UKR Medway Pullman - 26/11/22

I see that following the news about 35028, this one is now hauled by Tangmere. From the UKR website:


THE MEDWAY VALLEY CHRISTMAS PULLMAN

Saturday 26 November 2022

PLEASE NOTE THE LOCOMOTIVE HAS CHANGED FOR THIS TOUR - SEE BELOW

UK Railtours are proud to introduce the first tour in our 2022 Christmas programme, in partnership with Belmond. The magical combination of the beautifully preserved Pullman carriages, decorated to reflect the festive season, and ‘Light Pacific’ 34067 ‘Tangmere’ make this an unmissable luxury day out.


Does this mean that this will be a WCRC operation I wonder? If so that would be extremely unusual for Belmond and UKR. I seem to recall Tangmere operated the VSOE on rare occasions before it was bought by WCRC.

 

Shame about Clan Line, delighted however to see ole smokey back down south.

 

Full info from UK Railtours to booked passengers was as follows:

We just wanted to make you aware of a change to our advertised haulage for the Medway Valley Christmas Pullman on Saturday 26th November 2022.

As you are aware we were scheduled to be hauled by Merchant Navy Pacific 35028 ‘Clan Line’. Clan Line has been undergoing remedial works to her thermic syphons which was scheduled to be completed this month. Unfortunately the repairs have been exceptionally complicated and whilst it was thought the finish line was near, it became clear in early October that more work would need to be done and also that the limit had been reached of what could be done on-site at Stewarts Lane. She has therefore been taken out of service for the remainder of the 2022 season.

We know that many of you are looking forward to this tour being steam-hauled, and so with our friends at DB Cargo, Belmond and the Merchant Navy Locomotive Preservation Society we have been hard at work to find a suitable replacement locomotive.

We are very pleased to inform you that we have secured the services of the 'Battle of Britain' class locomotive 34067 'Tangmere' to haul the Medway Valley Christmas Pullman. Together with the 'West Country' class these locomotives are known as 'light pacifics' and were designed for the Southern railway by the famed locomotive designer Oliver Bulleid.

We are incredibly grateful to the West Coast Railway Co. for providing 34067 Tangmere as a replacement for Clan Line. This will be the first time Tangmere has come to the south of England since she completed a recent overhaul and returned to the mainline.

Please note no action is required from you. We look forward to welcoming you onboard The Medway Valley Christmas Pullman.​

Shame about Clan Line but this will be an exciting alternative!

Peter on a grey Manchester morning
https://pjhtransportpix.zenfolio.com

 

There's a short reversal from Strood to Rochester, so a diesel will be needed, whether or not it would have been there for any other reason.

 

Climbing Sole Street bank from a standing start at Rochester would be wise to have assistance available.
Add probable wet weather and the end of leaf fall, I would think a DL is an absolute necessity even without the reversal up the Toomer Loop.

Cheers, Neil

 

It means that Belmond and two TOCs are cooperating with each other to make it happen and for that we should all be grateful

 

I suspect that leaf fall may be late this year owing the exceptionally mild weather. No frosts in the longer-term forecast so expect leaves to be hanging around (literally) later than usual. Given the light pacifics' propensity for slipping anyway, it would be stupid to go out unassisted, sadly.

 

Yes, indeed - it will be excellent to see 34067 back on the Southern (see my 'avatar'). Sole Street would be a very stiff challenge without a diesel even with perfect rail conditions, and will probably still be a test even with a diesel behind on the heavy Pullman set.

 

We may be tempted to chase it round by train as it’s now rare to see this SR icon where it belongs as it’s normally banished to foreign lands. It worked many tours round Kent in days gone by and I have photos of it on boat trains in 1960-61

 

And one of the last few trips that reached Folkestone Harbour; not a great picture but it shows that Tangmere was there.

 

I like the shot - the eye is drawn nicely through the curves to the loco.

 

The guy from Network Rail allowed us on the track that day but advised us to look where we were walking : -

 

I wouldn't be particularly confident of making a signalling circuit on those rails!

 

I seem to recall the 67 hauling the train back up the gradient got into difficulty and required Tangmere's help!

 

Going up from Folkestone Harbour I think you would want the locos on both ends working, regardless of what they were.

 

Yes I have a video clip and stills of Tangmere giving an mighty push and slipping like mad

 

We have a clip of that as well, followed by a large black cloud of coal smoke drifting over Folkestone

Sent from my SM-A105FN using Tapatalk

 

Without any doubt. 1 in 30 from a standing start with a Bo-Bo on a long train plus a 'dormant' steam loco weighing well over 100 tons just will not happen.

 

See attached. I think the gradient is 1-in-32 but there seems to be doubt, not that it makes much difference