RTC End of Southern Steam: London to Weymouth 9th July 2016

I tip my hat to WCRC for operating a faultless trip today. Everything was just right. 45699 was on magnificent form, Diesel assistance was sensibly applied and was only used sparingly when absolutely necessary. There was even the spectacle of steam assistance on the bank out of Weymouth as the Class 33 slogged up the grade.
I have to say that I didn't really miss the SR loco's today. I have totally become addicted to the Roar of a Jubilee! Highlights of the day were: Outward:
- The thrash from Woking to Winchfield and then from Winchfield to Basingstoke.
- Roaring through the New Forest.
- A storming run after Poole to Dorchester.
Return run:
- 45699 coming to the aid of the Class 33 on the fierce grade through Upwey.
- A superb climb of the section after Laverstock Jct with a stunning sound coming from 45699 as she roared up to Grateley.
- Another very loud climb to Overton after speed was checked before Andover, the crew had to really get her going again. Best sound of the day. You could probably hear her at Stonehenge!
- A stunning finish to the day as 45699 thundered out of Basingstoke and was enticed to race along the section back to Woking reaching the high 70's after Winchfield (Winchfield was passed at 77mph).

We left the train at Woking and watched 45699 depart, raising the echoes over the town. Once again, on the SR end of Steam Anniversary a LMS Loco paid tribute with a great performance.
Thanks to everyone involved with today. The RTC staff were very friendly and helpful as usual. My first trip with a Jubilee and it certainly didn't disappoint.



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Filmed at Mottisfont & Dunbridge and Grateley

Here's your answer Ralph!

 

I will hopefully post some on train* videos tomorrow of the impressive journey over Salisbury Plain as fortunately my video camera did pick up the awesome sound of the Jubilee and not just wind noise.
* I didn't lean out of the window or put my camera out of the window. I didn't need to as the sound was that impressive.

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Also as a retired senior employee of WPBC I confirm there is no spare cash and hasn't been for years, that is genuine not a political statement. I could argue long and hard on a political basis as to why that is the case but the plain fact is the authority is cash strapped due to statutory outgoings as has been discussed in earlier threads, notably that about the harbour tramway.


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Lightweight.
.
.
.
Only joking.

 

Someone has to moderate their drinking stay coherent on these things...

Anyway, cracking run, although the traditional racing stretches were punctuated by braking, which seemed to coincide with bridges.

 

Felt 33 was struggling to keep up!!!pity jubilee needs to go back home

 

Shame some people couldn't keep heads in the window, was at least 6 heads out in the dorchester area, looks like the idiots can't sit and comply and want bars on the windows,
West Coast Railway Class 33/2 Crompton 33207 Passing Dorchester South Signal Box 9/7/16


LMS Jubilee Class 6P 4-6-0 no 45699 Galatea Hauls The End of southern steam railtour, 1Z67 Victoria To Weymouth, approaching Dorchester South 9/7/16

 

As promised here is the video of the Jubilee roaring through the Wiltshire and Hampshire Countryside*:


And here is the loud departure from Woking on the return journey:


Enjoy!

*I did not lean out of the window or put my camera out of the window to get this footage. There were a few people leaning out of windows but no one was told off for doing so.
The only people who were told off during the day were people viewing our progress from the Platforms. There were a number of Station staff at various Stations along the route getting quite irate and shouting at people to stand behind the yellow line. The most extreme example was at Bournemouth on the return run. A loud, angry voice kept shouting at people and was then followed by an announcement over the station tannoy system. Perhaps the guy had had a really bad day. He was certainly going a bit over the top.

 

I hope that someone else here was among the 4 or 5 who enjoyed a magical moment at Farnborough yesterday evening where, as the sun set, Galatea absolutely STORMED through the station. An absolute moment of magic, the people waiting for the Waterloo train on the up platform will certainly have noticed it as it roared through. I genuinely didn't think it could top the performance it put up at Brockenhurst on the outward run that morning, how wrong was I? What a machine.

There is a video to come, for now enjoy the photos. They can be found at https://railwaygalleries.smugmug.com/MainlineSteam/Steam-Tours-in-2016/

 

Looked pretty good in the evening sunlight at Esher too.

 

Yes, it was a wonderful run from Basingstoke to Woking. We left Basingstoke late and it was very clear from the departure that the footplate crew meant business. One of the best runs I have ever had on that section. She is indeed a special Loco considering she used to look like this:
(Not my picture).

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There's been a lot wrong with this loco in the past, possibly due to Carnforth being adverse to allowing their engines to be thoroughly run in on a preserved railway but it seems to have now put all that behind it as this performance has shown. Now if someone could sneak into Southall tonight with a tin of green paint!

 

They will need to fix the lighting first or you will end up in the pit

 

Video from the run, including the extraordinary passages of Brockenhurst and Farnborough, which the camera does well with but still doesn't quite do justice to!



As for the livery, I think she looks great in red. Much, much better than the one in BR black, if you're going for a slightly fictitious livery red is infinitely preferable. Something different is always good, plenty of BR black and BR green things running around.

 

Couldn't agree more just needs LMS on the tender and to lose a digit off the number.

 

Anyone know the reason for the stop and restart at Blazingsmoke?

 

Credit due to one or two of the Leander guys who have been giving '99 the benefit of their engineering skills in a hands on way

 

Voice of experience there mrKnowwun I see, you've obviously been to Southall recently then?