6024 on VSOE to Bristol, 14 July

Sorry for all those who got wet waiting for the return working. It was me they were waiting for!
Got to Salisbury on the Portsmouth Cardiff train and that's where we stayed.
I had heard early about the fatality near Codford due to standing behind the driver in the first gangway.
Train was terminated around 1455. Got onto our control who arranged for a taxi.
Over 40 mins later it turned up! They don't hurry themselves in Wiltshire.
No chance of getting to Bristol so we elected Bath. We estimated I would get there around 1645.
Now this is after the departure time from Bristol, Network rail control would not allow the train to depart Bristol until they knew I was at Bath. This is because they did not wish for the train to be standing at Bath with no driver if I was delayed further. We had mobile phone communication between Myself, Bristol Panel Box (who I kept aware of my progress) and the train. Things started moving as I arrived into Bath around 1640, although it was to take me nearly 15 mins to do one mile in the city. There was a further problem at the Bristol end, although I am not to sure what it was, but the net result was to let the London up in front of the train first.
This put us 25 mins or so down from Bath. Pushed her a bit more than I would normally do to try and get some time back, thankfully Dave Proctor (my Fireman) was more than able to keep up with the demands of the boiler.
We were booked to stop at Swindon for a pathing stop for seven minutes, cut this down to a brief stop to drop Bob Cotterill off (he had worked the train from Bristol), this saved a few more minutes.
Then, as they say, the luck started to come in.
We were just ready to go when a HST went flashing past, tucked in behind it. Caught it up briefly at Didcot, but it was soon gone.
This enabled us a 'Main line' run down to Reading, checked there while a HST pulled away for London. Now only 15 mins down. Left Reading on Yellows on the Up Main, would we go over at Twyford? Nope, Reading panel keep us on the main, nice chaps! That saves us a 30mph at Twyford and another at Maidenhead, more minutes saved.
Now running mile after mile at 74mph, what would Slough panel do with us!
They and Slough new did us proud, main line all the way. Brief check at Airport junction as a Heathrow express went up in front of us, but this only brought us down to 60 or so. Eight minutes early into Paddington.
An earlier thread mentioned about empty coaches, the baulk of the passengers got off/on at Bath.
I had the opportunity to natter to a number of them whilst waiting at Bath, including an ex nine Elms driver.

 

Should had proof read this first! Hst went 'flashing past' at the water stop at Wantage road.

 

Just a couple more facts about the return:

The loco and train returned to BTM a few minutes down after being delayed at signals at the west end but was held until 1702 (booked off at 1640) after the departure of a Paddington HST, to ensure the relief driver had arrived at Bath.

BTM to Bath start to stop 11.5 miles 21 minutes (booked 16 minutes)
Bath to Wantage Road start to stop 46.3 miles 61 minutes (booked 66 minutes)
Wantage Road to Paddington start to stop 60.4 miles 59 minutes (booked 93 minutes)

After 22 minute late departure BTM, arrival in Paddington was about 8 minutes early. Net actual running time for the 118 miles was 139 minutes (booked running time 169 minutes). Water used was 2,750 gallons to Wantage Road, 2,250 gallons to Paddington. Loaded train weighed about 530 tons. We were told there were six unsold seats. Minimum speed up Dauntsey bank 47 mph. No doubt someone could work out the drawbar horsepower but at times it probably was near a King's maximum.

6024 Preservation Society Limited.

 

Many thanks for that great description of your part of the day Wayne.

I suppose you don't know who the ex Nine Elms driver was do you?

 

Thanks for the info Wayne, very interesting.

Despite getting a soaking, I for one was glad you were 15 minutes late just past Twyford, as if you'd have been on time, you'd have arrived right in the middle of the heaviest rainstorm when the rain was coming horizontally across the track, I'd have still been hiding under my brolly and my camera would have been in my pocket trying to stay dry! As it was the rain had passed and it was great to see you running fast up the Main, particularly with that fine set of stock.

 

Sorry Bryan, brain not as good as it used to be. He did mention it briefly, but its lost in the grey matter!
What I do remember was he started at Bricklayers Arms, was on Hither Green's books for a week before transferring to Nine elms when the arms shut in 62. Then up to Waterloo in 67, where I recall him from.

 

Any idea what the problem was on the outward journey nr Uffington?

 

Slight carry-over of water after the Challow stop, so to be safe the crew took it easy until after Swindon to ensure no damage (no damage seemed to be confirmed by the spirited running on the return we believe!)

 

How do I put this !
Has it ever accrued to you that some of us are not supposed to have are mobiles on at work, Ok yes I have mine on silent, but wouldn't be able to keep looking at the text's !
But I can look at the internet whenever I want with in reason, which is how I know where the train is or it's running late.
I can then pop out down the road to see what ever is coming through. Also I can check on posts while I'm out as I get free internet on my mobile.
When I have ever look at the RailTours Live page it doesn't seem to update till after the event !
Seems that may be the text system works for some & not for others.
Think if I were to registers I'd post on both & look at both just in case, as last night I got in from work with 15mins to spare but by looking at the posts I knew it was 30mins down.

 

Wayne

Thanks for your report on the return journey yesterday, 6024 looked & sound in fine fettle as it passed me & a couple of others in Sonning Cutting.
We were on Duffield Road Bridge by Sonning Golf Course the whistle you gave us added to the video I took.
Shame when I travelled behind 6024 from Minehead the other week we didn't get the main out of Reading !

Also thanks to the 6024 society for there report.

Cheers
Rich

 

Just seen 6024 with support coach running
about 25mins early coming out of Sonning Cutting
going to Yeovil !

 

Yes Alan. A non stop Basingstoke to Woking with no crossovers and other checks could get a start to stop time of circa 22 mins with the 75 mph limit! A good old fashioned even time start to finish run, (its 23.5 miles), over a stretch of line that saw so many such runs in the 1960s. And Wayne and co have showed with 35028 that, up to the 75 mph limit, they can emulate anything done in the 1960s and with much heavier loads these days. The fast run to Woking in May this year was a wonderful reminder of so many such runs I timed in the 1960s.

 

Wayne Good to see an Eastleigh man having a good run up the Western Main line at last ! Even if it had to be on a GWR loco. David.

 

Video of 6024 arriving into Paddington... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8RMOV9R-Kw