West Somerset Steam Express 2023

45596 with the West Somerset Express. https://www.flickr.com/photos/79185888@N04/53192226613/in/dateposted-public/

 

Bit of a special return run on yesterday's WSSE with 45596+POB+10. 56.5 over Brewham Summit.

 

Thanks for the info. I filmed the train in the evening at Pot Lane, Brewham. An incredible ascent indeed.

RTT mentions that the tour departed Minehead 26 mins early. Is that correct?

Hope you enjoyed your day. Eagerly awaiting your report. <BJ>

 

Through Crowcombe Heathfield at 15.40 on the return. Посмотреть вложение 79359 Посмотреть вложение 79360 Посмотреть вложение 79359 Посмотреть вложение 79360 Посмотреть вложение 79360

 

Went through Crowcombe Heathfield at 15.41 on the return.

 

Посмотреть вложение 79365 Посмотреть вложение 79365 West Somerset Steam Express at Creech St Michael and at Wick

 

Посмотреть вложение 79367

 

45596 Bahamas at Creech St Michael with the West Somerset Steam Express to Minehead

 

There was enough good stuff on saturday to warrant a report. Hope its not too long this time.

Tour 944; 12th in 2023; Proper Steam miles so far in 2023, 2796.

West Somerset Steam Express 16th September 2023

We're not fans of the WSSE and had only done 1 before, the 17th August 2019 with the Duchess. As we love travelling behind the Jubilees and 45596 was the rostered locomotive, we decided we'd do this one. Drove to Langley again and got the 0525 Elizabeth Line Service to Paddington. Plenty of time for a bacon roll and a coffee. 47802 dragged the train in to Platform 8 right time and we left on time. Extra TSO, Carriage H in the consist. It wasn't full but there were too many Standard Class passengers for one carriage and the buffet car. We were middle of the ninth on the outward. Don't mind that as it's a non-taxing route. Just the 2 of us again so a timer's table to myself.

All steam out of Paddington have pretty awful paths made worse by the numerous Elizabeth Line trains. They are a pain coming in the opposite direction on the relief as being 9 cars long they get in the way of milepost sighting.

The outward journey

Our driver was Andy Hawkins, and apologies as I didn't get the fireman's name. Paddington to Slough is always a non-event and was. Slightly rising gradients, 1760r/1209r to Southall, 9 miles out with a top speed of 51.8. The 9 1/2m to Slough wasn't much better. Down the 1640f to 50; on the level a max of 55. Not even a 60. Took 28m 14s. We left Slough not close to the stopper so expected a bit more. We didn't get it. On the long 1320r we passed Maidenhead at 51 and ran in the low/mid 50s for 8 miles to mp32 1/4. 45596 was eased from there to run into Reading Platform 13. 28m 18s for from Slough; 56m 32s in all from Paddington. We were 6 minutes late.

We left Reading 5 late. The track climbs away around a sharp left hand curve at 307r. The flanges squealed around the entire curve. A gentle run to end it at 25. After Reading West there was a mile and a half of 323f that Andy used well to leave at 48. We heard some noise from up front on the close to 4m of 825r and got to 54. A short bit of 220r took us onto a level mile, left at 56. That took us onto a mile+ of 490r but no noisy charge. There was a gentle brake application near Aldermaston where speed fell to 20. Nothing on RTT about late running trains so might have been a restriction for steam. We heard more of the 3 cylinder chatter from the front up the 622r, Midgham passed at 31. Noisier on the 410r to 39; 615r through Thatcham at 45, but only a max of 47.5 on the short 200r before we slowed for our pickup/water stop at Newbury. The 17 miles+ had taken us 27m 39s and we now 9 late. Not really a problem as the 28 minute Newbury Stop was also a pathing stop to allow the Paddington to Penzance IET to pass. The Bells and Two Tones Tender was there and with their high powered pump, the tender was replenished before time. At our booked departure time we still had a red signal. Quick reference to RTT showed the Paddington-Penzance IET was running 7 late. We left 3 minutes after the IET, but 5 down.

