The Atlantic Coast Express 5th-8th September 2014

On my way to a business meeting at Liverpool Street, I became aware of photographers at the platform end and mingling with the commuters, I captured Tangmere headed West on the Atlantic Coast Express. Amazing to see some passengers no even blinking an eyelid with the passing of Tangmere!!




Nick

 

Ha what bank! (Honiton)
Tornado takes 12 up without a diesel in the wet last week

 

and storming castle cary

that is a proper job and a proper rail tour

 

Very nice. Don't let Black Hat see it though. He'll be most upset that you're suggesting 60163 is a good bit of kit.

 

Some photos from today:

Grateley:



Crewkerne (taken from a foot crossing):



Exminster:



James

 

Hi spamcan long time no see- i don't frequent these pages often but wanted to see what's what -

I missed the Devon Belle as i was flying Lancs but seems Big T had a splendid last mainline run for this year!
these video's are awesome i do have to say....lol
proper job & run
proper tour

I did the ACE in 2011 as you know had some good bits tho' lol

A pal on board tonight on the SD ACE said she is on time at Truro - well it was still daylight!

nice photos James!

 

It was UKRT so WCR weren't involved. That might explain it. 60163 is also a class 8 not a class 7.

Don

 

thank you so much for adding my own short story to today's Blog!
http://locoyard.com/2014/09/05/the-atlantic-coast-express-50-years-on

how very kind!

here is an old friend with EXT- Padstow line head-code discs to get us all in the ACE mood!

Rog

 

Best I could do from Penzance this evening - very very busy and I left my SD card behind for my proper camera..oops!

More to follow tomorrow from st blazey hopefully..

 

very nice shots at PNZ Billy - glad to see such nice crowds

 

It's a shame first great western didn't shut off the platform and allow everyone to get off the train first..it was a crush with people trying to get pics and people trying to get off the train..also the sleeper was waiting on platform 2 which added to the confusion!! Lovely turnout though!

 

nothing like a bit of unplanned chaos - makes it more fun and memorable

 

Tangmere's effort at Grateley and Honiton Bank:

 

And Braunton and Nunney on Dainton:

 

Braunton going well -

 

That is a very emotive shot indeed Don. Almost brings tears to my eyes. Especially as it was behind Clan Line that I had my best run down to Salisbury on the ACE, with Fred Hoare, that superb gentleman driver. I think you said that some of the surviving Salisbury MPD folk at the Bluebell re-union a few weeks ago were saying what a great guy and driver he was. The very best at Salisbury in all respects. I had numerous runs behind Fred, (and Pete Allen when he fired for him), and NEVER had a loss of time due to loco and crew. All were good runs. No exceptions. But Charlie Hopgood was a very decent guy and driver too. Didn't we meet a relative of his driving on the Bluebell not long ago?

So very sad, especially after the reported running by Tangmere yesterday, said to be caused by steaming problems, and the route it had to follow that Graeme Bunker wasn't still at SD, and that 35028 wasn't at the head of the train and from Waterloo yesterday. That would have made a real anniversary run as Graeme seemed to have a way to persuade people to set up decent routes and timings. And he did say to our old timers group at Waterloo after one of "his" superb July 9th runs that we should really watch out for 5th Sept 2014 as it was going to be very special indeed. Very greatly missed from SD by some of us Graeme. Hope things are going well for you these days.

But all that was not to be. A very ordinary run by all accounts, where a diesel loco on the back was always going to mean it would have to shove regardless of whether Tangy was in trouble for steam or not. And, IMHO, to use the route from Victoria was totally inappropriate to the memory of the ACE and the people that made it run. I am very pleased for those timers on board that things improved a great deal after Exeter. Fingers crossed for the return for you all.

I am just glad I didn't pursue my initial intention of getting a very good sized group of us old timers to go on it, as you and I used to do for the July 9th trains.

The other sad thing for me was seeing some of the video/photos West of Salisbury. Overgrown vegetation closing in on the single line with no sign left it was once a great double track main line. Very, very sad. The still photos could have been taken on a number of UK preserved lines.

Yes, my old favourite saying does well for most of the above. "Nothing stays the same for ever".

 

Apology not needed Billy. A very good slant on the day. Real, "end of the day, end of the line" stuff.

And re "End of the Line":





One of my all time favourites.


Roy had already left us, covered wonderfully in the video, since followed by George. Yep. Nothing stays the same for ever.