Bournemouth Belle - 05/07/17

Forgot to mention all with appropriate locos as well!!

 

Luckily I've remembered to check RTT tonight for conflicting moves as I was hoping to watch/photo from the up platform at Shawford tomorrow. Possible up freight through within 30secs of the booked time for the down BB. Same platform shot it will be then.

 

It's almost time..........
Whilst nothing is certain in life - other than it will come to an end - I can assure everyone that the MNLPS team have left no stone unturned in endeavouring to ensure that tomorrow's "Bournemouth Belle", and the operations that follow it, run as smoothly and successfully as possible.
The 5th July marks the first of this year's commemorations for our locomotive. Whilst another poster has said that 9th July was more important, MNLPS don't see it that way. Apart from this day 50 years seeing the final steam haulage of the "Bournemouth Belle", most poignantly it was also 35028's very last day of service for British Railways. Next month also marks the 50th year since our society took ownership of this piece of engineering history. Not only has "Clan Line" been operational in 38 of the last 50 years, she has through all that time been in the sole hands of a volunteer-led society who are very proud to own and maintain a locomotive to the very highest professional standards, and certainly one in far better condition than when she was purchased in August 1967. Her reliability record and standard of presentation speaks for itself.
To get Clan Line to the front of this week's trains is the culmination of half a century of blood, sweat, tears (mainly sweat!), learning, perseverance, skill and diligence in all disciplines, by a dedicated group of people, hailing from all walks of life, who have given freely of their skills, finances, energy and time. Some of these people are still with us, others sadly not.
So if you are able, do turn out somewhere to see "Clan Line" pass by tomorrow or in the next few days - I’ll even forgive you for waving just this once! Personally, I’m not one for ’tears in the eye’ but it will be a source of wonder that I will be able to witness 35028 at the head of these trains fifty years after we all thought “we’ll never see the like again”.
While there are those that hark back to 'the end of Southern steam' perhaps ponder a moment on the achievements of those who, in the words of one of our members, "ensured that mainline Southern steam did not end in 1967; it merely changed hands....."
With four operations in the next eight days, the large number of MNLPS working members will make Stewarts Lane depot a hive of activity morning, noon and night....... and into the wee small hours. Just a short while ago, the "BB" headboard was placed on the smokebox door, as seen below........

 

With the combination of a superbly overhauled Clan Line, not yet fully run in - but what does that mean?, a dry forecast with the risk of a steam restricting edict between here and the weekend and the normal complement of mechanical, staffing and signalling snafu's - it will be a small miracle if we get through these next few days. Personally I believe in miracles but wherever you are and whatever you think please pray, wish, dance in the rain (if only) or simply turn up on time, stay behind the fence etc. Lets none of us contribute to any operational problems that, probably, wont arise. With every good wish to all the many volunteers who have worked so hard to make this happen.

I am not sure there will be a 60th - make the most of this one,

Thickmike

 

Eloquent post, very best wishes.

 

Hi - my mail crossed yours but I completely echo your sentiment - I've not long joined the MNLPS and sent a donation for the years I should have been a member - you guys have continued to do a wonderful job and I am sure are recognised by your peers as in the top tier of locomotive preservation. Thankyou again for all that you and your colleagues have done.

Every good wish for a successful early July and rest of the season, and beyond.

Mike

 

Platforms 5-9 out of action are waterloo this morning, so dad and I have set off almost an hour earlier than planned, fingers crossed we get there, and that the train is still allowed to run!

 

Bad news from Waterloo this morning. Serious signal problems and 5 platforms out of use with 40 minutes of delays. Let's hope they get it sorted out quick otherwise the knock on effect of delayed services could seriously cock up the excellent path the the Bournemouth Belle has today.

 

This might explain why the RTT schedule hasn't been activated yet. Just been checking the schedule for the BB and the move of 34046 from the MHR. The move of 34046 has been activated.
Fingers crossed the situation at Waterloo will be sorted out soon....

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I know it was planned and done in 2012 with Bittern; London-Soton via the Laverstoke loop, ran round at Soton UGL and then TF Soton to Swanage where there are no facilities for turning engines. That left it smoke box first for the return run up the SWML. I think it only happened the once though, otherwise it seemed a good solution to the problem of turning engines on Swanage or Weymouth day trips.


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The RTT schedule has now been activated. Hopefully she will leave on time.

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The ECS has made it to Olympia
www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U53167/2017/07/05/advanced

And all platforms are now open at waterloo too.

 

Flew in from Spain late last night for this so good news, but SWT services up and down the line are delayed. While the belle may be on time forget any plans you had made about clear platforms, it's Pot Luck!

 

This is when i wish i still lived in surrey, i bet twin bridges( outside Woking) will be packed today

 

Now through Brookwood and according to the maps greens all the way to Basingstoke. What did we do before the maps.

 

Those of us at Vauxhall had a clear shot from the Up/Down slow lines across to the Windsors for it (just!). Passed around 6 mins down on the Windsor Fast. Well worth leaving the office for a bit!

 

Looked great going through Vauxhall this morning, slightly slow approach while waiting for the signal to clear but then accelerated through platform 3.

Regards,

Dan

 

Complete balls up at Brookwood. Following RTT it was all set that she was going to fit in between the delayed services but the times changed after she passed Woking and a delayed Alton service rolled in to view along with 35028. All I managed to get was a shot of her between the SWT service and the spectators. Good to see and hear her back on home ground though. Will try again later for the return run.

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I got photo-bombed @ Southampton as well! Great to see and hear though

Regards
Matt

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