'Union of South Africa' to the WSR. 28/07/18

1Z09 A4 60009 + 47.746 + 11 coaches. 4 mins late at Tilehurst.
1Z09 outbound:
http://www.realtimetrains.Edit:co.uk/train/U55176/2018/07/28/advanced
1Z10 return:
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55177/2018/07/28/advanced

Edit: My walk to Keynsham to see this train has been cancelled due to heavy rain. Typical. <BJ>

 

Diesel tucked inside and shoved No.9 into and out of Slough. Doing so little on the front that No.9's hardly used any water. Skipped the stop at Challow so must be going all the way to Bristol East Depot some 117 miles from Pad before needing a top-up!!

 

Seen passing Brent Knoll.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/79185888@N04/42973369234/in/dateposted-public/

 

Just looking at the Bishops Lydeard webcam. Train just left for Minehead with 6990 Raveningham Hall on the front and a Class 14 diesel giving it a shove on the back. Assume the diesel is there for fire risk reasons as the Hall would have to be working pretty hard otherwise with a 10 coach load

 

The 47 will lead the return as apparently no.9 has Vac Brake issues.

Andrew

 

Out of sheer boredom at the lack of steam I’ve bitten the bullet to drive 60 miles to get another shot of no. 9 just for the records... Not the news I was hoping to hear...

 

Diesel + A4 formation confirmed.

I'm not chancing a soaking to see that. <BJ> (in the house watching the rain pour down)

 

Thank for helping me decide against a drive to Bath re diesel at front.

 

The weather for the SW of England appears to be wind and heavy rain tonight and most of tomorrow (Sunday). Whilst we need the rain for the crops and gardens - not to mention other needs - it will put a damper on many events.

 

Are you sure it’s 47746? The 47 in the phot doesn’t have nameplate.

 

Sorry, it's 47.760. Duff info from South West Rail Gen this morning.

At least they got the number of the A4 correct.

 

Seen arriving at Reading this morning.

 

Lovely shot. Looking at that exhaust you'd almost never know....!

 

At Wantage Road this morning.

 

It didn't last! When it rolled out, the 47 was giving it plenty of shovage! Shame really, it's not as though there's much vegetation to set fire to in the Reading station approaches!!

 

At BL This afternoon.

 

I guess in the circumstances that the crews have to adopt a consistent approach to how these trains are run rather than leave it to the drivers to decide where they may or may not be vegetation to set fire to. I expect the general rule is that the diesel gives a big shove on the getaway from all stops.

 

A video taken on Saturday 28th July 2018 on The West Somerset Railway including The West Somerset Express: