Steam Dreams 2021

Thanks Ralph.

 

Following Tornado's withdrawal from the mainline, the Victoria to Bath and Southend to Oxford trips are now being hauled by 44871, while the Lincoln trip is 61306 Mayflower.

 

That's odd, because another thread on this forum confirmed (from the crew of 'Tornado') that the issue was flats, sustained while running light engine at low speed (extract from that thread attached). I can only assume that both problems occured and the valves are the more serious failure.

 

Changing the subject does anybody have any details of the route the Christmas Santas are taking in south West London so that Mayflower finishes up on the front of the train at Victoria for the next shuttle. Will it just run to Chiswick and then reverse ?

 

I had assumed it would reverse somewhere, with a diesel heading back to London, as with the Windsor runs (which may well be the destination for these workings). Or, if there is to be no reversal, maybe use the triangle at Stewarts Lane?

 

If the last is the case I hope they leave plenty of time for the turning move, not known as the Battersea Bermuda Triangle for nothing

 

For those planning on photographing 44871 hauling the empty stock today between Bath and Bristol, our local graffiti artists have been displaying their skills on the concrete embankment supports at Corston. It covers an area of approx 150 yards but this is just a fraction of the area as yet unspoilt. I understand that the young gentlemen are eagerly awaiting copious amounts of spray paint for Christmas. Bless them.

The 'artwork' is midway along the long, walled area of the embankment, freshly cleared by Network Rail.

Until recently the embankment has resembled a 1960s viewpoint. Sadly no longer. <BJ>

 

44871 climbing into Byfleet this morning:

 

44871 has lost time steadily so far and I assume that there would be no chance that the 60mph 44871 could keep to Tornado's 75mph schedule, so perhaps it just becomes a case of making progress as well as possble, as the pathing must disappear after a while. 44871 is overtaken by a slow line service train at St. John's, Woking. Video to follow.

 

My effort from Winchfield this morning. Curiously, the few photographers present were forbidden from photographing or videoing from the footbridge which is where I, and several others, would normally go. So I had to go down onto the platform before going up onto the road bridge to film the departure:



Hope you like it.

TTFN,

Ron.

 

12 plus diesel is a big load even for a Riley Black 5. Unless of course the diesel is assisting

 

The number of the Black Five shown in the title is somewhat reminiscent of a certain 1T57

 

What reason was given for not being allowed to film from the bridge (and who told you not to)?

 

I magine the 47 was, at a minimum, carrying its own weight throughout and probably a lot more in places. Doesn't help with top speed, though, being limited to 60mph.

 

It's a bad finger day...

 

The chap from SWR who was posted on the bridge to stop people photographing said it was because of all that smoke...

 

I wasn't there of course, but if he was serious, and assuming the bridge wasn't being obstructed, my tactic would have been to deny his stupid request and if he persisted, ask him to call the BTP to sort it out. I've done it before with these idiots and it works - these bored staff/security guards fold when challenged.

 

I would have done the same. Another jobsworth who thinks a hi vis vest gives him power. The tain would have been slowing down for the stop so there would be no smoke.

 

My sequence from this morning. The only pestering I received on my bridge was from a very friendly and beautiful husky/collie cross who wanted to see what all the people were waiting for!