Saphos Trains 'Golden Arrow' - 26/10/19

If it failed from a travelling start, I don't expect a standing start on the same stretch of line will improve chances.

 

No buffers on the unit and different couplings.

James

 

As I said, no need to couple, but the lack of buffers is an issue. Looks like it's going to be a very long one then. Clear ME and set back, run round and run tender first for home - abandon trip?

 

Bring 47614 down and attach to back seems more likely

 

From where? Was that the loco used for the ECS? If so, that's a couple of hours. There's usually something at Tonbridge/Ashford, surely?

 

Yes the ecs loco. Had a few attempts to start and moved forward 0.07 of a mile but really we need assistance. Just coming up to one hour now.

 

Even if it continues, surely it won't be allowed to do Martin Mill or Hildenborough (among others) unassisted? Far from 'I told you so', I had hoped for a trouble-free trip to bolster steam's reputation in autumn, but this seems to be a step way too far. Many of us had assumed lessons had been learned from previous problems on this route in autumn, which is why I questioned the chain of events that saw an unassisted trip today.

 

The loco certainly looks the part with silver painted smokebox door straps and smoke deflector handrails. A pity to hear the loco has run into issues though.

 

View from the A20 just outside Maidstone, the gateway gives access to the line side

 

And a little further along


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Traksy now showing train at Bearstead

 

No we are not!

 

Has the tender been summoned to keep the loco topped up during the delay?

 

Southeastern now saying expect delays until 16.00 and that "Staff are on site and working to move the train forward, and a rescue train is also en route to help move it if required."

Traksy now showing 1Z99 approaching the rear of the train

 

Hmm. "If required" seems rather pointless - it obviously is desperately required. Has the hand sanding borne any fruit so far? I note from NRE that up trains are not being affected, but surely they're running at caution if hand sanding is happening?

 

Someone on board reports just started to move

 

It's fairly academic at this stage, but neither Martin Mill nor Hildenborough are as steep as Bearsted, which has to be tackled from the speed restriction at Maidstone East and includes a mile and a half of unrelenting 1 in 60. Martin Mill at steepest is, off the top of my head, 1 in 74 and Hildenborough is 1 in 122 at worst.

I have just checked the invaluable Six Bells Junction website for the year 2000 when Steam Dreams ran almost weekly to Canterbury in the main season. The final workings were on 4th and 25th October, so well into leaf fall season but I think the load was only 10 as opposed to the 12 which Britannia attempted today.

Unless I've missed something, the last unassisted steam to Canterbury may well have been Clan Line with the Pullmans in September 2017. I was treating my wife to a special day out and was on this train. We went out and back via Tonbridge and of course, the leaf fall season was only just beginning. It was drizzly on the climb of Martin Mill on the return leg but Wayne Thompson got us to the top without any problems although there may have been a couple of slips.

I feel so sorry for those on board - passengers and steward alike. Still with my vivid memories of the Ebor Flyer last year, it's so awful when something goes badly wrong. I hope you will not be stuck for too much longer.

 

Over the top 10 minutes ago with a class 66 on the back.

James


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Indeed. I remember the attempt by 34067 on Martin Mill in autumn which resulted in major delays a few years ago. This really was eminently foreseeable and it's scandalous that it was allowed to happen. Steam's reputation can only be badly damaged, and very unfairly. I mentioned the two banks because they are heavily-wooded and Hildenborough is very long (five miles?).

 

For those after a photo on the return we are retimed to run 1 hour later