Bath Spa Express, 17/08/2011

I don't believe this weeks Bath Spa Express has a thread of it's own so here we go. Timings are available thanks to uksteam.
http://www.uksteam.info/tours/t11/t0817b.htm
The only variations that I have for the day are for Bournemouth, I have a timing of 08:15-08:18 and for Poole Sidings in the evening. I have a timing of 20:15-21:10. <BJ>

 

There's one other variation to note from the info published on uksteam: the loco will be 70000.

 

The first Bath Spa Express looked absolutely brilliant with 70000 hauling 11 blood and custard coaches.
Let's hope that Britannia hauls the same coaching stock on Wednesday.

Does anyone know how well the bookings are going? Fingers crossed for a good season. <BJ>

 

I understand from a message that Britannia has failed it's FTR exam at 14:15 today and will not be running to Bristol tomorrow.
The message continues, ''Efforts are being made to get WCRC to run 4492 + POB from Weymouth to Eastleigh tonight but if not, it will
be diesel hauled in the morning.'' Thanks to Roger Smith.

.....and I've just booked the day off work !! <BJ>

 

Latest message:- ''RK on board 4492. He confirms plan had been to run 4492 to Yeovil for tomorrow's Bath trip if required but A4s are not cleared for a bridge at Sherborne in the up direction, so plan abandoned. Best hope is a fix for 70000 overnight but otherwise looks like a diesel will stand in.''

Thanks again to Roger Smith. <BJ>

 

Whatever the problems were they have been sorted as Britannia was down on the ECS acorss Poole Park at 0649 this morning and with no assisting diesel so well done and hope all goes well today DH

 

She's on her way towards you BJ! Britannia over top of Parkstone Bank at 0811 in great style with a wonderful sound and despite a shower of rain to make rails wet. Well done to all those who sorted the problems DH

 

A few minutes down arriving at an overcast Bath.

 

Don't panic !! Thankfully all problems sorted out for today. Thanks to all concerned. The return leg of the trip seen heading
towards Bath on time but in rain. So on it's way back towards you DH34105. Thanks for the update this morning. <BJ>

 

70000 reported at Upton Scudamore 16:35. Still damp. On Sunday I heard that the weather for today was supposed to be quite promising. I fell for that one !! <BJ>

 

Video from this morning:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iN2A2Bp-7c

More from Scudamore later, loco going well.

 

A report on another forum says that 70000 has failed due to water shortage at Warminster. Not verified though.

 

Seems that 70000 ran out of water at Warminster at 16:38 and is causing some delays.

 

Due to another operators broken down train in the Warminster area train services are currently suspended between Westbury and Salisbury in the southbound direction. Replacement road transport has been sourced to convey customers to Salisbury via Dilton Marsh and Warminster. Customers requiring stations to Portsmouth Harbour are advised to travel on the replacement road transport to Salisbury, for an hourly South West Train service to Southampton Central where onward travel connections are available. Customers may experience extended journey times of up to 60 minutes

This come from the First GW website. Posted @ 18:05.
Delays could be a bit costly for somebody.

 

Those delays are going to cost someone a pretty penny or two.

 

70000 and support coach removed at westbury under own power. For 59203 to lead back to Poole 18.50

 

Any idea what happened ?, i don't believe the margin for error on water stops is so tight to just run out of water in normal operating circumstances.

 

....and came to a halt 2 minutes later. I wonder if this has anything to do with yesterday's problem. <BJ>

 

It would left Barton Hill with 4200 gallons. Unless it had a major tender leak of the injectors were wasting 80% of what they were putting in I can't seee how they have run out of water after 35 miles ???

 

Very sad news, the loco was going well up Scudamore but I noticed the crew appearing to be 'playing' with the injectors at the top and it appears to be the same at the bottom of the bank:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skQsZX577o4