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Sugar Loaf Mountaineer : 7/07/18 - now 23/09/18

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by Bulleid Pacific, May 1, 2018.

  1. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Yes it is. :)
     
  2. acorb

    acorb Part of the furniture

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    Cheers!
     
  3. NathanP

    NathanP Member

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    I'm booked on this, and all the other steam trips Pathfinder are doing as well. It's nice to see them flexing their steam muscles outside of TBEX operations this year! This will also be the first steam trip I've been on where both the primary TOC that operates on the line (Arriva) is involved in the trip, and that TOC's parent company (DB) is the operator of the trip. Hopefully everything will come together nicely for a great day out.
     
    Moylesy98 likes this.
  4. andalfi1

    andalfi1 Well-Known Member

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    I see that the SRPS stock is being utilised for this one ! (assuming uksteam is correct ?)
     
    Last edited: May 3, 2018
  5. acorb

    acorb Part of the furniture

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    Yes, looks like SRPS Stock, not many vacuum carriages are available to hire. Another question, who will provide the diesel between New St and Shrewsbury? Dbc don't have any vacuum diesels now - one from LSL?
     
  6. The Citadel

    The Citadel New Member

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    is that rake not dual braked?
     
  7. andalfi1

    andalfi1 Well-Known Member

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    That looks the likely scenario in that case.
     
  8. 26D_M

    26D_M Part of the furniture

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    Isn't the SRPS rake dual braked?
     
  9. iancawthorne

    iancawthorne Well-Known Member

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    I believe so. DBC have used it in the past a fair bit with Tornado amongst others.
     
  10. steam_mad

    steam_mad Member

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    SRPS stock is dual braked, dual heat. Also being used on the 10th July on the tour with Tornado to London so not all the way for One trip.
     
  11. 26D_M

    26D_M Part of the furniture

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    Plus 45231 is dual through piped for air so it would potentially be possible for an air braked rescue diesel to be used should the need arise. A vac diesel not so vital perhaps for DBC to call upon?
     
  12. Robin

    Robin Well-Known Member Friend

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    The Welsh Dragon, 18 October 1997. The load was 9, including a heavy generator car, for around 400 gross tons. The BR limit for a class 5 was 7 or 240 tons, so effectively a 50% overload. The first two attempts ran short of steam through over-firing; for the third attempt the firing was reduced on the advice of the owners' rep (who had worked the line in steam days) and the loco made the summit before a blow up was needed. Info from the SMF's publication.

    Back on topic, and just booked on this one myself. :)
     
  13. acorb

    acorb Part of the furniture

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    In which case a DBC 67 likely from Birmingham - if had been something more vintage from LSL might have been tempted to join at Birmingham!
     
  14. acorb

    acorb Part of the furniture

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    Thanks for that, there was some brilliant footage on one of the Psov steam videos at the time - can't believe it was 21 years ago..
     
  15. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    The issue with this line is that there are crossings with speed restrictions like the one at Berthddu, one mile from the top at Sugar Loaf with a speed of 10 mph. You need quite a lot of grunt to get away from these and that can be the downfall of an overloaded train. When I first did it with two Class 5s and a load of 12 there was absolutely no problem, but there might have been. It's a line to have power in hand.
     
  16. Moylesy98

    Moylesy98 Guest

    Iv also booked a ticket on this tour and it will be the first time I will have travelled with Pathfinder, although 45231 has got air pipes fitted she doesn't have an air pump fitted unless LSL are planning to have one fitted very soon. Plan I have is to stop overnight in Chester prior to the tour and then catch a connecting service to Shrewsbury where I plan to board the special.
     
  17. charterboy

    charterboy New Member

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    Heart of Wales done on Mon 22nd April 2013 as part of RTC Great Britain 6 trip

    0841 departure from Cardiff with 44871 and 45407 in the hands of Ray Churchill and Ray Poole

    Included a 50 minute leg stretch at Llandrindod

    Driver change that day at Shrewsbury before a run to Preston ending the day a couple of minutes early at 1918

    a cracking run on the heart of Wales line from memory
     
  18. Moylesy98

    Moylesy98 Guest

    Iv been keeping watch on the number of seats that are left for the tour and after I booked my seat there were 218 spaces left in standard and with first class there are presently 72 places left, as for the first class compartment's for 6 there was 28 available when I booked but now there is just 5 left available to book. Here's the link for people who might be considering but havent yet booked. https://bookings.torbayexpress.co.uk/bookings/BookingForm_UK.aspx?Action=New&C=20
     
  19. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    I've been looking at this trip and the provisional timings. Shrewsbury to Carmarthen to Shrewsbury in 11 hours and that includes time to service and turn the Black 5 - an absolute minimum of one hour but more likely to be two.

    When Steam Dreams did the Heart of Wales they took six hours from Shrewsbury to Carmarthen. When we did the Heart of Wales on GBXI we were booked five and a half hours to Hendy Junction - i.e. broadly similar timings.

    So how is Pathfinder hoping to do a return trip with steam in 11 hours including a water stop en route each way and at the destination? Arriva does the journey in four hours and their trains don't have to stop for water.

    Sleeping bags may be needed on this one or possibly a Plan B. At least it's midsummer.
     
  20. LMarsh1987

    LMarsh1987 Part of the furniture Friend

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    Booked on this, but will get on at Telford, as it could be a really long day if we get on at Brum. Hopefully with Arriva on board we will get the rub of the green pathing wise. I wonder how long we will get in Camarthen ? Hopefully minimum 90 minutes.
     

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