End of Southern Steam: 9/07/24

Al, RTT is currently showing the original Plan times for Clan Line, but now a Basingstoke Actual departure at 21.02, arrive Woking 21.24, depart 21.25 to Waterloo at 21.56.

BUT, if that happens, Clan Line is shown to leave Basingstoke just before the up Weymouth (20.48 off Winchester, pass Basingstoke at 21.03 ) which is due into Woking (P2) at 21.19 and out at 21.22.

I wonder it that means Clan Line will be on the up SL all the way Bas-Woking? IF the revised Actual times are going to happen.

And there is also an up Alton train into Woking (P1) at 21.21, depart 21.22. So, it both the emus are on time, 21.22 at Woking will see both P1 and P2 occupied.

Not that good for an on time arrival by Clan Line into Woking.

Bryan B

 

Just to clarify, 1Z96 is shown on Special Traffic Notice and Real Time Trains to call at Woking 2137 to 21D39 and depart FL. Calling at Platform 1 means the special can arrive earlier than waiting for the up Exeter to maintain its booked departure time of 2136. Waiting for platform 2 to be clear would give a 2139 arrival at the earliest.
By the way, RTT algorithims have ignored the 15 minutes at Basingstoke and just assumed the train can run earlier, thus the estimated times in italics of 2119 to 2122 stop at Woking for the special. The stop at Basingstoke is to take water.
(Yes I know back in the day Southampton to Waterloo was regularly run without a water stop. But, and this is a very big but, 35028 can't take water on arrival before being hauled out on the rear to South West Siding to detach from the ECS . Then she has to return to Stewarts Lane, be turned via Factory Jn , boiler blown down and being disposed. I'll leave you to mull the safety case of 4 inch hoses and water across the concourse at Waterloo at 2230 at night .... )

Cheers, Neil

 

Thanks for that Neil. I don't recall having seen RTT post such time differences in advance of a steam run before.

Earlier I had thought Basingstoke could be a short water stop, even through Clan Line has done Stewarts Lane-Victoria and then the long way round (via Staines) to Byfleet Junction and onto a stop at Salisbury before the first water stop. With very good running on a heavy 12 car train and no helper on the back. Which made the RT 'changes' a bit credible, to me at least, with of course, no thought of large hoses across the Waterloo concourse at 22.30. The longest I have done behind a MN in steam days without taking water, was, I think, Waterloo to Yeovil Junction.

Bryan B

 

I’m not 100% sure but I believe that NR like to see a safety margin in the event of any delays with a minimum of 1000 gals in the tender while running Returning to the Lane also involves a turning move round what I call the Battersea Bermuda Triangle, it can take half an hour up to an hour and a half depending on the signalmen it seems. All understandable as no one wants to see a stop on the mainline to throw out the fire

 

The joys of British Summer time!
Going from one extreme of high fire risk to a heavy rain warning issued by the Met office.
Hopefully the day will go well and problems with the national network will be minimal. It should be a good run with 35028 in charge.
I decided not to book on this trip in the end as the funds were required elsewhere and I am also not keen on the stock being used at the moment.

Sent from my XQ-BT52 using Tapatalk

 

I can wholeheartedly assure you that the 47 on the back of last years tour with 35018 was doing no more than "on" going up Bincombe.

 

Doesn't seem I will need to take my bucket and spade for when I get to Weymouth then !!

 

Seems to be going OK so far - even kept the Winchfield water stop to the right duration! Hope all aboard are enjoying the day - after all the build up I didn't go to film it in the end, sadly.

 

I have a ticket to be on it, but 'woke' early not feeling up to the long day it entails - that happens from time to time. I may have done at least part if Clan Line didn't have a helper today - and I do know why today's operation has one.

From RTT it looks like an unchecked (or so it seems) Basingstoke-Salisbury start to stop in just under 40 minutes for the 35.9 miles. Be nice to get a report from the train if possible.

I see that 34028 is remembering the end of SR steam at Swanage today. And if 34046 had been on the SD trip today I would have gone out the few miles needed to photograph that.

And as @Deepgreen says, I do hope all on board are having a great day behind this lovely steam railway locomotive. And of course that everything runs smoothly and to time.

Bryan B

 

The 1000 gallon safety allowance goes back to at least the 1980's. I remember it being mentioned when I was sat a few desks away from where the Salisbury Steam workings were planned around 1987 to 1992.

Cheers, Neil

 

Someone got an empty seat next to them! I have the luxury of the SSE passing me this evening so will not miss steam altogether on 9 July, an anniversary I try to keep!

 

That means the small group of 1960s gricers I should have been with today will have a bit/lot more space around their table today!

But I hope to meet up with them all in August, and behind a Bulleid pacific.

Bryan B

 

A shame you missed it but save your pennies for the ACE at the end of September. A lot of steam miles for the money and no diesel on the back as there is no operational need for it

 

Unless CDL stock is used? Or is there other stock in mind?

 

Yes, silly me I overlooked the wretched CDL!

 

I mean I very much hope by then that they’ve sorted something! A Bullied and Black 5 is getting rather tedious….Id give a lot for a Jub over the S&C!

 

And the air con. Though WCRC could hire in Riviera's generator car, they seem happy enough hiring in other vehicles.