The English Riviera Express: 16/06/19

Been scanning 45 years worth of negatives and slides. Had no interest in steam or railways until 1984. We were in Cardiff University in the early '70s and saw Woodhams Yard when we went to Barry Island but it meant little or nothing to us then, and we didn't have a camera so couldn't have taken any pictures. Thought little more of until in 1985 someone at one of the GWR150 events at the GWS Didcot told us it was still open. On 30th October 1985 we went for a wander to see what was there and we got this pic of a certain West Country...it was in need of a little bit more than some detailing and lining out...4277 is the tidied up locomotive in frame.

 

I still think that Clan Line looks the better of the two.

47.593 5Z27 10:38 Crewe HS to Bristol TM has departed on time. Load 10. <BJ>

 

Stock in through road at Bristol MK1s will be leading from Bristol

 

Is the 47 coming with steam on Sunday

 

Not Saphos policy since their Generator Car became available. Looks as if the Class 47 is involved in shunting the stock but it has a path back to Barton Hill from Bristol West.

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55118/2019/06/16/advanced

 

Braunton's name plates have been attached. Just need the stock to arrive now...

Andrew

 

Load 11. No diesel.

 

Braunton looked superb while passing through Sydney Gardens this morning.

Some young children were waving at the train from the footbridge, the crews responding with a nice blast of the whistle. Fantastic stuff.

Mk.1s at the front. Nameplates refitted as mentioned above. <BJ>

 

Bit of a struggle up Whiteball, min 24.2, big slip just in the tunnel too. Good running elsewhere though. Lots of grey smoke, poor coal today?

 

DBC driver Vince Henderson is driving on the return leg. <BJ>

 

Never got to see it, Father's Day and all that. Anyway the weather was kind, no deluge in South Devon.

 

Superb bit of enginemanship on Torre bank, checked to 5mph at the bottom of the bank and held 8/9mph all the way up the 1:50. Currently at at Taunton for water, 58mph into Whiteball.

 

34046 seen passing Oath this morning. https://www.flickr.com/photos/79185888@N04/48074710067/in/dateposted-public/

 

There is an unfortunately situated 10mph tsr just north of Torquay platform right on the foot of the bank - due to an unstable land slip above the railway on the up side. A wet rail would have been a major challenge today but it was a superb performance from Braunton.

 

'Braunton' blasted through Keynsham this evening at speed, the crews giving a 12 second blast on the whistle from just before the station to just after. Fantastic enthusiasm. Well done. <BJ>

 

Thanks to all involved with the tour. Great performance from loco, over 280 miles of unassisted running. Good hill climbing, some fast running and beautiful scenery - the sun even came out in Dartmouth!
A word about Saphos, it was mine and my dad's first experience of them and we were both very pleasantly surprised. The stock and staff were immaculate, the customer service was spot on. They really have taken railtours to another level, plus fares at £65? A ticket for P&DSR is nearly £20 on its own! Yes, the mk2 was a bit annoying with its sliding door, but it was comfortable, the windows didn't steam up - plus I could even hear the loco a couple of times(!).
We are booked on the August Lakelander and are very much looking forward to it - best of luck to Saphos.

 

Yes, could hear the whistle from the train, great sound, liberally used and seemed to suit the sense of urgency we had on the return!

By Westbury we had caught up the 15min we'd lost up Torre bank , through some fast running and cutting the pathing stop at Frome. Unfortunately, two late trains on the Avon Valley line meant we were heavily checked and back to 12 late at Bath.

Circumstances were in our favour; firstly we were let out ahead of a Great Western IEP (seen held at the junction), plus we also had a driver who was keen to accept the unofficial 75mph challenge between Bath and Bristol! Some rapid work getting the train away and a very pleasant sprint up to 77mph, saw us back in Bristol at 9pm, just 4 late - Great work everyone.

 

Very good value from what I read here.

 

Herewith my efforts at recording The Return of Braunton . . .