70013 London - Bath 19/12/17

Bath Chronicle coverage.

http://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/news/bath-news/live-historic-70013-oliver-cromwell-945998

 

Going well just outside Warminster

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The fifth SD run in a row to have hit major problems. Unless something was going on behind the scenes, the signalling decisions take at Basingstoke were woeful, as a clear road through was squandered to let a series of trains (passenger and freight) ahead of it, despite 70013 having stood outside for at least six minutes with no other SB trains passing! The result was a diversion into platform 4 (should have run through no.2) and a stand there for around 20 minutes. Had it been let through first it would have been away and clear. However, if there was an issue with the watering, perhaps the last minute plan was to hold it at Basingstoke. The departure from there was splendidly noisy, though!

 

Three views here, cruising towards Overton, and a couple of the departure from Overton:

 

The consequent delays to SWR were significant resulting in an Waterloo to Exeter service terminating at Honiton and cancellation of both 16.25/16.36 from Exeter St David’s with a 2 hr gap at a v busy time
I’m presently 75 late but DID enjoy 70013 storming through Salisbury!!

 

Loco didn't have enough water to reach Andover. The intention was to water at Basingstoke but the hoses were too short so had to continue to Overton and await the tanker from Andover.

 

1L31 and 1L33 couldn't be diverted via Southampton due to crew route knowledge.

 

Info gathered on the train in Coach K at the front. The footplate crew became concerned about water. The Basingstoke stop at p4 was planned and an attempt was made to draw from the platform hydrant. Unsuccessfully. The water tanker was then requested to move from Andover to Overton whilst the train progressed to Overton. It seems the tanker couldn't easily find the station hence the stand at Overton. We left 52 late and ran non stop to Bath arriving 48 late.

The biggest bark of the day so far was at Bath when OC departed with the empty stock. The noise echoed all round the Georgian streets and shoppers wondered what the ...... ?

 

Reasonably sure I saw the water tanker joining the M3 from the A303 just after I saw 70013 at Battledown (the thing I saw was a Fire Service Tanker/Bowser). If it was the tanker for the Overton then I saw it at least 10 mins after 70013 passed me and it was definitely taking a long route to Overton

 

Just passed through Chippenham, 2e, no fuss and going like the clappers.

 

70013 at Battledown (approaching Oakley) and near Warminster

 

I think the water problem was obvious by Mortimer, where it was a little subdued, as apposed to lusty and noisy at Freshford

 

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Heytesbury (Warminster) and starting sharply away from Bath

 

My footage of Oliver Cromwell sounding good along the Wylye Valley at Bapton. Enjoy.

 

I do not know who decides where the water stops take place if it is NR, WCRC, SD or in this case 5305LA but Victoria to Andover is 75 miles which is considerably beyond what is normal and with no diesel to assist as well. Plus of course on the back from Southall, standing at Victoria and I assume at the start at least providing steam heat. May be a tad optimistic?
Last weeks Yeovil Victoria to Winchfield via Hounslow is 49miles and then to Salisbury 43 and 40 to Yeovil
Or the regular DCE/Swanage Belle which always has a diesel water is Winchfield & then Beaulieu Road 48 miles on.

 

To have planned for a 75 mile waterless leg (with all the possible delays on the convoluted route) would appear to have been very risky, nay foolhardy! Was this, I wonder, at NR's insistence, or the train's planners' idea? To have caused at least two service train cancellations will not be received well, I imagine.

 

If you want steam on heavily used lines then you have to have a backup loco on the rear full stop. Disruption today was widespread affected more services than the two stuck behind it. Totally unnecessary and unacceptable.

 

Wrong. Tornado and 35028 regularly work over busy routes without problem and without a back up loco.

 

Rather daft statement is it not, considering virtually all DBC - operated steam railtours run without a "backup loco"?

Something obviously went wrong with the planning of the water stop today, and without knowing what that was (and we probably never will) it's difficult to comment further.