Sussex Belle 26/11/19

Slightly surprised this tour doesn't have it's own thread already, so thought I'd start one. ECS appears to be ready to go at Southall: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54783/2019-11-26/detailed

 

A wicked sight at Balham with the loco opening up through the station, diesel on the rear just ticking over.

 

Gone wrong soon after with much time lost around Croydon and no effort from steam.

 

Gone wrong? No more than 9 minutes late and clawing it back.
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54780/2019-11-26/detailed

 

Which loco is it? Thank you if you reply!

 

Black 5 45407

 

I'm glad my fears were not realised. The train lost five minutes in a mile, between Norbury and Thornton Heath, for no apparent traffic reasons (no train ahead according to RTT, and those of us on the ground), and then appeared even later at East Croydon with 45407 coasting and the 47 working a bit. With the lack of effort from the steam loco but some from the 47, it looked to me as if there was a problem with the '5' which seems not to have been the case. At Gatwick, the scheduled run through p3 which I previously posted as being impossible owing to a direct clash with a reversing GWR train, proved to be unworkable and it was routed via p1 at a crawl.
Hope all continues to be OK for the rest of the (miserable) day.

 

Heres my video from Balham, nice to see 45407 down south for the first time in a while.

 

Ouse Valley Viaduct

 

I couldn't be bothered with this one as the weather has been so awful. I was particularly disappointed as I haven't got many shots of 45407 solo. Still, as a consolation, here is a view of 44871 on the return leg of 22nd June's SD Eastbourne trip, taken on the climb to Wadhurst Tunnel is somewhat better conditions

 

Could someone explain who this tour is for, i.e for enthusiasts or day trippers, because the journey doesn't seem that long and you only get an hour at Eastbourne before returning to London?

 

I did the tour 2 years ago (I think) when 70013 was in charge. I would say that most of the clientele on that occasion were day trippers. Agree that the break is short but that's fine - just long enough for a leg stretch to the (deserted) pier. The fact that it is not a long journey may be an attraction for some. No everyone wants to start at half past silly in the morning, getting back at half past ridiculous at night!

 

A few video frames from my wanderings today. Such an easy train to 'chase' (by train) that I managed five different locations for shots altogether. A shame about the weather.

 

I was thinking that, like the Chiltern and Downs tour last year behind Clan Line, a not so early trip for those who just want a day behind steam. The tour did look busy today.

 

While I was at Gatwick Airport station today I happened to meet a newly-arrived Scandinavian rail enthusiast who just missed the steam by about 15 minutes. He did ask what the aim of the train was and assumed it was just enthusiasts, but I told him there would be a mixture of people, from leisure diners to enthusiasts. He told me he had been alerted to the steam's run by the p.a. on his train which told passengers not to be alarmed if they smelt smoke! The driver of the train I caught from East Croydon to Gatwick informed passengers that if they looked out of the left side of the train they would see a steam train, a little like an airline pilot pointing out landmarks below!

 

my pic at earlswood surrey

https://www.flickr.com/photos/185138346@N04/49127745741/in/datetaken-public/lightbox/

 

My effort at Spatham Lane...


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