RTC 2021

My video at Gloucester

 

I see some posts in some of my Facebook groups that this was the first time that a Coronation has ever arrived into Cardiff Central. No idea whether that's true or not but several people seem to have picked up on it.

 

The 'Christmas Sussex Belle' today at Hooley.

 

My little video from today's run.

 

Great location and lovely lighting you had there Thanks for sharing!

I saw her this evening at Otford - a bit dark, but still nice to see and hear!
Looking forward to seeing more photos and videos!

 

The lighting is good and the sun only gets to the bottom of the cutting for a short time at this time of year - the train being several minutes late helped too!

 

Passing Hildenborough this evening, the Class 47 giving a lot of help:

 

At least the 47 is making it a bit easier for the Black 5’s fireman.

 

My effort from today.
Filmed at Balcombe and Bopeep Junction (West St. Leonards).

 

don't forget its also Leaf fall season, and the route though to Tonbridge via Tunbridge wells, is not exactly the easiest for Steam to work, lots of reverse curves and tree lined cuttings ,

 

It's strange because elsewhere, people are saying the Class 47 "isn't loud enough to be providing traction to its wheels" and its just providing ETH. I don't know much about the way ETH works on these trips, but from other videos I've watched, the 47 was almost idling, nothing compared to what I heard when it passed me, so I find it odd that it was thrashing away at the rear here. Perhaps someone could enlighten me - would a diesel really be making that much noise JUST for ETH?

 

Normally it would just be idling, to provide ETH, and in notch 1 which means it would be taking its own weight, the driver requests assistance from the diesel I was at Warrior Square yesterday, and the diesel did sound like it was assisting, but it was just starting from Hastings, straight into a tunnel, then another, before it reaches Bo peep Junction, so at risk of slipping, so it would have made sence to give assistance until out of the two tunnels,

 

I don't think I've ever known even a class 8 steam working not receive diesel assistance up Hildenborough bank - it's a five mile stretch of about 1 in 100 on a busy main line that requires all trains to be through as quickly as possible. Having a class 5 on around 450 tons (if the diesel plays no part) would probably take it down to below 20mph even with perfect railhead conditions.

 

It was also needed for the Eastbourne - Hastings leg

 

I've been up Hildenborough Bank five times in the preservation era without any diesel assistance, including twice behind 35028 in the British Pullmans - once as recently as 2017. The other three occasions were all behind locos of a lower power classification - 34016, 70013 and 73096. None of them had any problems, although all the runs took place before the leaf fall season The gradient is actually no more than 1 in 122 at its worst, although the sharp curve at the foot of the bank west of Tonbridge does make for a tricky start.

 

The leaf fall season is taken quite seriously now and diesel on the back for insurance is sensible, particularly with West Coast, where is the nearest vac braked diesel if the Black 5 trip had hit trouble?
I think you will find next week's Belmond will have a diesel for Gomshall Bank, mostly it's just another 80 tons of dead weight for 28 to pull but best be cautious.

 

73096 must have been doing well - was there a dead diesel at the back (and what load)? It would be great to see the 'Green Five' back in action.

 

I was just commenting on Deepgreen's observation that

I agree that in leaf fall time, it's understandable that a diesel is often provided as an insurance these days and I know that a similar philosophy is adopted with 35028 on Gomshall bank, but at other times of the year, Clan Line is totally master of the job and thankfully is allowed to prove it

I think the run was in the summertime and 73096 was totally mater of the job. With the Canterbury circuit, Bearsted and Martin Mill banks are far more challenging and I don't recall the loco having any issues on these inclines either. It was superb run throughout. This was in the fairly early days of SD and I think the load consisted of 10 largely mark 2 carriages. I think that FM Rail provided the crew and there was definitely no diesel once we topped Grosvenor Bank.

A main line return for 73096? Unlikely as John Bunch has sold it to the Mid Hants and it awaits its turn in the overhaul queue - possibly a project once 75079 is completed. We know that the MHR has pulled out of running trains on the main line, but it is preparing to restore 34007 to main line condition thanks to a six-figure donation form a supporter in Switzerland. West Coast doesn't seem to want its own locos to spend long periods of time in Southall, judging by the engines which have worked most of RTC's London-based excursions in the last couple of years, so there will certainly be work for 34007 and if some fairy godfather was to cough up a similar sum for 73096, I'd imagine there might be some interest in sending 73096 back on the main line, but I must stress, we're talking hypothetically.

 

Many thanks. It almost always comes down to adhesion - summer workings benefit from far less of an issue there, and a strong 5 on ten coaches should be OK. I've only ever witnessed a loco stall through lack of power without slipping and that was as a small boy with my father watching a special try to climb the Hopton Incline with six brake vans loaded with enthusiasts, double-headed by saddle tanks. It ground to a halt near the top of the 1 in 14 but with no slipping, and they had to split the train. I didn't appreciate what was going on then but his cine films record it and I have had them converted to digital. Two compilations are on YT already (see https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFvyA4C6QWtvqgVtn2iKzEw ), and more will appear as I edit them, including the Hopton event.

Yes, my 'wish' for 73096 was very fanciful!