Tornado to Canterbury - 12/12/16

Luckily I won't be relying on Southern to get to the tour but their sister company (London Midland) can have their moments as well......we will be leaving plenty of time to get there

 

Yeah, probably left because they got fed up dealing with a pompous customer with an overblown sense of its own self importance and prone to male pathetic vindictive comments.

And the last friends I would rely on are those in the Network rail planning or gauging teams.

 

Just off from Victoria with a lot of diesel assistance

 

Isn't this a dbc run? I didn't think they used diesels.

 

Don't know it's Uncoupled now or not, certainly got a push out out of Victoria however

 

No diesel on the back when it passed through Shortlands. The B&C liveried coaches are looking pretty tatty though and most of the windows were misted up.

Regards,

Dan

 

This is par for the course with the 1 in 64 start and the engine cold. Normal practise on the British Pullman trains although it's usual DBC practise to leave the diesel behind a mile or so out. (Having said that, videos of last week's Surrey Hills circuit had the 67 attached for the whole journey.)

In the early days of Steam Dream's regular Canterbury runs, I seem to recall that again, there was a stop near Stewarts Lane which was almost certainly to uncouple the assisting diesel. Even a Class 8 would be none too happy taking a heavy load from cold up that incline. Were bankers used at Victoria on the heavier boat trains prior to the Kent Coast electrification? Maybe some older readers will remember.

 

Very measured departure from Ashford with 13 on. Martin Mill could be a challenge this afternoon

 

I'll be there with the camera!

 

Was hoping to have made this one.
FWIW diesel banking is usual out of Victoria, and I fully appreciate the reasons. Just like to see it drop off as lead loco levels out on Grosvenor bridge.
Was on trip with 777 which got up unassisted with load 10 as the cl 73 bringing stock in had failed, and 35005 got up with 12 as the Deltic (!) not considered suitable for banking. Both a while ago.
More reports please!

 

In that case, I hope the weather is better in East Kent than East Sussex. Thick fog and general murk up here on the High Weald. If Tornado was traversing the late lamented Cuckoo Line (which would have been my nearest line if Dr beeching hadn't shut it 51 years ago) instead of Martin Mill bank, you would barely be able to see it. Still, I'll look forward to your efforts!

 

Not good here, just digging out the waterproofs! think the light is going to be too far gone

 

Almost disappointing on Martin Mill bank! lot of steam but hardly seemed to be making much more noise than ticking over.

Almost dark but will upload the video after munchies as I am summoned!

 

Pretty poor effort I am afraid, almost pitch black, started filming too late and without my tripod and could not zoom out quick enough, good job the camera's better than the operator!

 

Headcorn



Late start to clip due to technical problems (technically, the camera operator is a prat).

And yes, thats got to be the tattiest looking set of coaching stock this year.

 

A few photos from this evening's water stop at Paddock Wood: -

https://www.flickr.com/photos/n_burgess/albums/72157673799373864

 

Even working hard 60163 is not the noisiest of engines. I note from your video that the safety valves were lifting. Boiler and fireman more than up to the task obviously.

 

Thank you for braving the elements to record this. Still pretty impressive. Taking 13 up that incline without slipping in these conditions is impressive.

 

Thanks appreciated

 

Just getting on with the job