Clan Line to Exeter - 30/6/13

For those that haven't seen the outward timings yet: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54867/2013/06/30/advanced

55 minutes at Salisbury sounds half decent for chasing it!

James at SVN

 

I note nothing currently in RTT with a light engine path to Exeter for box which will be required for the Castle Cary/Yeovil J sector. I do hope we won't have it on the back all day,or is it normal now for going up Honiton?

 

Won't the DL just work a short trip from DBS depot at Westbury to Castle Cary? IIRC, that is what happened last time a Cath.Ex did this.

 

I suppose I ought to kick myself into action and come out for that one. But over 6 hours to Exeter! OMG!

And 66 mins Woking - Salisbury. Hmmmmm..... With just the tsr under the aqueduct after MP 31 that really needs to run early, or leave Woking late. And if it doesn't take it's 8 minutes waiting time at Woking.....................

No, not even the crisp white table clothes, (LOL), will attract me. At present anyway.

Which means Al, you are going to get a humdinger of a run from Woking to Salisbury on Sunday. Your gain, my loss. LOL!

 

Booked on this some time ago hoping for another excellent run like last years May 3rd outing. Now it sounds like it's going to be a bit different from what was originally planned. A friend got a letter from SD last week (about a discount on this run) saying that we are supposed to have just over three hours in Exeter. If that is the case we won't be returning until nearly 19.00.

 

The outline times have an arrival of 1.30pm at Exeter and 4.30 pm departure. The outline departure time were for a 8.30am departure from Waterloo compared to 9.20am on Realtime trains.
I hope we have sufficient break at Exeter for a late lunch.The MNLPS will not have happy if they do not have what they consider sufficient time to service the loco.

 

The SD web-site has now been updated with the later timings. Departure from Exeter 1807, Salisbury arr 2049, Woking arr 2240, Waterloo arr 2320. Interesting to note that Salisbury - Exeter direct via Honiton takes 3hr 20 but coming back the long way, including two reversals, takes 2hr 40.

 

Return times from Steam Dreams website : -

Exeter 18.07, Salisbury 20.49, Woking 22.40 and Waterloo 23.20.

 

Agree this does seem very odd. When 35028 did the same trip in May 2012 the Exeter/Salisbury sector with the reversals and a 35min water stop at Yeovil J took 3hr 27min. I also note that these return times are not in RTT so I wonder if they are correct?

 

I wonder if it is via Westbury on the return ? With 30777 in 2007 it was 3hours 5 minutes that way with a 40 minute stop at Westbury.

 

I have thought of word game to play during the long day:

Re-arrange these words into the correct order:
Network the are Rail taking really piss

Told my Father and our friend who is coming on this run about the timings earlier. To say they were not impressed is a bit of an understatement. After last years brilliant run I can't believe they have come up with timings like this.

 

They do look bad but to be honest are not that much different,last year it left Waterloo at 0844 arriving Exeter SD 1430,this year its 0920 arr 1535 the main difference seems to be the very long water stop at Salisbury (55min).

 

I'm not sure if I've ever been at Waterloo at 23.20 on a Sunday night.

Except, maybe , if I started a 1960s Rail Rover on the 01.10 down on a Monday morning. Have to check that one out sometime.

Or, did the last up Weymouth run on a Sunday night? It might have. That was 23.13 into Waterloo towards the end.

Whatever. I doubt it is a time when there are loads of trains around to get people home on.

And I think the Lancaster Grill closed some years back. LOL!

Hands up anyone here who can remember the "Lancy"?

The original grease bar, but in those days it was manner from heaven after an overnight behind steam.

 

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U63066/2013/06/30/advanced

Looks like a change of plan. I guess Westbury to Salisbury is diesel hauled then a reversal and 35028 back to Waterloo. The RTC Ace in April had a pretty decent path back and this one looks very similar minus the stop at Basingstoke.

 

I remember that trip, the endless wait at Westbury on the return was agony! Almost tempted to book last minute on this, timings are a bit of a turn off but its been almost 5 years since I did steam over Honiton with 70013 in 08.

 

Looking at these timings I would say diesel all the way from Exeter to Laverstock then reverse and steam back to London. If so that is really bad news,wondering if I should have booked on this one now!