Torbay Express Season 2012

Thanks for that Peter. Yes, Ian Davies. My records are now indeed complete. Much appreciated!

 

Passed Dawlish cam at 11.38 about 9 min down

 

The 25 was attached at paignton but the train has still stalled on the bank.

7827 is now on the way!

 

Im not surprised the A4 was struggling to find its feet at the foot of the bank as it passed me with the 25 pushing for all its worth!

 

Bittern past Broadsands. Slow and slipped even though 25 working hard on rear! then stalled on Broadsands viaduct. proper loco (i.e. 7827) up LE from Paignton to shove the entire entorage up the final bit to Churston!

 

It needed both the class 25 and 7827 to clear the bank today. I couldn't tell from the back how much 60019 was doing!

 

Really need to stop sending these inferior Pacifics down there and waste time rescuing them with proper loco's:brick:

 

5239 would have sorted the job :whistle:
Brian

 

If it hadn't beeen for that 'inferior pacific' the TBE would not have run today. And the day that some antiquated Swindon product keeps even time on the ECML, I'll eat my hat. Horses for courses you see. Just be grateful you actually had a mainline steam loco to criticise at all.

 

Sense of humour failure Peter ? :whistle:

Better to happen there than on the Mainline stretch.

 

Inferior Swindon models...let's see what the earl can do or east! Proper job from what i hear.

 

Video of 4464 at:
A4 4464 Bittern (60019) with the Torbay Express at Greenway 19-August-2012 - YouTube

Regards
Steve
GLOBE VIDEOS

 

Brilliant day following Bittern with the Torbay Express today. Rain in the morning and sun block required in the afternoon. Sums up our British summer really! Big thanks to the footplate crew for extra whistles through Dawlish Warren!
Bittern, Torbay Express. 19.08.2012 - YouTube

 

I had a great day today seeing 4464, and my video link is below. I caught 4464 at Starcross, Paignton, Tiverton and Taunton.

Apologies, the description hasn't been written yet - I will do that tomorrow afternoon when I get in from 35028

The link is here: 4464 - The Torbay Express 19-08-12 - YouTube

James at SVN

 

just put some photos up from yesterday at goodrington at keyhamtrain - HOME and video at keyhamtrain's channel - YouTube

 

A video (not mine) of the TE on the Paignton branch including the rescue by 7827. Dramatic Rescue of The Torbay Express, 4464 (60019) Bittern. 19th Aug. 2012 - YouTube

 

Interesting day yesterday. Running in the SW has been so universally brilliant this summer than an ‘average’ day was a bit of a surprise. To be honest I don’t think we saw the best of 19 yesterday. The climb of Whiteball westbound was relatively slow but it was misty / wet so the crew did well to go up the climb without a slip (that I noticed anyway), much better than Tangmere in similar conditions in 2008. (Did they use all the sand so non left for PDSR?)

On the way home despite being on-time at Newton Abbot we suffered signal checks all along the coast. The climb of Whiteball was pretty good but not spectacular and uncharacteristically cautions (for 2012) running downhill (71 mph most of the way). From Tauton to W-S-M more signal checks, even through Highbridge. We set off from Worle with great gusto for the traditional finale to Flax Bourton but caught signals for Huish Crossing which knocked us back so that spoilt the climb. Another long signal check outside BTM to end a slightly frustrating day from a performance perspective.

Nevertheless the weather was great when we got to the coast and I believe the general travelers had a good day. For me it was great to hear the beat of Gresley locomotive again at speed and as we rolled into BTM at the end of the day I had to pinch myself that this really was a Gresley ‘pacific’ in at work in the South West in 2012. Thanks to all who made it possible.

 

It looked like the sanders were on going past our place at Broadsands (whether it was just steam and no sand though I have no idea)
Interesting that it stalled even with the 25 shoving. Good old 7827 to the rescue. She dragged No 9 up that hill 7 years ago - I found the pic:-


Here is Bittern off for water and coal:


Uploading video, will post when done

 

Must of been a pretty big slip somewhere after passing over Hookhills Viaduct then, at that point I would of said it would make it, the reverse curves past the caravan park at Waterside seems to be the worst part of the climb.

 

Here is video from Broadsands, about half way between Broadsands and Hookhills viaducts. Shortly after the end of the film the train stalled. A few minuted later 7827 came up LE and shoved the whole lot up into Churston
So, Bittern is back on 2nd Sept. I wonder what they will do for banking then, as the 25 wasn't enough? Maybe we will get steam banking all the way from 4277? She should have no problem!!

Bittern on the Torbay Express.wmv - YouTube