From Newbury the route gets more interesting for we timers. Nothing like the 100r long drags on the S&C, but a long 17 mile drag with gradients that ranged from 1914r - seriously? to a very short 105r to the summit. Andy made a steady start on 1 1/2m of 198r/288r and we passed mp54 1/2, 288r/193f at 25.2. Bit of 3 cylinder chatter drifted back. Down the short 193f speed rose to 33 at mp55, 193f/1914r. Much noisier then as the virtually unbroken climb started on 1914r. We passed mp56, 1914r/359r, at 41. Up the 359r/879r to mp57, 42; then 879r/396r to Kintbury, mp58 1/2, 47. A mile+ of 231r lost us a bit of speed, mp60 passed at 46; but back to 48 at mp61 after some 519r. Going OK for a mid 50+ summit speed. Through Hungerford, 425/114r, 47 and after a short 200r, the gradient eased to 1775r for 1 1/2m. Much noisier then and the Jubilee roar was heard as speed rose to 53 at mp53 1/2. 45596 was going well and over the mile and a half of 477r we got to 55 and held it on the 1/2m at 225r. Short respite on the level through Bedwyn, 55.7. We held 55 on the 300r and passed mp67, 300r/175r at 55.2. Beautiful roar from the front as Andy attacked the mile+ of 175r, mp68, 55.2 before the final 2 miles to the summit. Not steep with a mile split; 1/4m of 238r then 3/4m 483r that saw a surprising fall to 47 at mp69. The final mile is equal parts 154r/318r/195r/105r and we were surprised to watch speed fall to 43.3 at the summit close to a road bridge near mp70.

Interestingly on 17th August 2019 the mighty Duchess only passed the summit at 48.3 with 11 on. Back in the day the aim was 60 and was often achieved with 12 on.

All downgrade now and normally some 75 mph running. We ran through the superbly maintained Pewsey Station at 71; passed Woodborough Loops at 72.3; before we dropped a bit on the level to 69. The weather changed to dull grey skies with signs of earlier rain. By Lavington, mp87, we were at 75 on the 222f. Andy let the Jubilee 'run' in the mid/high 60s across the 5 level miles to mp92 1/2. Then we took the Westbury Avoider at Heywood Jn, mp94 1/2, 69.3 and slowed to 60 as we came off the avoider at mp96 3/4, 60. The milepost changed to mp111 1/4, the mileage via Swindon, from here. The Berks and Hants climbed from the junction at 226r to mp112, 53.7; then a bit of 157r/374r, 47.3 that took us onto 2 miles of 151r which is only fun if you aren't going into the Frome Loop. We were. Noisy first mile to pass mp112 3/4 at 42.9 but then Andy eased the Jubilee to cross Clink Road Jn at 28. We arrived in Frome at 0949, 5 late.

The old wooden Train shed of the Brunel Station had been refurbished since the last time we were there and looked superb. A different Water Tanker was waiting for us as close to the platform as he could get and the tender was refreshed in good time for a right time departure.

Between Frome and Cogload is the climb to Brewham and a short one to Somerton Tunnel. We got a green early but unfortunately were held near Blatchbridge Jn for the Cardiff-Penzance IET to pass. We crossed onto the mainline right time at only 20 mph, so over the 4 miles to the site of the old Woodlands Box over mixed gradients with short sections of 90r and 116r we had no momentum and passed the site of the old box at 30ish. It got a bit noisier on the mile of level/164r, but we only took 28 onto the 409r at mp119 1/2. We passed Witham and East Somerset Jn, mp120 3/4ish at 31. 45596 wasn't being worked hard and up the 2 miles of mixed 1in112/lev/114/216 we only got to 30.4. It got a bit noisier on the 3/4m of 107r to Brewham Summit, 24 min. Disappointed with that and we were now 6 late.

Over the summit onto the 81f/98f/93f speed increased rapidly to 68 through Bruton; then to 75 down the 98f below the station. We blasted through Castle Cary at 78, milepost changed from 129ish to 115 1/4, the mileage via Westbury. We ran around or just above 75 to mp119 where a short 1/4m of level took us onto the 2 miles climb at 330r at 75. We passed Keinton Mandeville, 73, half way in, and left it at MP121, 70.5. Down almost 2 miles at 264f to mp124, 76; 1/4m lev, 75; then onto the successive quarters of 264r/526r, 72 before the mile of 264r to the summit, passed at 68. We ran down into Somerton Tunnel on the 264f at 69; left it at 71 and ran smartly down the 2 1/2m of 264f to mp129, passed at 75; then Langport East on a bit of 330r, 76; and down more 264f to mp131, 77.

Nothing of real significance after and we passed Athelney Crossing at 69. There was a mile of 330r but Andy more or less let 45596 coast over it. We dropped to 59 at mp136 where the brakes came in. Only a bit undulating/level down to Cogload Jn, 26, then we ran slowly into Taunton virtually right time.

Good old fashioned running that. Not too hard on the climbs when you know there are long favourable falling gradients to make up any time lost.

