RTC - 'Bahamas' Padd to Worcester. 18/06/22

45596 coming into a very wet Worcester Shrub Hill this morning

 

Why was so much time lost after St Mary’s?

 

Watering at Kemble took longer than the time allowed. Bells and Two Tones with their high powered pumps are sorely missed, 12 minutes was nowhere near enough. After that it was the usual story when a path is lost.

 

Mind you John a mere few minutes compared to the "highlights" of the WCML issues caused by the Leighton Buzzard lineside fire on Friday.
15:43 Euston to Blackpool 300 late when terminated short at Preston (Super Voyagers as well, awful things).
19:30 Euston to Glasgow started short at Rugby, "only" 233 late on arrival at 03:59! This one also impacted by a failed freight on Beattock I believe.

 

My video at Sapperton, very impressive running

 

Sapperton was no match for a Jubilee in supreme condition. Also, there's a bonus shot of a Duchess powering away from Tamworth.

 

3 shots from Yesterdays run, including runpasts at Norton, Leaving Shrub Hill and getting checked at Standish.

 

Didn’t here about that, Leighton Buzzard is near home but I was away at Southall. Do we know what caused it?

 

I read it was a lineside fire that took out the signalling cables. A neutral section was mentioned regarding the OHLE, so you may know where that is.

 

Thanks, at least they can’t blame steam

 

I could say more about the WCML on Friday, but it doesn't really belong on this thread, and no-one else has joined the thread that I started https://www.national-preservation.com/threads/wcml-delays.1421178/

 

Can't really not drop a report in on the Venturer as it was such a treat having Bahamas down south to run it. This is about the steam run, not our whole day out. That was complicated and would take up too much space.

The Timer's Tale - how did Bahamas go on the Venturer...

On Slough Station our departure time passed but soon we heard the Stanier Hooter and Bahamas pulled the 10 coach train in some five minutes late. We were in the middle of Carriage G in our 'covid safe' 4+4. It also made sure John and I had milepost side all day - there are changeovers from GW to LM at times. We were middle of the third carriage for the outward journey. Plenty of noise then hopefully. A blast on the hooter and we were off towards Reading. Ho hum, usual trundle with a maximum speed of 60 at Twyford. Almost fell asleep. We lost more time due to an odd bit of 'wrong road' running' for a hundred yards or so between Taplow and Maidenhead, hence losing speed and time. We were 11 late into Reading. After a false start we left close to 15 down. No fun run up the ski slope as we went around the lower elevated section on the left of the mainline.

Plenty of noise from up front the Jubilee roared off on the almost flat 5 miles of 1320r to get to 50 by Tilehurst 3 miles out. Pangbourne was passed at 58, and it took until mp42 1/2, the start of 3 miles of level track to reach 60. Back in the day when trains were late we roared along this section on the relief at 70+ but Saturday was just a trundle. On the 1508r we passed through Cholsey at 62. Our max was 64 at mp51 still on the 1508r before gentle braking took us into P3 at Didcot Parkway. The schedule tells it all as we actually lost no time between Reading and Didcot.

Passengers, including John, duly boarded and we left 9 down. Must admit to being surprised that we weren't due to water in Challow Loop but in Swindon East Yard so we expected some seriously good running for the next 20 miles of gentle climbing, 754r/660r/880r. Did we get it? Nope. Back to muted mode that lead us to expect a trip into Challow Loop. Max of 60 before braking despite the loop having a 60 mph run in speed. In the loop, Les, our train manager announced that NR had a change of heart and had required us to take water at the usual place near Challow. A big shiny tanker was waiting for us but it didn't have 2 high powered pumps like the Bells and Two Tones tenders. The fill up took 20 minutes against a scheduled 12.

Not too crowded on this bit of the GWML and we were allowed out of the loop as soon as water had been taken. Nice bit of noise from the front on the but only a max of 63 at Marston Crossing, 12 miles up the rails with an average 'gradient' of 800r ish. We trundled through Swindon P3 some 12 minutes down, partly caused by the late running Swansea-Paddington rolling in to P1. No chance these days of control allowing us to cross over first.

