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Solent And Sarum 24-May-2014

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by Steamage, May 20, 2014.

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  1. Steamage

    Steamage Part of the furniture

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    I've heard some bad news and some good news regarding Saturday's tour.
    Bad news: Braunton isn't available. It appears that she has flat-spots on her wheels (all her wheels??), almost certainly acquired while being towed back to Southall yesterday (Monday).
    Good news: Clan Line is probably the replacement loco.

    My sources turn out to be right quite often, or I wouldn't pass this on, but the usual caveats about hear-say apply. Something may have been mis-reported or missed out, and I don't have the opportunity to confirm the details with the people involved. If anyone can confirm or correct this information, please do.
     
    Steamage, May 20, 2014
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  2. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    And that's on top of her sliding into Salisbury on GB VII.......
     
    Big Al, May 20, 2014
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  3. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Another interesting fact about Saturday is that a SWT service to Portsmouth has been retimed - i.e. slowed down as far as Petersfield - to accommodate the charter. That's obliging and unusual.
     
    Big Al, May 20, 2014
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  4. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    By the way. When did steam last go up the Portsmouth Direct and therefore which locos are still in gauge for it on the 'time' rule other than, of course, the original rostered loco - i.e. Braunton?
     
    Last edited: May 20, 2014
    Big Al, May 20, 2014
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  5. sweetktg

    sweetktg Member

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    Ian Riley's 5's (44871 & 45407) were the last to go this way round with several trips during December last year, and then there was Tangmere in June of last year.
     
    sweetktg, May 20, 2014
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  6. steamvideosnet

    steamvideosnet Well-Known Member

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    Now postponed to the 13th September according to 34046's Facebook page.

    James
     
    steamvideosnet, May 20, 2014
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  7. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Another gauging casualty then. Well done Network Rail. And in exactly what ways is Clan Line different from Braunton, apart, I guess from its overall height on its springs that I imagine will not be identical to Braunton as was the case with all locomotives of the same class when they were around.
     
    Big Al, May 20, 2014
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  8. KentYeti

    KentYeti Guest

    And on UKRT website too.
     
    KentYeti, May 20, 2014
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  9. gwr4090

    gwr4090 Part of the furniture

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    It might just be the problem of gauging Clan Line for the route in the short time available ?
     
    gwr4090, May 20, 2014
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  10. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    No doubt that is the case. But exactly how long does it take to do the exercise? Surely it isn't a matter of manually checking the locomotive's dimensions against every overbridge, platform and other feature on the line. That really would be a nineteenth century solution to something that the Railway now insists is a 21st century system.
     
    Big Al, May 20, 2014
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  11. david1984

    david1984 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Correct me if wrong, but I think it's checking the profile of a Merchant Navy on computer against the readings the structure gauging train took on it's last pass, if it fits, no problem, if it doesn't no go until manually checked otherwise.
     
    david1984, May 20, 2014
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  12. spicer21

    spicer21 Guest

    Do we even know if Clan Line could have been made available on Saturday, not withstanding the gauging question ?

    The UKRT website only mentions Britannia as the reserve locomotive, which itself is out of action, also due to wheel damage.
     
    spicer21, May 20, 2014
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  13. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Yes we do. Also, David's description of what takes place is my understanding of the process. The fact that Network Rail hasn't the time to do something that presumably is not several hours work does feel a bit like a "jobsworth" response. OK they have done it once but is their job to help make things happen or find obstacles to put in the way? Handy isn't it that are all faceless and unaccountable. Yes, I know that does read rather tetchy but if I had booked, that's how I would be feeling given that I couldn't go across to West Coast (or SLS) and shout at whoever was responsible for putting flats on the drivers of Braunton.
     
    Big Al, May 20, 2014
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  14. spicer21

    spicer21 Guest

    Yes, it's frustrating indeed, especially when it seems Network Rail can be very accommodating at other times. I wonder when Britannia first became "incapacitated" so to speak ? Should not a substitute for the substitute have been sourced at that time, whenever that was ? Assuming it was a bit further in the past than Braunton's misadventure, could that not have given NR enough time to do the necessary to allow Clan Line to step in if necessary ?
     
    spicer21, May 20, 2014
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  15. 73129

    73129 Part of the furniture

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    73129, May 20, 2014
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  16. Paul42

    Paul42 Part of the furniture

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    According to an email from UKR on Monday two seats left in Standard Class and two left in First Class Dining.
     
    Paul42, May 20, 2014
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  17. gricerdon

    gricerdon Guest

    Yes Al, I am pretty fed up about this especially as I cant make 13th September and I chose this one rather than last weeks trip. One has to ask though how on earth Braunton got flats on all six driving wheels?

    Don
     
    gricerdon, May 20, 2014
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  18. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    This might explain? Dunno ... (30 seconds onwards):



    Tom
     
    Jamessquared, May 20, 2014
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  19. Southernman99

    Southernman99 Member Friend

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    A trip to Wimbledon must be on the cards to get the tyres turned to remove the flats.

    In the video. It look as if the loco has slid 3 engine lengths before the wheels start rotating.
     
    Southernman99, May 20, 2014
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  20. gwr4090

    gwr4090 Part of the furniture

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    That's correct, but the computer analysis can be very slow. I gather it may take many hours per run.....
     
    gwr4090, May 20, 2014
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