Cathedrals Express to Bristol, Thu 23rd June, t0623a

I see this tour now has 70013 Oliver Cromwell in charge, rather than Bittern/DoNZ. Anyone know why? I'm not complaining - I like both locos. I did wonder if Bittern is going to Bristol at the weekend to cover The Torbay Express, since UKSteam is now showing this as "TBA".

BTW, the water stop on the down run is at Overton on this occassion, instead of the more usual Winchfield.

 

60019/4492, I believe, is having it's annual exam at the moment.

 

Does anyone know of any good spots I could photograph this in the Bath area on the outward run?

 

Corston, along the A4

 

Claverton. From the K&A canal. Approx 1 mile after Bathampton Jn. Very nice. <BJ>

 

One of my "normally reliable" sources tells me that the outward trip has been accellerated slightly, compared with what's currently on UKsteam.info. The Overton water stop is reduced to just 10 mins, departing 1201 (not 1206). Arrival at Salisbury is 11 minutes sooner at 1229 (not 1240). Departure from Salisbury is 4 minutes earlier at 1244, and so are all passing times to Bath (d1346) and on to Bristol (a1406).

As far as I can see, the return times are as shown on UKsteam.info.

My source has commented that some of the sectional times look a little optimistic. For example, Warminster - Westbury is 4.75 miles, and there are various speed limits on Upton Scudamore bank and over the junctions at the bottom, yet just 5 mins is allowed for this section.

We could be in for some brisk running tomorrow.

 

ukstream has these updated times now:
http://www.uksteam.info/tours/t11/t0623a.htm

Richard

 

4 minutes down at Byfleet Junction and working hard. Music to the ears!

 

Some really good updates coming through the system today for this tour.

 

Going like the proverbial clappers on the fast line through Fleet. Truly a sight to behold, not to mention hear. I wa shooting into the sun, but got some reasonable piccies. There are three in my Flickr Photostream, http://www.flickr.com/photos/train-pix/; this is the first one :

http://www.flickr.com/photos/train-pix/5863186224/in/photostream

I shall look forward to seeing other peoples' pictures as the day progresses.

 

Here's my video of her running strongly through Deepcut, accelerating after her stop at Brookwood about 2 miles before:

[video=youtube;n9z_0nl9thQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9z_0nl9thQ[/video]

 

Hush...no box on the back either..perhaps we are entering a new era..
Saw it go throu; the Staines area,Ah! the day's of steam expresses.

Let's hope we can get all the other engines running shortly to retain our faith in our engines,and thanks to all those engineers that beaver away to keep our dreams alive.Good luck to you.

I should know the backbreaking work that goes in keeping steam in existence coming from a GWR railway family of boiler makers,drivers,firemen,gas fitters,upholstery makers etc. dating back to Brunel's days.

Steam in the blood as it were.

 

..is the barracks still there,Steve..by this bridge.
If so it brought back a few memories of an escape route.
Nice vid.

 

through Woking this morning, could be heard for a long time after it had passed and sounded lovely

http://www.flickr.com/photos/matthewtomsphotography/5862785451/in/photostream

http://www.flickr.com/photos/matthewtomsphotography/5863335340/in/photostream/

 

Nice one Steve. I thought about going there but decided on Fleet instead. It was on the fast line by then.

Ron.

 

Yes, Pirbright Camp and Deepcut Barracks are nearby, you can see them on Google Earth in this link: http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&ll=51.300999,-0.686259&spn=0.025356,0.066047&layer=t&t=h&z=15

And there's always a lot of army gunfire coming from the surrounding woods!

 

Nice pics Matt and Ron, thanks. She did look very splendid today!

 

Thanks,Steve.
Remember that bridge well while serving there with the R.A.O.C.(now under new title)
I looked over and thought of home....Brookwood being the nearest station to civilisation.

 

My vid of her whistling through Andover. We were highly fortunate she wasn't a few seconds even later (as she was running 10mins late) as the 2001 to Salisbury was in on my platform & would have blocked my view.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GffuaR6j4Hg

This is my you tube description of the video:
Apologies for the short & shaky video. This is due to the highly inconsiderate people who not only turned up at the last minute & chatted away very loudly, but who also suddenly decided to wreck the shots of those of us who had been in position for a good 15mins or so all nicely spaced out, by moving in to our field of view thus I certainly had to move when 70013 was already in view. I was fuming & I made it obvious to them, hence I had to cut out the start of my video - they weren't exactly spring chickens either so they should have known better!!!!!!

 

70013 seen on the outskirts of Egham http://stephenleek.smugmug.com/Rail...Steam-2011/17580045_BxQB2R#1351413957_bzHJfNC

Also seen approx 5 mins earlier 35028 Clan Line out on a test run ?? http://stephenleek.smugmug.com/Rail...Steam-2011/17580045_BxQB2R#1351414609_jhrdNfs