So to sum up the journey so far, the path was what it was and we more or less ran to time; no speeds worth talking about on the GWML.

The last few years it's been the same with the best running being on the 17 mile Swindon-Sapperton section and between Cheltenham Spa and Abbotswood. Jn.

More positive and noisy start away from Swindon saw speed rise down the couple of miles of 260f/308f to 52 at mp79. Along the mile of level the noise got louder and speed higher to leave it at 60. Over Purton Crossing on the 404f at 64 and up to 69 after blasting along the mile+ on the level. Then almost 2 miles of 330r brought a very noisy response from the Jubilee and plenty of bits of coal dropping onto our table as we lost less than 2 mph on the section. This was what we came for and speed stayed in the low 70s over the undulating few miles to Minety, 73.5. The mile+ of level track saw speed holding at 73 and we took that onto the 4 miles of 330r to Kemble. We love a Jubilee roar and had one for mile after mile. At mp88, speed was 71.5; at mp89 it was 69.5; at mp90 it was 68.1 and then we really roared through Kemble Station on the level at 68.6.

On the lower approaches of Sapperton Bank we gave an mph or so on the 3/4 mile 143r and then another mph or so on the mile of 400r/200r to take 66 onto the real bank at mp93. It's short but fun. The mile of 100r to mp94 lost us 9 mph despite the shower of coals bouncing off the roof and into the carriages! Another mile to Sapperton Short Tunnel as the Jubilee roar echoed off the sides of the cutting. We missed mp94 1/4 but saw mp94 1/2 as we flashed by it at 54.2 and the GPS just changed to 54 as the Jubilee entered the tunnel. Out of the tunnel at 53.3 and into the long tunnel, the summit. No change in the speed. A very creditable climb for a 5XP/6P with load 10. In February 2019, we did 53.2 into the tunnel with No.9 and load 11; and on 23rd May 2019 we did 43.5 into the tunnel with 44871 and load 9.

Brakes on as we ran down the 60f/74f, the bit we're looking forward to on the return, and then down lesser grades to Stroud where we were due a 5 minute stop. This was cut to 2 and we left a bit early. We passed through Stonehouse at 50 but the brakes came on for Standish Jn approach. We crossed on to the Bristol side and the Jubilee was driven nicely to reach a max of 60 on the run down the 489f/104f before braking to run into Gloucester Yard where we were taking water. Still no rain though cloudier. The water stop took 19 minutes, only a few minutes over the booked time.

Off on the final stretch to Worcester with a noisy departure on short 344r, mp92 1/2, 15, then onto the close to 5 miles of 304r. The Jubilee responded well and with plenty of that unique three cylinder sound from up front speed rose to 38 by mp91; 43 by mp90; 46 by mp89and 48 by mp88. Slowed then for Cheltenham Spa, the tight curve through the station has a 40 mph restriction that was duly observed. Now for the fun bit we hoped. There's a long section of falling grades to Ashchurch where speeds in the 70s are the norm. We left the station at 42, close to mp88 3/4. Poor section for mileposts then and the next timing spot was Morris Hill, mp85, past at 45 on the 305f. Noisier up front and by mp84 speed was 61 and rising. On the 285f we roared past mp83 at 65; mp82 at 67. A short bit of 719r had no effect and we hit 70 on it. Then down the 297f to hit our maximum allowed speed of 75 at mp80.

Through Ashchurch on the 311r at 72 and a fall to 73 1/2 mile of 311f later. Back up to 75 on the 319f and then only a slight fall back to 73 after 3 miles of level track, passing Eckington mid way at mp75 at 73. The 2 miles + of 385r saw a steady fall to 70 and then further fall to 66 as we hit the 3 miles of 301r. As we were only 2 miles from Abbotswood Jn, the brakes came on and speed fell to 31 as we veered left to take the short run down to Norton Jn, 33.4. Nothing exciting after that and we drifted into Shrub Hill at 1134, 4 down.

Wandered down the front to see the locomotive. Bill Monteith was our driver. Not sure where he joined. He was very surprised at the shunting manoeuvre in Worcester on the day and we found out why as the train backed out of the station and into the 'long siding'.

