End of Southern Steam 09/07/23

Front end has been 'tidied'

 

Shame. Nice photo, though. Assuming the fire risk is still high, despite some rain, I didn't bother to go out for it today. A late departure from Victoria, I see.

 

Charter was routed ahead of the Exeter into platform 2 but route was cancelled as it approached resulting in both trains sitting next to each other at reds short of the completely empty station for 5 mins. Which then caused the issue with the cross country. Not sure it’s the charters fault,

 

I looked at RTT and could see no reason for the lost time between Hook and Basingstoke as nothing else was in p1 throughout. Odd. The water stop was only 10 minutes, but I have no idea if it was filled. Time OK again after Salisbury, but the Basingstoke issue is strange, and all this on a Sunday. The incoming stock from Southall WCR left there 4 late and lost more time en route to Victoria - maybe a path was lost from that 4 minutes? Anyway a 13 late arrival at Victoria didn't make for a timely departure from there, and so on...

 

As it will be leading after Yeovil which diesel is it please? Trying to decide whether worth going out for that or just the MN later

 

We were ready for it on arrival at Salisbury and a smooth operation by all involved resulted in an 18 late arrival at Salisbury to a 1 late departure. The 47 on the rear is 47802.

 

Thank you

 

According to a friend who's on the train, 35018 was apparently out of gauge for platform 2 at Basingstoke, hence being re-routed into platform 1.

 

The NR plan may have been wrong. Something may have changed regarding p2 since a MN last used it. The cant on p1 would take the cylinders away from the platform edge rather than towards on p2. One wonders if it was realised within five minutes by the signaller that p2 may have been verboten, or whether other factors contributed. No real harm done, but there does tend to be a drift towards blaming charters for anything they are involved in. The root of it is possibly the 4 minute late departure from Southall WCR, which looks innocuous but may (only may) have precipitated a chain of events that led to such prolonged late running until the smart work at Salisbury put things right (although I note that it's 20 late again at Yeovil!).

 

I think 1L25 was just ahead of the charter (albeit about 3L) by Basingstoke so could have made its booked stop in p2 in a couple of minutes and then left, allowing 35018 into p2. As it was, both trains were held outside next to each other with empty platforms ahead. I also don't think signallers worry about p.a. annoucements in their signalling decisions. Fascinating Sunday congestion!

 

Answering a variety of points.
When a route is cancelled there is a two minute time out before a new route can be set from the starting end of the route.

There is no restriction through platform 1 at Basingstoke for 35018, but there is a 30mph FABRIC restriction through platform 2.
( This restriction has changed quite a few times over the years, not so long ago it was a PROHIBIT via platform 2 for 35028.)

The regulating does seem a bit odd. Quite often late running down voyagers run via platform 4 if there is nothing running up line. I'm completely out of touch with the regulating instructions these days except that an on time train has preference over late running services.

Cheers, Neil

 

The 159 was passing Hook when we came to a stand outside Basingstoke. It then joined us at the signals for 5 mins before leaving.

 

My humble efforts with the camcorder today - well, yesterday, actually!



Ron.