Steam Dreams Banbury - Swanage 19th April 2012

12 late off Reading West. Held waiting path.

 

The 5mph is unfortunate - I can only guess it's to do with the bridge replacement at Whitchurch, maybe a lot of work going on trackside today? I'll be on the Andover platform looking forward to seeing you. Cheers for the updates.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZOjSGg4wBs

Amazingly only 10 down through Andover, & she whizzed through looking & sounding splendid as always. The leaving Reading late, the Basingstoke S/B congestion & the 5mph speed limit at Whitchurch doesn't appear to have slowed her down. One day I'll see Lizzy again, although it seems like I'm doomed not to with her hotbox in Carlisle & her latest problem :-(

Cheers for all the updates on here though, as armed with all the info I chose to stand on the Salisbury platform rather than the opposite platform where you'd normally get a better shot - I therefore didn't get obstructed by the 1206 Basingstoke service unlike the many people who did. Thank you.

 

Was it actually held at the station? Interesting if it was, effectively blocking the (busy)Berks & Hants plus the Basingstoke lines out of Reading. I was going to go to RW to see it but something else cropped up, also parking is difficult in the area.

 

A friend at work mentioned to me this morning that his local news was reporting that 6201 was unavailable for this. They reported that the train would now be hauled by 70000 Britannia!

 

10 late at Romsey despite some spirited running.

 

Yeah, strange that because I was out at Stratfield and and she was about 15 mins behind the service in front !!!???? Can't believe I missed this rain, tonkin down now.

 

Was held on the curve, awaiting entry to Reading West.

 

Just spoken to the engineer, they found a pin hole in one of the steam pipes but repair is underway as we speak.

 

Ah, cheers. I know where you mean. Probably had a queue of freights behind you. You had a good view of the "upper" maintainace depot then.

 

Approaching Mortimer:

[video=youtube;Bbbpjj1-Y5g]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bbbpjj1-Y5g[/video]

Shot from the foot crossing

 

22 late off Brockenhurst. Held for two west bound services prob due to being 10 mins late arriving.

 

4464 Bittern speeding towards Stratfield with Steam Dreams 'Cathedrals Exp' 19Apr2012 (2).MOV - YouTube

Not happy with long distance stuff, should have stuck with my original intention...Reading West. Oh well. Approaching Stratfield in the cold, plenty of freshly planted stuff in the foreground !!!

 

Top of Parkstone bank at 1423 having made up a few minutes from Christchurch - well done to all who managed to get her running today at short notice DH

 

Was delayed due to a passenger being taken ill at Reading station.

 

The effort to get another steam loco in place for this run is a testament to the dedication and commitment of those involved. Given the number of steam locos available for main line running on the route, then the number in anywhere near the right place, and then the number in a condition to be steamed at short notice, this was near-miraculous. A diesel or electric failure would probably have taken nearly as long to arrange in some cases!

Of course, we all know that there is a business imperative here, but we also know that there is a deep-seated desire to perform that goes beyond commerce. Well done - a major PR win, surely?

 

Arrived at Swanage 55 late due to poor track conditions at Worgret Jc/Motala.

James at SVN

 

I doubt it in some peoples eyes but a pat on the back to all involved in getting Bittern out for todays run!

 

A secondhand source has indicated movement of the stock on the branch and implies a late start on the return.

Can anyone confirm or deny, please?