Cathedrals Express 05-09-10

Bit early yet, but this trip to Exeter is to be a double header and will feature the climb of Exeter Bank.

London - Salisbury - Bristol - Exeter - Yeovil Jct - London is the route.

No doubt, this will be a spectacular southern combination

Matt

www.mattcarey.fotopic.net

 

Let's hope they have experienced drivers and reasonable tonnage behind the drawbar to save the embarrassment of the Standard 4/Bulleid fiasco some time ago! A dry rail might help too.

 

Same weekend as 61994 goes to Oban. Impending dilema for Steam Age! I wonder what the locos will be? Ollie is busy in Kent that weekend. 30777 + 34067 perhaps?

 

34067 + 34046 perhaps? Braunton is due to go ML this year isn't she?

 

I was on that train and having spent many years in the steam era at Exeter St Davids, I knew that this train was far too heavy to go over the bank to Central. Who ever authorised such a big train had to answer a lot of searching questions. What is clear, is that a significantly smaller train will be authorised this time around. Depending on the locos at the front, I cannot imagin more than 10 coaches and even then, possibly with a diesel banker. The chaos caused by the stalling of the BR standard and Tangmere almost put paid to steam ever again going up the bank. Nothing this time will be left to chance.

 

double headed bulleids, on that bank ? with their well known slipping capabilities , i think it probally be 34067 with either 70013 if she is availible or 30777, or might even be 70013 and 30777, but i know what i would like to see if she is out by then, is for 70000 and 70013 to be on this one, just for the sheer noise

 

You forget that Bulleid Pacifics climbed that bank regularly in both SR and BR days, albeit with banking assistance. A pair would quite probably manage the climb without coming to grief. The major factor will be the trailing tonnage. As for the "slipping capability" of a Bulleid, it's greatly exaggerated and both 34067 and 35028 seem to do quite nicely on the main line without too much bother thank you very much.

 

Won't it just be the 47 as per usual from EXD-YJ? Can't see SD/NR risking it,if they are,its a big call!

 

Check the route. It's going round in a circle after Salisbury so no need to send the locos to YJ to turn. Maybe a banker from EXD to EXC but that's about it I should imagine.

 

Ah yeah,oops! Oh well,best of luck!

 

70000 and 70013. Now that would be very entertaining!

 

Thats quite a trip,I make it 385 miles. Anyone know if double-heading is proposed throughout,or just around Exeter bank?
Was just thinking 2 locos all the way would be incredibly demanding on crew rescources ect,and with likely tight limit on coaches could make economics of the trip iffy.

Whatever,should be a fantastic trip

 

How about loco-1 London - Exeter St David's, add loco-2 for the climb to Exeter Central and on to Yeovil Junction, then loco-2 solo back to London? Beyond Yeovil, the limiting factor for loading is Oborne Bank east of Sherborne, 1-in-80 with a 5mph speed limit under a bridge near the foot of the bank. Tangmere, Ollie and Bittern have all managed 11 there in recent months, with expert handling. Could Ollie and Tangmere (say) manage 11 between them from St David's to Central?

 

I'd guess one loco to Salisbury, double head to Exeter and return to Salisbury and a single loco up to London.

Braunton and Britannia in charge.

 

if the route is via bristol, then i would imagine that it will be one engine to bristol, where the pilot will come on, then double head to yeovil where either the engine that started will come off or most likily, if both are going to be stabled at Southall run double headed up the main to london
i hope that the organisers keep what ever the motive power is under raps, till the last minite because there are so many posibilities , who knows could even be a southern / gwr combination (tangmere pulling the train and pushing a castle?) ha ha

 

Quick update

One of the two loco's is now confirmed as 70000 Britannia - again down to whether or not its ready!

Matt

www.mattcarey.fotopic.net

 

Er, which would rather tend to suggest that 'Britannia' is not confirmed!

WCR policy (as agreed with Network Rail and by definition, therefore, accepted by the promoters) is that no locomotives will allocated to operations, until they have been satisfactorily registered, in order to save embarrassment to all concerned; at the very least, an 'in registration' loco will be allocated as stand-in. That is not to say, however, that 70000 might very well have completed that procedure by the time this particular train runs.

We all been there before (60019, 6100, etc, etc, etc).

JS

 

70000 and 70013 are due to run this in a list given to a colleague of mine from roland kennington.

 

70013 is already booked to work the Spitfire on that date, however it was booked to haul last September's trip but 34067 deputised. I will not be happy if it is both brits as I will be on the West Highland Steam Express with RTC that weekend!

 

70013 is currently shown on UK Steam Info, doing another trip on this date - "The Spitfire" .