Cath-Ex Alton-Bath: 5/12/17

It seemed to be putting on a stonking show today. Here at Bentley, Liphook and Bapton (Wylye)

 

Farnham and Milford this morning...



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Signalling failure presently twixt Bath and Bristol, trains on stop. ECS to pick up pass working ex Bath has not left Bristol yet according to RTT. WTT Scheduled trains severely affected.

 

Show pony display? Are you suggesting the steam is just for show? Obviously you haven’t heard the sound from the front that we’ve been hearing all day then, or seen the hole in the tender from all the coal that’s been shovelled....

 

RTT now shows the ECS has reached Bath - gonna be a late night

 

The ECS has just arrived at Bath Spa 105 mins late.

As National Rail Enquiries describe the situation for passengers ''minor delays are to be expected''. <BJ>

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55343/2017/12/05/advanced

1Z94 http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55340/2017/12/05/advanced

 

Many thanks - it's all planned, you know!

 

This pair of trips has been jinxed! The outward journey to Alresford from Southend was severely delayed by the OHL de-wiring near Acton, and now this.

 

Thanks for the kind comment, class 5 with load 12 plus a 47 on a line difficult to path was always going to see a powered up 47 I guess. I went out today as steam on the Portsmouth direct is so rare and certainly at Milford at least 45212 seemed on full power.

 

Looks like it will be a very late finish for the punters and the crews tonight.

Trying to work out what is happening at Salisbury on Opentraintines and RTT; the 5Z95 (45212 to Southall?) seems to have disappeared; the short stop has lengthened and an 0Z94 appeared then disappeared; presumably the diesel running round. What was a 106m late arrival at Salisbury has turned into a 120+m departure with having to fit things around other services

 

131L from Salisbury - predicted to be at least 0100 at Alton! Not a happy end to the saga.

 

Both on the move see http://www.opentraintimes.com/maps/signalling/westofengland

 

Thanks, yes; just spotted the LE move, 121L. And the train is 131L

 

It was clearly always going to a mixture of motive power - it just cannot be done to run a 12 coach train plus dead diesel on the Portsmouth route with a class 5 without losing time rapidly (even if a stall is avoided). There will have been a good steam effort throughout, with help where it was unavoidable. I suspect the Farnham departure was assisted to clear the busy level crossing in a reasonable time!

BTW, a slightly interesting side effect of this evening's woe is that RTT predicts a departure from the stop at Petersfield at 0000, a time that never appears in public timetables!

 

The Hampshire unit has just fired up at the bottom of my garden and headed towards the station here in Alresford...presumably to return at 01:30 tomorrow morning!

 

Left Salisbury at 131L according to Real Time Trains so a very late arrival in prospect.
Being so out of path the tour has lost a further 7 minutes by Romsey.
Presumably 45212 (with support coach) was watered in the Up yard before departing for Southall WRC.

 

Christ, what time will the passengers get back to Alresford if any boarded there?
Will the MHR be closed to traffic? SD really haven't had much luck with these last two trips.
I really feel for the passengers. I have been in the same situation a few times; the infamous end of SR Steam Anniversary trip with 850 which was failed at Westbury. Got home around 2am the next day. And 34067 to Lincoln; Class 37 on rear failed on outward run with brake problems. 34067 failed on return run with hot box. Got home 2.30am!

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