Cathedrals Express to Weymouth Sat 9 July, t0709a

A quite outstanding day. Impossible to have thought all those years ago in 1967 we could possibly experience such running so far into the 21st century on today's incredibly busy SR.

But all those concerned in setting today up and operating it put themselves out a great deal to show it can still be done. Heartfelt thanks to you all.

A first brief and certainly not conclusive analysis shows that without all the inevitable checks the train would have bettered the old 2 hour express schedule to Southampton on the down run.

And allowing for the signal checks we encountered we may have got very close to meeting the old up ACE schedule from Salisbury. At least as far as Vauxhall, as in the early 1960s it was normal to get a very fast run in from there. Done today by a very good climb of Porton bank and then making full use of the 75 mph speed limit in between the various checks. A long signal stand within sight of Waterloo station being the final such check.

And yes, we did repeat the photo at Weymouth of the three of us whose photo on 8th July 1967 I posted earlier in this thread. John Tiley took the photo again today, as he did in 1967. I'll post it here when John sends me a copy.

 

...showing 3 mins Basingstoke to Farnborough!

Ah! I wondered who'd be the first to spot that!!

Which means that you were a minute early. I'm impressed. Very impressed. I shall record the fact on my Flickr caption.

 

For anyone who thinks I only appreciate ex SR locos, (how on earth could anyone get that idea?), the run behind 48151 was damn good as well. Fairly restrained up to Bincombe: cold engine etc I am sure. But I was at the rear of the tenth coach and the sound going up the climbs after Dorchester W...(sorry, my pc filters don't allow me to type a full word for anywhere off the SR), was truly wonderful.

I've put the Salisbury to Waterloo run onto a spreadsheet and done my first analysis. Even though I'm knackered and a bit groggy this morning, (my second 20 hour day this week, plus several very late nights out photographing owls!).

Taking account of all the checks, including the slowing near Oakley, (which was influenced by signal checks to come), I'm going to give that run a net time in my notes of 80 minutes from Salisbury to Waterloo. i.e the running was up to the old ACE schedule: the fastest steam schedule the SR ever had.

That net time allows for a much slower finish into the platform at Waterloo than would have happened in, say 1964. I've allowed something more than an extra minute for that from my Vauxhall time last night, even though I was in the rear of the last coach.

With various analysis I had previously carried out I did know that the 80 minute timing was just possible within 21st century speed limits etc. Last night Pete Roberts and firemen, (please someone let me know who that was), turned analysis into reality.

And I haven't forgotten the down run with Dave Hewson at the controls. That was a wonderful effort as well. That's going onto a spreadsheet next.

So far as future efforts on July 9th. My own view is that it is always going to be easier to get a fast timing on the down road with quite an early start. To either Southampton or Salisbury. Getting through Basingstoke and Woking and then into Waterloo unchecked must surely be much harder in the up direction in the evening. Just a gut feeling.

 

Well I agree with Bryan that this was an absolutely outstanding trip. Just unbelievable in 2011 that such a steam trip can be accomplished and I would like to pass on a huge thank you to all those involved. Drivers Hewson and Roberts did an amazing job, as did the firemen who must have worked so hard. The trip had everything - long periods of high speed running making full use of the 75mph limit, excellent timing keeping, and the added bonus of watching a run round at Yeovil; quite unusual to see on the mainline these days.

For me it was especially nostalgic as I was at Waterloo on July 9th. 1967 to witness the end of steam, and recall wandering around Nine Elms on that day and looking at the desolation of the place. Not even in my wildest dreams could I have imagined that exactly 44 years later, that I would spend the day on a high speed train headed by a Bulleid Pacific!

Bryan, I love the group picture taken at Weymouth in 1967. I reckon I was about the same age, perhaps at 17 a bit younger. glad to hear you are all fit and well. I think I am somewhat more wrinkly after 44 years but still quite fit and even do some shovelling on a couple of preserved railways.
Patrick

 

Outbound from Waterloo (seen approaching Vauxhall) - https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/lE56uxzHYi6_R-Mn2CE3RA?feat=directlink and a few more from Waterloo and Vauxhall at https://picasaweb.google.com/pearson.dj/110709London

 

Hardly a quiet shuffle the way Pete Roberts worked Tangmere away from the signal checks at Basingstoke and Woking. You could hear the roar 10 coaches back. Pity about sitting outside Waterloo for 10 minutes though, but as Pete said, 'you cant win 'em all'.

Agree with Big Al, yesterday shows it can be done and 10 coaches also meant that Tangmere was completely on top of the job. I fully support the move towards load limits which has been aired in the national railway press recently.

So many high spots to the day; the near perfect run down to Soton, the superb climb of Porton and that beautiful dash down through Andover with whistle going, plus the great performance up from Basing, keeping up and indeed catching up with service trains. And of course a day with the old gang from the days of steam. A wonderful day which will live long in my memory.

