Welsh Marches Express (Saphos Trains) 20/7/19 and 7/8/19

The revised timings showed a stop at Crewe Bank on the outward and a long stop at Ludlow on the return. Put 2 and 2 together and you get the Brit, hence the need for a water top up. Confirmed by Saphos.

Outward:
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U52269/2019/07/20/advanced
Return;
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U52273/2019/07/20/advanced

 

Do you mean Hereford instead of Ludlow? The stop at Hereford on the return is over an hour whereas the one at Ludlow is just 20 minutes. Hereford stop is the centre road as well, so no chance of getting out for a leg stretch.

 

Nope. As well as Hereford. The Brit's tender isn't big enough to do the 86 miles from Hereford to Crewe, so a top up is needed.

 

Good news.

1) The charter could pass 'Bahamas' in the Cwmbran area.

2) My rain dance is working well.

3) From Saphos: Our next tour 'The Welsh Marches Express' on Saturday 20th July will be hauled by 70000 Britannia (*as always subject to satisfactory Fitness to Run Examination).

<BJ>

 

70000 spotted in steam at Crewe this morning.

 

News from Saphos this evening''. <BJ>

''All ready for our trip to Cardiff tomorrow''.

www.saphostrains.com

​

+4

 

Britannia departed from Crewe on time. The Mk.1s should be at the front on the outward.
Loco to run light from Cardiff to Maindee Jn to turn. <BJ>
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U52271/2019/07/20/advanced

 

Class 47 Craftsman on rear today. Was unmanned at Crewe. Needed for shunt tonight. Some kind of possession we were told.

 

Problems with a diamond North end of P12 at Crewe and Acton Grange possession impact.

 

At Hereford, only a few late in. Britannia detached to water alongside
hospital.

 

With a soft chatter from the chimney, 70000 surges thro' the curves at Stapleton, ably assisted by the oily Sulzer on the rear of the train.........




Cheerz,

Alan

 

Any reason she has not left yet?

 

Left late, they ran the terminating Birmingham unit in front of it to switch to Platform 1. Don't know why, they can leave from arrival Platform 3 now.

 

Was at the fuelling point when we left.

 

70000 Britannia passes Sutton Bridge Junction signal box at Shrewsbury, 6mins down. With the 47 on the rear

 

Yesterday's stop at Hereford, where 'Britannia' and support coach detached from the stock in the middle road to access the Bay Platform (Pl4) to take water, and for the crew to rake through the fire and trim the coal in the tender. Video to follow later this week.

 

Passing Leominster southbound

 

And leaving Hereford

 

The Saphos Mk1 stock in Hereford's fine station on Saturday.

 

As it was a busy weekend and I believe there were 12 different steam locos on the mainline across the weekend of which I caught 4 of them in multiple locations, I have only just got around to sorting through my images. Images will appear in appropriate threads over the next few days, starting with the Saphos run Welsh Marches Express hauled by Britannia.

Shots near Pandy on the outbound tour and near Leominster on the return