The Dorset Coast Express 2023

Agreed, but I wouldn't be surprised if there is nobody in the office environment with the level of knowledge required!

 

No change currently, unless some new timings from Swanage to Weymouth suddenly appear I assume that's the case.

 

The RTC website now states "We return from Weymouth diesel hauled at around 16:40 as far as Southampton with our steam locomotive banking on the rear, from here the main steam locomotive will take over for the remainder of the return journey. "

 

I am booked on the trip on 17 Aug 23, the confirmation letter states:

"We will be steam hauled from London Victoria to Weymouth and from Southampton to London Victoria on the return by 45596 Bahamas.
Due to operational reasons, we will be diesel hauled from Weymouth to Southampton on the return."

 

Although this year it seems it would have made no difference anyway,but I have often wondered why the Swanage Belle was also not earmarked for the U back to Southampton, especially as it would only need the one L.E. move back home.

 

Have always thought the same, surely it makes much more sense for this return trip to be hauled by 31806.

 

Bahamas as always, looking well turned out, and is a credit to their support crew. Bob Baines driving with Jack Johnson on the shovel. 47802 is rear gunner.

 

I see the usual Winchfield watering over-run hit again today, delaying the following service train. I wonder for how long this will be tolerated, or perhaps a late terminating arrival at Basingstoke isn't considered significant enough to warrant addressing the obvious lack of time allowed for steam to take water. It's unusual for a scheduling inadequacy like this to persist.

 

The Dorset Coast Express, 45596 Bahamas, 17th August 2023.
Filmed at New Milton:

 

Almost at Weymouth having just passed through Upwey.
Must have passed the ECS of the Northern Belle around the tunnels I think.

 

Yesterdays run seen at Lyne Ln, Worting Jn, Redbridge, Test Ln, Whitchurch, Old Basing and Virginia Water:

 

According to RTT, the return run gained 14 minutes against the schedule from Wool to Branksome. As there were no stops omitted or curtailed (and no pathing allowances), I'd be fascinated to know how this was achieved!

 

20 minutes allowed in the down direction schedule , while 37minutes allowed in the up direction.

 

The schedule is very generous in the up direction and the train has been known to spend over 20 minutes outside Bournemouth awaiting a platform. There was of course the trip some years back that due to a signalling error the tour was sent straight into platform 3 before 1730. Someone senior from SWR cam up and told us we should be leaving, it was pointed out it is a pick up and we had to await departure time. The departure that year was 17:48 I think from memory, do not think it he was very happy.

 

Indeed, but why?

 

To be taken up with NR, however, owing to the signaller's error, not the train crew in question!

 

It may have been diesel hauled back to Southampton but no one complained to me about it or anything else. No one likes it, least of all as running at speed tender first doesn't do the front driving axleboxes a lot of good but it is what it is. The journey down was in the capable hands of Driver Bob Baines with Andy Hawkins from Southampton back to Victoria. I did hear a comment about the diesel pushing on Grateley Bank but both the steam and diesel drivers confirmed it didn't happen. In a display of how dense the great British public can be I understand that a couple of people had to be stopped from boarding at Basingstoke on the return, thinking it was their train to Waterloo. In a good bit of train regulation 1T70 Portsmouth-Waterloo that stops at Fleet was held on the fast line at Winchfield for us to pass.

Journey's End at Weymouth and bringing the ECS back into the platform.