British Pullman 2025

That won't be there when running, so is it really worth doing, I wonder. These things can be taken too far.

 

Yes it is worth it as the engine stands for many hours during prep day and overnight in addition to after arrival back on shed. It has also been very carefully designed to direct the water down the neck of anyone standing below it cleaning the wheels and motion!!

 

Good news regarding Clan Line from the MNLPS. <BJ>

''Fitness To Run exam completed, we are all good to go for tomorrow's British Pullman tour to Dover! Look out for us if your out and about, we will be running from Victoria to Dover and back''.

 

RTT shows it delayed by circa 19 minutes near Selling, as the previous service train was.

Bryan

 

She was working hard up to Selling station but then the regulator was nearly closed and she slowed down


Sent from my SM-A356B using Tapatalk

 

35028 is seen working today's Pullman in sunshine at Beckenham Hill and Bickley, enjoy

 

Clan Line out and about round Kent today, managed to catch it 4 times which for a non stop run (minus Dover) was quite entertaining! Captured at Beckenham Hill, galloping through Snowdown after the delay, at speed through Folkestone and finally Knockholt:

 

I’m impressed that you managed to get through Bromley traffic and beat it to Snowdown.

 

It's fairly easy to beat it to beyond Canterbury even with the worst traffic. The toughest location to beat it to from anywhere is Selling. The hard part is trying to beat it on the return journey. Being next to the road on that bridge at Folkestone made it look possible and it turns out it was, just a pity the unit in the other platform drowned out the Merchant.

 

John,

Maybe the delay caused by the Selling signal problem helped a bit. But still very good to cover so much ground and get good results.

Bryan

 

My effort. Trying something different this year and it is very much a work-in-progress.

Problems with focus. I think the light reflecting off the supershine loco meant my camera (more likely the person holding it!) had issues getting a decent focus - and I only got a sort of result because I decided to keep a decent depth of field by not winding ISO down to 50 or less. Plus a lot of work with PSE 2022 once home!

I used 1/125th of a second and I need to come down to 1/60th. And next time I think I'll up the zoom from 100 mm to get just the loco and part of the tender; today's photo has been croppped a fair bit.

The location is good, but the only useable shots today are beyond where there is no lineside vegetation.

Bryan B

 

I’ve beaten it on the return journey from Shakespeare Cliff (I think you were there at the time to Dunton Green but the M20 was covered at somewhat more than the statutory speed limit!

 

Panning is one of the hardest shots to do successfully, it needs a slow shutter speed and a steady hand. I usually use 1/30th for a train doing a decent speed and use continuous shutter release holding down the button and hoping for the best.

 

There was a track circuit failure between Faversham and Selling.

Cheers, Neil

 

My pic of it passing Clapham High Street this morning just as a rogue cloud passed over

https://flic.kr/p/2qUuwNm

 

I imagine we must be close to a steam ban/curtailment across much of at least the southern half of the UK now, given the extremely dry weather. Is there any indication that the forthcoming Belmond trip (and others) are to be amended? Sorry if this has been asked elsewhere.

 

I don't think announced yet and they let the Castle run today without assistance.

 

From past occasions, it will depend on the view of individual routes, the weather reports and local assessments.
Of course Network Rail HQ could just impose a blanket restriction.
That could be steam but assisted, steam as a photogenic pilot loco or a complete steam traction ban.

Before anyone gets all excited, NR have to look after the 99.95% of train movements which are regular traffic, to avoid damage to infrastructure such as burnt signalling cables and avoid damage to 3rd party organisations like farmers crops or lineside properties.

Cheers, Neil

 

Agreed.

Lineside fires reported yesterday in the NW after 34067 and I think 60532.

And there have been two at least on the climb from Tonbridge through Hildenborough to the summit in the last week or so after 34046 and I think 35028 passed.

Even though I am a pure steam man, the sooner very significant diesel assistance is mandatory the better at present. Or the risk of a major fire could see a blanket ban; very bad indeed for the GB tour and other events too of course.

As for the British Pullman this coming week. Maybe it will run with a diesel on the back. But my understanding is that if a diesel is known to be there to be used without doubt, it has to be behind 35028 at the front. Open to correction there.

Bryan