Saphos Trains

Well, to say getting Braunton this morning was eventful would be an understatement. Originally planned to do Bearsted, till it was rerouted a couple days before as I mentioned upthread, so aimed to catch it eitherside of the Tonbridge water stop. Then it was realised something at Ball & Ball (an engineering possession or something to that effect) prevented the train travelling through there so instead it went via Orpington. Got to Dunton Green and setup but Braunton completely caught me out. So, tried again and headed for Marden, and this was the result.

 

Definitely not SNG, all SNG tours are advertised on the SNG trust website: https://www.sirnigelgresley.org.uk/news-a.shtml

 

Yes indeed, thanks for pointing that out. Schoolboy error by me. Not a problem. It'll probably be Royal Scot then, as Braunton is in the south east and Britannia is out of action. Either way, it should be an enjoyable day.

Thanks for this. Hopefully the same will happen next week as well. You can tell I'm getting old. Whether or not there is a leg stretch halfway was never on my list of considerations back in my 20s!

 

Like enough, RTT has a path on the 10th from Crewe to Bristol -- https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U53159/2023-10-10/detailed , and one to Bishops Lydeard after the train https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U53168/2023-10-11/detailed

 

Not left Canterbury if Traksy et al are to be believed. Problems?

 

Reportedly approaching Canterbury West now: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U54564/2023-10-04/detailed

 

Departed 100L!

 

Ah yes on its way 100 late

 

Delayed due to problems servicing the loco.

 

Yes, I had hoped to see this but the train strike stymied me - I try to avoid driving too far for rail photography on principle. Nice regalia on the loco but three air-conditioned Mk2s do not a 'Golden Arrow' make!

 

It's managed to regain an hour or so en route to Acton!

 

I had hoped to do the same, I actually went to Shoreham station before checking my phone and realising it was going the other way to Sevenoaks. Similarly with the return leg, I had walked down to the lineside near Capel le Ferne before taking a look online and seeing the train had not left Canterbury! But was lucky with the weather on the shots I did get so I cannot complain.

At Five Oak Green after the Tonbridge water stop.


The return leg running by the cliffs at Capel le Ferne.

 

I agree - it would make more sense for Saphos to use the "Man of Kent " headboard (they can borrow one from the Spa Valley if needs be) and when Clan Line returns, for the Kent pullman circulars which seem to have replaced the "Surrey Hills" circuit to run with the Golden Arrow regalia rather than a "Belmond British Pullman" headboard.

You (and @The Modster) did better than me in spite of the last-minute change of route - the starting motor packed up on my car on Tuesday evening, so I never got to see it at all!

 

Some nice photos/video above, my offerings from yesterday are below. I only realised that 34046 was out on the main line, and on a 'Golden Arrow' going through Bromley South, on Tuesday. I accepted that it was booked through the patform 4 line, as I really needed it on the platform 2 line to put next to a (dreadful quality- a wet morning and a Brownie 127), photo I took of the Golden Arrow a bit earlier - quite a lot earlier in fact - 34100 on the last down steam Golden Arrow on 11 June 1961. So I positioned myself on the extreme right hand side of the bridge I stood on in 1961 for what would have been a head on shot - but I was alert to the possibility of it being on the platform 2 line - which it was when it came through yesterday! More of the comparison on the two photos 62 years apart later - I think a thread in Steam Traction will be more appropriate to show the side by side shots. I am slowly building a collection of those as I put all my BR (SR) steam loco photos and the very large number of timing logs into some sort of book format.

But, back to yesterday which, for those who have seen the Bluebell thread elswhere, amazingly became a two Bulleid pacifics day! First off was 34046, with the photo I really needed at Bromley South, then a drive to a favourite location at Paddock Wood, where I had an unusual traffic free drive in Kent and arrived 15 minutes before 34046 after its Tonbridge water stop. 34046 was travelling at speed, indeed the driver briefly eased back a little on the descent through the station, and then looked to open up again for the short climb after the train has passed me. Maybe an indication they were running was close to the speed limit.

 

And now the second image, I can't get them to both load correctly on the same post.

 

Saphos have to sell seats on the train and for marketing purposes the Golden Arrow will be better known and have more pull that they Man of Kent. On some occasions Clan Line does run with the Golden Arrow regalia, usually when the Pullmans are hired by a third party tour operator. When on Belmond trains MNLPS have to do what Belmond want

 

The coal lorry broke down, had to send another lorry with coal.

 

Late away from Bristol West. Problem with the brakes on one of the coaches.

 

Water stop at Hereford.

 

Still 10 days away - but does anyone know what might be hauling the Pennine Express on 21st. Times are on RTT
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U14358/2023-10-21/detailed
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U14361/2023-10-21/detailed