diesel assistance was inevitable on the return in places to ensure passengers returned home reasonably on time. <BJ>

 

Doesn't look like the regulator was closed in this shot.

 

Wednesday's run from Woking is a long day - dep. 0555, return 2355!

 

Never said that it was, IF you had been there, you would have witnessed the regulator being opened under the bridge that I was standing on, but you weren't were you................

 

There was a choice to be made; a trip by FS is, in my opinion, best left for the idiots with their mobile phones (and sensible NP members). With sun forecast I opted to watch the Midland Pullman HST. Mrs W says that anything that's "blue & white" is always welcome in Blackburn. Brownhill, would do nicely. Arrived in good time. The sun shone brightly. The HST was running RT. What could go wrong? Apart, that is, from a thick black cloud that drifted overhead and deposited its rain just when the train was leaving Blackburn. As the train approached the sun shone through some distant breaks in the cloud and although the rain stopped it remained dark and gloomy.

The train passed by with a cheery "dee-dah" from the driver. 7C, 3L & 46mph. 10 minutes later the sun shone!! Not steam but something a bit different to watch. Back home and a proper treat, Mrs W's homemade blackberry & apple crumble . . . MMM!!

 

800 unit on 1C55 06:00 Paddington to Penzance has failed at Teignmouth having been swamped by waves. It's been there for over an hour.

Single line operation between Dawlish Warren and Teignmouth due to failed unit and horrendous sea conditions.

46100 due to pass Dawlish just after noon. A drop of seawater ain't gonna stop a Scot. <BJ>

Update: 802.xxx 1C55 still rusting away at Teignmouth after 3 hours. Royal Scot passed Dawlish at reasonable speed, wrong line, but spot on time.

802.010 working 2C69 09:00 Cardiff Central to Penzance has terminated at Exeter St Davids. Now on 1Z99 heading towards Teignmouth to rescue 802.102. What fun

802.014 is dumped a Exeter St Davids having failed on 1A77 08:35 Plymouth - Padd

802.114 is dumped at Newton Abbot platform 1 from last nights 1C92 18:03 Padd - Penzance. <BJ>

 

I was going to Dawlish today for some filming but decided against in the end because it's quite difficult finding suitable cover from wind and rain, while still having a good view. I think it was the right decision.

 

46100 Royal Scot at a wet and windy Bradford on Tone with the English Riviera Express

 

46100 approaches Galgate with the Pennine Moors Express

 

46100 near Clapham working hard on 21st Oct

 

I went over to both Crewe and Manchester Piccadilly today for the 2 steam charters
46100 Royal Scot with Saphos Trains Pennine Moors Express
https://tinyurl.com/3sxzpark
Neil

 

Times for Cotswold on 15/11/23
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U66251/2023-11-15/detailed

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U66255/2023-11-15/detailed

Note, out via Swindon and return via Oxford.