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RTC: End of Southern Steam - 9/07/26

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by Gladiator 5076, Jun 30, 2026.

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  1. green five

    green five Resident of Nat Pres

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    Looks like the Bluebell has something special lined up for June next year......
    This arrived in my emails today: Screenshot_20260709-225118.jpg

    Sent from my XQ-BT52 using Tapatalk
     
    green five, Jul 9, 2026 at 10:56 PM
    #41
    John Petley, misspentyouth62, The Gricing Owl and 2 others like this.
  2. TH Railway Videos

    TH Railway Videos Member

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    1 year short of the Diamond Jubilee since the end, the not quite 150ton headboard carrier (no complaints on that one!) gets a tried to show it’s sound whilst getting a push on the return leg back to the Captial
    Seen at Parkstone, Winchester & Woking
     
    Last edited: Jul 10, 2026 at 6:57 AM
    TH Railway Videos, Jul 10, 2026 at 5:39 AM
    #42
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  3. 2857Harry

    2857Harry Well-Known Member

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    Surely the golden jubilee was 9 years ago, and 1 year short of the diamond?
     
    2857Harry, Jul 10, 2026 at 6:53 AM
    #43
  4. TH Railway Videos

    TH Railway Videos Member

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    Thanks for the clarification, the early wake up for work got to me!
     
    TH Railway Videos, Jul 10, 2026 at 6:57 AM
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  5. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    I notice that the 18.20 SWR service from Weymouth to Waterloo was cancelled and started at Dorchester much later where it had terminated outbound. That gave the charter an exit slot from Weymouth and a path home.

    Sometimes, behind the scenes, NR signallers do clever things.
     
    Big Al, Jul 10, 2026 at 9:33 AM
    #45
  6. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Are they rules every other TOC seems to have diesels at the back.
     
    Gladiator 5076, Jul 10, 2026 at 10:43 AM
    #46
  7. Deepgreen

    Deepgreen Well-Known Member Friend

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    Well, not THAT clever, really - just filling an empty slot is not rocket science, unless signallers these days are expected to be just automatons... I have heard no reports of air-con failure for the passengers, so that must be a relief. Surprised to hear talk, though, of some effort from '28 at times - why? Why would the risk be taken of line-side fire when '28 just taking its own weight plus a coach or two would still give the 47 plenty of scope to keep time. Much though I love to see steam working on the main line, I can't see why such risks would be taken which just increases the chance of problems/further steam restrictions.
     
    Deepgreen, Jul 10, 2026 at 10:53 AM
    #47
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  8. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Resident of Nat Pres

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    The whole line was in its usual meltdown yesterday afternoon with some signalling issue (again!) I was told. Although RTT lists a host of reasons culminating in a track circuit failure.
    You only have to look at the service through Dorchester to see that. Trains turned around short all over the place.
    Whilst I was just south to Dorchester Junction waiting to photograph the tour I should have seen at least 4 trains go both in and out of Weymouth, I actually saw two go in and one come out. One of those was over an hour late.
    https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/se...26-07-09/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt

    I suspect the slot the tour used had nothing to do with NR signallers, other than them finding it a slot.
     
    Gladiator 5076, Jul 10, 2026 at 10:53 AM
    #48
  9. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Resident of Nat Pres

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    I guess we we have another heatwave in 2027 that could be a couple of 33's a green 47 and the 4VEP. Dirty up Archie and make out the yard is Nine Elms. :)
     
    Gladiator 5076, Jul 10, 2026 at 11:16 AM
    #49
  10. banana patch

    banana patch Member

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    Despite being pushed by a 47 and sitting in an air conditioned coach all day and only having just over an hour at Weymouth I felt it was as good as it was ever going to be. Who of those that can remember 9th July 1967 would believed on 9thJuly 2026 a Merchant Navy would still be backing onto a train at Weymouth and taking it onto Waterloo!! Maybe we should just be grateful for what have still got
     
    banana patch, Jul 10, 2026 at 11:29 AM
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  11. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Resident of Nat Pres

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    A few images from yesterday. It was really only the novelty of the 33 hauling the loco and support coach that got me any further than Wareham, and the fact I could combine it with the return leg of the Statesman trip without having to go out twice.
    Also there are very few places where you can get on the same side of the line as the sun that late in the day.
    These are from Winterborne Herrington just south of Dorchester Junction. DSC_0499r.JPG DSC_0508r.JPG DSC_0511_1r.JPG DSC_0499r.JPG DSC_0508r.JPG DSC_0511_1r.JPG
     
    Gladiator 5076, Jul 10, 2026 at 11:37 AM
    #51
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  12. Johnb

    Johnb Nat Pres stalwart

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    Best comment so far. When I walked round Nine Elms on 10th July 67 with some engines still showing pressure on the gauge there was no way would I have thought we would be where we are now. Well done to NR, RTC and MNLPS for making it happen in the prevailing conditions. It’s also worth noting that the support crew and other helpers spent the previous day in a hot shed making the engine look as immaculate as it always does,
     
    Johnb, Jul 10, 2026 at 1:10 PM
    #52
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