Black fives to Winchester Monday 9th December

Timings are now up for this one:

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54685/2013/12/09/advanced

and:

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54687/2013/12/09/advanced


Water stop on return is at Brookwood which doesnt happen that often.

 

It used to be a pretty common occurrence a few years back but seems to have been less common recently.

 

1 hour between Brentford and Woking (nonstop - 20 miles) thats slower than preserved line speeds..

then 90 minutes to do the next 40 miles..(10 minutes at Winchfield, 10 minutes Worting) that gives an average of 35mph for that stretch (ok it may reach 45 for a short burst may even touch 50 for a few seconds).

c130 miles of mainline steam at 20-30mph speeds for £99 minimum ?? - 20 people could hire an engine and do that all day on a preserved railway for less.

seems losing Ipswich to Willesden was a high price to pay, but I've noticed that these "from the suburbs and beyond" trips have a tendency to short change at short notice when it becomes easier to add steam "close to it's home shed"…

Maybe passengers should do the same thing in the buffet.. when being asked to pay £10 for the drinks instead of reaching for your wallet, dive to your pocket and give some coins instead and say well thats closer to my hand than my wallet is so for operational reasons I changed my mind at short notice.

 

Buffet?

 

Fairly standard - today's two black fives have been given 52 minutes for the potter round the houses.

 

I know, but for the most part, this leisurely walk around the parks of Kew is a precursor to the main trip, in this case it's 50% of the steam trip (in time and not far short in mileage either) !

This tour really starts at Woking and ends at Winchester, the rest of it is just diesel followed by a bit of hornby.

 

And after all that total creeping around it's booked 18 minutes Worting Junction to Winchester start to stop for 15.35 miles. Including the uphill start from Worting and a 60 mph limit.

 

Having looked at the RTT times for the ECS moves to and from Eastleigh, would it be a fair assumption to say it will traverse the loop line first before stabling on the depot? By luck I'm due to be in the Works that day and it would be good to know whether I need to be on the Campbell Road bridge side to see it come in or over by the old Works water tower.

Thanks in advance,

Dan

 

Hi Dan,

Normal practice for these turning moves (or it used to be!) is for the train to head towards the Fareham/Pompey line first and then turn into the back of the works before servicing etc. Guess this means you'll need to be by the old water tower.

Regards

Ian

 

Thanks Ian, much appreciated

Are you on support crew for it?

Regards,

Dan

 

Unfortunately not Dan, back on duty again on Saturday's trip so get some good footage please!

 

Through Egham about 6 mins down at 11:58. Held behind a Weybridge stopper. It seems to be a fairly light load today, 10 including support coach. Picture to follow.

 

Through Brookwood 6 early

http://simonwhittinghamphotography.zenfolio.com/p461121341/h2fcb0679#h2fcb0679

 

This is a video of them pulling away just after Virginia Water and then departing from the Winchfield water stop. They seemed in very fine form today!

 

On time at Battledown, and the sun came out! Interesting watching 6026 King Stephen's video - it looks like 44871 was doing most of the work at both locations with 45407 just coming along for the ride. It was pretty well the same pulling away from the pathing stop at Worting Junction, which was quite surprising given the tight timing friom there to Winchester.

 

48 should be doing most of the work as it's the lead engine! No concerns though, 54 was working as well going by the video.

 

and here is the pulling away from the pathing stop. I would say they were both contributing.

 

My video near Virginia Water and at Micheldever :-