We picked up the WSR Guard and pilotman and trundled out of the station and across the mainline to access the spur to the WSR. No problem getting to Bishops Lydeard on time. With over 40 minutes for the loco change I wandered up to the Quantock Brewery Tap Room and had a pint of an excellent Hazy IPA called Radicle. Alan, one of our friends off the train had gone to buy a couple of bottles and had a half of Radicle. We wandered back to the station to find not a pair of Manors but their unique 9351 with 7828 Odney Manor and the 10 Mk1s behind it. Interesting combination. Unfortunately 45596 and POB were alongside them so we couldn't get a side on shot. Weather was damp with rain in the air.

The West Somerset Railway

For those who don't know it, the railway is undulating for most of its length with 2 decent climbs in each direction.

The Outward run

We were middle of Coach 8. Speeds are those we left each the sections of the climb. Leaving Lydeard there's a proper 3 mile climb. We left the station, 356r, end platform, 11.3. Really noisy locos! Then a mile+ of 1in101, max 26.4, 24.8. Eased to 1/4m of 1in354, 18.5; short 5 mph restriction, then onto the steep mile of 1in80; 20.4. Gradient eased to 1/4m 99r, mp171, 24.6. Steepened then to a final mile of 81r to a true cacophony of sound. Mid way through at mp171 1/2, Norris Road Bridge, 25.7, the locos were eased and speed fell back to 10 mph through the station. Very entertaining. Crowcombe Heathfield to Watchet is all downgrade.

From Watchet, 16.8, we started to climb the 1/2m of 76r to mp180 1/4, 18.6. Then a respite on the 213r/479r/level to Kentsford Loop, mp180 1/2, 28.5. The climb continued with a short 211r, then 3/4m 123r, to mp181 1/2, 25.5. This took us to almost 3/4m of 74r, mp182, 18. The locos were then eased up the short 92r to Washford, 14.5. 10 mph Speed Restriction. Excellent crewing with plenty of syncopated sound from the double header.

Pretty much flat all the way down through Blue Anchor and Dunster to Minehead where we only had just over an hour and a half to get fed and watered. Looking out to sea was like Weston-super-Mare - you knew it was there somewhere!

What a surprise, it was raining but we decided to stroll down to the Hairy Dog for a meal. Scrap that as there was a group of rowdy 'revellers' in shell suits blocking access. PCSOs had been called. We decided to go on to the Duke of Wellington, Minehead's Wetherspoons. Bit of a walk and it was a bit crowded but we found a table and had excellent jumbo cod and chips. Real Ale choice was rubbish so I had a bottled Brewdog Hazy Jane, another hazy IPA. Rather nice. The revellers invaded the 'spoons but weren't as noisy. We got back, still in light rain, in time to get an odd plant based ice cream from the station cafe. It was OK. Then we watched the locos attach and had a chat with a few long time travellers we knew. They couldn't turn the locos on the turntable as the track defect hasn't been repaired.

The return

We were in the middle of the 3rd carriage. The first significant climb started a mile out of Blue Anchor at mp183 3/4, 138r, 26.1. It steepened to 1/4m of 73r, 26.4; then to 65r before mp183 1/4, 17. The locos were eased at Black Monkey Bridge, then there was a very noisy solid climb of a further 3/4m of 65r where speed rose to 21.5; the summit was after a short bit of 129r, passed at 19.5.

The second climb is much longer, 5 1/2m from Williton Bridge, east of the station, mp178, 99r, 19.3. Next is a 1/4m of 84r/123e, mp177 passed at 26.9. the line steepened at 91r/126r to mp176 3/4, 27.7. There was a short reprieve at Woolston Bridge, lev, 27.7; then at Cottiford Bridge, 27.7, 3/4m of 100r took us to Turk's Castle, mp175 3/4, 27, where it steepened to 92r for close to a mile, left at 26.8. A bit of 176r/68r through Stogumber, mp174 3/4, 26.9 led to 2 1/4m of 100r. The locos made plenty of noise and speed hardly fell below the line maximum of 25 before the locos were eased for Crowcombe Heathfield.

Both were very noisy and excellent climbs.

At Bishops Lydeard we said farewell to the double header and 45596+POB backed on to the train. We saw Bill Monteith on the platform so assumed he was our driver for the return. Always entertaining when Bill is driving and we had Somerton, Brewham and Savernake to climb. We were delayed at Norton Fitzwarren Jn by a late running Cross Country and rolled into Taunton to drop off the WSR personnel some 6 minutes late.

