Cathedrals Express to Exeter on 3rd May

my photos and video from yesterday at exeter and tiverton parkway at the cathedrals express 3-5-12 - keyhamtrain and keyhamtrain - YouTube

 

Thanks Al,and anyone else who has spoken highly of Clan Line.Im sure everyone connected with the Preservation Society,inc me,appreciate these kind words about our engine.
We aim to please,and it's nice to see at long last Clan making other journeys around the country for other to see and perhaps to travel behind.Not many have the opportunity of seeing a Southern Railway engine in preservation like this beauty travelling on N.R.metals.
May this continue for many years to come for others to admire,including the young alike.

...and we will keep maintaining and polishing as long as we can into the future.

 

Not been on the box of tricks for a couple of days, so just read the reports above.
Got back off the trip, shower, then bed. Today have had a eleven hour day shift, so no time to get on this morning.
Still, cut to the chase, as they say!

First, no help from the 66, no driver in the cab! He was with me!
Was a bit worried about the run from Exeter. The support crew did not have a great deal of time to service the loco at riverside. It would have been nice to have had a bit more time, but needs must.
The fire was very 'green', the first of the fresh coal had only been put on the fire just before leaving riverside.
So the fire was not very hot. Took it easy out of St. Davids, then slowly opened her up. It took a while for the fire to get going, but I could feel her getting stronger as Rob got the fire in order. It must have been around Cullompton that she got up to tempreture and the superheated steam kicked in. She certainly began to fly, I actualy eased her up because I didn't want to push her to hard and kill the fire. But Rob had the fire just right so I gave her another 5% on the final bit up to the summit, the load was beginning to take its tool though.
I only Glanced at my watch but I think we did Cowley to Whiteball in 21 1/2 mins, very pleased with that, all things considered.
Troughout the trip on the legs that I was on (Basingstoke - Exeter - Castle Carey - Yeovil) I think we were lucky with the weather. Didn't push her to hard anywhere away from any stop and a lot of the time we were not flat out. Beleive it or not there was more under the bonnet!
Clan Line is in top condition at the moment, an absolute dream to drive.
Very much a credit to the Merchant Navy society.
If the rails had been dryer I might have been tempted to give her more.
They tend to let you know if they are happy, you can feel it, if you push them to hard they will let you know!
She felt comfortable, so I let her be.
Basing - Salis was good, Paul Majors from Hoo was firing, had her right on the mark, made life easy for me.
Still up in the seventies on top of the rise from Hustbourne, ment I was on the brakes down to Andover to stop getting away from us.
The climb out of Templecombe pleased me most, did not think I would have to ease her for the 30 bridge restriction, but I did. Then she accelerated up to Milborne port!
Eased her right up on the approach to Yeovil, up sevice train due off the single line in front of us.
The restrictions at Hardington (5mph, Yeovil - Crewekerne) and on Honiton bank (15mph) are real killers. My personnal feeling, looking at the clearence, is both could be 30mph. But its not my call. If the bit of paper in my hand says 5mph, 5mph it is. But point to point timings would be better with less chace of delaying service trains.

But a good day. Cheers Wayne

 

Thanks for taking the time Wayne to put this out for us. Really much appreciated.

 

I will also add my thanks to Wayne for providing that info.

Here is a picture from Woking on the return:


And a couple of videos:
Merchant Navy 35028 Clan Line on the Cathedrals Express at Milbourne Wick. 3-05-12. - YouTube

35028 Clan Line departs Woking with The Cathedrals Express. 3-05-12.AVI - YouTube

 

Hello All,

A collection of six photographs taken of 35028 ‘CLAN LINE’ working “The Cathedrals Express” on Thursday 3rd.May 2012 have been added to my Rail Traction Photos site.

Link here;

35028 'CLAN LINE' hauling "The Cathedrals Express". Thurs.3rd.May 2012. - Rail Traction Photos by Richard Smith

I hope you enjoy viewing my photographs.