35028 British Pullman to Bristol 14-May-14

Any news on the return ??? And RTT doesn't show she's left yet ??? Pete

 

According to RTT it never left London Victoria.

 

Through Winnersh 19.36, prob about 6 min late. Must have had a short water stop at Theale to catch up time. What a wonderful sight in the evening sunshine.

 

A quick shot from me of the outward run at Crofton this morning.

 

35028 seen passing Sunningdale this evening.http://stephenleek.smugmug.com/Railwayphotos-1/Mainline-Steam-2014/i-tHcdDC8

 

Having seen Clan Line blowling along in fine style near Woodborough, I can well believe 33 miles in 33 minutes, and that she was more-or-less back on time after the water stop. I'd been worrying she might be looped to keep out of the way of a Penzance-Paddington HST, but she was easily 10 mins ahead of it past me, and I doubt if the HST saw any yellows until Clan Line slowed for her stop at Theale! The Merchant Navy locos were built for hauling 500 ton Pullman trains, but over more challenging gradients than the steady incline to Savernake. It's marvellous that Clan Line's still doing exactly what she was intended for, and doing it so well.

 

I'm sure Clan Line did very well, but lets not get carried away, Savernake is hardly the Alps now is it. They get barges up there on water after all.

 

Crawled through Hungerford this evening at about 10 m. p.h. giving every diner plenty of time to wave ,which they almost all did. Much faster at Theale this morning.

 

OK, not quite how it happened... Looking at RTT, looks like the steam was looped somewhere between Hungerford (13L) and Kintbury (24L) for the Penzance HST to overtake, and then stopped for just 10 mins at Theale (dep 2L).

 

That fits with being looped just east of Hungerford. They'd be slowing for the turn-out. The signal is probably approach-controlled - i.e. it stays red until train is a few hundred metres away, then goes to yellow (caution).

 

Well if we are into offering personality advice, you really must try and avoid the exaggeration, and do please stop trying to drag EVERY conversation you have on here into personal jousting

Oh and do try to get a sense of humour.

 

Thanks for that Wayne, I'll adjust my notes accordingly.

Hope all went well yesterday.

 

Late out of Bristol due to the stock being delayed out of East depot, not sure why but I believe they were waiting for a right time departure.
Around quarter of an hour late leaving, but then held at North Somerset junction for a London to pass.
Left there around twenty late which was the same all the way to Heywood road junction (Westbury).
Got her up to speed (low seventies) pretty quick without really pushing her to much. Did the lower part of the climb in the mid to high 60's 27/28% cut-off with boiler pressure 220-235 with one injector on all the time. Second one was put on at 235 knocked off at 220 etc. Brought her back slightly to 25% from Woodborough at which I think we got up to 71-72 Before the final bit of the climb which the speed dropped back to the low 60's, still at 25%.
So you can see we did not push hard, just enough knowing we were running late. We had taken 7/8 minutes out of our schedule to Bedwyn even so. But as mentioned above we were looped at Hungerford for the late running Penzance Paddington. To be fair we probably would have put time into it as we slowed for Theale, although I was looking for a good fast run down. The signaller contacted us at Hungerford via the GSMR and apologised!
Easily up to speed on the gently falling grade, 75 by Newbury which we held all the way to Aldermaston before began to slow up for Theale.
I think we were just over 15 late at the water stop. Still had 2000 gal in the tender, took on 3000 and left right time.
Right time at Southcote, held outside of Reading, late through Reading!
This didn't worry me as we had a load of recovery time to Virginia Water and again to Staines.
Ran the train accordingly, around right time Staines to outside Victoria (5 early), Victoria 5 late!
I thought we ran up from Westbury to Savernake really well, all on board were pleased as well, crew wise.
But Clan Line has so much in reserve, the Merchant Navy's are masters of their job.
To prove this we only used around 'three tons' of coal on the return trip, we would have used a lot more if we pushed her.
But I didn't need to, when on the Pullmans it's all about getting the job done without fuss. Clan Line is ideally suited for them and of course the Merchant Navy society do such a fine job in keeping her in such good mechanical nick to do so. Plus of my thanks go to Tom Rees (TI) and Vince Henderson (fireman) in making my job simple.
Yes, good run.

 

Nice glint

STEVE

 

Thanks another 10 mins and the sun would dropped behind the trees.

 

Many thanks Wayne. The detail helps the understanding of a heavy load run with 35028 a lot. It's truly wonderful that the Merchant Navy Class are putting in such great performances so far into the 21st Century.