The Great Britain IX

But...that's the hobby. It comes with the territory, it happens to all of us occasionally.

 

I think some people on NP don't even possess a glass!

 

Photography as a hobby seems to involve a great deal of anger on here at times?

 

Hang on - what "sort of response"? I simply thought you may have been being jovial. I fully understand the climb to Gosvenor Bridge is fairly tough at 1 in 70 (the rest of that section is not), but the point I was making was that, when passing Stewarts Lane - Longhedge, the steam wasn't working and the diesel was, so the steam was not being assisted, it was being wholly pushed. If "erring on the side of caution" means shutting off steam and letting the 47 do all the work at any potential tricky sections, then there will be pretty intermittent steam 'haulage'. That's all I was saying - not a big issue; just a passing comment.

 

Well you know what they say :-

If you want to relax take up a hobby -- Just not this one


Life has a nasty habit of putting things into perspective for you !

 

It's supposed to be relaxing, I'm kicking myself a bit now as I've heard the box is on the back but I'm not going to get to worked up about it, it's one of those hobbies where if you compare the effort put in to the results you probably wouldn't do it but there's also the additional benefit. This pastime has meant I've seen more of this country and some places abroad than I ever would have done and had a lot of laughs along the way.
Each to his own, the thought of sitting in a freezing cold stadium singing the earwig song watching overpaid footballers doing their stuff doesn't inspire me but good luck to those who spend their Saturday's like that.

 

Well done to all those involved in getting the oiler on the back, just caught The Scot opening the regulator through Midgeham, and a nice steady departure from Newbury racecourse with the 56 merely idling, and a good burger at the station cafe, my glass it runneth over this morning......

 

I found the accusation of being sarcastic a bit caustic as I was stating what I felt was a fact. Evidently, we both misinterpreted what we were trying to say, so I apologise for being sharp in my response.

 

When it left Victoria it was a 47 at the rear - when did the 56 take over?

 

57316 on rear

 

Just seen it going down the west side of Savernake. Diesel assistance audible at the rear and didn't sound like the Scot was doing much work

 

So left with a 47, changed to 56 and now a 57, some slick work by WCRC today ?

 

Sorry - looked like a 47 as I photographed, which does look very much more similar to a 57 than a 56 does.

 

In place on wellington bank. Hoping my glass will be at least half full today!

 

If the load is just 10 today, is this not within the capability of a Class 7 locomotive over the Devon banks? I believe Kings were allowed to take 10 unassisted but that was a class 8 loco so maybe a class 7 such as a Castle were only allowed to take 8 or 9. Sorry, answered my own question, I think. It is just such a shame to hear about the diesel pushing and Royal Scot not over exherting herself and with a path for a light engine in place had the train ran steam double headed, then would have been nice for 46100 to do the trip on her own or to Newton Abbot at least.

 

It had some bits missing off it, hey its a diesel they all look the same once you get past 3X

 

Superb departure from Frome. Once the Scot had regained the main line the noise was deafening.
Well done that man.

47, 56 or 57 .....or whatever it was on the back, just cruising. No diesel 'pushage' at Frome. <BJ>

 

I think that's about right having just looked up Summer Saturdays in the West. On 27/7/57 almost all trains were double headed over the South Devon banks. The exceptions were a few light trains including one headed by 34061 and more to the point the 5.30pm Glasgow-Plymouth dep Newton Abbot 9.20 am with 12 on headed by County 1000, and the 3.30pm Paddington-Penzance dep NA at 1955 with 10 on headed by 6029. The other one of interest was the 1225 Manchester-Plymouth/Paignton (?) the Plymouth portion of which was 6 plus 2 vans taken single handed by 5054.

 

I suspect in all cases the operator did not have the ORR overlooking their operation and a large part of the internet baying for blood due to double heading, but also waiting for the train to stall so they could throw that at the operator as well?

 

And no big fines if they messed up