Cathedrals Express 16 June, Southend on Sea to Gloucester

Booked on up slow at Twyford but caught everyone out as it approached at great speed on the UP MAIN a few minutes behind time. Long blast on magical chime whistle through the station

 

Yes, I think it caught a few on the hop as well at Tilehurst being on the main. It passed an up local on the approach to Tilehurst. There was quite a crowd there as well when it passed about 10 down.
One thing, what's up with Railtour Live? I subscribed to this tour at 6.40pm & got the reply there were no updates. Ironically I sent an update from Tilehurst & someone else did the same, the only two updates all day it seems.

 

71000 substituting for Tornado made a welcome sight on the GWML today. A view at Compton Beauchamp

No Sun at Compton Beauchamp | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

View at original size for best effect

Unfortunately, the sun didn't play ball after getting 2 66s in decent light it was full dull for DoG


STEVE

 

My footage of "DoG" in the wet on Sapperton today. Thanks to all who contributed to getting DoG onto the train following the failure of Tornado yesterday morning - top effort guys!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqxkKjpcD8Y

 

Glad to see everything appears to have gone OK today, I guessed that there would have been a delay due to the ECS having to divert to Wembley. Now wish that I had hung around to take some photos this morning, would have done so without a second thought a few years ago :lol:

Just noticed the following for tomorrow (Sunday 17th)

5Z45
12:07 Southall Loco
12:35 Slough
12:57 Reading
13:14 Basingstoke
13:33 Winchester
14:05 Eastleigh Depot

Please don't shoot the messenger if it doesn't turn out to be what I think it should be!

 

[video=youtube;GbhodpTuS4c]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbhodpTuS4c[/video]

My footage from the climbs to the southern & northern ends of Sapperton Tunnel, got a thorough soaking filming the return shot and the rain aimed right for my camcorder's lens but in the end it was all worth it seeing her storm up Sapperton with that load in those conditions.

 

Here's a video showing two extremes of The Duke - flat out through West Drayton with a loud whistle, and then creeping through Barking with a little toot right at the end. hope you enjoy it.

Steam Train: 71000 "Duke of Gloucester", Cathedrals Express Southend - Gloucester, 16 June 2012 - YouTube

 

A very impressive climb by 71000 to Sapperton tunnel on the return leg. A long, steep, twisting incline, 13 coaches, driving wind and rain, no diesel assistance and not a single slip as far as I could hear. Not bad for an old steam loco that was withdrawn 50 years ago!

Does anyone know who the crews were yesterday? <BJ>

 

The Duke chimed her way through West Horndon station last night.... pure magic!!! without she is an impressive locomotive which is now showing us what she can really do.

Good to see steam back on the old LTS too, lets hope the wonderfully standard tanks and the Stanier tank make a reappearance one day soon!

Stan

 

From Gen:

17/06/12
5Z45 Southall WCRC - Eastleigh TRSMD

Southall WCRC 12:07
Southall 12:17 12:19
Southall West Junction 12:22
Heathrow Airport Junction 12:24
Dolphin Junction 12:34
Slough 12:35
Maidenhead 12:39
Twyford 12:45
Reading 12:57
Southcote Junction 13:00
Bramley 13:08
Basingstoke 13:14
Worting Junction 13:18
Winchester 13:33
Shawford Junction 13:35
Eastleigh 13:51
Eastleigh South Junction 13:53
Eastleigh TRSMD 14:05

Operated By: DB Schenker & Skip Hauled

You Gotta Love Some Skip Action!!
RailfreightDistribution2012®​

 

Just seen the empty stock move on that path at West Drayton, behind a class 67. DoG is at Southall, along with Tornado, Britannia and Oliver Cromwell. She didn't look to be getting ready to move. So a veritable Pacific-fest at Southall today!

 

As 33056 said, this path was a good candidate for DoG to be tagged on to, but 67019 hasn't got DoG as part of its train as per your & gen sightings. A diesel hauled DoG movement has today appeared though on UKS for today, but no timings.

 

Is this the first time the 3 BR Pacifics are in the same location at the same time?

 

The footage from Sapperton was impressive. I did consider driving over, but with the weather decided otherwise. Thanks for sharing, 71000 didn't disappoint

STEVE

 

Here is my footage of the day, please rate and comment

Sapperton East and West

Br 71000 'Duke of Gloucester' Cathedrals Express Southend-Gloucester 16/06/2012 - YouTube

 

Great day out behind the 'Duke' yesterday, especially the return journey, when we were given the fast line from Didcot through to Slough. Interesting water stop at Crouch Hill (just the loco platformed), and only a few minutes adrift back at Upminster, after a 25 mins late departure from Gloucester. A very big 'Well Done' to all involved.

 

Seems like everyone was at Sapperton yesterday, so was I here's my little effort.


[video=youtube;26Za-axXD3M]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26Za-axXD3M[/video]

 

The Duke is still at Southall at 22.00, with support crew visible doing stuff on the support coach, so maybe the move is happening overnight.

 

It's mentioned on uksteam, but the "times" link does not work.

UKsteam.info - UK mainline steam loco movements 2012

 

Is Bittern there as well at the moment?