Back at Shrub Hill after dinner we were met with the unusual site of Bahamas and POB behind the stock in the siding. They had to wait for a late running service train before they were released from the siding. Once in the platform the loco and POB were detached and ran around the train via Platform 2. Even with the delay caused by the service train, we only left 4 down at 1639.

The return run is what we really come for. After a decent run to Abbotswood we joined the main line at Abbotswood Jn at 14. Then Bill took advantage of the falling grades pretty well. We were middle of carriage 9 but some noise drifted back. We passed mp69 on the 301f at 19, then down another 2 miles of 301f speed rose to 53. Down the 2 miles of 385f to mp17 1/2, speed rose steadily to 68. Didn't hear much so far back. Next 2 miles+ on the level saw speed get to 71. The mile of 319r took us back to 69 at mp77 1/4, then down the mile of 301f we got to 73 at Mp78 1/2, and to our max of 75 as we roared through Ashchurch. Speed fell to 70 over the mile of 297r to mp81; and dropped to 70 on the 1/2m of 719f.

We heard a bit of noise as speed was held around 68 over 2 miles of 285r to mp83 1/4 before the brakes came in then as we were due to stop in the Spa Station. All was not well on the big railway as the London Service was still in the loop. We were held for 5 minutes and then stopped for 2 minutes in the station, presumably to drop off a crew member. We left some 14 minutes late. Speed rose down the 4 miles of mostly 304f to peak at 68 as we passed mp91. The brakes came in for our booked stop in Gloucester Yard. Our train manager Les reported there was a signal issue in the area and we'd probably be delayed. We did in fact lose another 4 minutes and were then behind the Cheltenham Spa-Paddington Service which usually meant issues around Standish Jn as the signal blocks are long.

That was exactly what happened and after a signal stop just after the junction, we were 26 late. Once we had a green, Bill got 45596 underway and we roared through Stonehouse on the 300r at 38. We hit line speed of 50 on the level through Stroud. The lower reaches of Sapperton aren't steep and start at mp102 with 2 1/2 miles of 205r. We met it at 54 crossing Capels Viaduct and came off the section at 52. Good start. Over Bourne Viaduct on a short 185r, 52, and over Brinscombe Path on a bit of 310r close to mp99 at 53.

We passed over St Mary's Crossing on the 103r at 51 and after that the bank really steepens. From 98 1/2 it rises to 75r and speed fell towards 40. We passed mp98 on the 70r at 41 and then on the almost mile of 74r speed fell to 37 at mp96 3/4, just before Frampton Viaduct. We managed to spot the rest of the mileposts and passed mp96 1/2, on the 75r/60r at 34; mp96 1/2 on the 60r at 30.8; mp96, close to the tunnel entrance on the 60r at 28.1, and into the tunnel at a very creditable 28. Speed fell to 26.3 in the tunnel before the GPS cut out. The summit is close to the exit of Long Tunnel and it took us 2m 5.5s to cover the 4 chains in the tunnel.

The GPS didn't kick back in until we left Short Tunnel when it showed 41.5 down the 94f. We rolled down the bank to Kemble where we were booked to take water. We arrived 27 down and left 41 down. The allowance of 12 minutes is impossible without the high pressure pumps of the much lamented Bells and Two Tones and future planning needs to take this into account.

The line from Kemble to Swindon is now one of the best and 75 mph running is quite common. We didn't get that but we did get a noisy start down the 330f, getting to 60 just after mp88, 3 miles out. We hit 65 by Minety Crossing on the level, near mp87, then ran between 67-70 on the mainly falling/level track for the 5 miles down to mp82. Bit of an increase in speed to 72 at Purton Crossing, mp81, then close to 70 until the brakes came just before mp78, a mile and a half out from Swindon.

We were lucky to run unhindered through Swindon, 24, now 39 minutes down. Out onto the main line it was a bit of a trundle on the 834f to Highworth Jn, 42 and then mp76, 46. Then things improved markedly down the long 834f and we roared past Shrivenham, mp71 1/2, at 70. On the level/754f we ran at 70 ish but then the Jubilee was given her head and down the 3 miles of 754f/600f/754f speed picked up to hit a max of 77 at Uffington, just past mp67.

