Black 5s to Chichester - Saturday 14/12/13

Would it be cheating to look at the times that are out to answer your question? On Steam Dreams website and Real Time Trains.

 

I was surprised that the train is taking such a convoluted route, and a bit disappointed ,as I was hoping for steam on the Mid-Sussex line. However, now it's a double header, it could be that some of the bridges on that line would be too weak to handle the weight of two black fives. I remember a run behind 73096 about 10 years ago which came back that way, and we had so slow down on several occasions because of speed restrictions over certain bridges. I think that there has been some increase in the maximum weight allowed, as class 47 diesels were banned south of Horsham in the 1980s, so I believe, but they are permitted now.

 

It is certainly far from ideal to have diesel haulage in daylight and steam only after dark. Limited fun for those aboard and little point in being by the lineside with a camera.

 

The last trip down the MidSussex line I can find is 2009. I though pathing was also an issue.

 

Well there's major work to one of the bridges over the A24 south of Horsham at the moment, an entire carriageway is closed and a contraflow underneath the bridge so your theory could well be a reason.

 

I think David has made an error. Steam appears to be Southend - Chichester - Southall, with only Southall to Southend being Diesel - look at his main page then the ECS moves on the timings page.

 

Ah! Much better!

 

The bridge just south of Pulborough station has speed and weight restrictions. There has been talk for years of it being upgraded as the span severely constrains the road underneath.

 

Timings page has now been updated previously stated diesel from Southend.

 

Yes the Littlehampton ECS move seems to have disappeared and it is now going to stay in Chichester, shame, been ages since steam was at Littlehampton.

 

Yeah I know, however yesterday there was a set of times up for a run to Littlehampton and back, I assume for servicing? Anyhow it has gone again now so must be a different plan!!

 

There has been several steam trips from Southend in the last few years.. 71000 and 60163 immediately come to mind I'm sure there's been others.

However trimming it to diesel to/from southall appears to be a new emerging trend.. DBS hardly ever did that.

 

That's because the tour got cancelled due to a lack of crews..............

An emerging trend, to be honest it's a massive help on Saturday bearing in mind we're off Southall at 04:50. That therefore probably means we'll be up about 02:00 so getting back to Southall at 20:44 means a reasonable finish too after disposing the engines. The ECS move back to Southall from Southend takes place on Sunday so bringing us off on the Saturday evening will also give the rest of the support crew enough time (without rushing) to have a decent rest period, prep for Monday's trip and FTR both loco's.

 

Only one of the three trips from Southend in 2012 had steam back to Southend. The other two were are as follows : -

6/10/12 60163: Southend-Canterbury-Longhedge Jc
8/12/12 60163: Southend-Oxford-Acton

In 2013
16/3/13 was due to be Southend-Swindon-Bath-Bristol-Bath-Swindon-Acton, but when 35028 replaceded 60163 steam came on at Acton.
The other planned trip to York was cancelled , but steam was only due to come on at Peterborough.

 

Hi Al, diesel hauled to Southend with the 5's on the back then the diesel is taken off.