RTC 2023

A memorable show from the Jubilee in disguise with that famous roar in full effect.

 

Cracking coverage Liam,excellent camerawork.

 

My efforts from the morning run up to Sapperton Tunnel and the afternoon charge past Besford. A machine very much in fine form!

 

Many thanks Henry.

 

Some really great footage, looks to have been a top day out

 

Despite the vacuum dropping on the climb of Sapperton and being checked down to a Red on the Up Main (vice Up Relief) at Wantage Road, it really was a cracking trip - plenty of noise on both the outward and return journeys. Maximum speed sighted on the GPS for the day was 73.7mph, again shortly before slowing for Wantage.

 

Can anyone please confirm the speed of Galatea at Sapperton Tunnel
on this RTC tour -- I would estimate approx 15 mph but await confirmation
if poss
THANKS
Neale

 

Are you aware of the reason for the red at Wantage as there was nothing in front of us? Once we were checked I assumed the ex Penzance and Bristol TM behind would undertake us but they followed us onto the main and consequently had to follow until Milton.

I fully agree it was another top day out. After the disappointment of assistance on the 28th January, I as a purist, did question whether the trials and tribulations of following unassisted steam was worth it, but the last two weeks have certainly shown me it is. Thanks to all involved.

 

It's good to see Galatea contuing it's good form. I would suggest it put in some of its best performances in the last 2 years of its ticket, proving that whatever gremlins dogged it for the first half, have been fully sorted.
Clearly West Coast had every confidence in her, given her 'test run' was the positioning move south to pick up these tours!

 

I was aware, at the time I had assumed the engine may have perhaps triggered a HABD detector, and had held the signal we stopped at at danger (relating to a similar scenario back in November of last year, where 6233 had set off the Oakley HABD between Sharnbrook Junction and Bedford North Junction (later inspection in Bedford platform revealed the extremely likelihood and reoccurring issue of the ashpan setting this off), and the signal short of the North Junction was held at Danger), but the nearest in the Up direction I believe is located about a mile beyond Wantage Road in the London direction. According to OpenTrainTimes at the time, nothing was ahead of us - and as you say - the two IET services some relevant distance behind us most likely requiring to overtake were signalled to follow instead of around us. Possibly a simple misunderstanding during signalling, but who knows.

 

We were due into the loop but Control hadn't set the points for us. Why we were stopped on the main is anyone's guess as the following train was past the entry to the loop.

 

Our second proper steam run in 8 days. Another long day out for us and worth a report I think.

Cotswold Venturer 18th February 2023

Fates always conspire to make Cotswold Venturers not the train it should be. This year it was a few diversions due to the landslip around Kingham and an ever more congested GWML with 99% faster electric services including Elizabeth Line trains galore in and out of Reading.

We are still planning to see Paddington this year. We don't like overnighters and irritatingly the departure time is just before the first Bristol get there. We planned to get up stupidly early to drive to Didcot or Reading and get a service into Pad. Fat chance. Junctions 14-13 on the M4 eastbound were closed until 0600 on Saturday morning as was as a section of the A34 south of the Didcot Exit.

That left us with no alternative but to get the 0530 off Bristol Temple Meads and hope to get as far east as Slough. Up before 0300 to have some tea and toast before setting off for the Meads just before 0400 for the 40 mins or so drive. The electric is a bit new to take so took the Astra and arrived in the Car Park at 0445. Yet another new machine with the Registration Number requirement and hitting Valid keys a couple of times. A reasonable £8.60 for 24 hours None too full a car park.

Ticket prices not too bad, £44.35 each, though we still reckon GWR should pay us to travel on the dreadful IETs. Not many passengers and a right time away. 802105 is a dreadful set. The seats we sat in were rock hard and the covers wrinkled. Most were the same. The ride was appalling with a lot of vibration on sections of the GWML as well as some rattling panels. No improvements in the suspension - they don't have any - and we banged noisily over points and junctions with lots of carriage sway. Thank goodness it only took 70 minutes to get to Reading, RT. We got the Oxford-Paddington to get to Slough. Rapid 8 minute run, there by 0708.

The Jubilee rolled in just a couple of minutes down with 9+POB. Carelessly said on the Forum in the week that it was 8+POB. It was the same load as double chimney Bahamas had last June. Interesting. Unfortunately as last year, Standards were on the front for the easy way up Sapperton. Still nice Mk1 TSO, the same carriage and comfortable seats we had on last week's WCME. Unfortunately no other members of our 'tour party' could make it so we spread out in our 4+4 safe space, middle of Carriage G, guaranteeing a facing milepost side all day.

