Vintage Trains Oxford Circular 15/06/19

Seen here on the way home from Oxford, approaching Tackley. Sounded as good as ever.

 

Cracking shot! Did you get wet while waiting? Looks like there was a heavy shower north of Oxford around the time the train passed.

 

Yes, there was heavy rain and hail, just before it arrived. Then, just in time, the sun came out - the Gods were obviously smiling!

 

I've been looking forward to a trip behind Clun for a long time. I booked on the first trip planned after its overhaul that had to be cancelled until the new TOC was set up. I'm afraid I'm another one of those pathetic people who doesn't like diesels on the back, so I refrained from booking under the new VT aegis until the Oxford Circular was mentioned as planned without diesel assistance. The VT website also made a point of saying this trip would be steam hauled throughout, whereas they stated that the rest of the day's tour would be with diesel assistance. It seemed like a distinction was being pointed out.

So I booked and travelled half-way across the country to join the Lunchtime Circular at Oxford. My heart sank as Clun steamed into the station with a 47 on the rear. My spirits lifted again when I heard that Ray Churchill was driving as far as Ruislip, where he handed over to a DB driver. I felt sure Ray would do all he could to avoid needing a shove.

Departure from Oxford was brisk and there was plenty of vigorous barking all the way to Didcot. Progress along the billiard table was restrained and patchy, no doubt because of the need to fit in with other traffic. I could hear the Castle working hard again up Saunderton and there was a sprint up to 75mph on the last leg between Bicester and Oxford.

On the positive side, Clun looked and sounded splendid and at no point did I detect any assistance from the rear so, strictly speaking, the tour was "steam-hauled throughout". The train was very clean and comfortable. The stewards were pleasant and helpful. It's worth mentioning that I overheard another passenger asking a steward about the diesel. The answer was to the effect that some TOCs have in place a means of rescue in case of locomotive failure, but this is the only way VT can do it. This confirms my belief that they have no intention, at least for the present, of running tours without a diesel. I wish them well, but this is not for me. We may all have to accept that unassisted Great Western steam on the main line is now history.

 

She sounded great on Saunderton Bank and I guess the signalman was kind (or it may have something to do with the following service) as the usual shut-off for the Princes Risborough distant signal (near the Lee Road Bridge) didn't happen.

Images from Culham and Saunderton Bank

 

7029 passing Tackley yesterday evening in a beautiful piece of light just a couple of minutes after rain and quite a bit of hail rattled through...



James

 

When timings originally appeared on RTT, on Tuesday, the train was shewn to be stabled at the stone sidings adjacent to Oxford Parkway.
By yesterday morning, when I was checking progress prior to leaving home, the stabling point shewn had been changed to Bicester COD.
Are these military sidings where the opportunity to detatch and leave the diesel might have been an issue?

Anyway we all had a good day out. The only place I thought the diesel might have been used was departing South Ruislip - the acceleration seemed a little brisk?

 

Some nice shots of Clun everyone! Unfortunately due to other commitments the only opportunity I had to see her was on the return leg in the evening. I just managed to get to Fenny Compton in time to see her fly through.

My efforts can be found by clicking on this link........... http://rickeborall.zenfolio.com/p830217219

Hope you enjoy.........Regards to all...........Rick

 

.….or until a rather pleasant green King appears on the scene. <BJ>

 

Indeed, and not to forget Nunney Castle and Pendennis Castle.
Nick

 

For me one minor disappointment of the day was not the diesel but the fact that riding on this train was incompatible with visiting any of the other events commemorating the opening of the line from Didcot to Oxford.

Two snippets of info from VT people:
They envisage doing more trips around the same circuit, but with pick-up points on the Joint Line ― which would imply going round twice.
The morning run from the Birmingham area to Oxford and the early evening run back had few passengers but that was OK because those were effectively not-quite-empty stock workings for the circular trip as the main event.

 

My footage of both trips with the Castle (plus a guest appearance of Flying Scotsman) with the highlight being the assault on Saunderton

 

175th anniversary celebrations: http://didcotoxfordgwr175.org/

Not related to steam but...…
https://www.railpro.co.uk/news/new-...ial-train-run-marks-175th-opening-of-the-line

…..and an IET speed run from Paddington to Reading in real time. Try to ignore the music. <BJ>

 

Hinksey, Oxford.

 

My footage from yesterday, filmed at Kennington Junction, Oddington and Tackley. Before that, though, are a few shots from some of Clun's previous runs. These were filmed at Sapperton Tunnel, Chipping Campden, Frampton Mansell, Fawler and Bredon. I hope you enjoy the video!

 

My footage of Clun Castle on yesterday's trips. I filmed her at Kennington and Tackley in the beautiful evening sun. The video also features Flying Scotsman and her outings yesterday. Enjoy.

 

I really hope no one who worked for VT at the sharp end on this tour gets to read any of this thread. Their day would have started well before most passengers were out of bed and after a very long exhausting day would have got home long after said passengers. Rather demoralising to then read a load of whinging about a non working diesel on the back of the train, much of it from those who have made no financial contribution by actually travelling on it. It requires a lot of dedicated people doing a lot of backbreaking work to put an engine out in the condition of Clun Castle as seen yesterday, even the mundane job of polishing with Autoglym or burnishing the brasswork can be backbreaking and cleaning out the smokebox or crawling around in the firebox is the same but makes you filthy too. Just be grateful that there are people out there who are happy to spend part of their precious spare time on such activities and next time forget the diesel on the back. It will be there for a good reason.