Steam Dreams to WSR with 46100: 20/04/17

Is 46100 visible from BL station? anyone know please

 

Royal Scot was very impressive departing from the water stop at Frome. What a powerful loco.

I saw the train as it re-joined the main line at Blatchbridge Jct. It appeared that the 47 was simply idling.

The crews noticed a lady on the over bridge waving her Union Jack flag and they responded with a nice long whistle.

Well done West Coast. <BJ>

 

Some excellent running from Frome to Taunton. So good in fact that I did wonder whether the diesel was assisting but being in the front coach I couldn't hear anything from it. Credit to 53808 as well for a sterling run on the WSR - non-stop from Norton Fitzwarren to Blue Anchor with some solid climbing.

 

Two views of Royal Scot crossing the Somerset Levels at Athelney one down low and one from high up !

 

Video of the train making lots of noise and steam at Bracknell, Theale (photobombed by HST!) and Newbury.

Looked and sounded fantastic today and seemed to be really working well

 

.....and there lies the problem. When an engine is powering along and attaining an excellent performance the passenger would assume that the diesel was pushing. Unfortunately for me that would take the pleasure and excitement out of the run. <BJ>

 

When I saw 46100 at Athelney the diesel looked as though it was hanging on for dear life !

 

At Frome while the drivers hand was on the power controller by the look of it, it wasn't making any noise unlike the Scot.

For some reason though she originally stopped at the London end of the platform before moving forward to the water tanker.

To further add to the fun one of the hoses was split and I don't think watering had finished before they got the green & had to go.

 

Yes, agreed, well done to the footplate crew who must have enjoyed themselves today, super running, and they made time to wave and whistle at places where they didn't have to Excellent morning on the lineside!

 

The train looked and sounded lovely on the WSR, and credit to all for giving it such a clear run......

 

Anyone have the time 46100 returns 2moro please

 

Indeed!

Which is why, for those of us who are interested in seeing what the steam loco is doing, timing any WCR rail 'steam' tour when there's a diesel in the consist is a complete and utter waste of time and money.

 

All this talk of the diesel is grumpy old men stuff. Most of the shots I have seen and heard, its been extra ballast on the back. Cut the crew and the operator some slack, the Loco was allowed its head today, and it looked and sounded good doing so.

 

There were a few grumps heard from passengers about the diesel, but mostly about having to have it haul us back. I only heard one person suggest that it did any significant pushing, and like me he was in no position to judge being far too far forward. I can understand from a train timer's perspective that 'pure steam' could not be guaranteed, but for most passengers we had 8 hours of steam haulage yesterday and a definite feeling that it was a tour worth being on.

 

Well as Carnforth loco's go 47746 is on of the better ones, it could have been a lot worse

 

I'd say grumpy old men is by far the forums biggest group

 

Any idea when 46100 leaves BL

 

11.10 . Times ARE up on uksteam info.