TORBAY EXPRESS 2011 Season

Waterside bend is turning into a bit of a wet weather proving ground!

 

Interesting that they didn't use the rat. I thought that was standard issue on non 4-6-0 hauled TE's (also because it helps a lot with shunting stock at Kingswear) Look forward to a vid of the Manor banking the Duke!

 

Stu,
From what I'm told 7800 left the 1215 from Paignton at Goodrington station, and went forward light engine to Waterside in order to bank the Torbay Express to Churston. Returning to Goodrington for it's train.

Waterside bend at the top of Goodrington bank is certainly a stiff test, especially in the wet, and when the loco's driving wheels hit the right hander on the approach to Broadsands viaduct.

Interestingly, many locos have now failed (at times) to surmount Goodrington bank unassisted with the Torbay Express, including 34067 (9/9/07), 60009 (21/8/05) & 71000 (12/6/11) as well as 6024 on one occasion (4/9/05), though, the King did managed to negotiate the bend after 10 minutes of trying.

The railways' 2-8-0 tanks on the other hand have been seen taking 12 to the top in heavy rain without much problem.

Smaller driving wheels of course.

Regards
Steve

 

Just had tex from some body on trip DOG has failed in tiverton loop

 

Oh dear, another cracking weekend for steam then.

Hopefully all is not too bad with 71000 and that it's a minor issue if this is the case.

 

I've just quickly subscribed to this tour with Railtours Live, seems there have been no updates for this at all today?

 

Three reports so far but this problem has only just occured so don't shoot the messenger. <BJ>

1) DOG past Cullompton 19:01. Going very slowly. Sounds as if it's running on 2 cylinders only.

2) Duke in Tiverton loop reported a failure. Driver gone to pick up 47?

3) 47.815 en route 1Z99 Barton Hill to Tiverton loop to rescue 71000 which has failed on 1Z28 16:42 Kingswear to Bristol TM. Think they should give up on steam in the south-west.

 

Perhaps this sort of thing underlines the reasoning behind the lack of 4-6-2 wheel arrangement locos on GW metals in the south west with lots of curved/steep locations as well as demonstrating the sound Churchward reasoning behing the choice of 4' 7" & 5' 8" wheels for everyday workhorse locos in that area.

 

I saw 71000 on the return today (it was sunny in Exeter, not so at Dawlish Warren...)

Pictures at http://www.flickr.com/photos/24236352@N02/sets/72157626821313035/

 

212 late away from Tiverton. Maybe Auntie Allison had a point back in the day.........

 

Hope the failure isn't too serious,certainly managed to keep to the steam timings beyond Tiverton it would seem (with the Taunton water stop missed out). Last report I saw was 23:29 at WSM.

Such a shame,was going great guns through Dawlish in both directions.

47 went light south at 21:01 through Worle at a fair old pace,didn't do bad to say the steam driver didn't head north to pick it up until 19:30.




Cheers,
Mark

 

Of course she did, they should have had the 47 in the consist anyway, save all of the delays to people who actually need to get places.

 

Seemed everyone was more interested in receiving the updates rather then posting the updates.

 

And what guarantees the 47 wouldn't fail? Last time I went on a steam tour that suffered a failure it was the "performance guarantee" Class 47 on the back.

 

Evidently something broke in the drive chain which operates the left hand and middle cylinder cam boxes, leaving the Duke struggling along on just one cylinder. This happened at speed somewhere between Stoke Canon and Hele, but the Duke managed to limp along as far as Tiverton Loop where it was declared a failure. My commiserations go to all the Duke team and the train crews. Arrival back at Taunton with diesel pilot 47815 'Great Western' was 3.5 hours late. So it was a case of Great Western to the rescue twice in one day !

David

 

Look what happened on the recent 34067 Lincoln trip with the 37? Admittedly 34067 suffered a hot box later although it was questioned whether it was related to the 37 incident. Several years ago a 31 caused havoc on a Weymouth steam trip, brakes again I think.

 

Thank you for the explanation. Unfortunately it seems 2 railtours arrived home between 2-4 hours late this weekend.

 

Nothing new there I have subscribed to most tours out of Bristol since the start of Railtours Live and only get updates from DAWLISH usually.