Mayflower to Worcester - 30/03/19

The big golden ball sitting on the western horizon coincided with Mayflowers departure from Kidderminster

 

The Darling Buds of Mayflower by Matt Spencer, on Flickr

 

Yes despite new management it looks to have gone on much the same. Just when I thought I might book one of their trips again after many years. I will continue to pursue pure steam.

 

So th0se of us who prefer not to be shoved around all day by diesel are dinosaurs? Thanks for that.

 

Through Bletchley with the return leg @ 2228. Alot of noise from the rear gunner here!

 

Pictures from today, firstly steam to spare at Whitacre Junction:


Working at bit more through Blakedown.


Taken from Homebase car park, I got there just in time to grab a shot of Mayflower on Kidderminster viaduct.


The return passing Ladywood - some nice lineside clearance has been done between Worcester and Droitwich, just needed the light to hold up!

 

61306 'Mayflower' on the charter to Worcester - seen at Northampton, Nuneaton, Kidderminster, Fernhill Heath, Old Hill, Water Orton and Long Buckby

 

Did something go awry at the end of the return tour? ( RTT shows some late running from Watford and then nothing after Willesden West Jnc )

 

RTT seems to have had a migraine on the way back showing all sorts of incorrect(?) times. However Open Train Times shows a 99L at Euston. My diesel driver friend was I believe on the cushions by then and may have baled earlier so I'm not clear as to the reason. I manage to get a picture of the fine array of semaphores at Worcester and Droitwich before they are removed. مشاهدة المرفق 42927 مشاهدة المرفق 42927

مشاهدة المرفق 42927

 

Bletchley on the Up Main with the return journey.

 

Something did indeed appear to go very awry based on the mapped data for 1Z62 as it appeared on Open Train Times!! Basically, after a lengthy pause of something around 40 minutes, somewhere around Willesden West London Junction, 1Z62 appeared to retreat back up the WCML via the Down Main, to arrive back at Watford Junction (P7 Up Main) at around 00.26. I'm sure I didn't dream any of this!!

What happened after that I don't know, but I would guess that most of Stream Dreams patrons who had left Worcester Shrub Hill at 17.39 the previous day and still remained on the train at that late stage probably hadn't expected to see in British Summer Time while still on the train . And if all of this isn't just in my imagination, my heart goes out to crew, stewards, and staff too, for this mammoth return leg.

 

There are still quite a few of us around. I'm sure SD have done their market research and know what pays. Personally I would love a mainline trip behind a B1 with a sensible load and without a diesel. Quite happy with a relatively short journey, say 100 miles round trip, 7 or 8 coaches, £80 a ticket. They could get two trips in a day. Wouldn't that pay?

 

The reverse shot (maybe 5 seconds earlier and I assume with you in shot)

 

Its the route and shunting not the load. The B1 can manage 9 up Sapperton and 10 over Whiteball reasonably comfortably. We did them both in 2015. And this year Dilton Marsh also with 10.It really only needs help with 11 or more. At least the diesel driver was honest as the 'was it or was it not assisting' is always contentious. Shame about yesterday as it flies in the face of what David Buck has said about diesels on the rear of Steam Dream Trains. This taking a diesel along for over 200 miles to do a bit of shunting is a disaster for real steam lovers. Lots of nice photos and videos but of what? Certainly not of a steam hauled train.

 

Haha yes that looks like me.

 

Well said sir. And I am happy to be called a dinosaur if that means I prefer pure steam. It’s down to SD to limit the load to ensure B1 haulage. No reason why a DL should be used on 4th May but I am not going to book until I am as certain as I can be that it will be DL free from Taunton

 

We'd be with you Don but we're gambling on a diesel free Saphos Train over the Marches that day - don't tell anyone!!! (Special Occasion).

 

What point apart from shunting was the Crompton hauling the train on yesterday then?

 

Fair enough. You are forgiven.