Devon Belle A1SLT/ UKRT 2nd April

A couple of shots from Clapham.
She managed avoid the 08:09 to Waterloo and 08:11 from Waterloo (platforms 10 & 11) *just*.


LNER Peppercorn Class A1 60163 Tornado - Clapham Junction by Tim White, on Flickr


LNER Peppercorn Class A1 60163 Tornado - Clapham Junction by Tim White, on Flickr


LNER Peppercorn Class A1 60163 Tornado - Clapham Junction by Tim White, on Flickr

 

I'm more looking forward to the reports of the start from Hontion. Assuming the single line stuff hasn't put a speed restriction there these days.

 

Oh Heavens! I'm trying to work on my Short-eared Owl book while this is all going on.

Never mind I'll log off RTT and Nat Pres once it gets to Exeter Central.

After that it heads onto the old gwr.

Ooh, have to go and wash my mouth out now!

 

Nice one! Crikey. 13 coaches over Honiton! I know Tornado can manage it but I thought that these big loads were banned by ORR/MR especially where big banks are involved. Someone in authority must have considered the 1 in 80 of Honiton bank within the scope of Tornado and therefore given it the green light. Nevertheless, it delivers mixed messages as to what is permissible and what is not in terms of loadings.

 

Massive crowds at Gillingham the whole town has come out to see us
(photos taken at Salisbury)
Didn't even notice much the Grateley climb

 

SAL to Gillingham 30m 05s. 43 mph min on Semley from 61 after Tisbury.

 

Templecombe at speed about now?

I'd just come over from Poole on the S&D if I recall that day correctly. About which Sir John Betjeman wrote and broadcast, including a wonderful piece about the strange happenings at Templecombe involving the S&D. Sadly I can't find that. Must be on you tube somewhere surely.

PS. Sir John wrote and broadcast about the S&D railway. Not about me having used it on that day I 1962! Well, I'm not aware he did. . . . .

 

RTT tells us a 7 minute loss between Templecombe and Sherborne. Hope that is as a result of what Katie did last week, rather than a problem with the loco.

 

That Templecombe time is an RTT guess. It was more like 1107. 2 fairly slow climbs out of Gillingham and the junction Templecombe but non stop through Yeovil as a result.

 

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Two views at Winchfield and the slow plod through Newbury. Big contrast in spectators compared with the packed platforms on her maiden visit.

 

You've been very entertaining this morning Herr Yeti. Keen as mustard following the tour on RTT and wishing for a cracking run, yet not wishing to travel on it as it's the "wrong" class of loco.
Do you not realise that on a day like today - or any other come to think of it - the only wrong class of loco would be anything diesel powered?

 

Just cannot bring myself to knowingly book on a train out of Waterloo not hauled by a Bulleid pacific. I have this fear that should I do that, there will be a great flash of lightning accompanied by a loud clap of thunder directed at me from the heavens!

 

No, no. That would only happen if the steam loco was a GWR example. You'd be quite safe otherwise.

 

Fairly safe then, you'd never fit one of those bloated coppertops between the platforms

 

And from this photo I took in the 1960s, you will see that if one of those gwr things did get into Waterloo, or indeed any foreign engine, there was a crane ready to lift them out and dump them onto the side of the River Thames. Presumably the crane has now gone or today's train would not have had any motive power on the front. . . . .

 

32 mph on my dodgy phone GPS as we entered Honiton tunnel. Seems good going.

 

1 Late off Chard, 3 early into Honiton if RTT is correct.

Could have been a nice bit of running including a decent climb of the bank.

 

Nice fast romp through Axminster no speed restrictions anymore across the axe Valley then steady climb up the bank with speed maintaining high 30's with 33 at the tunnel entry
Easy job for Tornado

Devonshire pasty for lunch

 

Agreed 32 entering Honiton Tnl from 72 aftet Axminster.

So Gill to Chard 63m 21s. Down to 16 on climb to Gill Tnl. 61 in dip and down to 17 after Templecombe. Swept thro Sherborne at 75. Better up Sutton Bingham. Bridge slack 8 mph at Kingswood. 51 max before Crewkerne falling to 25 at summit and 66 max before Chard.

Chard to Honiton 23m 29s.

 

Right, RTT switched off as it's at the only true Exeter station. 2 early.

From RTT it looked like there could have been a nice fast start from Honiton, but I await the on train reports.

For those who didn't get Porridge and Cornish Pasty, (none of this Devonshire Pasty nonsense with me), on the train, enjoy your lunch and return trip. And if he is still in good health maybe Gordon Hooper met the train at Exeter. He of Exmouth Junction and later Nine Elms sheds and one of the truly great enginemen of steam days. On the SR of course.