Swithland Steam Gala 26th – 28th April 2013

By all accounts it seems they dealt with the situation rather well. I imagine a lot of the public were fascinated to see a breakdown train in action. Good thing no one was hurt.

 

Went along this morning and the only engine running more or less on time was the King although it ran an earlier running than scheduled just after midday. No sign of the 8F. The Class 20 Diesel pulled a passenger set at one point. The Coal tank only ran topped and tailed after an initial positioning with a brake van. Several scheduled runnings didn't make it. Don't know the reason but that's the way it goes sometimes. Usually the GCR run a fine gala.

 

48624 was declared a failure this morning due to leaking tubes.

 

My photos from Saturday are now online on my Zenfolio site here: - http://mickrogers.zenfolio.com/p502509133
An unfortunate accident with 46521, but at least nobody was injured and the GCR did very well to run most of the day's scheduled passenger services.
Cheers,

 

My pics from the Sunday: http://www.flickr.com/photos/david_1984/sets/72157633378515790/

Despite the trying circumstances the GCR had to work round during this event, I largely enjoyed it and appreciate they did as best they could with the cards they were dealt, hopefully Swithland will be opened up in similar fashion very occasionally in future.

 

The 8f was failed on Sunday am with leaking tubes and replaced by the class 20 and the gala had to be rewritten very late saturday night to accomodate the loss of 46521 and the loss of the TPO set which was effectively imprisoned in the siding due to the track condition
So all in all a great amount of midnight oil burned by a lot of people to rescue 46521 and rearrange the show for Sunday with what was available
All in all a great team performance

 

My photos from Saturday - http://www.flickr.com/photos/joeysrailwayphotos/sets/72157633366107161/

Very impressed with the way the GCR handled Saturday, thank you to everyone involved.

 

Got excited and posted it twice.

 

Oops.

 

Just seen that on FB. Interesting ....

 

Thankfully no one hurt ( unless the owner has managed to get hold of the Crew in the meantime ...)

 

Much debate and considerable nonsense on the Youtube site.

I'll await the investigation report.

 

That's an "oh c*ck" sort of moment, to quote James May... On the basis of that film, though, I wouldn't automatically assume the responsibility lies completely with the loco crew.

Thankfully no-one injured though, as you say.

Tom

 

Deleted

 

C'mon - keep up, already posted above - we've been discussing it all day

 

Enclosed cab + engine opened up in full gear + long whistle as they passed the signal = I doubt the crew would have heard anything, even if the cameraman had shouted.

Plus, in that situation of moving off after a stop, you are watching the road ahead, and watching back to the bobby in case he signals, and watching back to the guard - the loco crew are pretty committed elsewhere, without starting to pay detailed attention to passers-by who were presumably on the other side of the fence, or at very least, well back from the trackside.

One little thing that amazed me in that film was, after the driver realised he was off the road and shut off, just how much further the train moved before finally coming to a halt. Shows just what a scarily large amount of momentum a train has, even one moving at probably no more than walking pace.

Tom

 

That's the thing I find strange, given all the people about, is regardless of whether authority for the move was given or not, is seemingly no one noticed the traps were not set.

 

hello
having watched this a few times i think it strange the signalman didnt leave the box !!!!