The Dorset Coast Express (RTC) - 23/05/09

There seems to be some differences in information regarding this unusual tour ....
Unusual [very] - in that this tour was planned purely to bring 70013 "Oliver Cromwell" all the way from Norwich to appear at Eastleigh 100.
Differences -
a) 70013 originally hauling tour through to Poole then going tender first back to Eastleigh for display at Eastleigh 100 and turning on the depot's loop line before going tender first back to Poole on 30th May to haul RTC's "The Bath and Bristol Steam Express".
b) 70013 then had to come off at Eastleigh due to pathing problems through the New Forest area.
c) 70013 not now going to Eastleigh 100 apparently and Swanage has been asked to provide a home for a week until it's 30 May tour to Bristol. [Whether we will be permitted to use her on passenger trains during that week has yet to be discussed =P~ 8-[ ]
d) uksteam.info still showing steam to Eastleigh only.
Not sure what to make of it all ](*,) ](*,) ](*,)
We have approximate timings of 1616 at Wareham and Swanage an hour-ish later.
We also have departure from us as Friday 29th rather than early Saturday 30th but all these things could still change of course :-k
Can see the headlines - "Oliver Cromwell" revisits remains of Corfe Castle to see what his troops did during the Civil War !

 

I'm not on this tour any more but I shall see it at a new vantage point near Norwich, Looking forward to it. Quite a few people on the Easterling are on the this next tour.

 

i take it that it will still pass through eastleigh on its way down then..................if so, its no big loss that it is not going to the works centenary.

 

Well, if RTC is to be believed, OC will still have to come off at Eastleigh to be replaced with a diesel to get the train into Poole around 13:40. That leaves about 2 hours unaccounted for before OC arrives Wareham, presumably LE+SC.

Guess we may just have to wait & find out. If there were pathing problems through the forest, the Saturday timetable is pretty much clock-face throughout the daytime, so I would have thought there were still pathing problems for the engine & support.

 

I will be on the railtour, dispite the confustion which the loco as along as the train leaves Eastleigh for Norwich at the right time at the end of the day i will not be worried lol, got my tickets yesturday \/

 

70013 hauling railtour at 75mph has 'pathing problems' between Eastleigh and Poole - if we're to believe what's been published.
70013 and support coach at 60mph max. (?), however, Network Rail appears to be able to fit in this scenario into their schedule :-k :-#
Err, Sorry, does not compute ...... Error message ...... Re-boot ...... ](*,) ](*,) ](*,) ](*,)
We're ready for "OC" - as long as it's not too late arriving =P~ 8-[ \/

 

Lots of interesting comments about the Eastleigh end of the trip.
What about the water stop at Royston?
Does anybody know if there will be a water bowser at the station, or will they use a siding.
Streetmap shows some interesting sidings on the Baldock side of the station, but they don't show in my Rail Atlas.
Anybody know if they still exist?
Timings seem to allow only a 15 minute stop so there can't be much manouevring involved.
Can anyone throw any light on this please?

 

The last time I did the Royston route was with 6233 to Norwich last August. On the return we filled up at Royston station which was around a 15 minute stop. There are crossovers at either end of the station which allow the passage of trains onto the other platform. There are sidings at Royston however these are marked out of use on the latest eastern quail maps.

 

If you only have 15 minutes, there will most likely be a fire appliance or tanker with a pump. Could also be a hydrant on the platform, but you certainly won't be detatching and re-attatching a loco.

 

Weather looking good for Saturday around Norwich
http://news.bbc.co.uk/weather/forecast/ ... &region=uk

 

Times, An early start for Norfolk Folk

http://www.uksteam.info/tours/t09/t0523c.htm

 

Only 1/2 hour before Clan Line sets off! Having said that, at least you get a reasonable time at the works from the London tour, if I was going specifically fo rthe works open day from Norfolk, not sure that I'd be travelling that way!

 

It was mentioned elsewhere that, although the train is more-or-less full, only 80 passengers have requested tickets for the Eastleigh exhibition. Still wondering how far Ollie is going with the train, and when she'll get to Swanage....

 

I received this yesterday evening, apparently copied from WRGEN:

If correct, this implies that Ollie is hauling the tour all the way to Poole, which makes sense. Mount Pleasant is the level crossing between St Denys and Northam Junction.

HTH

 

really i thought there would be more than that? me and dad are two of the 80 who requested tickets (and got them last weekend) alogn with a friend whos also going on the trip.
Im on the train all the way from Norwich - early start but looking forward to the day \/

 

Wheres the 'new' vantage point?

 

It's not really a new vantage point but One I discovered by accident in April. There is no indication of a footpath on the map but there is a footpath following the line from Trowse to a road bridge, the river is next to it and a nice reflection shot can be had.
Starts from here


This shot would be better for an incoming train but might be good for the way out

The walk is about a mile long with lots of good spots

here is a Youtube video I found of the duchess near the bridge
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzEkTpXvmxY

 

It will be Cromwell all the way to Poole

 

Yes thats a very good spot - though I would suggest standing on the bridge you will get much better shots - expecilly if the loco is working hard like the Duchess when going away from Norwich - thanks so much for the vid of the Duchess I was standing on the bridge and can still hear her working away in my head - it was truly defening never heard anything like it in my life.
Heres a pic of Duchess and Gresley taken from the bridge

 

Though if the council (or who ever owns the land - do look out for cows and cow poo...) kept the shrubs down like they used to it would be an exellent vantage point - its only in recent years its got over grown when 4472 last came it was a very good place to stand.

There is another spot thats good and also near the river just further up the line, if you got up onto the road/bridge from that field turn right go over the bridge and you will come to a pub called the Cock or somthing like that turn left onto Mansfield Lane (some old water mills will be on your left) and follow the road till you come to Sandy Lane, turn left again and follow the road down the hill and you will come to some shops, Sandy Lane continues round a bend, a bus stop will be on your right, but ahead of you will be another road/lane called Cooper lane, follow this road all the way till it ends - you know when as you will come to a set of gates for somones house but on your left will be a large green go onto this and head for the river and on the other side will be the railway, its a very nice spot and get a good relection in the water - also as its morning the sun should be on the right side for you, best to follow my directions on google maps first if you dont know the area.