Clan Line to Exeter - 30/6/13

It should be diesel hauled only from Westbury to Salisbury, not all the way back from Exeter.

James at SVN

 

I agree. That is want happened with the trip with 30777 in 2007.

 

Deleted

 

Why have a diesel tagged on the back of the train from Exeter? DB has a 'shed' load of them at Westbury. Why not attach it there?

On the plus side for the linesiders, two steam charters between Castle Cary and Westbury in 30 mins.
70013? running from Weymouth to Bristol and Clan Line from Exeter to London. <BJ>

 

The diesel is shown on the front Westbury to Laverstock and on the rear Laverstock to Waterloo on UK Steam. See http://www.uksteam.info/tours/t13/t0630a.htm

We might be going via Westbury on the return beacause it gives a better and earlier path back to London.

The late departure from Waterloo in the morning might be because Steam Dreams have taken into account, that service trains into London on certain routes start later on a Sunday.The earliest train from East Grinstead on a Sunday is 8.20 while on a Saturday is 6.37 and 5.58 on a weekday. I always drive to Woking for trips to Exeter.

 

Comparing this trip to 60009 on The Royal Duchy 3 weeks ago, No 9 was allowed 35 mins to Taunton start-to-stop with 9 coaches. Clan Line is allowed 37 mins start-to-pass with probably 11 or 12. That doesn't look like a DL schedule to me. As I said earlier, I don't see why they'd put the DL on the back at Exeter and the 25 min stop at Westbury supports that. The only reason I can think of for adding the DL at Exeter would be to get a sub-5 minute reverse at Westbury.

 

Would a train be allowed to reverse over the level crossing at Exeter or will it need a box to pull it back into the station?

 

I think the Westbury reversal might also have something to do with Glastonbury being on this weekend. I believe Castle Cary is the nearest station to the festival so having this train stop in the station for a while might not be ideal whilst some are trying to get home.

 

Sorry for the rant. I had a very bad day at work yesterday and then finding out about the timings was the final straw I'm afraid.

Tickets came through today. We are in Coach L and are looking forward to a day out with 35028 as she never disappoints.

 

no worries, totally agree,with 35028 should be a really good day

 

And there was I thinking some of the shorter start to stop sections between Salisbury and Exeter, if unchecked, could be the most interesting part of the day!

 

That's intensively used single line for you.

 

Any idea on the load? I'm in coach M which would make it 12 passenger vehicles with the kitchen and support coaches it would be 14 which can't be right.

 

unless there is a box on the back all day?...... please not!

 

The lettering often includes the catering vehicles, so looks like 13 including support. And if support is "Coach A", then it's only 12.

Hey, why so gloomy? Clan Line often takes 500 tons of VSOE unassisted around the North Downs. Actually, make that 600 when there's a 67 idling on the back.

 

I imagine one day it will be back to a double track railway.

With Clan Line leaving Waterloo at 11.00 and arriving at Exeter at 13.58. .

 

Why not? 14 mixed Mark 1s / Mark 2s is rather less than the load of the Devon Belle (13/14 Pullmans, which are considerably heavier) which MNs used to take unassisted over Honiton in the 1940s/1950s.

Tom

 

IIRC last years run was load 13 outwards (around 490 tons) and 13 + Class 66 (around 600 tons) on the return over Whiteball.