TORBAY EXPRESS 2011 Season

Thank you all for putting me right on my post yesterday about supposed problems with locos pushing! I ws given the info by someone who I assumed knew what they were talking about, and was silly enough to take it as being true.

I stand corrected.

 

But try it with a model railway and things can change! A good test of how well you've laid the track etc is to do a good few circuits with loco pushing a good amount of stock around at maximum speed. I can report that my 1e gauge model passed that test very well!

 

Just one pic from me from this weekend, as below. Really good to see 71000 out, and a uniform set and a green diesel!

 

Your message was going so well (until the green ****** comment). <BJ>

 

But you have to admit it played the part of a green godess on this occasion, albeit with air and not water!

 

On this occasion the diesel certainly did keep the train on the move. Let's hope this coming weekend will be trouble free for our 3 west of England railtours. <BJ>

 

I see 71000 is now scheduled for this Sunday, a good decision I think given 6024 is running on Saturday now. I assume the air pump has been fixed?

Given the amount of rain we’ve had this week (and the forecast for Sunday) I would hope we will be going without the diesel. Load likely to be 10 coaches again? Looking forward to my first TE of the year…

 

I'm on this Sunday's run and looking forward to it. Would have preferred 6024 but at the end of the day as long as it is steam that's all that matters. My last run with 71000 was on a London to Weymouth run in 2005.

 

Might have a chance to see this Sunday's return run from Kingswear. I'm a bit of a novice at this sort of thing, but am I right in thinking the return to Bristol is tender-first?
Alan.

 

No, loco is turned prior to the return.

Dave B

 

I presume there's no turntable at Kingswear, so how far do they have to take the loco to turn it?
Alan.

 

The Paignton, Torbay, Dart Valley & Dartmouth Steam Railway, Riverboat and Bus Company have a turntable at Churston.

 

Thank you Malc and Dave B.

 

And 'yer it is in action.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9IyZ-aL6ys

 

Heavy rain all day tommorow. Good for operational reasons - not so good for the sea wall/Torbay views or trapsing round Dartmouth....

 

Yes, no beach Cricket or QuayWest for us tomorrow!

 

71000 'The Duke' away from Bristol TM on time, and unassisted!! in glorious summer conditions ......cold and wet. <BJ>

 

LOL!

Reminds me of a comment a top USA golfer is once said to have made after a British Open Golf tournament held in Scotland in July.

"Great tournament, superb location. But why do you guys always hold in it in mid winter?"

 

The Duke has slipped to a standstill on Waterside bend in torrential rail. Awaiting assistance by the looks of it.

Steve

 

7827 is buffering up to the rear 12:32 to assist.

The driver made a valiant effort with the Duke, but couldn’t quite make it.

Interestingly the Manor (which is still carrying 7800 plates) managed load 11 on Wednesday of this week, and tender first at that.
The difference was dry rails of course.

Cheers
Steve