This is a bit of a racetrack and we often can't quote the actual speeds but our max was just about 77 on the long 754f at mp63. Wantage Road, mp60 1/2ish was passed at 75 then our speed fell slowly as we were only a few miles from our water stop at Milton on the relief line. We arrived 38 down. The water stop took longer than the booked 14 minutes and we lost another 7 minutes making us 45 down. It was 1950 when we left the siding and almost immediately we were held again at Foxhall Jn as there was congestion in the Didcot Area. We finally rolled into Didcot Parkway at 2009, 57 down. That was the end of our steam day out as Les announced they had no confirmed departure time so we decided to get the 2040 back to Temple Meads.

The climbs of Sapperton in both directions made it a worthwhile day out for us though the logistics of getting to and from the train from the west make it one long day out.

Thanks to Kelly and her team for running the Venturer. Shame about the start time from Paddington. Thanks to the Bahamas Locomotive Society for letting us have their magnificent locomotive for the day. It looks immaculate and ran as well as it was allowed to. Superb machine. Thanks to West Coast for facilitating the train on the busy GWML and for providing the stock and the excellent crews - didn't get to find out who apart from Bill and he wasn't on the regulator at Slough in the morning. Thanks to Les and the stewards. And thanks to Network Rail for again letting us run on the busy GWML. Pity about the signalling issue and the subsequent late running. It was chaotic on the GWML on Saturday night with late running and cancellations. The 2132 Paddington-Bristol, our intended return train was cancelled. The pathing gets worse year by year and pretty soon it's hard to see them running out of Brunel's Terminal.

 

I try and help out with Bahamas when it comes south and I was on support crew for this run. Bill Montieth came on at Reading and left us at Didcot, I didn't get the names of the crew from Paddington. There is always a slow run into Challow Loop as the gate where the water tanker is parked is hard to spot, on the Belmond run to Bristol last October Clan Line overran by an engine+8 and had to reverse up.
It was a great shame that the return run was marred by what I would call poor train regulation, if we had been given the road ahead of the late running London train we could probably had a splash and dash at Kemble and been out of it's way, as it was we didn't fill the tender as there was another train coming up behind us. Things are a bit more relaxed at Milton Junction where the watering is done in the loop. You are right about a rethink being needed now that Bells and Two Tones are no longer available. Bill was not very happy as he missed his train home.
I was privileged to be on the footplate between Worcester and Kemble on the return run and will never forget the way we went up to Sapperton Tunnel. Bill set the gear and swung the regulator up into the roof and there it stayed until the train was out of the short tunnel with just a small adjustment to the cut off when we hit the 1 in 60 at Frampton Mansell. Despite the wet rail no use was made of the sanders. Credit should also be given to fireman Craig Stinchcombe who kept the needle on the red mark all the way.
Was it worth an uncomfortable night's sleep in the support coach and getting up at 03.30? Of course it was!

 

Footnote and some Timings

Five go to Worcester - a Railtouring group's lot

The planning for the tour to Worcester took a few odd turns as always. Over a few beers one of our number got very excited about our trip to the Bahamas. "No, we're going out behind Bahamas" I said "How can you go out behind an Island" came the response. Another beer and a visit to the Bahamas Locomotive Society website to look at the Jubilee and the message got through - we were going to Worcester on the 18th June on the steam hauled Cotswold Venturer rail tour behind the magnificent Jubilee, 45596 Bahamas.

The five are spread across South East Wales and the Forest of Dean. The timings that accompanied the tickets made us groan. Help - 0654 off Paddington? Seriously? First Swansea to Paddington wasn't due in until 0714; first Bristol Temple Meads to Paddington 0707. We were looking forward to running out of Paddington again as it has been years since we've been there. Mrs S and I decided that if all went well we'd go back into Paddington on the return and get the 2132 back to Bristol.

