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The Mayflower - 6/09/25

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by Big Al, Sep 2, 2025.

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  1. NathanP

    NathanP Well-Known Member

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    Yes. As we ran along the sea wall between the Warren and Dawlish we could see the other train approaching the rockfall shelter further around the coast.
     
    NathanP, Sep 6, 2025 at 2:59 PM
    #61
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  2. meiga

    meiga New Member

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    7029 Clun Castle and 45596 Bahamas at Durston with The Mayflower en route to Plymouth 7029-Clun-Castle-and-45596-Bahamas-at-Durston--with-The-Mayflower-en-route-to-Plymouth.jpg
     
    meiga, Sep 6, 2025 at 4:28 PM
    #62
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  3. meiga

    meiga New Member

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    7029 Clun Castle and 45596 Bahamas at Norton Fitzwarren with The Mayflower en route to Plymouth 7029-Clun-Castle-and-45596-Bahamas-at-Norton-Fitzwarren-with-The-Mayflower-en-route-to-Plymouth.jpg
     
    meiga, Sep 6, 2025 at 4:30 PM
    #63
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  4. dublo6231

    dublo6231 Member

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    Back to the tour - 25mph minimum going up Hemerdon
     
    dublo6231, Sep 6, 2025 at 4:58 PM
    #64
  5. andyjhatton

    andyjhatton New Member

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    Not going to win any photography awards
     

    Attached Files:

    andyjhatton, Sep 6, 2025 at 7:19 PM
    #65
    green five, alts1985 and David likes trains like this.
  6. Charles Smythe

    Charles Smythe New Member

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    Charles Smythe, Sep 6, 2025 at 7:47 PM
    #66
  7. Charles Smythe

    Charles Smythe New Member

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    Clun Castle looking absolutely fantastic this morning at Powderham footbridge. The run up Hemerdon and her departure from Exeter both sounded excellent, a real sharp bark from her chimney.

    Well done Vintage Trains for maintaining her and keeping her in such immaculate condition.
    IMG_0544.jpeg IMG_0542.jpeg
     
    Charles Smythe, Sep 6, 2025 at 7:55 PM
    #67
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  8. horace

    horace Member

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    horace, Sep 6, 2025 at 8:21 PM
    #68
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  9. andyjhatton

    andyjhatton New Member

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    Coach P, on the approach to Taunton
     
    andyjhatton, Sep 6, 2025 at 8:36 PM
    #69
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  10. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    So coming home from Plymouth started with a crazy bit of train planning and we never looked back after that.

    Although the locos were ready to join the train a long time before departure. NR thought that to give ten minutes for the locos to transfer from one platform to the train, couple up and carry out a brake test was plenty of time. There were other slots available but this was the chosen one. Not enough time as we all know.

    Despite a slick operation we left eight late and that put us in the wrong place along the line. Combine that with some indifferent train regulation behind stoppers etc and we ended up 25 late at Bristol.

    A good day nevertheless. Clun and Bahamas were faultless and the crews pushed us along when given the chance.
     
    Big Al, Sep 6, 2025 at 8:56 PM
    #70
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  11. beavis

    beavis New Member

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    IMG_20250906_121000577~3.jpg 5029 with a train for Kingswear, and........in the distance, 7029 and 45596 with a Plymouth Express. Summer Saturday in the West. September 2025.
     
    beavis, Sep 6, 2025 at 9:11 PM
    #71
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  12. dublo6231

    dublo6231 Member

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    Can anyone confirm the footplate crews on today’s tour please?
    Saw Andy, Alastair and Sam manning Clun but not sure of any others/from the Jubilee?
    Thanks in advance
     
    dublo6231, Sep 6, 2025 at 9:27 PM
    #72
  13. dg5437

    dg5437 New Member

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    There was another loco on the train.........
     
    dg5437, Sep 6, 2025 at 9:30 PM
    #73
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  14. Charles Smythe

    Charles Smythe New Member

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    I know there was.
     
    Charles Smythe, Sep 6, 2025 at 9:45 PM
    #74
  15. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Kevin Cronin was on Bahamas and Andy Taylor on Clun.
     
    Big Al, Sep 6, 2025 at 9:57 PM
    #75
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  16. Charles Smythe

    Charles Smythe New Member

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    I can only imagine how much of an amazing experience it must be to drive Clun Castle on the mainline, what a privilege it must be.
     
    Charles Smythe, Sep 6, 2025 at 10:18 PM
    #76
  17. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    It's amazing that people are driving any steam engine on the main line in 2025. To single out any particular one is a tad unnecessary.
     
    Big Al, Sep 6, 2025 at 10:56 PM
    #77
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  18. 2857Harry

    2857Harry Well-Known Member

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    He’s already made it perfectly clear the Jubilee is such a poor engine, not a patch on the castle, blah blah blah.

    Think it every much a shame 7029 lead both ways myself especially on 5596’s last trip out for a while on the mainline. I do think as always 5596 was turned out to perfection.
     
    2857Harry, Sep 6, 2025 at 11:01 PM
    #78
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  19. 2857Harry

    2857Harry Well-Known Member

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    Well said, and it’s not often we agree!

    It is an absolute privilege that we get any mainline steam almost 60 years on since it should have ended. We all have a favourite, but singling it out so obviously as is being done is completely unnecessary and untasteful. If I was a member of the 5596 group reading this I’d wonder what we’d done so badly!!

    But if we are playing the which is better game, 5043 is to me a better loco than 7029 anyway!!
     
    2857Harry, Sep 6, 2025 at 11:05 PM
    #79
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  20. Charles Smythe

    Charles Smythe New Member

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    I only mentioned Clun Castle as it is the one in which I would prefer to ride on if given the chance, that's all.
    I am singling it out as that is the loco I am interested in. I singled out and only photographed Western Champion when it came to Devon in May as that is the loco I like and wasn't particuarly interested in the 37 on the rear as I prefer Westerns to 37's, it's just a preferance.

    Interesting, what makes you say that you prefer 5043? I only prefer 7029 as Grandad pictures of it 'back in the day' so that's how the interest in that loco came about for me. Ultimately 6024 is the pinnacle of the GWR but that's taking a while but patience is a virtue and I am sure we will see it out soon.
     
    Charles Smythe, Sep 6, 2025 at 11:18 PM
    #80
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