St David's Day Special - Victoria to Cardiff - March 1st - 70013

I think the "benchmark" is 6' 0'' driving wheels, ie 6' 0'' & lower-60mph & above 6' 0''-75mph. Std 5 4-6-0's have 6' 2'' driving wheels. I know there is a lower limit for the likes of 8f 's & pannier tanks etc.

 

Hope its agood trip and that the 5 gives a nice loud account of itself to the enjoyment of all, the speed things probably been done to death on another thread some where / or it soon will be...

 

Any news yet this morning? Did she leave Victoria on time? Just off to near Hulavington in the hope of a break in the clouds (as if!) TIA
(And yes, I have subscribed to t0301a in Rail Tours Live, so there will be at least one update on that service today...)

 

Reported past Egham pretty much on time, 44932, load 12 plus 47500. The 47 reported as just "ticking over" rather than "pushing" at that point.

A substantial load for a "5".

 

Through Tilehurst at 1051 on the main.

 

On time passing Sunningdale and looked superb coming around the bend at speed. As for the Class 47, I am afraid it was not just "ticking over" but giving one hell of a shove up to Ascot which is stark comparison with the last time I saw 45231 at this point on icy rails in December with no diesel attached, when she stalled at the top of the climb. On that occasion in a blizzard, the black 5 managed to pull its 12 coach train unassisted away from Ascot on the climb to Martins Heron in magnificent style with no hint of a slip in the worse possible conditions for any loco and some of the best steam driving I have ever witnessed. It was truly magnificent. Today, as at Sunningdale, the Class 47 was working hard away from Ascot at the back of the train.

So what is my point? Clearly the diesel was under instructions to push on hills, steep or otherwise, and away from station stops. In other words, much like steam/diesel combinations in the hot "fire risk" summer period (remember 5029 Nunney Castle last year and the uproar that caused).

Question is, would a diesel have been attached if Oliver Cromwell was attached? Or even Tangmere for that matter? If not, then why today?

 

..because a Black 5 is less powerful and has a 60mph limit? Like it or not, delays cost money and damage the image of 21st century mainline steam - risking it on such a long run is not a viable option if they have a choice, and cancelling at short notice when the vast majority wont mind or even notice is hardly a wise move either. Personally, if the steam loco is being worked just as hard as it would without help from the back, i can live with it.

Chris

 

12 plus the 47 is equal to what? 14? so clearly overloaded for a Black 5 on other than relatively level track, however that apart, if the diesel keeps costs down by assisting with stock moves at each end of the trip, assists on adverse gradients as required, and is--for the authorities--a bit of insurance against issues like "bad coal", poor railhead conditions and the like, then it would appear to be worthwhile.
No doubt on open track, ie coming back down the GW mainline, the diesel crew will be happy to sit back and let the steam crew have a go.

 

I know the 47 assisting is not ideal, but what else were WCRC meant to do without a suitable class 7/8 availible at short notice ?.

 

Any updates

I only get an hour for lunch (I work in Cardiff)

 

I saw it three times this morning, and the way it seemed to me was that the diesel was just ticking over at Bracknell, was giving a bit of a push on just after Didcot, and didn't seem to be working at Uffington.

The December trip was a great driver performance, and entertaining viewing, but the train did not run to time and caused lots of problems if I remember right.

Two weeks ago with a lighter train 44932 was allowed unassisted on the White Cliffs trip, (after being assisted out of Victoria) so I guess they do the risk assessment case-by-case taking the load into account, and today the answer was it would need a bit of shoving to keep to time. Which it was doing. Also, maybe the diesel's needed to turn the train before the return? I don't know the answer to that.

 

She was bang on time through severn tunnel junction, making some nice noises pulling up the bank from the tunnel.

 

I was sending my updates in from the trackside via RailTour Live. That's the best way to be sure of getting instant updates

Anyway, hope you saw it OK!

 

Filmed it at Cardiff Central at lunchtime, and just a few mins east of Cardiff Central on the return, when the 47 was working hard, presumably accelerating it to its maximum speed as soon as possible.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HHRDrxOFeQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQxGDV6cAhE

 

Here's my video from today, 3 different locations:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTag166Gq10

 

44932 looked and sounded superb this morning, being worked hard away from Challow. Both it and 47500 (formerly the green 'Great Western') at the rear, working hard to get the train up to its 60mph max speed as quickly as possible. Plain fact is I very much doubt Network Rail would have countenanced an unassisted class 5 on load 12 down the GWML on a weekday - it's not just the 60mph max speed but the slow acceleration profile to get there especially on the gently rising gradients heading west, when just about everything else is running at twice the speed.... Didn't matter at all - it sounded superb!

 

Loved it! Is the music there to drown out the diesel?

 

I was on this tour 2 years ago hauled by 70013. I think the load was similar & it ran unassisted. The only differences were, it ran on a Sunday & it terminated at Newport (the original destination was Cardiff). 70013 put up a magnificent performance. If you search Youtube, you will find some videos of the event.