44871. Victoria to Bath. 4/12/18

If all goes to plan this will be the second diesel free railtour to Bath in a week !! <BJ>

Outward: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U10509/2018/12/04/advanced

Return: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U10514/2018/12/04/advanced

Light engine movement from Victoria (a.m.) http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U10510/2018/12/04/advanced

 

I find it very unlikely that NR will actually let a 'Black Five' out on its own for a fairly long return run such as this at the end of autumn, but it would be wonderful if it happens.

 

Afraid to report it's not diesel free. Just seen it pass over Grovesnor Bridge at 08:51 with a 47 tucked in behind. 37 which brought in the stock has dropped off the rear though.

 

Must be fire risk season

Let's just say I'm glad I didn't bother...…...

 

Reported from Wandsworth Town that DL was just ticking over. Superb exhaust effects from the Five. Maybe a day for head-on shots? ;-)

 

Well, sadly you were absolutely correct there!

Fairly unusual for diesel to run "inside" with WCRC? Unfortunately it makes identifying potential diesel-free trips from RTT more difficult, as even presence of an LE path from and to starting point can't be relied on.

 

Will this be operational due to the weather at the moment, or does the new Wessex MD (Andy Thomas) who was parachuted in last week to replace Becky Lumlock have the power to demand diesel assistance. This is I believe the first steam tour through is zone since taking over. Hope not a sign of things to come.

 

Seen at Brookwood, recovering from a severe signal check (a service train had overtaken it and crossed to the slow to call at the station), and, as far as I could tell, with no diesel assistance on the 1 in 330 climb. The sound and sight appeared to accord with steam-only traction at this point, anyway!

Edit - tried three times to upload photo and without success. Will try again soon. Edit edit - smaller size worked, but original was way under the 48mb maximum.

 

It was mentioned in one of the mags that this trip (and the Whitecliffs) were planned to be double headed - Mayflower and a Black 5.

 

It will be interesting to hear from someone "In the know" as to he exact reason for the diesel tucked in behind. It would be disastrous if the new Wessex NR chap has such power as to insist that every steam special must have a diesel immediately behind the loco. Hard to believe this is the case. Could it be the length of the train (I believe it was 12 carriages) and, like the White Cliffs circular, being initially diagrammed for a double header?

One concern I have which may point confirm out worst fears (but I hope not) is the lack of announcement of any 2019 circular trips with Clan Line. By this time last year, UKRT had already announced two for 2018 - one in February and one in April, both running along former LSWR lines. I can well imagine the response of the owning group if they were told that a diesel would have to be coupled immediately behind their marvellous loco. I hope that I am totally wrong here. I spoke to a member of the support crew while on the November 24th Chiltern & Downs trip and he said that the non-British Pullman part of Clan Line's 2019 programme was "still being finalised." We can but hope that this doesn't mean the worst and that steam on this route so eponymous with the end of Southern steam is, to all intents and purposes, over.

 

I'm sure I won't be the only one to find the position of today's diesel assistance to be rather ludicrous. If this is at the insistence of the new area manager, it is just another example on how out of touch NR seem to be with the actual running of this railway. Steam has never to my recollection needed a diesel right behind during the autumn season, rear shovage has worked just fine. This is a load of 12 coaches, which I've no doubt a Five can handle well on this route with no harsh gradients. To that end, the 47 could be on the rear and have the same effect, this is not the equivalent of the fire risk season. I hope to see no repeat of this.

 

Yes - perhaps the only way - seen near Putney this morning - diesel as quiet as a mouse!

 

Like others, surprised to see the diesel tucked in behind. Will wait for the real reason with interest, before storming Wessex region HQ and leaving with heads on pikes.

 

I wouldn't panic just yet - let's see how the Clan Line trip to Sherborne goes on 20th December. I think today's assistance is due to the length of the train (12 coaches) which is a big ask for an unassisted Black 5. Remember on the return journey it has to climb Westbury/Upton Scudamore bank. I have actually done the route with a Black 5 (44932) and 12 coaches some years ago but that was in the Summer. I am guessing that the 47 is coupled inside since that's actually what the rules say - if the second loco is there to provide assistance rather than just for shunting or providing train heating, that's where it should go.

The real issue is that you can't necessarily book these trains with any confidence - as far as I know there was nothing in advance to suggest that this train would be diesel assisted.

 

There have been two trips Steam Dreams has run in the lead up to Christmas in recent years that have had a 47 coupled in behind. Minehead in 2015 with 61306 and Southend to Alresford last year with 45212. Hopefully this isn't the new norm.

Andrew

 

The Cathedrals Express LMS Stanier Class 5 4-6-0 No.44871 Black Five Pass at Keynsham Station.

 

Agreed. That would be the ultimate horror for 35028 to be so assisted on the 20th Dec Sherbourne trip (which I am booked on ).

Can our good friend @derby2, who has often posted here, provide any reasssurance on this point? Many thanks.

 

Head-on shot like this, you mean? (at Wandsworth Town)

 

I think it may simply be that with 12 on and Upton Scudamore to come the 5 is overloaded on the NR loading rules. I would be very surprised indeed if Clan Line takes a DL on 20th. That would be contrary to normal GBC operational practice. A better indication will be 44871 on 11th. I doubt if this will be 12 coaches, more like 10.

 

I was discussing the Xmas programme with Steam Dreams weeks ago and they told me that the trains scheduled to be hauled by 44871 or 61306 would be overloaded without diesel assistance. Instead I took a punt on the Gloucester tour but still got a diesel