Dorset Coast Express, July - August 2011

Due to pass Poole at 1722 all being well - as earlier post was running early again today and I think we may need to take the earlier times as the normal times if it happens again next week! DH

 

Return train through Dorchester Jc at 16:48
Tangmere+POB+9 coaches+POB+Britannia

David

 

Thanks David - wonder where Britannia will come off the train then ?? Wareham as per last year, not likely to propel the POB through to Poole!
DH

 

Tangmere over the top of Parkstone Bank at 1729 in great style with safety valves lifting from well before the top fo the bank DH

 

Evening All,

Some pictures from the down run this morning are now on my Flickr site. They are in the 'Stop Press!' collection in the set dated 20th July and here's the link if anyone is interested to have a look :

http://www.flickr.com/photos/train-pix/collections/72157627090322278/

 

Thanks. Caught nicely at Poole Crossing!

 

about 10 early at Fleet

 

And here's a picture of it :

http://www.flickr.com/photos/train-pix/5955695960/in/set-72157627231537580

 

Some nice running today from both 70000 and 34067. We never took water in Southampton and ran straight through the station on the outward leg. The pathing is indeed slack in a lot of places but some good consistent running such as 34067 between Bournemouth and Eastleigh on the return does make up for it. Plus steam banking is a very novel experience on the mainline! Thanks to all involved.

 

Many thanks for your photographs of these trains!

 

Travelled on the train from Bournemouth to Weymouth and back yesterday - some very impressive performances from both locomotives involved. Met the sand train on our way back at Dorchester, backing into the sidings. Once the SWT to Weymouth had cleared the single line we were off like a rocket. 7000 dropped off at Dorchester as presumably it was easier to do it in the "pathing" stop rather than make the train late by doing it at Wareham. Were about 7 early through Branksome but had to wait outside Bournemouth for the SWT and XC services to clear. A most enjoyable journey.

 

Nice piccies. Thanks for sharing.

 

I too was on the Bournemouth to Weymouth leg & what a lovely run it was too, my first mainline steam hauled trip! Most of the notable things have already been covered here, but FYI 70000 got up to 57mph going through Wool station - I was playing with an app on my phone!

I will admit that up until yesterday I couldn't see what a lot of people see in Tangmere, but after being behind her & feeling the brute force strength she seems to have an endless supply of, plus when up close to see how gleaming her paintwork is, I've seen the light

Here are my pics:
https://picasaweb.google.com/craigr...WeymouthTrip190711?authuser=0&feat=directlink

I also shot about an hours worth of vid, which I'll get up on yt at some point in the next few days.
Shorter vid now up - full length one to follow:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWq7wh-D4PI
The longer vid:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRy2vzXburQ

 

FYI UKsteam has been updated today showing the Dominion of New Zealand as now hauling the outbound leg of Tuesdays DCE instead of Tangmere, plus the timings are still wrong on UKS - tomorrow I'll post the timings from the RYTC info I got yesterday.

 

And now UKsteam.info is showing 60019 both ways. Down to Weymouth and back from Soton via Andover. So presumably box from Weymouth to Soton.

Really do need 34046 on the main line, plus a MN or two that are available for normal trains! While good old Tangy roars around the country filling in as and when.

 

Guess 60019 will stay on the back backwards from Weymouth to Soton with a box, hence why the routing back via Romsey, Salisbury & Andover so it can run forward & doesn't need to be turned anywhere.

 

Don't think I'll be doing any of these runs this year if this is what is likely to happen. This is probably because 70000 has been substituted for 34067 on the Cathedrals Express from Salisbury to Canterbury run two days later. Presumably keeping 70000 at Yeovil until then makes more sense than having it run back to London and then having to get it back to Salisbury.

The whole idea of having a pool of locos for these trips has gone down the tubes it seems. It just seems to be a case of grabbing whatever is available. Of the last 10 steam tours I have been on only 2 have run behind the originally advertised loco! However I am not complaining as at least I have got steam every time without a box on the front or the back.

 

& now 70000 IS doing the Cathedrals Express & see the 'Cath Ex - Canterbury Thurs 28th July' thread for news of 34067 heading up North. Atleast it's 60019 doing the DCE as I've been wanting to see it as 4492 - will be on Andover station to see her whistling through

My longer vid from Tuesday now up:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRy2vzXburQ

 

Does anyone know what is happening with this tour tomorrow? I'm booked Bournemouth - Weymouth return. UK steam info saying the return leg diesel traction to Southampton. Rang RYTC this am yet they're saying steam both ways throughout using Tangmere & Britannia!