Don

 

I have to agree with the other comments posted about this outstanding Railtour. Wonderful from start to finish and well worth the early start!
So many highlights from the breathtaking run. It really did take my breath away several times as I gasped when my emotions got the better of me. The sound of that Bulleid whistle as 34067 charged through the suburbs both on the outward and return runs was quite stirring! If you want proof just look at the pass through Woking in the Morning: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0S6ud0J2GQ Superb! I think have something in my eye again after watching that again.
I don't think I have experienced so much continuous high-speed running (the Max speed recorded was a very fitting tribute to those escapades in 1967!) on a railtour before. What a treat in 2011 to be able to speed through both Woking and Basingstoke stations behind a Spamcan and for her to shake the stations down to the foundations. My Father commented several times about how he used to stand at Woking station and watch the Bournemouth Belle hammer through behind a Bulleid. He said the whole station used to shake. He said yesterday was just like how it used to be. Quite a brilliant display from the footplate crews and 34067 which has gone up in my expectations after we had a run of bad luck with her in the past.
48151 and her crew also put on a magnificent show for the Weymouth - Yeovil section. A dramatic slog up the bank from Weymouth and a storming run up Evershot bank made sure that 34067 didn't steal the entire show. And then the stunning return run with 34067 chattering away up the Climb to Milborne Port after a restriction under a bridge on the bank and more high speed running after Salisbury. Even though we suffered several signal checks once out of the "sticks" the response from 34067 and her crew was awesome. The checks at Basingstoke and Woking provided some vigorous acceleration. At Basingstoke I think the regulator nearly went through the cab roof and 34067 stormed through the platforms. The looks on peoples faces standing on the platforms were priceless! The same happened at Woking. There followed some more fast running before we were cruelly halted outside Waterloo as a result of being too early. The wonderful day was finished by admiring 34067 simmering proudly at the buffer stops.
My heart felt thanks to all involved for one of the best days I've had with steam on the ML. Now where is that NP forum Poll for ML steam tour of the year 2011............

 

GOSH!!! That must be one of the best main line steam clips on YouTube!

 

I remember standing at Haywards Heath once waiting for 34016 to go through and although not a 'Spam Can' she managed to (for me anyway) shake the station.

That video you posted as well is brilliant. Never heard a Bulleid whistle go on for so long. Great to hear that 34067 is back to her best behaviour and great reports from everyone. I missed seeing this tour at Clapham Junction by about an hour yesterday morning as I went to Earls Court.

 

Certainly a fine sight and sound, both clips. If this run is anything to go by, it seems that 34067 has finally settled down after her overhaul. Lets hope she stands up to her previous record as a stalwart of the mainline fleet.

 

Don't know about the return run but John Shawe was firing on the down trip.

 

Totally agree - a superb trip with all the ingredients I like to have in a railtour such as:

1) Some fast running including a rare trip down the main line out of Waterloo.
2) More than one steam loco involved
3) A return from by a different route from the outbound one
4) Some time off the train to stretch legs, take photos etc...

This tour was always going to be a rather special one though. There seemed to be far more real "enthusiasts" on board than on the average Cathedrals Express trip. I was rather surprised to find only 10 coaches on - I'm sure they could have filled a couple more. I wonder whether this was a limitation imposed by Network Rail in order to achieve the schedule, or was it the maximum they would allow the 8F to take out of Weymouth?

 

Expect to pay higher prices if that's the case. There was a conversation about this on a recent tour during which Marcus from Steam Dreams remarked that whoever supports that doesn't understand the econmomics of running railtours. They have said in the past that "the profit's in the last coach" by which I assume they mean the 12th rather than the 10th. Of course it's really 2 coaches less than that by the time you take out the kitchen and support coaches.

 

Here's my video, taken at Bincombe and Bradford Abbas: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RZOMBE33U8

Also Tangmere's light engine move to Yeovil: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csgmaI-67dQ

 

Heres my video at Dorchester West, first time seeing the 8f, very smart looking loco even if she is a freight engine hehe

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuCg-Xtb4yk

 

I think the load was limited so we could use platform 16 at Waterloo. Rather than platform 19 and then drag a box around all/most of the day.

Got the photo of us three at Weymouth to compare with the one taken in 1967. John Tiley did well with both. A bit late to add it now. Will do it in the morning.

To avoid rumours, the delay is NOT to give me time to Photoshop myself in the latest photograph! As if...

And in any case Adobe said even the full professional version can't do anything to help. "Such deterioration is totally outside of all the design paramaters of even the most advanced versions we sell to the very top publishing houses."

Bas.....ds!

 

One day Ralph you'll hear an original Bulleid being worked very hard. Then the light will dawn and a new life will start for you. A life without maroon locomotives or stuck open drain cocks! LOL!