No 4464 "BITTERN" to Kingswear. 25th Sept. 2014

Bittern at Westbury

 

I wondered why a solo 37 went trundling westward through Iver this afternoon.......

And HERE she is running through said station.

 

The pram failed at Didcot, the toys needed to be rescued by top n tailed pushchairs.

 

Did the pax ever get on the train?

 

I'd be pissed off if it happened to me, but after calming down I'd realise anything mechanical is liable to break down occasionally, whether it affects you or not is by the ancient law of sod, It's rather like telling Citroen how to produce better cars because your chose not to start that morning, despite being bulletproof for the previous 3 years.

Also worth remembering non of the vac braked steam loco's on the network would be able to function without these dual brake 37's and 47's doing the "support act work", a 66 is bugger all use for rescuing a vac brake Jubilee.

 

Any reason why Bittern couldn't have gone to Oxford and took the ECS back to Southall ?

 

Though I'm sorry you've had a wasted day, you've just vindicated my laziness, and made me feel rather smug. When my alarm went off this morning, in plenty of time to drive down to Frome, I switched it off, rolled over and went back to sleep. After a relaxing day catching up with odd jobs (better than working) I checked on here to see how the trip had gone, with the thought I'd pop down to Cholsey to see her rolling home. Glad I did, as I've obviously saved myself rather a lot of time and fuel.

 

Steam only crews route knowledge, gauging, suitable 75MPH path with steam only restrictions, turning, take your pick...

 

Pffttt wot a sloth! Chances to vid Bittern before its withdrawal for a major overhaul are rapidly diminishing.

 

Not from what I heard at the weekend................

 

Yes? and?

 

Back to MHR to see out its boiler certificate?

 

Not quite, though it would be nice!

Apparently she will be seeing out her boiler certificate, but not in Hampshire.......... I would just say, wait for "the" railway to make an announcement......... until they do, its just rumour.......

So Jeff, given you're comment in post #51, your last chance will be 30/12, as you don't do "Mickey Mouse" railways do you............

 

Indeed I planned to chase that one as its the last official one, but as we know, crap happens. There is another earlier chance but as that involves YORK (shudder makes the sign of the devils cross) that could go by the way. As I said, Chances to see Bittern before its boiler blows up are getting slimmer.

 

No I don't do "toy" railways, it would break my heart to see an A4, one that only recently had been ripping up the tracks at nearly the ton, to be limited to 25mph.

 

"toy! railways are the model ones that you play with on a circuit of track, not the real thing on a heritage railway,

 

Pffttt You mark my words, they will paint a big No 5 on it, have father christmas hanging off the tender, antlers on the front, and its name changed to Thomas in a heartbeat.