Sat 11-Jun THE WELSHMAN

Any news on progress up Filton Bank? Is the train going on to Cardiff or is it being dragged back to Bristol?

 

Reported to be on it's way to CDF @ 13:26

 

Just read this on SWGD from Free2grice.

Re: Tangmere

Sorry. Wishful thinking. Posted 13:21. <BJ>

>> Tangmere now under way en route to Cardiff.
>
> Posted 11:21. <BJ>

 

Train rescued by the 47 that hauled the charter this morning from Padd - Bristol Parkway. Severe delays in the area. I have a report that says that there is nothing wrong with Tangmere and the train will leave Cardiff this evening unassisted, departing normal time. We shall see. <BJ>

 

From wnxx,passed Pilning 109' late.
Colin

 

Lucky 47500 was in the area - presumably from working the diesel sections of the Cathedrals Express to Shrewsbury today. Which makes me wonder what would happen in a case like this if there wasn't a spare diesel in the area? West Coast don't exactly have a large fleet - would they get something from DBS at Barton Hill to help? Unfortunately incidents like this support the case for diesels being attached to the rear of trains which most of us plainly don't want to see.

 

DBS and Freightliner locos are forever based in the Bristol area on a weekend. The problem comes when finding available crews to assist in a breakdown situation. <BJ>

 

The 47 and 34067 on Filton Bank

 

And in todays modern railway it will have to be just accepted.
I expect that those 1,000's of passengers who have been disrupted wish that there had been a diesel as part of the train...

Welcome to todays railways........remember its not the 1950's...

 

In the 1950s a class 7 loco wouldn't have been expected to drag that size train up Filton Bank without a banker.

 

Tangmere reported running light engine from Cardiff Central to Canton depot at 16:33. Oh dear. <BJ>

 

The problem with a train running from Bath to Cardiff without stopping at Bristol TM is that the train has to join the Bristol to S. Wales mainline at Dr. Days Jn at a very slow speed. Today, by the time all 11 coaches of the charter had cleared the junction, Tangmere would have been well into the start of the climb before it could begin to accelerate. <BJ>

 

What is the gradient at Filton?

 

Any news on the progress of this tour?

 

1 in 75 for just over 2 miles.

 

Filton bank is 1 in 75. Upton Scudamore this evening (or overnight?) is 1 in 70. <BJ>

 

We gave up at Pengam at 1720 - no sign of tour - diesel or steam!

 

This has been done to death! But for the umpteenth time, no there doesn't HAVE to be a diesel on the back if the loco is not overloaded for the route and conditions.

 

34067 reported moving around the shed at Canton 17:55. There could be two steam trains within
a few minutes of eachother hauling charters through the Severn Tunnel later this evening. <BJ>

 

@ Enterprise.

Lighter load equals less pax equals loss of revenue equals higher fares all round. You takes your choice.

Dave B