Cathedrals Express with 4492: Surrey Hills-Guildford-Chippenham-Bristol 26th May

Steventon is just over 3 miles to the west of Didcot. The train would have passed Didcot at approx 19:31, just about half an hour late. <BJ>

 

Frustrating day yesterday - plenty of sun about, but not when 4492 passed my locations. Here are my 'shots' from yesterday at Guildford and Bath on the way out, and at Twerton and Wokingham on the return leg.

 

I was on the train - it lost time mainly between Bath and Wootton Bassett. Then having been delayed, the water stop at Wantage Road was extended a bit due to the need to wait for another clear path. It was about 30 minutes down at Reading. Arrival at Victoria was only 20 minutes late despite some trickly moments where the loco slipped several times on Gomshall bank but eventually managed to crawl up to the top. Overall a pretty good run so well done to everyone.

 

Some photographs form Bath.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/16582147@N07/sets/72157626816779000/

 

Yesterday was a waste of a College day where we couldn't do anything because of a competition. Had I known this before hand I would have gone a bit further up to Redhill to see her. Guess I'll have to wait until July to see her. Is she always going to run with the second tender now though. Hope not but looks like she might with some of her tours coming up.

Great pictures Brunel. The one of her passing the cathedral is beautiful.

 

video clip from Bath.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaWU__4oI6g

 

Rubbish! You obviously haven't heard what the GW footplate inspector said as 60033 arrived at Paddington during the 1948 exchanges. "Gentlemen, we have nothing to touch this engine." His comment was referring to the A4's imperious climb of Hemerdon earlier that day. In fact Sir Nigel Gresley designed them with hill climbing in mind as he realised that the secret of fast schedules was not dashing downhill but climbing gradients at speed. There are many, many instances of A4 climbing ability both pre and post preservation. Far too many to list here. Like all locos though they can suffer from bad rail conditions.

 

I see, you base your opinion on one trip in the late 70's then.

Nothing like having reasoned evidence behind an opinion then!

 

From my experience of railtours A4's are pretty good hill climbers. 60007 and 60019 have proved to be very good although my experiences with 60009 have shown her to be a "little light on her feet". It all depends on the track conditions on the day. As we waited at North Camp I did say to my Father "the crew are going to have a challenge on Gomshall bank with that load in these conditions" as the rain passed in light showers. A few years ago 34067 made a lot of fuss climbing Gomshall bank from Redhill and struggled along causing severe delays.