We weren't expecting a lot of the journey to Reading. Lovely to hear the unique three cylinder Jubilee sound up front but it was the usual lacklustre run. From Slough Station there's level track to mp21 then it's 11 miles of 1320r to mp32. It took almost 9 miles of running to mp27 to get to 60, a speed held until Mp33 when the brakes kicked in. A real trundle then into Platform 7 at Reading, 2 early. After picking up passengers to the accompaniment of blasts on the hooter we left right time. As last year we weren't allowed up the 'ski ramp' but only over the lower mildly elevated section to the left of the mainline.

Decent run with a noisy Jubilee on the front over the 1320r. Speed was 49 at Tilehurst, 3 miles out, and 57 through Pangbourne, 5 miles out. We reached 58 by mp42 1/2 and over the 2 1/2 miles of level track passed Goring and Streatley at 63.1. Same as Bahamas last year. Good run on the level, left at mp45 3/4 at 64.2 and then a noisier Galatea as 64 was held over the short 176r and 1320r, through Cholsey, mp48 1/2, and then onto the close to 5 miles of 1508r to Didcot Parkway. At mp49, 4 miles from Didcot, the brakes kicked and slowed us into the 40s. We ran into P3, 2 minutes late for our last passenger pick up.

With a water stop in Challow Loop it was the usual trundle out of Didcot on the relief. Pity as it's a long 754r and used to be a fun section without a water stop. Bit noisier after Steventon on the level with a max of 46 at on the mile+ level bit. We almost coasted into the loop at 32 as the Water Stop was less than 2 miles away. We were 20 early which was hardly surprising as we were times to take 41 minutes to cover the 81/2 miles from Didcot!! We were ready to leave before booked time. Nice to see the familiar Bells and Two Tones Fire Tender back on the job. It has two high speed pumps and only takes 10 minutes or so to replenish tenders. Departure time came and went and a check on RTT showed late running services behind us. We had to wait for the PAD-PLY service that was 14 down to pass. Fortunately the Bristol that we were getting backed into was also 14 late so we were allowed out at 0942, 10 late. Time to make up so hopefully a noisy run to Swindon on the average 850r.

Basically despite some decent sound from the front we only got to 44 over the 21/2m of 880r; then to 46 over the mile of 754r; 46 over the mile of 660r to Uffington. Bit better after and to 51 over the mile+ of 754r. Bit of 'respite' on a mile and a bit of level, 54, then basically held at 55/6 on the long 834r until the brakes kicked in just after mp74 1/2, 3 miles from Swindon. We drifted through Platform 1 almost 14 minutes down.

At last we now had an uninterrupted 25 mile run to Stroud. In recent years we've had cracking runs over the 17 mile Swindon-Sapperton section and then some speedy running between Cheltenham Spa and Abbotswood. Jn. This year we're due to be looped at Eckington. For the rest of the outward journey I've put most of Bahamas' speeds from last June in brackets.

A lovely positive and noisy start away from Swindon. Speed rose nicely down the couple of miles of 260f/308f to 48 (52) at mp79. A level mile and the noise got louder to leave it 58 (60). We rattled over Purton Crossing on the 404f at 60.5 (64) and got up to 64 (69) roaring along the mile+ on the level. Love a Jubilee in full cry. The 2 miles of 330r was noisy and speed only dropped to 60.5 (62). Strange that the best running comes when we're off the superb GWML. Up to 64 (70) on the 406f and to 65.7 (72) after the short level/528f. Stayed in the mid 60s (low 70s) over the undulating few miles to Minety, 65.6 (73.5). The mile+ of level track saw speed holding at 65 (73) onto the long 330r approach to the base of the climb of Sapperton Bank. Amusingly it was called an incline on one post. Not.

It's 4 miles of 330r to Kemble and we enjoyed the Jubilee roar for mile after mile. At mp88, speed was 64.3 (71.5); at mp89 it was 60.8 (69); at mp90 it was down to 58.1; (68.1) and then we really roared through Kemble Station on the level at 57.7; (68.6).

