44871 + 45407 Poole to Bristol. Thurs. 24th Nov, 2016

An early start on the 24th November for the folk from Poole.
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U ... 4/advanced
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U ... 4/advanced

No need to film the train at Sydney Gardens before the wires go up .....cause it ain't gonna happen. <BJ>

 

It appears 44871 and 45407 are returning to Southall from Salisbury on the return journey - http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U53302/2016/11/24/advanced

James

 

But will there be a DL on the back?

 

Who cares ? Operational reasons might mean it stays on the train all the day,

 

Ah well, an evening visit to Southampton Central won't be happening now then.

 

It might just be a late start at work that morning though.
Thanks James for the heads up on the loco change at Salisbury. With two steam crews throughout plus another driver on the diesel producing ETH, I think WCRC must be looking carefully at their train crew costs.

With the grief there has been with steam specials on Parkstone bank over the years, a diesel on the back for a quick push is a sensible operational idea. Yes I know the purists don't like the idea, but would you prefer to see the public train service ****ed for a few hours because of a steam hauled charter slipping to a standstill? ( Remember, in the eyes of some railway managers, steam is only on the network under sufferance. Other routes accept it as part of life's rich tapestry and it adds some operational interest.)

End of rant, soap box now safely put away!

Cheers, Neil

 

Methinks I will be lineside for this one. Having had a DL on the back with 34046 (even though it didn't do much) I cant blot my copybook twice can I ?

 

It's odd that anything originating from Poole has such an early start. Is there really no path, say two hours later? Furthermore, especially for people who have had to get up at the crack of dawn, six hours at the Bath Christmas Market will be a further test of their stamina. I went on an RTC special from Haywards Heath in 2008 and the centre of Bath was heaving. It was quite enjoyable at first, but after four hours, my wife and I were glad to get back on the train for a bit of peace and quiet!

 

To be fair at least its the first day of the market and mid week so might be vaguely tolerable. As a local, I avoid it like the plague, and its now much bigger than it was in 2008 with more streets getting sucked into the annual "Shedfest" Weekends now feel almost dangerous with the crush and being driven along by the crowd.

Best option is to stop at the station and make yourself comfortable at the Bath Ales bar and steak grill place and wait for the train to come back!

 

I was contemplating whether to stop at Bath when I go with 60163 on the 1st December but a bit of crowd surfing doesn't do it for me at all.

 

Better by far, I think, to foresake the bright lights of the Bath Christmas Market and instead go for the incremental 23 mile round trip to Bristol TM, with the prospect of a decently brisk start-to-stop run in each direction. This is something that, by itself, people would part with good money for, if say, such a spin over such a distance were to be available on a heritage line. Plus, of course, I'm sure that we would agree that there's a more compelling choice of potential attractions at destination, from the Brunellian aura of Temple Meads to M Shed and SS GB.

Whichever you choose, I look forward to reading your write-up. Have a great day!!

 

Cheers. Really looking forward to this one, especially as it's my first run over Savernake. The Bath-Bristol section was one of the reasons why I decided to stick to the end. This, a couple of BBPs and the jaunt to Canterbury could be one of the last chances to experience Tornado being held back as a 75mph loco, exciting times lie ahead!

 

Savernake ? <BJ>

 

Nail on the head there,
We all know what happened last time the 33 was left in Poole.
There's evidence on the internet of this...

 

Really? Have I missed something here?

 

I think we're getting confused with the Tornado trip to Bath/Bristol on 1st Dec which does go over Savernake (or at least I hope it does because I'm on it)

 

Yes but there was only one Black 5 (44871) on the front that day

 

The electrification of the GWML from Wootton Bassett to Bristol TM has been 'deferred' so the classic shot at Sydney Gardens will be around for some time still!

James