Dorset Coast Express CANCELLED?

Suspect it was an idea, but with the A4 having an unreliable water supply into its boiler, and with SWT, FGW and the NR yellow test train(!) all waiting to come "up" behind it, getting out of the way by reversing on the bi-directional at Dorchester South was what NR told them to do. I, too, wondered if we could hi-jack Tangmere tender first, but the loco would not have been prepped for a loaded run and certainly would have been limited to its speed. It was needed to accompany the A4 back to Yeovil and anyway, with no banker, I don't think NR would have let it go - certainly not tender first up the bank.

As others have pointed out, many of the passengers were out for a steam train ride, but not at the expense of missing connections at Woking/London.

 

Thanks for that. Just goes to show how complex things are on our railways. If just one train goes wrong, knock ons are a big problem.

 

Yes. Drag 35023 out for another London turn.

Leaving most pasengers behind at Dorchester with the BSWs! LOL. Although not from a long train. I think the platform you shunted back into was quite short? Can't remember. I think I only used it once. On 8th September 1962. Waiting for 73018 on a local to Poole where I caught 76019 across to Templecombe!

Cheers,

Bryan

 

Trust you don't use a computer Bryan; your brains memory seems unassailable to me !!!! (you surely had to look those numbers up ????) Pete

 

Yeah. It's all on a database of my SR steam trips!

 

Just to finish off the details of this rather ill fated trip

Bittern ran back light engine and POB to Southall this afternoon - 1230 off Weymouth - was through Poole at 1319 - think there were only 3 of us on the station expecting her and the reactions when she whistled up at Poole signal box was great! Many smiling faces after she had gone - sounded nice accelerating away towards Bournemouth DH

 

Seen here approaching Virginia Water this afternoon....Neil's Photos | Steam..... | Photo 120

 

That was the date of the final Pines Express. It was hauled by Evening Star.
I saw the train at Chilcompton tunnel. Did you happen to see it Bryan? <BJ>

 

Sadly I missed the last Pines as we were on holiday in Wales - however bonus there as managed to see quite a few locos moving from Cardiff Canton which was closing to steam very shortly and heading across to Cardiff East Dock - wish still had my books from that period, but they went AWOL many years ago during moves etc.

Did have a couple of rides over the Mendips with 9F's during that summer of '62 so was not all bad news as well as some time on Parkstone Station watching the procession of holiday extras. That was when you could actually see trains come across Poole Park from Parkstone Station and watch them most of the way up the bank. Sadly long since overtaken by vegetation DH

 

I caught 4464 passing St Denys, while she was accelerating away from Northam Jc. A shame there was a 377 passing in the background, that said it could've been MUCH worse!

The link to the video is here: 4464 - Weymouth to Southall 28-07-12 - YouTube

I welcome your comments

James at SVN

 

Like the whistle effect James as she passed you, she was going well so hope the fault has been sorted. Know the location and it worked out well despite the 377! Nice for acceleration with a full train! Just one other comment - your recording on the station - on watching just now I found my eyes keep getting drawn to the information screen which was not displaying correctly and I assume was suffering from the scrolling you get when filming a TV style display screen with another camera. Otherwise nice shots Dick

 

Thanks a lot Dick, I thought the whistle was nice, as locomotives never normally whistle going through St Denys. Sadly, I won't be returning to the bridge any time soon, as it isn't a very nice area. I didn't like standing there with a fairly pricey video camera, external mic and tripod. I am aware of the flickering info screen - it is a pain and features quite a bit in some other productions. I will get around to sorting it out, I hope it is a simple case of changing the frame rate... The manual isn't that helpful :/

James at SVN

 

Some while since I spent time in that area James but from what I know of the area not overly surprised to hear of your concerns. Shame as the view from the footbridge has an interesting background - let us know how you get on with the "techie" issues! Dick

 

In the past I used "Up my Street" to get an idea about places that I was considering visiting but that website has been devoured by Zoopla; how does one now easily discover basic information about a neighbourhood?