THE CATHEDRALS EXPRESS - THURS 29TH JULY

Unfortunately fate has conspired against me and I won't be going to see her at Sole St. Hopefully somebody will be there getting video of it.

My video of her rolling through Otford has just gone up and I've got a little happy snap too:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwdVocwVKSQ
http://www.flickr.com/photos/spinner673/4840104181/

 

Despite the dull weather, (although the sun did try to appear), I went out to see 44932 top the summit of Sole Street Bank.

Yes. Can see why we used to call them "Black almost 6s". Lovely noise over the top with 12 cars and no box. Very difficult to estimate that sort of speed from the lineside, but close to 30 mph? After around 5 miles at mostly 1/100 and no chance of a run at the bank. Sounded wonderful as it went under the bridge I was on.

Maybe should have been on that train. Got put off by the 60 mph speed limit that somehow applies to the class. (My best in steam days was 90 mph).

Took a decent camera this time, (my Nikon D80).

 

Well, against the odds I got to Sole St with moments to spare, I'd just set down my tripod when somebody shouted out "She's coming" as Bryan said she was making an excellent noise. I'll reupload my video later this evening. After seeing 44932 I got home to some very pretty Alfa Romeos posed outside the pub, which was a nice end to the day.

 

Glad you got there Matt. Looking forward to the video.

Was that "very pretty Bavarian Serving Wenches" outside the pub that you saw? Only you have to use code to avoid trouble with someone! LOL!

 

Have uploaded a video of the train at Swanley both this morning and this evening, along a clip of with Tornado a few weeks back...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ceMdH0AWEA

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pi62bJ_k6cQ New video up.

I tried to get photos of the "Pretty Alfa Romeos" but they gave me funny looks.

 

That did look and sound like a great performance from 44932 today, thanks for the videos. And nice pics, with both cameras, KentYeti. (Are you coming down for the Torbay Express next week, btw?)

I will definitely get out to see next week's Cathedrals Express with 44932, be nice to see her, might even head down to Sydney Gardens for the show!

 

Nice shot Bryan. Black Fives are never disappointing on the ML. Wonderful loco's. The 60mph speed limit for Black fives does seem to be rather "flexible" these days. IIRC Ian Riley tried to get his pair passed for 75mph but don't know what the outcome was. The few runs I have had with the class (45407, 45231 and 44871) in recent years have been very lively with one run deep in Southern territory producing a remarkable speed that we didn't expect on the day! It certainly got the timers checking their GPS equipment. Recently, as mentioned by Big Al, 44871 put in a spirited performance on the Swanage Belle on 31-5-10.

 

Where did you hear that ?, i remember being told Ian wanted to keep his (only 45407 at the time) at 60 so not to endure increased maintenence costs and increase failure risk, i know 45305 was tested up to 75MPH (Mike Notley recorded it at Dorridge at 75 (where i was standing that night ) in the mag a few years back) but it seems to have subsequenctly been running at 60.

I believe it was piston speed that was the reasoning for keeping them at 60, though im not 100% on that.

 

Matt,

I must have been standing opposite you at Sole Street when I took this!

 

Were you per chance in the yellowish top and taking video too?

 

No,

I was nearer to the London end of the Down Platform but closest of the group there to the chap in the yellow top - almost exactly opposite you. Funnily enough I cropped said person out of my picture!

 

I was told about the proposed 75mph running by someone in the business although I did hear about the wear and tear problems too and that the operators would stick to 60mph. I never heard what the outcome was though. Thanks for the info David regarding 45305. It must have been some sight and sound to see 45305 purring along at 75mph!

 

Did Ian Riley get special derogation for 76079 to run up to 60. Or did I dream that?

 

From memory, it was originally authorised to run at 60 with both DBS & WCRC, then NR wanted to change the rules to reflect wheel diameter which would of restricted 48151 to 35MPH and 76079 to 50MPH, WCRC however gained exemption to operate them at 50 & 60 respectively, neither are very likely to ever operate with DBS, but if they ever did, presumably the 35 & 50 limits would apply.

 

My Dad photted the Black 5 at Charing, but he's just looked up in his old notebook and seen that 44932 was one of a number of Black 5's that actually came down to Eastbourne in 1964. When the Glasgow-Eastbourne Car Sleeper service was diverted to Newhaven, the locomotives were serviced at Brighton before the return run. However, when Brighton depot closed in 1964 the locos were sent to Eastbourne for servicing. This arrangement produced an interesting number of visiting Midland Region engines which included Jubilee 45672 "Anson" of a class officially banned from Southern Region metals. So it would be great if Mr Riley and a railtour operator could run another excursion, but down here to the coast with 44932 this time, to recreate those days back in 1964. My Dad has some images of those Black 5's and Anson at Eastbourne Shed, but sadly not 44932. http://david422.fotopic.net/c1838732.html

 

Yeah they did. I've seen pictures of Black 5s, Jubilees and some others on the Brighton line working excursions so it wasn't uncommon for LMS locos to go to Sussex. Same for privately owned LNER locos 1247 in 1962,4472 in 1966 and 3442 in 1967.

 

Video of here departing Victoria in the morning, nothing really to shout home about... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyDV4XjohDE

 

I was at Victoria station watching the coaches moving then pushing the loco, seemed very odd.

Mike M. (70c )