Belmond Private Charters

Reports from Victoria p2 for charters are often infrequent and it generally takes a few minutes for RTT to catch up. From having tracked many of the lunchtime Pullmans, no reports come from between Victoria and Latchmere Junction/Clapham Junction (depending on which route the tour uses), so often the first report will be from one of those two, as it clearly has done tonight.

 

67003 and 60009 were allocated to the ECS into London Victoria according to Trust. As I passed over Stewarts Lane just now it looked as though 67003 was back outside the shed so potentially a diesel free run?

 

Let's hope it doesn't go wrong, given that the hot weather for days now has dried out the line-side vegetation greatly.

 

There's nothing wrong with No 9. The fires were caused by sparks from the chimney due I understand by poor coal

 

If it is DL free I would be amazed as London is much hotter than Bristol was on Sunday

 

She just passed me in Virginia Water - no diesel

 

Sounding great on the approach to Mayford - drain cocks making a lot of noise mind. Unfortunately it was hot on the heels of the Portsmouth service and shut off just before it got to the bridge

 

No.9 just stormed through Worplesdon. She has caught draincockitus though.

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For a train that wasn't supposed to happen it looks quite impressive....left the 67 which was supposed to be banking onto Grovesnor Bridge behind two thirds of the way down the platform.

 

Be nice to hear your take Wayne

 

Shown on the video below (not mine). Suggest viewing from about 5m50s. The 67 appears to be pushing (or at least in close contact) until about two or three carriage lengths from the platform end signal, then seems to brake sharply to stop at the signal.

 

Some shots from just outside Virginia Water

 

It seems to be losing time quickly after a late re-start from Shalford.

 

Storming departure up the hill from Shalford. 5 late after slightly lengthened water stop. in the end they departed with 4000 gallons in the tender. Most unusually,genny car on rear was silent and apparently switched off.

 

Rather pleased we decided to go and see one of Gresleys finest on the Pullmans this evening. Perfect conditions at Worplesdon. We could hear the A4 coming for ages due to one of the drain cocks being stuck open. She still didn't seem to be sounding 100%. She was also slowed down before the station but was then opened up in fine style. I will post pictures and a video tomorrow evening as I don't have time to do this now. Good to see her back on the ML for her swansong.

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Caught up with her at Woking and Gomshall.
Something definitely sounded amiss on the draincock front but she was still climbing in fine style through Gomshall and could be heard for some time afterwards.
And yes, not a diseasal to be seen!

 

Any ideas why the route via Acton instead of Putney?

 

Purley Oaks this evening - really good to see an A4 speeding through the night!

 

The important question - has the Surrey Countryside escaped without a visit from the fire service?

 

Having actually been there and witnessed the events first hand from a position dead opposite on Platform 9 I can assure you what happened was that the Class 67 had lost contact with the train before the end of the platform and thus was no longer in one consist with the train . It therefore had to brake and stop as it could not pass the signal at red as a loco on it's own.