Braunton to Salisbury 23 December

Sadly the weather forecast for Monday is not looking good at present.

 

From the South West Trains website:

Severe weather conditions forecast for Monday 23 December

Heavy rain and strong winds of up to 60mph have been forecast across our network on Monday 23 December. There is a very high possibility of severe disruption throughout the afternoon of Monday 23 December. This may mean that some trains may have to run at significantly reduced speeds, altered or cancelled. An amended train timetable may be used in place of the current timetable.
We will continue to monitor the forecast and will update our website with further information.
Customers are advised to only travel tomorrow afternoon (Monday 23) if absolutely necessary and to check before travelling.

 

In January this year SWT cancelled all their services due to severe weather. The only train that ran on the SWML that day was Clan Line.

 

The only restriction shown on the down is 30mph over the road bridge at the west end of Basingstoke station, but this time only on the down slow (LL) which should affect this train as it's booked on the fast line (TL). the only one on the up is 30mph over a bridge between Putney and Barnes. Either the aquaduct restriction has been revoked or doesn't apply to rebuilt light pacifics.
Regarding platform capacities, I think platform 16 will easily take 10 + 2 locos, and has been used for 11 + 2 but that causes signalling problems and hasn't been used as such since the 60019 incident a few years ago.
Andover

 

for those of us who don't known, remind us of the "incident"

 

Heading up to Waterloo for this trip currently. It remains to be seen how the weather will affect us but Virgin is introducing a blanket 50mph speed restriction later on and I believe South Eastern are doing the same. I will surprised if the return isn't affected in some way but here's hoping its not!

 

The "bittern" incident was plat 19, last time 16 was used I believe was 44932 on a similar trip about 3 years ago (will check at home, heading out to see 34046 currently).

For those who don't recall, Bittern was booked out of plat 19 on a routine trip that went out via the usual Barnes route. The train length saw bittern beyond the signal.

After getting right of way, the train started, and the outer home threw back to red as Bittern approached. The driver stopped in time. The cause was the signalman inadvertently threw the point blade to cross inbound from 19 to 18, which the buffet car then corrected as it passed over. The whole ensemble remained stuck half out of the station, whilst the track was isolated (4 platforms), point was locked. Meanwhile dozens of trains were terminated and started at Vauxhall.
(I think between 3000-4000 delay minutes were incurred).

Bittern got right of way after a nearly 2 hours, got fast route via Wimbledon and made up most of the delay by Woking. If you look through the archives you will see a commentary as it happened under my username.

 

377s do not run to Waterloo, and I don't know if they are even passed for the route. I have never heard of even trial runs there.

 

So a signaller error (although I'm surprised that it was even possible to change the points under a moving train - where was the interlocking?). The initial SPAD was presumably then not the cause of the delay/incident?

 

09.50 to Salisbury departed a fraction early.

34046, (assuming that is the loco today!), departed 1 minute late.

Above from RTT.

I had a late night with the Owls last night, (Long-Eared, Little and Barn), so was in no fit state to even try and get a last minute ticket at Waterloo today, so will be watching the train to see what I have missed in the non stop run to Salisbury.

Hope it all goes well and no weather problems, especially on the return.

 

Ontime through Clapham, in the path of the Alton service, Salisbury service is also behind it, so it's all clear in front of it.

Approached Clapham at a good speed and building up the fire, nice whistle through, all Maroon/custard set.

 

The 09.50 Salisbury service is shown as way in front by RTT.

34046 seems to have been checked at or approaching Woking after running through West Byfleet on time. If so this really is a re-creation of a 1960s run on the down main!

Wimbledon to West Byfleet looks like it might have run quite well over that section. High 60s average.

Might be unchecked from Worting to Salisbury if it is still late past Worting?

 

Interesting consist.. 9 total, Support, gen van, FO FO, Kitchen, FO, FO, FO, buffet...

Those 2nd class tickets either got lucky, or got buffet.

Hope they run this again, right train, wrong time of year for me, but I fancy it in the future.

 

Why would the Salisbury train now be behind the steam when it left over five minutes ahead of it? Very odd.

 

Humble apologies. I was looking at Victoria - doh!

 

RTT shows the 09.50 Salisbury train left on time and in front of 34046. And last time I checked it was still in front! Indeed at 10.45 it was at Overton.

And from RTT 34046 doesn't seem to have raced along from Farnborough to Hook, despite the light load of 9 cars. Just hope that RTT is a bit out here and all on board are enjoying a nice sprint on that section. Or maybe it is being held back for a damn good run from Worting to Salisbury!

56 mins to pass Worting. If it only had the Woking check, which did not look severe, that is sort of rather average from a WC on just 9. BUT, assuming all is ok on the loco etc and the forecast very bad weather is not yet impacting? Unchecked it should still be on time or early into Salisbury. Again, weather permitting.

09.50 ex Waterloo on time ex Andover, so presumably no speed restrictions due to bad weather yet. But the weather down there looks very bad already. Winds very strong and heavy rain. So nasty driving rain for the driver of 34046 to contend with. Not a comfortable place to be I would imagine. Gusting to over 40 mph. Yuk!

Much better off timing this one from my study chair today. Although I'm not getting my Owl field notes from last night typed up at present. And I've got to check online for the Little Owl calls I heard last night. Was it just excited, or sounding a warning: "watch out, there's a Yeti about" !

 

Let me phrase it differently... A 159 unit in SWT carrying passengers went nonstop through clapham just behind it.
If it wasn't Salisbury then I don't know where it would be going

 

09.50 delayed slightly at Grateley and left one and a half minutes late.

Good chance 34046 will get a check from that, although I'm not sure what length the signalling sections down there are these days.

From the RTT times it looks like there may have been check near Grateley.

 

Ah - that makes sense - easily done.