Bath Spa Express, 17/08/2011

If the two posts preceding this are correct (which I believe to be the case) then this was nothing like the Clan Line incident.

Sounds like DBS will be picking up a large bill from FGW Xcountry etc as the result of one of their employees errors.

 

What was the owners rep on the footplate doing. When I have been on the footplate as owners rep I would keep an eye on the water level and make sure the injectors were set right and working correctly and I would keep an eye on them whilst they were on. Also was the rep experienced in steam engine operation.

Well I've lit the blue touch paper

 

I have also been an owner's rep on the footplate and both myself and a colleague, who had at the time over twenty five years experience with our loco., have made suggestions on the handling of the loco., only to be totally ignored.

 

Before people jump to conclusions and criticise the crew and support crew, let's wait for the facts. Don't forget that the loco was declared a failure at one stage the previous day with injector problems.
Andover

 

Actually it was a problem with the Tyre(s) securing.

 

Not that it helps but the train did stop at Westbury before climbing the bank. You could hear the re-start in the field at the summit!

 

Been reported on Wiltshire Avon gen (ta various) that Britannia stayed in steam overnight and was moving around the yard this morning - DH

 

Didn't feel like I'd salvaged anything at the time! Had there not been an elderley lady on the platform the air would have turned blue !

 

You cannot and never will stop speculation on issues such as this. It's one of the reasons discussion boards like Nat Pres survive. There is a lot of knowledge, experience and sound reasoning behind some of the comments here. When people talk out of their backsides its usually self-evident!

 

There is now a video of the "events" at Warminster:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyDi7FFpDhY

Not a good day for 70000 and those on the railtour.

 

So now we know. Apparently at Westbury, 70000 moved to the sidings under it's own power. This gives the
impression that any serious damage to the loco had been avoided. A sad end to the day nevertheless<BJ>

 

Apart from the intermittent Torbay Expresses and VSOE, DBS crews down south see very little mainline steam work compared to West Coast men. I do not know who the crew was on the Britannia but I suspect it was an Eastleigh crew. If so, the calibre of the men there is top notch and one at least, Michael Hunt was there at the end of Southern steam I believe and he has been a key member of the Eastleigh steam team for more than a decade. With experienced DBS inspectors like Colin Kerswell there is no way in my view that the finger of blame can be pointed at the DBS crew and more likley to be a problem with the locomotive.

Having said all of the above, DBS steam crews are getting thin on the ground and I was not surprised to hear that a fireman could not cover part of the trip with Tornado due to sickness the day before and maybe a programme to train up young up and comming DBS firemen could be considered by the powers that be?

I really hope there is not a witch hunt over this problem at Warminster such as happened when Peter Kirke was in the dock over the Exeter stall incident a couple of years ago.

Nick

 

There is an unconfirmed report elsewhere that says the ashpan spray was left running. Please note "unconfirmed".

 

Actually a brilliant photo. I know more by luck than judgement but sometimes everything is in the right place at the right time (second in this case) to cop a photo like this.

 

Kind of you to say - but I have to disagree. It's dreadful ! I put it up for a laugh (although I wasn't laughing at the time !)

 

You even got the rods down...! ;-)

 

I'm with you 60017. I'd be pretty hacked off if the same happened to me.

 

Never even noticed that !

 

You'll look back on it with humour later

This happened to me a couple of years ago

http://www.rail-videos.net/video/view.php?id=4913


STEVE