61306 Mayflower - Cathedrals Express (Sapperton Return) 24-09-15

I suppose if SD are not trying to attract Railway enthusiasts, but just 'tourists' as passengers, then having the steam locomotive at the front as an ornament, being shoved around the countryside by a diesel locomotive at the back isnt bad business?..

 

Was pitch black though !

 

Filmed at Moreton-in-Marsh and Haresfield:

 

Stopped off at Winersh on the way home to catch it again there

 

Doesn't matter when you're on board.

 

What if the schedule demands sections of 75mph running? A pair of Black 5s wouldn't be permitted to keep time.
It's mainly the dearth of class 7/8 motive power that's led to diesel assistance. Anyone with resources to put a couple more on the main line would get a good return on investment.

 

I am not so sure that is true.. If it really was a big money spinner it would not take long for commercial interests to step in. I think that the old saying that 'the best way to make a small fortune in main line steam is to start with a large one' still holds true.

 

Really? What sort of a return? 3% on £500k? I doubt it! I don't suppose even the most reliable, best-run locos do more than break even, and all it takes is one major break-down to knock a big hole in the next-overhaul fund. I completely agree that 2 or 3 more class 7 or 8 locos would help the situation, but I wouldn't expect anyone to choose owning and running a main-line steam loco (or any steam loco) as a good investment.

 

Not suggesting any steam loco is a good investment. How to make a small fortune from a steam loco - begin with a large one!
Was working on the assumption of someone motivated to put a loco on the main line in the first place might be better served by investing in the largest type affordable, given the agreed shortages in that category.
There are niche jobs and rescue acts for black 5s but their limitations are well known. That said, for most of the jobs the Jubilees are used for a black 5 would be a better choice especially where maximum speed of 75 is irrelevant.

 

We're coming to the time of year that is ideal for a pair of Black 5s. If Riley's Black 5s can't climb a slippery incline, then nothing will. Admitted they are restricted to 60 mph but given suitable routes ie. in my area it would be a Bristol or Gloucester to Shrewsbury, or a Weymouth / Poole to Bath and Bristol.

I am convinced that after a period of problem free (and diesel free) runs, the travelling public would return to the charter market.

Base a pair of 5s at Bristol and make a local man happy!! <BJ>

 

All in all there was something decidedly "off" about yesterdays run. Not seen any film where the B1 is displaying its normal boisterous self. Ok I accept the need for and expect to have a box on the back when its out, but based on the past experiences, I also expect it to be doing its fair share and making a show, which to me is a fair compromise. Wasn't happening yesterday, not by a long shot. All in all, for me, a disappointing experience I feel, and has set me pondering about what to bother to go out and film for the rest of the year.

 

I think you might be right. I saw Mayflower pull into Victoria last night about 6 early and the response from the detraining passengers was exceptionally positive. No one, except one, had anything but praise for the long day out to Worcester. Just one guy, and there had to be one, asked Spike Edney the driver whether the diesel had pushed to which Spike responded "only when I asked for it" which seemed fair enough for me.

A couple of brilliant moments to record. When the train came to a halt in platform 2, two Network Rail representatives rushed up to the engine and asked the driver if he could stop the some coming out of the chimney because it was going to set off the station alarm. I interrupted the conversation by saying "it's a bloody steam locomotive. What do you expecet?" Their response to me was very negative and for a minute I thought I was about to be escorted out of the station (after a night at the Barbican for Mahler's 3rd Symphony), I didn't fancy that. The NR blokes trudged off and never appeared again despite the fact the Mayflower was in the platform for around 45 minutes.

The second noteworthy event, was a gentlement who said he arrived at the other end of the station and could smell something that reminded him of his youth. Yes, you've guessed it, the smell of sulphur which was rapidly filling the station. He raced over and there it was, something that took him back to his youth. I have never seen a more happy chappy.

Finally after Mayflower was towed out of the station with a LNER blast on the B1 whistle, I walked over for a train departure to Claphham Junction and I kid you not, the whole station had a haze about it and a wonderful smell of locomotive smoke.

I thought Mahler's 3rd (especially the 6th movement) was special but this almost beat it.

 

He must have been hoarse at the end of the trip then.

 

I sometimes wonder if the vast majority of those who want pure steam are the handful here who "moan" about it all the time and rarely if ever put their hands in their pockets and become customers. With just a few exceptions.

I left the moaners a few years back accepting the current main line steam scene as it now as and something that is now just a memory for me. Either on train or with one exception recently, (getting a photo for big brother Don to go with his HR article which I did on the way back from my Owls), from the lineside.

 

I was on the DCE when Mayflower replaced UofSA and it made a lot of noise so the 47 on the back didn't spoil my day although not so good for the tlmers or those at the back .I.t was making a lot of noise storming though Farnborough North yesterday as well even though 47 was pushing so having a diesel on the back doesn't always spoil the show!It will be interesting to see if Saturdays class 7 needs a 47 to push it up sapperton!

 

Spike the driver of Mayflower from Reading to Victoria last night is driving the Hall on Sunday and, sorry folks, but a diesel stays on the back from Westbury. He is bringing it up from Bishops Lydeard to Westbury tender first and then pulling train and diesel to South Devon.

 

All that rankles with me is the disingenuous advertising. That train yesterday was not steam hauled. If punters are happy to be pushed around most of the day by diesels that's fine, but be honest enough to advertise just that. Making claims that these trains are steam hauled is just a nonsense. Top and tailed by a steam locomotive and a diesel is how they should be advertised. I've got a feeling we've been conned about Kinlet Hall. We've booked on Tuesday and if it's diesel assisted I'll just write it off as a contribution to Steam Dreams to keep the faith. I think we can forget October - railhead conditions, leaf fall, bloodymindedness. And what of November and December? Train heating units on the back????? Perhaps 2016 will be better....