UKR Medway Pullman - 26/11/22

For the lineside hack, that was a great route. I dont know of one that, after Redhill, has more crossing points to access views of the line.

 

Great to have a film crew!!

 

I don't know how much assistance was provided by the 47 but let's not overlook the performance from a light pacific on at least 600 tons. I imagine the diesel might have been taking its own weight at least some of the time, but still excellent running.

 

Not the best of days as the light got progressively worse. locations are Tulse Hill with the worst of the graffiti removed from the tunnel mouth, Maidstone West, probably better in b/w. By Rochester it was nearly dark so gave up on Sole St to use what light was available for a record shot on the viaduct west of the Medway

 

Despite which, one of the videos appears to show someone where he shouldn't have been.

 

I hesitate to criticise the driver especially not knowing what was happening on the footplate but the cylinder drain clocks were open and it sounded off beat. Maybe being worked with short regulator and long cut off but the DL could not be heard on my video which suggests lots of power on this 600 ton train. A wonderful spectacle so thanks to Carnforth for bringing it down south

 

Nice captures - the Tulse Hill one reminds me of one of mine from years back. Wasn't that Maidstone West, though? The viaduct shot also shows what a huge difference in window layout there is between the two side of the support coach!

 

Thanks, yes it was Maidstone West, I think I'm old enough to qualify for a senior moment! Now corrected.

 

The 47 was providing a fair deal of shove about 3/4 the way up Sole Street Bank from the sound of it, but might have eased off after that.

Unfortunately the fencing erected on the bridge parapets played havock with my not great photography experience & camera so even the best shot isn't brilliant.

 

Another screenshot from Nutfield, plus my little video (including the 'Sussex Christmas Belle', such as it was!).

 

A Flat Top on the Arrer 26 November 2022

The proper title of this UK Railtours excursion was the Medway Valley Christmas Pullman, a trip round the middle of Kent with the Belmond British Pullman train. The intended steam traction had been the rake’s usual partner, Bulleid’s Merchant Navy class No 35028 Clan Line, but problems with its thermic syphons had delayed its return to traffic.

The call must have gone out for a replacement, and the exciting reply was that unrebuilt Bulleid Pacific, Battle of Britain No 34067 Tangmere would head south from Carnforth to cover Clan Line’s absence.

So it was that an almost deserted London Victoria (ASLEF were on strike) echoed to the unfamiliar sound of a West Coast Railways Class 47 bringing in 11 Pullmans, two support coaches and at the head of the train, the sparkling and magnificent Tangmere, with its ‘flat top’ and bedecked in spectacular Golden Arrow regalia.

All too soon it was time for the locomotive’s admirers to take their seats in the gleaming and opulent Pullman cars and begin to savour all the delights that lay in store for them.

Right on time, we began the climb to the Grosvenor Bridge and it became clear that the steamer would be assisted by the diesel, rather than be expected to lift the full load itself. This was confirmed when we moved smoothly from Herne Hill round the steep curve to Tulse Hill in the high teens of miles per hour. Notwithstanding, we were six minutes late through East Croydon at 38, and despite reaching 54 through Merstham, Redhill was reached nine minutes down.

Here we turned left to head East along the foot of the North Downs towards Tonbridge. The sun shone weakly on the pretty autumn countryside, and locals were out in force to see us pass. Mostly we were in the 40s and 50s but there was a boost to 62 after Godstone and we reached Tonbridge only two minutes down, and took water in the disused Post Office platform.

We continued a short way down the main Folkestone line to Paddock Wood, then turned sharp left (rattling the crockery!) to head north along the valley of the River Medway. The countryside in the Garden of England remained pleasant as we ambled along in the 30s and 40s until we reached Strood, after observing Rochester’s impressive Castle and Cathedral on a bluff to our right. The 47 then pulled us backwards into Rochester station where we had a break to stretch our legs and admire the engine.

Departing from Rochester, we left the Castle and Cathedral on our left to take the North Kent main line back towards London. The loco scarcely seemed to notice the five miles of mostly 1 in 100 to Sole Street, reached at 37 mph. On the ups and downs to St Mary Cray, we had some brisk running in the 50s and 60s, with a maximum of 69. After this we were running ahead of schedule and despite the mostly empty tracks, we kept being checked all the way back to Victoria.

Whilst no meaningful performance data was obtained, it had been an excellent day out, with outstanding food and service, and glimpses of a magnificently turned out locomotive on its home territory. As Spamcan81 observed on the National Preservation website: “A flat top on the Arrer – superb!”

14 pictures are at https://pjhtransportpix.zenfolio.com/p534931521

Peter on a cold damp Manchester evening

https://pjhtransportpix.zenfolio.com

 

Nice report - it's the North Downs, BTW. Regarding Sole Street, others have noted significant diesel assistance. The time regain on the Redhill to Tonbridge stretch was helped by shortening the Penshurst stop by 8 minutes and Tonbridge (station) was reached 5 late according to RTT.

 

Thanks for your kind comment and I have corrected the text to refer to the North Downs

Peter on yet another cold grey afternoon in Manchester
https://pjhtransportpix.zenfolio.com