Collett Double is now a Collett Single 18th June 2011

Hence the stop at Didcot! Please keep us posted up here I don't want to spend too long in a field in the dark!

By the way Ian thats a fantastic shot. Have yet to be brave enough to try a high speed pan myself!

 

Smashing photo Ian - a Castle at speed!! DH

 

Last thing I've seen reported is the DBS yard manager refusing to let 5043 into yard

 

HI all, newbie with my first post, I waited at the road bridge at wootton bassett junction until 18:45, I cannot believe I missed it! I think I saw the Bell thou

 

Bit of a farce really, surely they knew they'd stop at Didcot before they left Bristol. Someone could have been ready for them! I wonder if they have any coal? :wacko:

 

Well if they haven't left now they're screwed - in 10 minutes the line between Banbury and Leamington is shut until 14:15 tomorrow afternoon.

 

shame mate yep bell came though swindon station 10 mins later followed by 5043

you must have missed it by minutes :-(

she looked good shame it was not double headed

 

Through Hatton at 22:48 on her way home. Video up tomorrow. Night all!

 

South of Heyford on the outward. Obviously the sun appear a minute afterwards!


Passing Crofton, not quite in full sun.

 

yep absolutely gutted just consolin myself with some of the stunning pics on here. hopefully next time it will be double-headed. night all

 

After two weekends of disasters with steam railtours in the west country, from linside fires to locomotive failures and main lines at a standstill,
it was very pleasing yesterday to see two railtours hauled by 70013 and 5043 run without any major problems. Long may it continue. <BJ>

 

You should by now know that reports aren't always accurate as in this case. The problem was fairly simple. The relief coal didn't arrive at Bristol and the problem was flagged up to West Coast control and a solution involving going on to Didcot was determined. Roger Orchard at Didcot set up everything at his end, but unfortunately the duty DBS shunter at Didcot was required elsewhere in the district to meet DBS traffic commitments and this meant a wait until the EWS area manager very kindly came back in to carry out the necessary to get the loco on to Didcot GWS. This unfortunately caused a little bit of a wait until he turned up. Nevertheless the loco was got on and off Didcot including water, turning and coaling in a little over half an hour. We benefitted by being somewhat early at Didcot and by omitting the Oxford water stop, the train was not as late as may have been imagined, and was only about 19 minutes late back to Tyseley. We only had to put about a ton on at Didcot which covered us for getting back.

Grateful thanks have to be expressed to Roger Orchard at the GWS, Netwotrk Rail Swindon control for making the necessary rearrangements and Neil Moroney at DBS - without their help it would have been a different story, but it does show the wonderful co-operation that exists in the industry when problems occur.

Regards
Bob

 

Fantastic trip Yesterday, spent with other 'valley reprobates' in Premier Dining, a couple of shots from the day:

Departure from Bristol

Didcot, and the Evening quest for coal...

Hatton Bank, magical!

Solihull at the end of the day...

 

Some nice shots everyone. Here's my humble video offering from Warwick Parkway and Hatton.

[video=youtube;lSOeJK6VAvQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSOeJK6VAvQ[/video]

 

The departure from Bath was beautiful (new location for us), but the wind had got up and obliterated the sound track!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=In6cBRu8-9o

Video from earlier: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRjEMg3Ga90& (this time you can really hear the Castle at work)

 

great videos and pictures here a few i took just put them on you tube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fYD0IDkCSA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5bxh_nsooM

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

will post pics once i work out how to do it LOL !!

 

Here's a brief clip of her storming past Crofton in the morning, thanks to everyone else for some great pics and videos, mine's a very humble offering in comparison!

[video=youtube;aREA8vqI9w8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aREA8vqI9w8[/video]