61306 Mayflower - Cathedrals Express (Sapperton Return) 24-09-15

Are we looking at load 10 ? Should be just borderline for Sapperton ?

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U59734/2015/09/24/advanced

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U59733/2015/09/24/advanced

 

Anyone out for this tomorrow ? There's a LE path for a diesel to drag out the stock on return to Victoria, so I'd assume tomorrow is unassisted ?

 

Hope so, been a while since I did sapperton

 

Two chances this week, but this will be the first daytime run from the B1 up Sapperton !

 

assuming she lost her booked path somewhere around Clapham, so running late......plenty of opportunity ahead for 'catch-up' ??

 

I'll say, its made up 13 minutes between Betchworth and Shalford, it must have shot down Gomshall bank like a ski jumper

 

The 47 on the back helped no doubt - through Sandhurst 4 down

 

Looked and sounded superb storming through Farnborough north but there was the smell of diesel fumes afterwards wondering if Tangmere will require one as well on Saturday hope not!

 

mayflower leaving reigate

 

Well, North worcestershire is currently bright and sunny so who knows, it might stay that way for 61306 when it gets to Shrub Hill.

 

Yes - very annoying (as a line-sider, but great for the train) - went to a footbridge at Deepdene expecting a 12-15 minute late passage, but was 10 seconds from the bridge when it stormed underneath! Hadn't realised there would be a diesel at the rear, but it went from 16 late at Redhill (a notorious spot for losing even more time) to only about 12 late at Deepdene. My wife was with me in the car and she feels the cold so I waited until what I thought would be the right time for us to nip out to the bridge, and ....aargh!

Anyway, good that it's back to near RT, but I missed what would have been a superb set of approach shots on the very long straight from Brockham to Deepdene in cool conditions following heavy rain. BTW, very hard to see how it could have made up such a vast proportion of late time in a fairly short section (Betchworth to Gomshall) without some sort of speed infringements?

Sadly, probably will now never get that shot opportunity again, as there is nothing scheduled that way round the North Downs line this year or next, and the seemingly-inevitable demise of main line steam in 2016/7 will mean nothing from then on. That'll teach me to think of the wife's well-being!

 

Blimey. The glass is half empty.

<BJ>

 

I hope I am wrong!

 

Making a fine departure from Guildford this morning, I'm no expert but the 47 just idling at the rear it seemed:

 

His glass has a hole in the bottom

 

It's being so cheerful that keeps you going no doubt.
So the tours already announced for 2016 will be cancelled by your reckoning?

 

A superb photo absolutely crammed full of interest. Many thanks.

Reckon one of the Steam magazines will jump at printing that. HR or S Railway maybe. Earn you a few quid.

 

Tenshun - Mayflower at Sandhurst



Mind you it threw us all a complete curve ball with a mocking laugh at the end.

 

No - but none have been announced for 2016 that take the WB NDL so far, and I was referring to this route specifically. I do reluctantly predict a drastic, if not complete, main line steam ban in 2017 owing, partly to various recent incidents, but more importantly to NR's continuous tightening of pathing (not to mention the age-profile-based dwindling interest in, and willingness to risk booking, tours). Branch lines may survive, but main lines may be at great risk. As I said, I really hope I am wrong.

 

Maybe, but I try to catch what drips out of it!