46233 Southend-Gloucester “Cathedrals Express” 10/10/17

Yes I should have said 'I would suggest, and if it's possible'.

Anyway Duchess away and Diesel still steaming(!) towards Swindon so it's anyone's guess.

 

.................and routed onto the TL at Swindon. Loco change there?

 

Yes, Swindon looks like the rendezvous point, the diesel has been sat there for a while now

 

Duchess made it over Sapperton with less noise than we had hoped, but certainly made hard work of it with three huge slips approaching the summit!

 

Not as pacey as the previous run in August

 

A cautious approach bearing in mind damp conditions and leaf fall season perhaps? Sounds like sensible driving to me.

 

We did not stop at Swindon.

 

Diesel following...

 

Just noticed that on Open Train Times. I'd guessed the diesel might have dropped onto the back, but presumably the crew are happy that all is well.

I'd wondered if some diesel assistance might have been provided to eliminate a water stop in the interests of making up time.

 

A class 800 left Swindon immediately ahead of 46233, so if anyone is watching to the east of Swindon they will see 3 trains of different eras passing by!

 

We went up the fast line rather than the relief.

 

I wonder if the diesel is about to drop on the front. Something seems afoot on Open Train Times at Milton Junction

 

Through Tilehurst - no diesel

 

The down run at Standish. Sadly, my shot of the return at Sapperton was not to be:

 

My video from today, dispite the return being in the dark I still like the outcome, for the last shot I used my phone.

 

Kemble, and the Sapperton no-show.

 

So did it do Gloucester to Hanwell in one slog with no water stop and no diesel support?

 

Looks like it's expired at Barking

 

Assume we watered in the 10min stop at Milton Jn. Duchess was coming off at Southall. Class 47 through Slough a few mins after Duchess left.

 

I’d assume it’d cost a fair amount to grab a last minute path for a light loco to travel from Southall to Gloucester (albeit terminating at Swindon). So considering it was just an electrical fault wrong with 46233 that I’ve been led to understand was fixable within (with tongue in cheek!!) a reasonable time, was it not a wasted venture to send a diesel out? Was it necessary? I’d fully understand sending one out if the Duchess wasn’t fixable that night, or as has been said to put it on the back or pilot the train back to Southall to eliminate the water stop thus allowing a semi reasonable return time for passengers.