Royal Duchy series 2014

a brilliant day on the Duchy with Tangmere and Ray Churchill, he knows just exactly how to drive her, although he came off at Plymouth on the return to get a train back down to Penzance as he is on Braunton tomorrow. He will be on the Duchy next week too with Tangmere, and he is also doing the Bristol to Shrewsbury trip with 70013 on the Saturday.

 

Has a new record time with steam been set tonight ? 61 minutes Plymouth to Exeter according to RTT. Don't tell me I have missed the run of a lifetime.

Don

 

Think 6024 did it sub 1 hour some years ago.

 

But which way was it ? It was about 58 minutes I believe.

 

Rather pleased my location at Coombe Fischacre was overgrown...

James

 

Here's my video of Tangers and Bittern in Somerset this morning - great to see steam at speed and master of the job in hand. Thanks to all as ever.

 

Moody and magnificent - great shot James!

 

I believe northbound but open to correction, certainly with todays regulation your unlikely to better 61 mins too often.

 

Sun 07/09/2014 The Royal Duchy 34067 Tangmere + 9, 322 tons tare say 350 gross.
Location, Min Sec, MPH
Plymouth, 0 00, Plat 8 1 late
Lipson Jn, 5 47, 57
Laira Jn, 6 11, 61/63/59 eased
Tav. Jn, 7 13, 61
Plympton, 8 10, 65
UB 241 37, 8 40, 60
UB 241 22, 8 52, 56
UB 240 66, 9 22, 48
OB 239 40, 11 34, 30
OB 239 29, 11 49, 34
Hemerdon, 11 55, 36
OB 238 38, 13 01, 54

UB 241 37 = Underbridge at 241miles 37 chains, etc

Minimum on GPS 29.8 mph.

Sean

 

I've just got back home after a superb day out on the Royal Duchy. Right time running through the day was capped off by a magnificent run over Hemerdon and onwards to Exeter. The driver who took over in Plymouth (name?) was certainly driving it like he'd nicked it!! Thanks to a late running Paddington train at Par, I also managed a quick trip on the Bodmin and Wenford, including my first trip with a Beattie well tank so all in all a thoroughly enjoyable day.

Looking forward to seeing more videos etc tomorrow.

 

And here is the video!

Features a panoramic shot from the Coombe Cellars pub and the Hemerdon shot...



James

 

Bill Wariner took over from Plymouth, I did hear Ray giving him some information something about cut off and reversor.

 

Fantastic. What was the overall time to Exeter?

Don

 

Might have been, ignore what it says! LOL.

I think that return run by Tangy does rather show what an original Bullied can do when it is having a good day and in the right hands. Both the Hemerdon video clips here are starting to show what we experienced , in terms of noise and performance, back in the 1960s with crews that really went for it with them.

 

Does anyone know any specifics for the train getting between Exeter Central and St David's today?

Which engine will bank Tangmere and whether the diesel will be attached for insurance?!

There should be plenty of Steam activity around St David's for any joe public that are there for that hour today!

 

P

Pymouth to Exeter record in preservation was 6024 on 31st August 2002, 58 minutes and 9 seconds, 70013 also bested the hour with just over 59 minutes on 25th July 2009.

 

Ray said yesterday unless anything changes the train will be banked up to Central with Braunton, and probably won't be a diesel, but as he warned me things can change on the day and he be given different instructions

 

Brilliant thanks for that despite me managing to post in the wrong thread!

It will be interesting to see, even if Braunton will be banking tender first presumably!

 

strange train yesterday. very muted westbound. Ray, the master, didn't get his usual response from 34067. Whiteball in was 39, 52 best twice in 2012; Dainton was a struggle - Stonecombe at 59 but speed into Dainton was on'y 15.5, best 38 twice by Ray in 2012. we blasted through Totnes at 59 but speed dropped to 15.6 at Tigley though recovered to 29 at Rattery and 34 into Marley Tunnel. Tender was coaled at Par. The coal was very dusty and dirty but burned seriously well. Bit surprised Whiteball was a bit muted, max of 62, summit 50, Usual high spirited run from Taunton, Better than even tine to Yatton, max 80 lust past Cogload average speed 62.3. Excellent day out. good to see 34067 running so well again.