Torbay Express Season 2012

Making up for lost time through Teignmouth.

Britannia on the Torbay Express returning through Teignmouth - YouTube

 

70000 at Broadsands, on the Return to Bristol

 

Well after all these years of the ‘Torbay Express’ who would have thought we would have had such a fantastic curtain raiser to the 2012 season.

Huge credit to Network Rail for allowing us to run in path when other trains were running late. This morning we ran ahead of a late running HST from Taunton and this evening again we left Taunton ahead of a late HST. 70000 put in a cracking run over Whiteball this evening and having picked up T4 party goes at W-S-M gave us a rousing climax clearing Flax Bourton at just over 70 mph.

More when I’ve had chance to crunch the numbers.

Thanks to all who made it happen.

 

As befits a day out with a mostly 6024 support crew, we tried to get as many Western embellishments on as we could with the reporting numbers and a Cardiff Canton shed plate.
Apologies for the wierd code from Taunton on the return.. you can't trust people sometimes. arty:

 

An image of 70029 Shooting Star with 'The Red Dragon'. <BJ>
File:Newport 3 railway station 2053163 ed78d1a1.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

Something to do with the ageing process !!
Colin.

 

Don't suppose anyone has any plates for a Brit between 70023 & 70029

 

Here's my video, both clips taken at Dawlish Warren.

The Torbay Express - 70000 Britannia - 1st July 2012 - YouTube

 

Nice video, interesting whistling!

 

And smoke deflectors with hand hole cut outs instead of hand rails! I think the first WR Brit was actually 70016.

 

Certainly one of 70000's best performances since returning to service last year in my opinion.

 

Superb clip ! TBEL should use this on their website as it really captures the excitement and atmosphere of the day which could really help sell it to those who haven't been before as well as those with fond memories who have.

 

I thought all Brits eventually had that mod after 70026 Polar Stars accident ?, certainly can't be that big an issue if 70000's had the rails reinstated.

 

The WR ones had several small rectangular holes (with brass trim?) in each deflector, others had a less number of round/oval holes with a centre "bar" in each deflector, when the WR ones were transferred, I think they were modified in this way. The rest retained hand rails I believe.

 

The design of the smoke deflector (post 1956) depended on where the engine was overhauled/modified. WR based engines, latterly all based at Cardiff Canton, had both Swindon type (rectangular) and Crewe type (circular) deflectors eg by 1958/59:
Swindon type: 70015/16/18/19/20/22/23/25/26/27
Crewe type: 70024/28/29
70017/21 had been transferred to the LMR by this time. 70021 was never modified.

David

 

UK Steam is now showing 70000 on 8 July tour. 71000 is unavailable apparently though no reason given.

 

If 70000 is doing the Torbay, that means Tangmere on the Weymouth trip, I expect.

 

Correct

 

Both the Torbays and the Weymouths seem to becoming a lottery this season. Are we fast running out of operational locos?

 

I'll be happier when we hear more of 71000's situation. Also 34046. What's the latest on that eagerly awaited machine ?