The Foresters, Judith and John, don't like early mornings and had already decided to spend Friday night in Reading but all the hotels were full so they had to change plans and ended up in salubrious surroundings of a Premier Inn in Slough. Their intention was to join at Slough in the morning if they woke up in time as even 0720 is early for them. They were going to leave the motor in Bristol Parkway and get trains to Slough. The fifth member of our tour group lives outside Cardiff, nearer Newport and was going to risk the 0700 Newport to Paddington and join us at Didcot Parkway, with a 13 minute window, as let's face it, for a hardened steam purist it's fairly grim trundling along the Great Western Mainline behind steam at 60 mph or less.

So plans were in place and I'd sent copies of our tickets to ride to them all just in case.

Friday night and the Foresters confirmed that after some major delays on the GWML on Friday night, no surprise there, they eventually got to Slough. No direct Paddington Services stop at Slough so they had to change to a local service and a 387 unit. Even that was more comfortable than the 800 they'd caught from Bristol Parkway. Timer John confirmed he was still intending to get the 0700 from Newport.

We topped up our Corsa Electric early evening and the ever optimistic gauge told us we had a range of 200 miles in the 48kwh usable part of the battery pack. Should be OK for the 90 mile round trip, though who knows with all the driving in the dark, especially if the rain comes necessitating the need to use the wipers, heated rear window and the heater as a demister to keep the windows clear.

Saturday morning and no rain yet. For Mrs S and me, it was a normal rail tour morning. Up at 0230; toast and marmalade for breakfast with a big mug of tea and ready to leave the cottage at 0330 or thereabouts to get to the Meads around 0415.

Taking heed of the weather forecast we took waterproof jackets though it was a nice morning on the hill and in Bristol. Great station Temple Meads. The car park machine now requires the registration number to be put in. One then had to press a green Valid button and their camera or some bloke hiding in the box scanned the area to see if the car was actually there. Then they kindly let us pay though as often is the case, the 'tap' screen wasn't working so one had to remember the PIN for the card. The machine liked the numbers I put in and gave me a ticket to display. Then we had the usual fight with the GWR ticket machine and almost hit confirm for a return to be used during a month for a mere £337. A second attempt and we paid £44.50 per ticket for a Super Saver Day Return. Blatant robbery for having to travel on a Hitachi 800 but there are no options.

First train of the day off the Meads is at 0512 so of course they open the station early don't they? Fat chance. 0505 before the doors were opened. The Paddington was at Platform 15; 2 five car units so pot luck for a trolley service. On diesel motors we were running to time. After Chippenham the trolley service trundled through and we had a welcome coffee. Once the electric section was reached and the driver switched over we had no trouble getting to Reading at booked time of 0640. The 0658 Oxford-Paddington 800 unit was on time and we got to sunny Slough under electric power at 0708. The state of the 800 beggared belief. Everything was rattling and the howl from the electric motors was noisier than on diesel. Judith and John were on the platform lugging a case on wheels. I looked quizzically at it; that big a case for one night away?

A check on RTT showed the train running +6 off Pad. Just after our booked departure time we heard the familiar Stanier Hooter and an immaculate Bahamas pulled the train in five minutes late. We were 3 back in the middle of Carriage G in our 'covid safe' 4+4 that also meant Timer John and I had facing and back window seats for milepost spotting all day. Much better chance of spotting them all with one of us looking forward and the other looking back. Seats way more comfortable than the 800s. The details of the speeds and running have already been reported. The bacon roll we had between Didcot and Swindon was excellent.

No surprise that the rains came as we got closer to Worcester. We decided it was too wet to walk so John bought 5 day returns to Foregate Street for the princely sum of £7.50 after Senior Railcard discount. The service train was 8 down but we were in the heart of the city by 1215. It was too wet to go down to the riverside to look for somewhere a bit special to eat with a view. The excellent Old Rectifying House where we'd eaten last time had closed permanently as they were flooded yet again. Brief conference and a unanimous decision to go to the Postal Order, one of our favourite Wetherspoons.

Bit crowded as T20 cricket fans dropped in as the start was delayed. Just missed the Bateman's XXXB unfortunately but there was a choice of Ringwood Fortyniner, Burton Bridge Top Dog Stout and Woodman Quiver on the hand pumps. Oakham Citra came on later.

