Vintage Trains - 2021

Don't know why but VT are not responding to Emails or Voicemails and not answering the phone. Looks like we're going to have to drive to Warwick Road in the morning just to find out what's going on. Rather shambolic not to be contactable the day before a tour is running. Makes one feel the couple of grand we invested in the CBS was so well spent - NOT.

 

We are no different to any other steam operating TOC - we go by the same rules. Involving a diesel adds to the cost of the day, and as advertised it wasn’t intended to have a diesel. However, with the servicing taking place at Milton we need to be able to get back to Swindon at a speed greater than 45mph. There is no intention to use the diesel at any other point on the journey, as after all why would we?

A Castle with the equivalent of load 12/13 on Sapperton however..? This is the first time Clun will really be stretching its legs - I for one, cannot wait!

 

But it still wasn’t advertised to run with a DL was it? Realities of life but why did VT not know beforehand! Will the Lickey Banker take a DL to shunt at Worcester? We would like to book our first VT for a long time but not if we can’t trust what VT are saying.

 

So the diesel will be on tick over only on the rear of the train at all times and not on Notch 1 so called 'taking its own weight' will it?

 

Sounded terrific up Sapperton.
Little or zero from the box at the back!

 

Times up for next Saturday's trip to Cardiff:
Looks like the whole train is being turned on the triangle between Newport & Cardiff.

1Z39 0723 Tyseley Steam Trust to Cardiff Central
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U63382/2021-10-02/detailed

5Z39 1127 Cardiff Central to Canton Sidings
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U63383/2021-10-02/detailed

5Z40 1326 Canton Sidings to Cardiff Central
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U63384/2021-10-02/detailed

1Z40 1341 Cardiff Central to Birmingham Snow Hill
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U63381/2021-10-02/detailed

1Z41 1901 Birmingham Snow Hill to Tyseley Steam Trust
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U63385/2021-10-02/detailed

Bit less time in Cardiff than I would've liked, but at least the tour will be in daylight,.
The sensibly early arrival time also means I might be able to cancel the Saturday night hotel booking for Birmingham and save a few quid!

 

Single tickets also available on the website for the Cardiff trip. I've just booked mine.
7029 looked good at Worcester this morning. Arrived a little late so didn't take on any water in order to maintain the booked departure. Tyseley to Swindon with their GUV water carrier should be fine I imagine.

 

I sincerely hope the Lickey Banker will not have a diesel on the rear – some reassurance from VT on this point would be most welcome. I booked on the basis that there would be no diesel coming along, but given what has happened today with the SLS special, I am now concerned. The last VT trip I caught (a circular trip from Oxford with 7029) was blighted by a late decision to keep the diesel on the rear to assist on the GW main line.

Having said all this, there was one VT trip I was on, The Pride of Swindon in 2010, where on the return from Carlisle over the S&C, a class 47 was on the rear of the train but with the power controller in the ‘off’ position and 5043 made an absolutely epic climb to Ais Gill Summit with a gross load of 425 tons, involving a power output in excess of 2000edhp. I think that proves that a double-chimney Castle can handle 12/13 coach trains without any issue, and not just on the level!

Nick M.

 

Sounded great from the train too! The only effort from the back was the lifting of the tea.

 

I count 28 Castles and 1 Star with 12 plus over Whiteball (both directions) on 27 July 1957. Source--- Summer Saturdays in the West by David St John Thomas.

 

Frampton Mansell/Sapperton this morning.

 

29 mph into the tunnel. Interesting climb. 50 through Stroud and a very consistent fall in speed from a max of 54. Driver of diesel says he did nothing. On tick over from Worcester where he joined. We were 2 in front of box and I have to say we heard no indication of box assisting - but will reserve final judgement until we look and listen to soundtracks on today's filming.

 

7029 gathering pace past Wadborough Foot Crossing on the outward leg this morning -

 

A friend of mines video taken at Cowcombe Hill Bridge Cowcombe Wood near Chalford on the climb of Sapperton.
The DIESEL was very quiet so looks like all Clun Castles own work...

 

Seen at Banbury.

Looking forward to next week's trip!

 

An edited video still of this afternoon's stonking run up the Great Western Main Line, past Grove Wick Crossing.

 

Looked magnificent running through the centre road at Oxford 4 early. 47773 just ticking over and same when leaving Banbury

 

Yes bleeder I saw you today at Worcester S.H. I tried to give you a wave cos I saw you at the end of plat 2 as 7029 was departing thinking you may remember me from the oxford circular tour when I sat opposite you, i actually thought you was going to be travelling on the S.L.S. tour today i was with my younger brother who is autistic but likes steam trains and mountain biking like me and took him for a tour around the ex Swindon works now a museum for the G.W.R. steam era and he was very interested when we saw the belt driven machinery and old churchward 2.8.0. tanky in bits and asked me what the parts were on the partly dismantled churchward tank engine. Anyhow bleeder I hope you got some good pics of 7029 and maybe see you on a future V.T. tour P.S. I'm on the morning licky banker in November
Davo 56F