The return journey to Paddington

Not too rapidly away from Taunton on falling/level gradients over the 5 miles to Cogload Jn. We were middle of the 4th carriage now. Then the Jubilee roar was heard as we passed mp159, 61; with a decent 65 at the junction. We had a good and noisy run on the level/330f to pass Athelney Crossing at 73. From mp134 there was 3/4m of 330r that caused a fall to 72ish before we made it back up on the 330f. Very noisy up front and speed slowly rose over the mile and a half of level track to mp131, 74.5. Plenty of small pieces of coal bouncing on the roof of the carriages and through the open toplights onto the tables!!

Then we started the climb to Somerton tunnel over 1 1/4m of 264r, mp129 3/4, Langport, 71.6. Next was 1/2m at 330r that saw speed fall back to 70.2 at mp129. Now we were on the 2 1/2m of 264r to and through Somerton Tunnel to the summit. The Jubilee roared past mp128 at 69.3 and it sounded awesome through the cutting and speed only fell to 67.8 as we entered the tunnel. Its 264r through the tunnel, and for a further 1/4m to the summit, passed at 67.8. A superb performance for a Class 6 locomotive with 11 on. This was close to an even time run, the 16 1/2m from Taunton taking 17m.

After the summit we charged down almost 2 miles averaging 275f. We passed mp125 at 74.9 but then 45596 was eased and speed fell to 53.8 as we hit the start of 2 miles of 264r. Curious that. The 264r ended at Charlton Mackrell, 51.6. on the mile+ of level track speed rose to 57.7 at mp121. Everything seemed OK up front and the noise level rose down the 1 3/4m of 330f through Keinton Mandeville, mp120, 65.7 to the end at mp119, 69.5. 3/4m at 660r saw speed rise to 70 at mp118; then 3/4m on the level took us to 70.6 at mp117 1/2. A further 1 1/2m of 264r made little difference to our speed, 68.8; and over the 330r to a mini summit at Castle Cary Jn, we hit 70, held through the station.

Then came the first part of the climb to Brewham Summit; the run to Bruton Station. The first 1 3/4m averaged 300r and we passed mp127 1/4 at 69.1. A bit of level/78r followed, mp127, 66.9. That took us onto 3/4m of 98r where despite the loud roar, speed fell slowly. Through Bruton Station, mp126ish, level, 65. Another 1/2m level followed, left at 64.7. Superb climb so far but it was still almost 3 miles to the summit. The gradients changed a few times. The first 1/2m was 93r, left at 61.8; then 1/4m at 140r, 53.8; 1/4m on the level, 63.2. The sound was deafening as we hit the 3/4m at 98r, left at 59.9 onto 1/4m of level, 57.8. A final charge on the 1/2m+ of 81r saw us pass the summit at 56.4. An amazing performance from the Jubilee with 11 on.

On falling gradients we passed East Somerset Jn at 69.3 but soon after 45596 was eased as we were going into Frome. We passed Blatchbridge Jn at 28 and arrived at Frome only 2 late. The elapsed time from Taunton was an impressive 44m 35s. As we were taking water here it meant we'd get a proper run at Savernake in an eastbound direction. In the past there's been a water stop at Woodborough that ruined the climb.

Met Bill Monteith on the platform and he told me he hadn't been driving. He was Traction Inspector to Chris Yates, an excellent fireman for many years, who had been passed out as a driver by Andy Taylor on the Swanage Belle. Chris has route knowledge but WCR chose to have him accompanied on his first driver's turn. DB always have a Traction Inspector on their trains. Our fireman was the redoubtable and excellent Nigel Barber who we've had on trains many times.

We left right time and had to hang around at the end of the loop for an incoming GWR Service. A couple of slips then on the 1/2m at 138r to Clink Road Jn, 10.3, to rejoin the mainline. No water stop at Woodborough so Control permitting, when we get to Lavington we should have a proper climb eastbound to Savernake.

Down 2m at 151f, mp112 1/2, 49.1 but no great increase in speed downgrade as we were booked to take the Westbury Avoider from Fairwood Jn. We did and passed mp97 at 48.2. Just over 2 miles on the level to Heywood Road Jn, 55.9 then 3/4m of level before a mile+ of 500r to mp92 1/2, 59. 5 miles of level track for Chris t pick up speed for the climb. Went well for a while but the brakes were applied and speed dropped to 15.5 at mp92 1/2. I saw a green signal but it may have just changed.