On the lower approaches of Sapperton Bank we gave nothing to the 3/4 mile 143r and then only a mile an hour on the mile of 400r/200r to take 56 (66) onto the real bank at mp93. It's short but fun but nothing like the eastbound climb. The single chimney Galatea was noisier than Bahamas. The mile of 100r to mp94 lost us 7 mph (9 mph). Still a mile to Sapperton Short Tunnel and the Jubilee roar echoed beautifully off the sides of the cutting. Now on the steepest section of the climb, the 94r, and we passed mp94 1/4 at 45.5 and mp94 1/2 44.3 (54.2) with Short Tunnel's entrance in sight. The GPS went from 44.9 to 42.8 in the 10 chains to the tunnel, in at 42.8, (Bahamas an outrageous 54). Into long tunnel, the summit, at 43, (53.3). interestingly as Jubilees are close in power to a Black 5, on 23rd May 2019 we did 43.5 into short tunnel with 44871 and load 9. A very decent run by Galatea with her crew, Driver Andy Hawkins and fireman Trevor Wrench doing an excellent job; not sure of the spelling of Trevor's surname, but a fireman familiar to travellers on Steam Dreams runs with Mayflower I was told.

Brakes on as we ran down the 60f/74f, the highlight of the return run, sadly probably in darkness this evening. We had a pathing/photographic stop as Stroud. Despite us being 17 late a short stop was allowed. Unfortunately a 5 car IET was in the other platform. Right away and a bit of noisy 272r then mostly falling grades to Stonehouse, 53, (50). A max of 56 at mp106 before braking for Standish Jn. Quick change of seats as the mileposts were on the left all the way to Abbotswood Jn. Joined by Bill as last week on the WCME. Handy always having a spare seat for a fellow timer. We crossed on to the Bristol side and the Jubilee roared away to reach a max of 66 on the run down the 489f/104f before braking to run into Gloucester Yard where we were taking water.

Not the Blues and Two Tones Water Tender this time, and not a high speed motor from the sound of it. We rolled to a stop 2 down Took a bit longer and we left 6 down. Unlike previous Venturer's our was setting down in Cheltenham Spa so a standing start for the run to Eckington where we hoped we might miss the booked stop.

Nice noisy departure on the short 344r, mp92 1/2, 12.3 (15). Next is close to 5 miles of 304r. We love the unique three cylinder sound from a Jubilee and had plenty of it noisily as speed rose to 36.4 (38) by mp91; 42 (43) by mp90; 45 (46) by mp89. Then we slowed for our booked set down at Cheltenham Spa. A crew Change was due to take place here with Bill Monteith replacing Andy. Bahamas had run through the tightly curved station at close to the 40 mph limit so no real comparisons for a while.

There's a long section of falling grades to Ashchurch, 10 miles away, and speeds in the 70s are the norm. The Spa station has mp86 3/4 on it, just south of the building. A noisy start from the station and we passed mp86 1/2 at 18. The milepost is very overgrown with ivy and will disappear shortly. Never been a great section for mileposting but Bill and I decided to concentrate on finding them if they were there. Most were. We passed mp86 at 35.5 and after spotting all the quarters, mp85, just north of Morris Hill LX, on the 305f at 51, faster than Bahamas, 45. Very noisy up front and by mp84 speed was 58 (61) still increasing. On the close to 2 miles of 285f we roared past mp83 at 63 (65); mp82 at 67 (67). Over the short 719r we got to 69, (70). Down the 297f we got to our max. for the journey, 72.3 at mp80, (75).

We shot through Ashchurch on the 311r at 71, (72) then we saw a fall to 70 (73), 1/2 mile of 311f later. Not too far from Eckington and no surprise we only hit 68 (75) on the 319f. The brakes came in and we approached Eckington Loop. Speed sign showed it was a 25 mph point in and we trundled past it at 19. We then passed mp75 at 17. Shame we had to go into the loop.

The GW Westbury-Foregate Street passed us just after we came to a stand, some 9 minutes down; then 2 XCs, the PLY-GLC and CDF-BHM passed. All were on time so we were let out right time at 1227.

The loop had mp74 3/4 also in it, passed at 7 mph after our restart. Out onto the mainline on the level and a nice sound from the front. We passed mp 74 at 35; mp73 3/4 at 39.2 and then on the 385r , mp73 at 43. Nice noisy running over the next mile to 46.6 at mp72. The max was 49.4 on the short 848r at mp71 1/4. There's no point racing from there so over the 2 miles+ of 301r Bill let the speed fall gradually to 31 for Abbotswood Jn. Down to Norton Jn, 35. Switched sides again as mileposts are on the right to Shrub Hill. We time for completeness as its 347f almost to mp119, level. Max was 47.6 at mp118 1/2. We passed mp119 at 45.3. No effort on the mile of 320r, mp120 1/4 passed at 17. We rolled into Platform 1 at Shrub Hill 5 early at 1246.

Wandered down the front to see the locomotive. As expected Bill Monteith was our driver. The shunt was the short one into the LMD Yard with the loco and POB turning on the triangle while we had lunch.

