The Cheltenham Flyer

But it did look superb shame we had no sun

Ian

 

One of the onboard FGW gents remarked in a lighthearted way that they were there to make sure we didn't get in the way of his trains. Looking back now I think some of us were a bit worried that that his trains might get in our way.
Those onboard planners did a magnificent job yesterday and a lot of work must have gone into getting it right both before and during both runs And all of it happened while the 'normal' railway went about it's business.
Well done to FGW and NR for their efforts.

 

See my part view at West Drayton.



I am not lucky at filming this engine which is annoying as its visits to London are rare.

Barry Kendler

 

My contribution to the many YouTube clips of this day, taken above Sapperton tunnel, and at Baulking, between Challow and Uffington: http://youtu.be/WLzOckItKZ

 

I think you must be correct there, a very good time indeed.

The big problem with going back in time is that, with some very notable exceptions, schedules rarely stretched the locos. So these days with locos generally in superb condition and very keen and determined crews, timings of the good old days can be met fairly easily, even with the 75 mph limit. i.e When the road is clear of course! Which in most cases is the critical factor, rather than loco performance. ie. Like the 50 miles at an average of 70 mph on the up run of last years July 9th SD End of Southern Steam trip. Excellent work by the loco crew, but equally so by Control etc.

Incidentally the 31 minute schedule with a King on 250 tons I mentioned must have been some sort of special test run. The notes I read were not complete, so I didn't pick that up.

I would love to have seen what a Merchant Navy on Eleven or Twelve would have done Paddington to a Reading stop with the same crews that put up some astonishing runs on the 17.30 ex Waterloo to Basingstoke in the SR steam swan song. A much more demanding route with a very slow start, a 40 mph slack through Clapham Junction, further restrictions for a while and amongst other climbs, nearly ten miles straight off at 1/37o to 1/300 ('ish.) The fastest net time I can quickly find for passing 36 miles was 7th June 1965, "Sooty" Saunders, "Drop Grate" Wilson and 35005 on 12/435 tons. Just over 31 minutes. On that running and on the much easier grades, a Reading stop inside 30 minutes would have been certain. I'll have some fun one day and do that on my PC, using the same power output of 35005 on 7th June 1965!

Anyway, this is a GWR thread and I'm talking about Bulleids. It will be Owls next! LOL!

So, getting back to the GWR, in preparation for my first Castle run since the 1960s, can someone tell me what height the cabside numbers are on a Castle please? I need to make a "3" the right size.

"35043, Edgcumbe Line", sounds OK to me, how about everyone else here, is that OK for you too?

I can be contacted in my nuclear proof bunker.......................

 

What an inspiring day of mainline running.... Congratulations to everyone involved, but I was especially pleased to see Dean back on the footplate. I heard he had been banned from firing. this explains why we hadnt seen much of him reciently. Welome back Legend!

 

My pics from Saturday: http://www.flickr.com/photos/david_1984/sets/72157633470123179/

Would I be right in thinking the Driver & Fireman outward were Ray Churchill & Alastair Meanley and Ray Poole & Dean Morris on the return ?.

 

Banned? Red carded for what, may I ask?

 

I've enjoyed the various photo's and videos from the various locations as well as the various slices of humble pie being eaten and the praise heaped thereafter!

I'm glad those on board got what they paid for, as well as the bonus of an extra hour in the pub, sorry, I mean London!

Something told me that something may well happen - experience of the Bristolian in 2010 taught me that!

So well done to all involved in making it happen.

To that end, here are my offerings from the day - both colour and black & white ( as I couldn't decide which I liked best Lol!)

Iver on the outward leg.

http://daverydingphotography.zenfol...hecheltenhamflyer11052013/h5f343aca#h5f343aca

http://daverydingphotography.zenfol...hecheltenhamflyer11052013/h5f343aa0#h5f343aa0

Castle Bar Park with the ECS.

http://daverydingphotography.zenfol...hecheltenhamflyer11052013/h5f343b36#h5f343b36

http://daverydingphotography.zenfol...hecheltenhamflyer11052013/h5f34509e#h5f34509e

Langley on the return.

http://daverydingphotography.zenfol...hecheltenhamflyer11052013/h5f347144#h5f347144

http://daverydingphotography.zenfol...hecheltenhamflyer11052013/h5f347206#h5f347206

And video from the same locations from a good friend.

 

Well you have said it again Wedgie. ''In preparation for my first Castle run since the 1960s.'' You know that I will hold you to that though I suspect it will be next year now. I am devastated that I didnt trust my intuition and my faith in Vntage Trains as the best tour company to have booked on this one. Sorry Ben I was one of the doubters even though a great fan, as you know. I have managed two of the four best trips, though 28th April 2012 and the 6th April Flyer, which we shouldnt forget was also a great up run. And I always manage to get HR to publish the train running logs plus lots of plugs for Vintage Trains, so maybe I can be forgiven for missing this one.

Don

 

I completely disagree. If you look closely at the headboard, wings, font, etc, it is CLASSIC art-deco!

 

I heard it was for creating too much smoke and the passengers complained, but that doesnt seem right to me. Maybe it had something to do with the coal shortage?

 

Well from what I hear you do take important video's so guess you deserved it!

Some great video's and photo's guys and the Earl sounded on great form, even for a Western lol

 

Dean banned? According to my inside information he had retired due to his inability to keep a decent fire in a Castles box. He came back on Saturday for one more attempt and just about managed the job.

That's right David.

 

I can't believe that's true, even with the best fireman in the world, you'll still struggle unless you have coal of a decent standard, even with the same supplier, quality isn't always constant.

 

On a slightly unrelated note, when 5043 passed the box on Saturday night I noticed the typical pile of slack in the tender which is pretty common with the Welsh coal produced at the moment. You see the same on the WHR's Garratts where there's a seam of dust running through the middle of the bunker. However it's pretty good stuff!

 

Yes, but the conjunction of Art-deco and GW Arts and Crafts is essentially post-modernist!

 

Ben, a great piece of mainline running in both directions - congratulations to Vintage Trains for running this. My only slight criticism would be that there was no information about the history of the Cheltenham Flyer in the handout given to the passengers. Whilst I'm sure many of those travelling were keen rail enthusiasts who knew all about it, I'm sure there must have been a few passengers on board who would have been interested to learn a bit more about its history. Perhaps this is something that Vintage Trains can look at doing for any future re-creations?

 

I completly agree! Our passenger handouts are "under review".