Royal Duchy series 2014

Tangmere left bristol on time and in bright sunshine no diesel on the back

 

Very good run to Exeter. Even time Yatton to Taunton and then 38 min at Whiteball. 5 early Exeter. NO DL on the back
Oh joy

Don

 

Was at the top of Sole Street bank when she stormed over the top. Spectacular!

Someone I know from real steam days said after that run he needed to go and lie down in a darkened room.

 

A difficult one AL. If there are issues with Tangy and/or the operation of her at the moment, they need sorting first, IMHO. Too late to reduce the train load tomorrow now if there is something that needs addressing.

Although the run reported by big Bruvver Don above suggests all must have been well on the outward leg today.

 

1 early at Ivybridge on RTT so looks like its going well

 

9 early Plymouth without doing much really. 16 over Dainton and 17.6 Tigley. Blowing off steam at Rattery. Overall a good competent performance with load 9 for 322 tare so over the 315 limit. Full train so probably 345 tons gross.

So there WCR and NR. It can be done.

Don

 

To be fair Bryan, with the lineside vegetation as it is now and the seeming early onset of autumn this year, possible adhesion issues maybe played a part in the decision with the ACE.

 

13 up at Plymouth on the return. Think I might go across to Dainton.........

 

I was on a trip to Ely in Devember 2009 outwood Tommy Farr driving and we had a good run On the return it was terrible and we were back very late. Tommy did not like the reverser but managed to get her to perform.

 

Yes indeed there is a difference and you certainly don't believe what the reverser says. I suspect that a lot of this is down to the driver. Ray Churchill is of course a master in the Fred Hoare class. At no point this morning did Tangmere sound like she was being pushed. Quietly got into speed and then a bit more noise on Dainton and Tigley.

I remember being on the footplate of unrebuilt 34006 with Dave Parsons on a Basingstoke to Woking fast when we were doing 95 mph at Fleet. I looked at the reverser and couldn't really see how it was set, so I asked him and he said 'Oh I just left it where it settled and it sounded right'. Exactly what you are saying Al.

Don

 

That's amongst the reasons all would have been rebuilt if other plans hadn't come along.

But at least those plans meant some of us, Big Bruvver and myself very much included, enjoyed what could be a wonderfully good loco when in half decent condition and in the hands of someone who knew them well.

And not so as well too! 34102 "Lapford", was, If I recall correctly, totally knackered when the much liked "Boy" Gaffney, the "New Cross Lip", Nine Elms No 4 link, unmercifully thrashed that unrebuilt up to 100 mph on a Basingstoke to Woking start to stop run. Goodness only knows what cut off it was in.

And not long before I'd had perhaps an even better run with the same loco, with Clive Groome in control, when we got close to 99 mph between Farnborough Main and Sturt Lane Junction. Better, because he was trying different settings and speed fluctuated a bit until he got to the final level stretch where we reached the maximum. And he didn't make a fast start from Basingstoke!, we hadn't reached 80 by Hook, but had got to 98 mph just after Fleet before changed settings brought speed down to 96 mph, before the level track burst to the final maximum.

So I guess we should all be grateful that we still have examples of Bulleids original design to travel behind from time to time these days, like today for some. And that even on the Jarvis rebuilds, that original Bulleid boiler is still capable of producing steam in vast amounts when the right coal is used etc.

 

Tangmere on Hemerdon this evening. One word. INCREDIBLE! It sounded like a very fast ascent from the loop, though those on board will be able to confirm/deny.

Video to follow!

James

 

Had experience of this on a CE to Weymouth some years ago (1-8-2007). 34067 was on magnificent form on the outward run with the driver really making her rasp. The best I have heard her work on the trips I have done with her. The departure from Winchfield and run to Basingstoke was one of the best I have had. Yet on the return run it was like a different loco had been put on the front. She struggled for steam and primed a few times. Sadly the latter performance was the 34067 I had been used to.

 

Can't wait James. Bring it on!

 

Here’s my video of the run on the 7th. On the outward run the location is by the River Teign, but the light is poor. On the return the location is on the lower part of Hemerdon, great sound as Tangmere attacks the climb.

 

Sounds superb. Has anybody got any details of the climb, the most difficult of the South Devon banks?

Don

 

Wonderful! And safety valves just lifting too.

 

If RTT times are to be believed - looks like a storming run - just over 61 mins start to stop from Plymouth to Exeter St Davids!