We intended eating at the Slug and Lettuce as the Postal Order has closed. Right dive. Bit of drizzle but a nice walk but nothing took our fancy so I decided we'd go down to Brown's at the Quay, a hotel with a restaurant. Posh nosh but welcoming to all comers. I'd been there before but Mrs S hadn't. It's a great place for food. The 2 course lunch menu was £14.95 with plenty of choice; the à la carte menu a wider choice. The Wine List was decent and our weakness for NZ Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc was exploited with a bottle of Gravel and Loam. We ordered off the lunch menu; I went the fish route; superb mackerel pâté on crisp bread with samphire, spinach and a cream sauce, followed by a pan fried sea bass risotto; both excellent. Mrs S chose the celeriac and onion soup with chunky bread followed by a gammon, both excellent. We both had the sticky toffee pudding with a scoop of banana fudge ice cream, butterscotch sauce and honeycomb for dessert. Amazing flavours. £100 for the lot and well worth it.

We walked back to Shrub Hill and spent an enjoyable bit of time and banter with Andy and a couple of his friends from the 'Steam Dreams' regulars. Still blustery but no drizzle. Galatea brought the train from the LMD a bit early so I had time to set up the GPS and get the stopwatch and timing sheets out. We left more or less on time. For the enthusiasts and timers the return run is what we really come for and are rarely disappointed. Again, Bahamas' speeds are in brackets.

After a decent run to Abbotswood we joined the main line at Abbotswood Jn at 35 (14). Bill knows the road well. We were middle of carriage 9 but noise drifted back. We passed mp69 on the 301f at 38 (19), then down another 2 miles of 301f speed rose to 53. Down the 2 miles of 385f to mp73 1/2, speed rose steadily to 68 (68). Over the next 2 miles+ on the speed remained around 68 (71), held over the mile of 319r (69) at mp77 1/4. Down the mile of 301f, still holding 68 (73) at Mp78 1/2, and to our max of 69 (75) as we roared through Ashchurch. Bit disappointed not to get to 75. Speed fell to 65 (70) over the mile of 297r to mp81; and to 65 (70) on the 1/2m of 719f.

As we were due a pick up at the Spa Galatea wasn't worked that hard and speed gradually fell to 59 (68) over 2 miles of 285r to mp83 1/4 and the brakes were applied gently down the gradients to our stop at the Spa, virtually on time. We left right time but no dash down the 4 miles of mostly 304f to peak at only 55. Stayed in the low 50s and dipped below 50 (68) as we passed mp91. The brakes came in for our booked stop in Gloucester Yard to wait for the Cheltenham-Paddington to cross from its stop at Gloucester. Hopefully it will be out of our way at Standish Jn.

Away right time. Got to 43 before a bit of noisy running on the close to 2 miles rising gradients to mp97 3/4, 42.3 (??). Got checked on the 299r to the junction but crossed the junction at 18 with greens ahead. Bit of noise drifted back as Bill worked the Jub harder over the 720r/347r to roar through Stonehouse on the 300r at 40 (38). The light was gone so mileposting was nigh on impossible. Serious hard driving took us to line speed by mp103 1/4, spotted, and I recorded the GPS odometer as we passed Mp103, again spotted. We were charging along the level a bit over 50 (50) through Stroud. The lower reaches of the start at mp102, close to the old Goods Shed. The warm up is 2 1/2 miles at a mere 205r. We met it very noisily a bit over 50 (52) crossing Capels Viaduct and hardly dropped any speed through the section to mp100, Bahamas likewise last year, though last year we hit damp rail later on. Tonight was dry if still blustery. Thunderous sound that we heard as far 9 back. Over Bourne Viaduct on a short 185r, no speed drop, (52); slight rise in speed over Brinscombe Path on a bit of lesser 310r close to mp99 (53).

Galatea roared over St Mary's Crossing on the 103r still a bit over 50 (51). The real bank starts at mp98 1/2, 75r, passed at 53 (53). We passed mp98 on the 70r at 41 (41) and then close to Chalford Viaduct we felt the brakes coming on gently. They'd lost the vacuum apparently with the regulator wide open. This lost us all our momentum and speed fell to as low as 18 close to mp97 1/4. We felt the brakes release but the damage was done. Bill used the short level/75r over Frampton Mansell Viaduct to recover to 23 but then we hit the 60r. I picked out mp96 1/4, passed at 15.1 and the final milepost before the tunnel, mp96, 14.2 (28.1), as we heard Galatea slip in the tunnel entrance. The GPS dipped to 12.8 before cutting out. There was a further slip inside the tunnel. The summit is close to the exit of Long Tunnel. It took us 3m 32s (2m 5.5s) to traverse the 4 chains through the tunnel. The GPS didn't kick back in until we left Short Tunnel when it showed 33.1 (41.5).