Mrs S and I dined on the excellent Whitby Scampi, hers with garden peas; mine with mushy, and for good measure as it was a long day, we had a Scampi side order. Timer John indulged in the Cod and Chips with Mushy Peas. Can't remember what Judith and John had though a weird wrap comes to mind and possibly a curry. Desserts were required. Think the others had ice cream, though someone might have had an Apple Crumble. I had my favourite Chocolate Fudge Cake and superb it was. Decent food and good beer; what more could one want on what was now a very wet afternoon. 'Coffee' Timer John said but only two of us wanted some so we got wet looking for a Cafe Nero. We found one. No bloke playing a lyre; just a quiet coffee shop and a decent coffee. Mrs S, Judith and John wandered around some shops.

We met up at Foregate Street Station and got the 1555 Paddington back to Shrub Hill. Got to be one of the shortest journeys on the mainline. It also meant we didn't have to sit on ironing board seats for more than a few minutes.

When the train was back in the station we joined for the return run which for Mrs S and me would hopefully end in Paddington in time to get the 2132 Bristol. Sadly we were now in the middle of carriage 9 so weren't going to be deafened by noise from up front as 45596 attacked the steep side of Sapperton Bank. We left a mere 4 minutes down but it all went south after Cheltenham and by the time we arrived at Didcot Parkway we were 57 down. Timer John left the train and dashed over to get the Cheltenham as far as Swindon where he could pick up the Swansea service that didn't stop here. Unfortunately he was close to a person who coughed all the way to Swindon and was probably the source of Covid he came down with and still has. High temperature for a few days but now just a niggling cough and tiredness.

Back to Didcot and the chaos there. We looked on RTT and with service trains late and our train still in the platform at 2020 with no departure time confirmed, we gave up on our mission to get to Paddington this time.

John and Judith decided to come with us to the Meads on the 2040 as there was a connection to Parkway 10 minutes after our booked arrival time of 2135. The train was crowded so Mrs S decided she'd treat us to a Weekend First Upgrade. They still exist on the GWR even if £20 per head is steep. At least the seats are wider and partially recline. Comfortable they ain't. Hate those trains. Amusingly the First Class Carriage with the galley at the one end was devoid of passengers. So we sat down and asked to pay the Weekend First Upgrade. Blank look from the young lady stewardess who had no knowledge of it and had to go look for the Train Manager who had. Nice chap. A Scot and actually knew Bahamas had been out on the Venturer. Di dutifully paid and we had a complementary coffee and some biscuits and stretched out for the run west to Bristol.

We got to Temple Meads on time at 2135, but it being one of those nights, the 2146 to Parkway was running over 40 minutes late and getting later. I found out on Sunday that it was the much delayed Newquay-Parkway service and didn't actually leave until 2252!!

It was bucketing down in Bristol so we decided to take John and Judith up to Parkway. Dreadful road markings in Bristol. In heavy rain one could hardly see any of them, not even the bus lane marker. Fun on the roundabouts with cars taking the most unusual of lines. We got there without mishap in about 10 minutes and the GWR plated cars left for the M4 via the Severn Bridge, Chepstow and the old road to the Forest of Dean for the Foresters; and via the Prince of Wales 'Bridge', the Coldra exit of the M4, the A449 and the lanes back to rural Monmouthshire for us. We got in just before 2300. Only a 20 1/2 hour day.

Our electric Corsa had its batteries tested by the weather and the need to have lots of power draining things on as well as being rightly expected to run at 70 mph on the motorways and dual carriageways. When I pulled up on the drive it showed only 39 miles remaining. It had 'used' 161 miles worth of charge doing just 94 miles. Par for the course. Range anxiety is a reality not a myth.

Interestingly our day out 'on the rails' from Slough to Worcester and back to Didcot had taken 8h 48m. We could have flown to the Bahamas in 9 hours apparently.

Not a 100% timing day by any means due to the conditions, but I still managed to record 349 times and speeds on the outward run and 163 on the return; as well as a few yellow flowers and lineside boxes that we discounted on count back.

The real purpose of this footnote post is to drop in pdf files with the Timings for the climbs of Sapperton Bank Westbound and Eastbound. Westbound is from our Swindon pass; Eastbound is from our restart from Cheltenham Spa. An 'x' signifies we missed it or it wasn't there.