'Torbay Express' 2014

5029 definitely had the performance of the Day.

 

Saw the train at Dawlish..heres my video..not my best day looking through the view-finder but it was a day out,not just for the Torbay...

 

Celebrated last year as well (R70). Unfortunately had a box then though.

 

Cramp in the right hand index finger Ralph

 

We desperately need some rain in the SW for this Sundays' Torbay. I don't want a repeat of yesterdays' trip with 5029.

 

What happened yesterday then Shirley ?

 

What happened yesterday then Shirley ? No problems with this one on Sunday

 

Not a good day yesterday Lickybanker! 5029 had diesel assistance which I can fully understand, but not to be able to work at all.... I saw her on the return aswell as in other places and the ultimate indignity was to see this fine Castle come up past me on Evershot Bank being pushed like hell by the class 33 on the back. She was just there for decoration. Turned out to be a class 33 tour! I want to have some rain in the SW beforew Sunday so that 5029 can once again show her mettle on The Torbay unhindered by diesel traction.

 

Well the current five day forecast does predict rain from Friday, but more showery rather than constant. I guess it all depends on what happens Fri / Sat as any decision would need to be made before the morning of the tour.

Personally, while I hate this latest kind of "dieselisation" where the steam loco turns up merely as a token piece of decoration, I'd rather that than there be a fire, possible damage, and a blanket ban imposed, which long term would be a lot more damaging to everyone.

We're back to the whole question of whether it's worth running steam during July / August at all it seems, a question that seems insurmountable.

 

At the risk of repeating what has been said several times before, if the promoters decided not to plan tours in July and August, you can bet that Sod's Law will dictate that we have the wettest summer on record and an Indian Summer in Spetember and October!

 

Possible yes, but unlikely I would argue, given the current trend. I guess it all comes down to how much goodwill is lost as a result of diesel assistance, cancellation etc, and we are not privy to that information.

 

If the train requires diesel assistance, why not use a diesel that produces clag? <BJ>
https://www.flickr.com/photos/47575/14748608116/

 

That is quite the stupidest thing I have heard in a while! That aside, I imagine there is some loss of goodwill when there has to be diesel assistance bearing in mind of course that the vast majority of general punters are not specifically 'steam' fans and are happy as long as the tour runs as advertised. Promoters won't knock July and August trips on the head as that is one of their busiest times of the year as well as the pre xmas trips etc. I guess we will just have to hope that the forecast rain on Fri and Sat materialises and that its not just a couple of paltry showers!

 

Have a peep at the link ...... it was a joke.

Welcome back Shirley. Keep smiling. <BJ>

 

NR cannot be blamed for being careful, the rain has been very local. They have to provide as reliable network as possible. Gatwick Airport was disrupted and trains through Hove stopped due to power failures and Worthing station subway flooded to waist deep yesterday - yet along in Chichester only a few drops. So any steam train working hard down the BML and along the Westcoastway would be ok on the BML but not to the west. The Soil Moisture Deficits are high at the moment so the ground drys out in 24/48 hours as well.

Will Mrs and Mrs normal family off to the seaside mind if a diesel helps up the hills? I suspect not as long as they see steam on the buffers at Weymouth or wherever.

Brian

 

That made I larf.

 

No I totally agree they have to be cautious and i'm all for that, and you say Mr & Mrs normal on a day out don't care one way or another I suspect, but it was a sad sight to see a great engine on Sunday reduced tositting there looking pretty whilst we were 'treated' to the sight and sound of a 33 shoving full belt. To my mind there was absolutely no need to have the thing notched up that high. The word used is 'assisting!'

 

When the train departed from Keynsham on Sunday evening there were still quite a few passengers sat in the last coach next to the diesel. The noise must have been deafening as the train was shoved towards Bristol. I'm sure that I would have moved to a coach away from the diesel well before the train had reached Bristol. <BJ>