Despite the drama around Chalford we'd only lost 9 minutes to the schedule. With the high pressure pump on the Bells and Two Tones Fire Tender the water was replenished in under 10 minutes. What a difference they make. Took 20 minutes last year with a standard tanker with a single none too powerful pump .

Nothing special down the 3 miles of 330f, left at 50. We only got to 56.4 (65) at Minety Crossing on the level, near mp87, then ran in the high 50s (67-70) on the mainly falling/level track for the 5 miles down to mp82. Speed fell to 47 (72) at Purton Crossing, mp81, then Galatea was eased for the approach to Swindon. Rather a disappointing run down.

Green through Swindon, 23 (24), now only 7 minutes down. Out onto the main line and nothing special. As we passed mp75, seen, at 53. Things improved speed wise down the long 834f and we roared past Shrivenham, mp71 1/2, at 66 (70). On the level/754f we ran at 70 ish (70), then down the 3 miles of 754f/600f/754f only picked up to 72 (77) at Uffington. This is a bit of a racetrack and we often can't quote the actual speeds but our max was only 73 (77) at mp65. We assumed this was due to us having to drop into Challow Loop, 60 mph entry, just before mp64, to allow 2 service trains to pass us.

Strangely the brakes didn't come on and we went past the loop entry at 69 and past mp63 at 60. Then we had a red signal and stopped just past mp61, close to where we were due to stop in the loop!! Seemed rather obvious that control had got it wrong but why they brought us to a stand was baffling as folk watching our progress on Traksy said the service train had passed the start of the loop so couldn't run inside us. Should have let us continue to Milton Jn where we were taking water.

We got a green and but it was only 4 miles to Milton. We held the service trains up as we only got to 37 at mp59 before slowing and dropping into the siding at mp56 3/4 right on time. We left a couple of minutes early but had a slow trundle down to Didcot Parkway, arriving some 3 minutes down.

We were going as far as Reading at least and hoped for a bit of decent running on the 17 miles of mostly falling grades, around 1350f to Reading. Didn't really get any, only running through Cholsey almost at the end of the 6 miles of 1508f, at 58. We got just over 60 on the mile and a half of 1320f, 61 at mp47. Bit better on the 3 miles+ level to run through Goring and Streatley at 62; then Pangbourne on the 1320f at 58, before Galatea was eased, passing mp40 on the 1320f at 32, then Tilehurst at 23. Got a bit worried that we'd miss the 2032 Temple Meads but we rolled to a stop at Platform 13 at 2024. We were tempted to go into Pad and to get the 2230 to the Meads but the long running time didn't appeal. We crossed to Platform 8 and watched and listened to Galatea leave. Lovely three cylinder sound fading into the distance.

Did we miss anything rapid? Don't know but from RTT, Reading to Slough didn't look like anything special, but it did look a decent run from Slough.

The 2032 was on time and we paid the Weekend First Supplement to have a modicum of comfort on the journey back to Temple Meads.

We love the Venturer for the climbs of Sapperton in both directions and usually do them all. Only 2 this year so we hope we'll get a fire risk free August run. Hate the new outward path but that's the modern electric railway; more and faster trains so worse paths for 75 mph max steam locomotives.

Still a worthwhile steam hauled rail tour 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, 5 mins before the first Bristol arrives.

Thanks to WCR for: bringing the newly overhauled Galatea down to run the series of trains in the south. It ran beautifully for a locomotive making its first unassisted run; and for providing the much travelled stock; our guard; and the footplate and support crews.

Thanks to Les and the stewards, and thanks to Network Rail for again letting us run on the busy GWML.

We've got a month off now until the CME on 18th March. As it's a TOC strike day we're rather hoping it will be allowed to run into Carlisle and not stopover in Appleby. Time will tell.

 

45627 at the blocks at Paddington on Saturday.

 

Can't think many have booked just for Appleby as a destination Al. Les said there's only an hour and a half there. You know Appleby - what can you do in that short a time?

 

Been there; done that...anyway, not a track basher. Crawling around there does nothing for me.

 

On RMT TOC strike days do they not try to run some sort of service?

 

I see that regular Christmas destination of the Lincoln Christmas Market may have to change as the council have scrapped the market.