Belmond Private Charters

Some video as No 9 pulls through the speed restriction leaving Virginia Water

 

You did well there! I was on the same bridge fo Scotsman's run on 3rd June and she crawled along until virtually under the bridge -too late for a photo. Wish I'd gone to "ant crossing" a few yards further on instead - good exhaust by that point and a lovely sound

 

Last nights venture

 

Thanks

Someone else was down at Ant Crossing last night, I caught them in my still photos (BTW is it called that due to the Red Wood Ant nest that seems to be underneath it) I was at Ant Crossing on 9th June for Scotsman

 

60009 certainly sounds odd in all the clips I've seen and did so as it passed my house near Betchworth. Some attention is needed, I think. There seems to have been no fire problem, which is a relief. Given the diesel assistance enforced elsewhere in the country, I was very surprised this run was deemed not to need it. Did the customer, I wonder, offer to pay for any fire damage to ensure a steam-only run?!

 

So far, only one train has been forced to run with diesel assistance, last Sunday, and it appears that NR and/or TOCs have since been persuaded that that was an over-reaction. I see this as a welcome improvement over previous years.

 

Doesn't it depend on the route (location, gradients, local weather etc) rather than a blanket ban?

 

I assumed that was the reason it pulled up sharply at the signal, thanks for the clarification about where it fell away. The compression effect of the video because of the longish focal length of the camera lens makes it difficult to draw conclusions from it.

Mind you, I can't believe that a healthy 67 has inferior acceleration to an A4 hauling a heavy train from a standing start, so wonder if the plan was to cease assistance where it did.

 

Thought I was making heavy weather getting onto Grosvenor bridge, we went up unaided then. Unbeknown to me!
I will not put my thoughts on this matter in print.

 

30mph speed restriction at Worplesdon for her.

 

I was expecting the 67 to assist to a point near the top of the climb, not to here.
I can think of a couple of reasons it came off us here, but will need to speak to the driver of the 67 first.

 

A very private charter with firework display on Grosvenor bridge on our return to London.
Very aware of the fire risk, so very careful with the cut-off and regulator.
Drain cocks were a pain, middle one, I think, stuck open.

 

Straight from the horses mouth so to speak - thank you Wayne for that invaluable insight and for taking the time to post.

 

Thanks for that Wayne. It is always good to hear the insight from the crews on here.
Here is my video from last night and one of my pictures (with the leaky drain cock!)

 

Effort from last night's run great to see 60009 without any assistance the noise she made up Gomshall was quite special

 

No sound - or is it just me? Other YT videos seem OK. Edit - second attempt brought the sound.

 

So, no less than 3 private Belmond charters coming up in the next week, 2 with 35028 and one with 34052. Timings for these are up and it seems like they will all run one hour earlier than the usual Surrey Hills path. Does anyone know anything more about these - like who has chartered them?

 

All three trains have been chartered by the same international company, and they requested steam traction on all of them. The MNLPS committee - and a few others - know who the Belmond customer is, but 'commercial confidentiality' dictates that it would not be appropriate to reveal their identity here, or anywhere. The first of the trains is running today (Fri 7/7) so I suspect the information will emerge in due course.

 

Just seen 35028 return to Victoria after today's private charter, looks even better when you get the chance to stand next to it rather than see it passing through a station through your viewfinder.

I could guess the customer, as the usual Belmond decorations above the Victoria waiting room have been changed to suit, although the headboard still reads 'British Pullman'.

Had a quick chat with one of the support crew members - they were really pleased with how the loco performed on Wednesday's Bournemouth Belle and noted they had put in a 13 hour session getting the 35028 ready for it.

Regards,

Dan