Vintage Trains 2024

Paddington

 

Here's my footage of Clun Castle tackling the South Devon Banks for the first time since the 1980s with the Z48. I filmed her at Dorsley Park Bridge on Rattery Bank, Old Hemerdon Sdings (the aftermath of the stall), Burlescombe, and St Annes in Bristol. I hope you enjoy the video.

 

We were in the last coach, the diesel was making exactly the same noise as it was at Plymouth Station - idle / tick over as we entered the tunnel.

 

Paddington…we made it. Thanks to ALL the many people who made this day possible. The climb to Dainton yesterday will long live in the memory. Neil

 

what i dont understand is how this picture was posted at 18.12 - when according to RTT and Tracksy 1z48 was still approaching PAD....

 

Rattery Bank

 

We arrived into Paddington at 17.58.

 

Here, here - an astonishing achievement in 2024. Big thanks to everyone involved, from stewards to Crew and everyone else behind the scenes who made the trip possible.

 

The station clock reads 18:03. It took me a few minutes to gain access to the adjacent platform.

 

There was a large gathering of photographers and videographers at the top of Langstone Rock today. What amazed me was the large number of people viewing the tour from the seawall, stretching all the way from Dawlish Warren to Dawlish. I'm sure they would have thoroughly enjoyed the sight and sound of Clun Castle as it powered through.

May I also add a huge thank you to all who have kept us up to date since the tour was first announced. [BJ]

 

The noise on Rattery on the Friday was special even with the safety valves going off a little. Hemerdon was a shame but what a turnaround for all involved !

 

7029 'Clun Castle's first arrival at London Paddington in almost 60 years, since hauling the last steam service out of Paddington in 1965.

Here's some footage of her today passing through her hometown of Swindon before arriving at the Capital.

 

Thanks to everybody at VT for putting on a memorable couple of days.

Having listened to various comments on the platform the following comparison I believe shows 7029 was given every chance on Hemerdon.

 

Having got home from a bit a marathon week at work myself (I can imagine there’s a few weary folks from Warwick Road feeling the same ) I’d just like to add my thoughts on this operation.

Can I just say how refreshing it’s been to see and hear about how proactive those at Vintage Trains have been with their management of this tour, their comm’s and the planning of it, it really strikes me as an example of despite things not going to plan, contingency plans have been made and it hasn’t buggerd up a load of other people’s travel plans.

Well done to all those concerned at Tyseley, a massive pat on the back is the least that’s deserved
It really does show a very professional side to how our movement is.

 

really interesting and the graph makes your point very well. The right hand side showing the usual uptick in speed as the 1 in 42 eases to 1 in 51 followed by further easing also shows how close we were…

 

My shots from the last two days, the outward run at Horse Cove, and the return run along the sea wall at Dawlish and Newton St Loe. Well done to all involved!

 

Couldn't agree more. Big shout out to the stewards in coach F, made us welcome from the minute we got on and kept us updated throughout on everything that was happening, with good humour and a smile. Some nice little touches, such as providing a A4 printed timing sheet for each leg and letting us know the driver and fireman for each bit too.
VT have always done things a little differently to everyone else and have now become a very professional and well organised TOC - this is what many of us backed a few years ago and trips like this are the result.
Also look at the journey the likes of Alistair Meanley have been on - from helping restore 4965 under the supervision of his dad as a teenager, to driving a Castle for miles at 75mph along the GW mainline to the buffer stops at Paddington! (As well as being on the shovel over the Devon banks).
Martin Fake, another Tyseley qualified driver, gave us a fantastic high speed run into Bristol on Saturday and Sam Perry, on the shovel from Plymouth all the way to Paddington yesterday - take a bow sir and hope you have a good rest today! These guys are the future, along with all the fitters, engineers & staff back at depot.
Well done once again everyone, I look forward to the next trip with yourselves and to help keep defying the odds.

 

Brilliant picture and sums up everything I wrote above, thanks for sharing!

 

Seen from Langstone Rock:



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