Dorset Coast Express - 2014

not wrong 37706.

 

You can glimpse it on the back through the mist:

Passing Chiswick At 09:13am

 

I went out to see it climb Grosvenor Bank this morning. Not much fire risk there as far as I know but the 37 was doing the lion's share of the work.

 

At Virginia Water, clearly being driven with one eye on the fire risk, little shove at the end from the 37

 

44932 was making a nice noisy effort down from Branksome with the 37 not appearing to be doing a great deal
Load 8 plus POB - 44932 sounds a bit out of tune! but still going well and the day got better!!
Dick

 

37706 at front with 44932 at rear both working well up over top of Parkstone bank at a good rate of knots 12 early!
Nearly caught me out as they gained 6 minutes from Wareham !! Made my day seeing the Black 5 working well twice today (was expecting to be doing very little) and it had not been a bad day at all before then!!!
Dick

 

Coasted through Clapham on time. Awaiting the Chesham set now.

 

Heading for home at Winchfield this evening:

 

Saw the train at Brentford this morning and Berrylands this evening. In both cases there was barely a sound from the Black 5, but one hell of a racket from the 37.
Reckon today's diesel fuel bill will far exceed the coal bill!

 

Walton on Thames on the UP fast

 

Morning All
I have added some photos taken by Alan Costello of The Dorset Coast Express 23-7-14
Tour Locos 44932 T’n’T 37706
44932 Stabled at Weymouth Jersey Sidings
http://railway-photography.smugmug.com/Railtours-Year-by-Year/2011-/2014/Weymouth-Specials/i-WwkZ3cw
44932 leads the ecs into Weymouth station
http://railway-photography.smugmug.com/Railtours-Year-by-Year/2011-/2014/Weymouth-Specials/i-S3QMk5h
37703 will drag the tour to Southampton
http://railway-photography.smugmug.com/Railtours-Year-by-Year/2011-/2014/Weymouth-Specials/i-PWjRLbL
http://railway-photography.smugmug.com/Railtours-Year-by-Year/2011-/2014/Weymouth-Specials/i-GQ5DBTJ
44932 departs Weymouth Station on the rear
http://railway-photography.smugmug.com/Railtours-Year-by-Year/2011-/2014/Weymouth-Specials/i-dKXfmh7
http://railway-photography.smugmug.com/Railtours-Year-by-Year/2011-/2014/Weymouth-Specials/i-FLQT7f2
http://railway-photography.smugmug.com/Railtours-Year-by-Year/2011-/2014/Weymouth-Specials/i-bscQg8N
Neil

 

5305 Locomotive Association
News update:

45305 is marooned at the KWVR due to a steam ban imposed by Network Rail LNE Route in response to the dry weather. 60009, with diesel support, will take this Sunday's 'North Wales Coast Express'.

The 10 August 'NWCE' has been cancelled by the promoter.

70013 has been withdrawn from next Wednesday's 'Dorset Cost Express' as, very unusually, 5305LA cannot resource a volunteer support crew for the loco. No other jobs this year are affected.

Your correspondent is on the Bodmin and Wenford Railway in the searing heat and struggling for signal! Web page and events diary will be updated to reflect this news, presently.

 

So will it be cancelled, run as all diesel or be 44932/diesel again?

 

My money is on the 5. Just off to BETFRED.

 

Standard fives and 33s where normal during the last few years of southern steam so an unassisted 5 to Weymouth and a 33 back to Southampton would be very remeniciant of those long lost times its the almost certant DL on the back which puts me off DCEs this year not the black 5

 

Yes indeed. I remember when John Gaffney was booked on the Belle both ways, with the promise of some good fast running. So the usual crowd of us timers turned up to enjoy the running, and enjoy a bit of chat from Gaffney before, at Bomo and after the trip. He wasn't called "The New Cross Lip" for nothing. A term of endearment used by many who knew him, I should add.

But he got a Standard 5 on the way down: not conducive to a good run on the Belle load.

So he found a reason to fail it at Bournemouth. Hoping to get at least a pacific for the return.

But they gave him another BR Standard 5.

Probably one of the very few times, if the only time, a Standard 5 worked the Belle both ways on the same day.

But I guess that was at least better than a 33 being put on it!

 

Once saw an Arthur on a late running belle but never a standard 5 nor a 33 either too many 47s though!!

 

Seem to remember Harry Pope failed 34002 at Bomo on the down Belle and was given a 5 to take the train back! Very fine run it was too.

John (boy) Gaffney gave me my only 'ton' with an unrebuilt Bulleid and was always good for a fast run. Wasn't he killed in the Clapham crash?
Don