The light was poor but I used the GPS' Odometer to countdown to the 1/4 mileposts and got most of them to the summit. The level track ended at mp87 1/2 and once we got underway the Jubilee roared along to leave the level section at 59.2. we ran off the level onto 5 1/2 miles of 222r. If anyone wanted to hear a true Jubilee roar for an extended period this was it. We passed mp87 at 59.1; Lavington at 59.2; mp86 at 59.1; mp85 at 58.9; mp84 at 59.2; mp83 at 58.3; and the final quarter, mp82 1/4 at 58.4. There's a mixed set of gradients on the 2m to Woodborough. On eased lev/981f/606f, 45596 accelerated to 66.3 and lost nothing to the 1/2m+ 343f/lev to pass the Loops at 66.7. A mile of 255r followed to mp78, passed at 66, took us to the respite from mp77 3/4 to 76 1/4, lev/323f/439f/315f/lev, where speed rose to 71.7. The sound was off the scale. 1/2m of 234r saw speed at 72but it fell to 70.5 on 1/4m level. We hammered through Pewsey, mp75 1/4, 260r, at 69.2 and over the next 3/4m of 260r fell back to 66.8. then we ran on a mile of level track where speed rose again to 69. At mp73 1/2. Some running. The 1/2m of 387rr took us to 69.5 at mp73 with 3 miles to the 'summit'. After a 1/4m of 282r, 58.7, we hit 3/4m of 198r through Wooton Rivers, off at mp72, 66.2. the next mile is equal quarters of 669r/285r/level/323r, mp71 passed at 64; then the final 1/2 mile of 162r/132r to a minimum of 62.3. We rather enjoyed that.

Excitement over still but I decided to milepost where possible. Its 18 miles downgrade from mp71 to Newbury so I'll just drop stations and gradients in. Bedwyn, mp66 1/4, lev, 72.2; Hungerford mp62 1/2, 114f/425f, 69.5; Kintbury, mp58 1/2, 957f, 70; mp57, 879f, 68.1; mp55, 1914f/193r, 61.9 before the brakes came in for our set down at Newbury right time. Fun run down the bank. Hard timings to meet, especially as we had that mysterious slowing.

Typically as we prepared to leave Newbury, an all station stopper left from the bay. That led us to run into Theale Loop for our final water stop some 8 minutes late. We'd been watching 34046 on the Steam Dream Charter on both Open Train Times and Real Time Trains and as it was early off Didcot Parkway wondered how they'd path 2 steam hauled charters so close to each other. A bit of noise down the 825f, mp39, 49 but then it was a trundle around the curve into Reading P11, now 7 late. What's weird was that Platform 11 is a mainline platform. We were booked to stand until 2015 but we were signalled out at 2010.

Nice start on the level, mp35 1/4, 41.6, but we had a double yellow and Open Train Times Map showed our path onto the relief. Sad that, but we did get to almost 57 at mp30 on the 1320f. Nothing else of interest and we stopped at Slough for a set down some 7 minutes late. RTT was still showing us as taking the mainline from Dolphin Junction but Open Train Times Map showed us staying on the relief. They were right. We did hit 60 at West Drayton and Open Train Times showed us pathed up the main from the crossover near mp11 3/4.

We crossed over and speed rose on the 1640r to pass Hayes and Harlington at 55.2; and Southall, mp9ish, at 62.5. We were surprised that was our maximum speed. We passed Hanwell and Elthorne at 60.6; Ealing Broadway at 58.6; Acton Mainline at 55.6 before drifting over the last 4 miles to stop in Platform 1 at 2116, 1 late. Annoyingly there was an IET in Platform 2 so no chance of getting a picture. 34046 and train was still a fair distance away on the relief. Thanked the crew for an excellent run and we went down to the Elizabeth Line to get the 2131 back to Langley and got there before 2200.

Thanks to Kelly, RTC and WCR for running a pure steam run, only spoiled by the early departure time from Paddington.

Thanks to the Bahamas Locomotive Society for keeping their magnificent locomotive down south for an extended period in 2023 to enable us to travel on Proper Steam Hauled Trains. We really appreciate all the efforts you and your support people make for us.

Thanks to WCR for the stock, guard and the footplate crews who were excellent as always. Good to see another passed out driver joining the ranks in the south.

Thanks to our train manager Les and the stewards who did a fine job all day. Many announcements about no window hanging or vestibule loitering again. Passengers seemed to have taken notice as the guard didn't have to make any additional announcements.

The window hanging thing is a bit of a blow to timers as when the light is failing it was always good to look out of the toplight to confirm posts. But rules is rules and at least we have accurate GPS devices to assist us.

Thanks to Network Rail for a decent day of train regulation.

We're looking forward to another run behind Bahamas on the 24th's Royal Duchy. The load has been reduced to 7+POB which is sensible this time of year. Lots of leaf fall around on Saturday and since.