60009 - West Somerset Steam Express 19/08/17

Union of South Africa passing through Crofton sounding magnificent. Enjoy.

 

My efforts of 60009 today , first an artists drawing of 60009 today done in the 15 mins it stopped at Frome , then at Oath , and on the return racing round the bend at Athelney , I wasn't going to go again to Athelney but the performance there was just great today and finally at Oath filmed on an iPhone as my wife's battery died on her. The wind conditions were challenging today so apologies about wind noise.

 

Thanks for posting, that's another location to put in the memory bank, there's not much left now with no lineside vegitation

 

No problem John. Got to thank @Western Venturer for going to this location last week, and giving inspiration to go and get no.9 there this week!

James

 

Agreed. Have added it to my list of potential photographic locations. Thanks James.(@steamvideosnet).
Cheers, Dave.

 

Thank you to everyone for your likes and comments. Here's the video. I must confess, it's not my best - when no.9 came into view, my finger froze on the zoom rocker and the more I tried to move my finger while panning, the shakier the pan became. I've added a fair ol' bit of stabilisation to it, so it's watchable, but don't look at it too closely... you may be able to spot one or two small imperfections!

James

 

Arrived at Bishops Lydeard

 

Pedantry is the spice of Nat Pres! Looking at the track diagram on Open Trains, although it is signalled, it looks as if you'd have to run wrong line from Wootton Bassett Jn. to the cross overs at ?Steventon? so you'd cause a lot of problems doing it.

Actually we got a excellent high speed last through the main running a few minutes late due, I suspect, to some late running HSTs.

Ian

 

5 minutes 51 seconds to be precise. Very slick operation on the WSRly throughout. My favourite Heritage line as it has everything. 6960 was brilliant. See Heritage Railway Issue 232 out Thursday.

Don

 

Taken at Heywood on the return leg.

 

Seen passing Upton west of Somerton.https://www.flickr.com/photos/79185888@N04/35881123533/in/album-72157684760611786/

 

My footage of yesterday's and last Saturday's runs. Filmed near Great Bedwyn and at Crofton Locks. I hope you enjoy!

 

Seems they were quite lucky at the end of the tour on Saturday at Paddington. The track in Platform 2 spread and derailed a GWR power car as it departed on a Penzance service yesterday morning. Good job it did not happen a few hours earlier, that would not be the sort of PR mainline steam needs.

 

Is spreading confirmed? Or was it a suspension/wheel defect on the HST?

 

I guess it needs NR to confirm but the forum I read it on has lots of drivers on it who seemed to think it was spreading.
RAIB will need more staff for London terminals at this rate!

 

Why? It could of happened to anything, as it did with an HST. Does that mean HST's should be banned because of this? Or similarly have certain electric units banned because of Waterloo & KX? So why should it be any different if it was a steam loco? Especially as it seems pretty certain it was a track fault.
The only people who would make a fuss are the anti-steam brigade who want them banned off the main line, believe me there are plenty of those out there who would pick on the slightest excuse.

 

Exactly buseng I am sure we can remember one former head of FGW wanted "steam banned from her railway"

 

I don't think @Gladiator 5076 was anywhere suggesting anything should be banned. I think it was a simple comment that the PR would have been bad for mainline steam in general if one had been involved. It could just as well have been a heritage diesel for that matter. But any negative press is best avoided.