Dorset Coast Express 9/8/18

With No.9 heading north to work the Golden Express on Friday does anyone know if she will still be working this train, please?

 

Sincerely hope so, I am booked on this, got the e-tickets, and it says '09 is the motive power. Also clearly states it will be diesel assisted. Thats fine by me, its a seaside trip for me and some friends, its been an exceptional summer and this is probably the only chance I will get to ride behind 09's voluminous steam chine before it disappears into history.

 

I would also expect to see it as 45305 not ready and to my knowledge no other non LSL locos at Southall. Plus as the Pathfinder trip is a "late extra" for them they were probably already contracted for this one.

 

Despite three locomotives still 5 late through Dorchester!

 

I just don't think the timings actually work for the DCE and NR just issue compromise timings which are unlikely to be kept on a point to point basis.

 

60009

Very sad sight with 47760 coupled behind a filthy 60009 and 47580 on the rear. Hot weather ended in the south and south west at least two days ago and its been light rain or drizzle all day today. Why the extra DL at great cost to WCR?

 

As you say a very sad state of affairs.

 

I live in the south-west. It was still pretty warm and only have we had a couple of short rain showers and slightly lower temperatures here. The SW is a peninsula surrounded by the sea and conditions vary a lot from one part to another.

 

Hasn't it been established the DCE always has to have a diesel on the rear for operational reasons?
The other diesel is the effective traction unit so has to be at the front? The steam loco - that's superfluous, in the circumstances and simply insults the intelligence of the customers to believe they get a "steam hauled" train.

 

Shame about the diesels, but in my humble opinion, seeing a dirty steam loco is actually quite a treat these days; rather more representative of the mainline steam I remember than the immaculately turned out engines seen on virtually all mainline outings these days.

 

I'm on this trip, and 09 looks like a proper working loco,

 

Some images from today. Passing Southwood (Farnborough), Test Lane (near Redbridge) and on the footcrossing at Battledown (Oakley)
No. 9 did seem to be working a bit in this morning's drizzle at Southwood, however was definitely the inside diesel driving things at Test Lane. At Oakley they were coasting.

 

Glad to see there was some blue sky somewhere along the route! Done nothing but rain here in Surrey today.

 

Raining again here this morning. Yesterday temperature just touched 21c down from 28-29 and last night 11c down from 16-17c. New Forest fire index minimal whuch is as low ad the reading goes. At least for now the heat and drought have gone in the south.

 

I wonder if anyone knows if it was a conscious effort & decision to present and turn out '09 as it was. It appeared at Woking in a slightly more grubby, slightly streaked state than I have seen it before (lets be honest, that colour scheme never looks "smart"). Arrival at Weymouth it looked in just the same state as it departed. Looking at it closely it almost looked like a lot of effort had gone into achieving an apparent state of "1960's working loco", almost like a "rat" look.

IMHO, they are to be congratulated if that was the case, its looked perfect for role, and I now realise something that slightly irritates me about Clan Line, its highly "over prepared" state, everything shines and gleams in a way that no working loco ever did in real life.

There is a balance between looking shocking and uncared for, looking like a well maintained workhorse, and looking like a overdressed tart outside Portsmouth dock yard.

 

Except it wasn't really working was it?!

 

Caught No.9 in full dull at Redbridge yesterday.

 

I actually enjoyed being out in the light rain while waiting for it at Southwood (almost in Surrey) in the morning.

 

Ok Ok clever clogs I wondered when someone would bring that up. There was a delicious irony in the fact it didn't look like a show pony, but was. Perhaps it was an elaborate ruse to convince us it was actually working hard.

 

Back in the 19th or early 20th century didn't at least the locos for the most important passenger services come off shed spotless?