Devon Belle A1SLT/ UKRT 2nd April

I like your thinking.

 

Have enjoyed many sparkling days out behind Tornado. Nov 2010 Kings Cross to Edinburgh in under 8 hours with load 13 and 74 min up Stoke probably the best piece of running I'll ever time. It got to York 1/2 hr earlier than Bittern did on its 90 mph run.

Will add my own logs to 14/02/2016 thread if I can.

Back to 02/04/2016 I suspect we'll be slow line Surbiton all the way to Basingstoke, following stopper as far as Woking but then a clear road provided the WAT - Pompey (via Eastleigh) unit is away smartly from its Farnborough stop.

But if there's brake probs on the 67 bringing stock in and we're away 37 late who knows...

 

Im sure you will have a great day, and what is on your ticket will be delivered.

In light of what happened so often last year, getting what you booked and paid for is an important issue to rebuild customer confidence.

 

It's booked fast line from Woking

 

"It's booked fast line from Woking"
Yes, I'm aware of that, but rather odd to cross from slow to fast at Woking then back to slow before Basingstoke, which will surely take longer than staying on the slow which looks completely clear after Woking apart from the Pompey with the Farnborough call. However, the down slow has a 70 mph limit on the curve after Pirbright Jn, so I'm rather hoping it will be the down fast as apparently booked!

 

A few Nat Pres members on this then?

Dave B

 

Yes.

 

Yes, and a few RPS members within that fraternity, too. So I think we will see some quite detailed, perceptive, and accurately chronicled accounts of this run. So much the better!! And more in the positive spirit, I would guess, of how "What's Going On" might have been conceived within the scope of the NatPres forums.

 

Would be good to have full logs available to view if that's possible on the site. We amateurs don't time to the 'industry' standard. Looking forward to the train. Just a pity about the arrival time in Victoria. Don't fancy waiting for the 2330 back to Bristol after the leisurely almost 2 hours from Reading.

 

Can you not catch a Bristol connection from Reading? Not looked at FGW times. Save the drag all around the houses.

 

That's what we're going to do but we hate bailing when there's still steam haulage! Not that disappointed as we have done the run to Victoria quite a few times and the excitement was underwhelming.

 

Couldn't agree more. It's like having teeth pulled.

 

My full log will be in Heritage Railway out on 5th May

 

I agree. It's a pity that an otherwise excellent tour has to finish off with a 2 hour stagger around the suburbs into Victoria. A quick dash up the GWML into Paddington would have been so much better, but I guess there are reasons why this wasn't part of the plan.

 

Hmm - looks like Tornado is moving early hours of Saturday morning to Waterloo from Didcot: just trying to decide if its loco/support coach only or if the working up from Eastleigh is maybe bringing the ECS. This would mean Tornado being piloted to Waterloo via Wembley by a dastardly diesel!

Didcot to Waterloo
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U59875/2016/04/02/advanced

Eastleigh to Didcot
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U59874/2016/04/02/advanced

Any thoughts gents?

 

There's no runround at Waterloo so I cant really see another option? Even engine and support couldn't propel all the way from Wembley.

The diesel leaves Waterloo to head for Wembley 3 mins after the train.

 

It might of made sense for Tornado to be attached to the CS at Wembley but I suppose will use less coal/water if piloted rather than moving light engine?

 

Form those RTT timings I would have though the movements would be something along the lines of...

- ECS for the tour arrives diesel-hauled at Didcot from Eastleigh. The diesel will be at the country end of the stock.
- 60163 and support coach are attached to the London end of the stock.
- Diesel either remains on the rear with 60163 powering to Wembley, or diesel runs round and pilots 60163 and train to Wembley.
- Train reverses at Wembley (diesel running round if necessary) and is diesel hauled into Waterloo with 60163 on the rear.

 

I shall be following this one on RTT and here on Nat Pres tomorrow because big brother Don is on it, and because of the route on the down run. With the 21st century built pacific on the front I am expecting something quite spectacular from Woking to Basingstoke bearing in mind the crossover at Woking, the load and the timing onto the Basingstoke stop. But have zero interest on being on it. "Wrong class of loco" as a Bournemouth gnome once said! Or more correctly, "Wrong Region" of loco!

Yes, I know, loads of people will adore the day out being behind a 21st Century loco on a fabulous route: and I fully hope all on and involved with the train have a really great day out. But my ever so narrow focus is well known. July 9th 2012 since my last main line steam . . . . .

Now if it was one of these tomorrow, (or a MN), I would have purchased the first ticket!

Shots I took at Templecombe and Exeter in September 1962:-

 

I am guessing that the diesel will tow the whole lot to Wembley and run round, can't see Tornado working the ECS from Didcot as it then might need water before reaching Salisbury (it won't get any at Wembley)