End of Southern Steam: 9/07/24

Currently a lot of the route taken remains Amber fire risk, but parts of it are as high as red risk. So get praying for rain and lots of it!

 

Interesting that the whole day is scheduled at 60 mph, except for Basingstoke-Woking-Waterloo on the return when it goes up to 75 mph - with a rare heritage steam even time schedule Basingstoke-Woking. But if it is going to use Platform 1 at Woking that surely means a signal check at Woking Junction to cross over from the up fast? Plus the ever present risk of the diesel pushing out of Basingstoke, more so if the forecast rain is just light and patchy. But at least someone(s) has/have tried to celebrate the end of the world on 10 July 1967 in fine style, so very many thanks to him/her/them etc .

Bryan B.

 

There is plenty of rain the forecast, including for the morning of the 9th, but of course all that can change. We had damp weather yesterday widely over the south and tomorrow looks like it will be a full day of steady moderate rain from a low pressure passing right over us, rather than just more localised showers. I don't know how quickly NR responds to changing conditions to update the fire risk, but I am fairly confident that the actual fire risk will be low by Tuesday (eek, what have I said?!).

 

We only had rain down here for an hour yesterday.
And whilst it may rain a couple of days the underlying vegetation will still be very dry. Fire risk may reduce, but it will certainly not go away by then. Question is will the 0Z move from Yeovil also need a diesel, in which case two would be needed for the tour.

 

As far as I understand it’s reviewed daily. But obviously rain doesn’t solve all the issues. It may rain for an hour, but then it may blow a howling wind for 2/3 hours and dry the ground out.

The forecast does look promising, but I should imagine it will remain at a minimum of amber risk for the current areas of red, and might sneak to green for a few if the current ambers.

 

I hope @45669 plans to go to Fleet to phot/video this.

 

Indeed, although with a long spell of steady rain, it filters down through the vegetation to the ground, and the lower vegetation tends to stay wet as the wind does not get there as much as the rain can. Tomorrow is still forecast to be wet, to varying degrees, all day, including some thundery spells. Showers on Sunday, then wet again all day on Monday through to Tuesday morning. Fingers crossed...

 

I think it's fair to say that the fire risk has dropped somewhat over southern England now...

 

According to NR it remains the same as yesterday. Some red, mainly amber

 

I meant in the real world!

 

Tbf the issue will be the ammount of damage last week caused. That will be the telling factor. They’ll be slower to lift the restrictions

 

You mean the railway isn't the real world? I think that you may be on the wrong forum, mate.

Peter

 

I mean that I have seen the rainfall radar images throughout today and the whole of southern England has been covered by continuous moderate to heavy rain for many hours, on top of more sporadic rain last night. That is what I mean by real world, rather than NR's lagging assessment of things. Of course, if NR declines to change the assessment, that is what will matter regarding the running of steam, but it won't reflect real conditions if they don't.

 

Tbf it will. Rain doesn’t make everything better. It has to soak soak the ground. Make everything green and lush. Nothing dry enough to catch fire. NR have to be satisfied

 

Yes, but, after today's deluges (with much more still to come) the ground and everything above it will be drenched. Anyway, we can only hope that sense prevails in time for Tuesday.

 

I mean what we really need is a resolution to WCRCs CDL trouble because otherwise there’s still a diesel

 

It would have always have been a diesel, as it has been every year, due to the need for the diesel to take the train from Yeovil to Weymouth whilst the steam is serviced and turned.
I guess @Deepgreen is more worried where it may be located, or even if this year two are needed.