The Atlantic Coast Express 5th-8th September 2014

I have written an article for Steam World though not sure when they will publish it. HR showed no interest

Don

 

Should have said Yeti that the article is about the last year of the ACE

Din

 

I do feel for you Al. I think you said you were taking your other half on this. Add on the cost of overnight stays etc and this is not just a normal steam trip for you to pay for. The total cost is vastly more than that.

All I can hope is that you still get the crisp white table clothes for the whole trip......................

 

Is 34067 being operated by DBS on this tour?

 

The way this trip is falling part it will be operated by South West Trains. Do 159's have tables?

 

No this is a WCR operation, DBS would not operate Tangmere, Ray Churchill and Andy Taylor are working the Exeter Penzance sections with Braunton and Nunney Castle, they come back up to St Blazey on the Saturday to turn on the turntable, Tangmere will run light engine from Exeter to Bristol on the Friday afternoon as she is working the Royal Dutchy on Sunday, again with Ray Churchill in charge.

 

I happen to be on holiday in St Agnes from Sat eve for a week. I've been trying to piece together what's running thorough Truro from Sunday 7th onwards that week, but am failing miserably! Please could some kind person take pity, and give me a brief list, and also some idea of where to stand and ogle, should any of them actually run? Many thanks fellahs

 

sorry Sheff but the only steam running through Truro from Sunday is the return of the ACE with Braunton/Nunney Castle on Monday time through Truro is 9.38 through platform 3. If you are coming down into Cornwall on the Sat eve there is Tangmere to Par on the Sunday arrive 14.02 and leave 17.45 she will be at St Blazey in the afternoon to turn and for servicing, would make a pleasant afternoon for you if you can get there. Also on the Sat afternoon Braunton and Nunney will be at St Blazey to turn arrive Par platform 2 at 12.41 to 12.27 then go onto St Blazey and leave 15.09 into Par platform 3 15.21 to 15.26 and pass through Truro platform 2 15.58 and that is about it, there is very little steam into Cornwall these days especially down to Penzance, believe this is the first steam down there for over 2 years.

 

Thanks Maureen, let's see if I've got this right .....

Friday 34046+5029 on the ACE to Penzance, stabled there overnight.

Saturday 34046+5029 PZ to St Blazey, service, turn and return to PZ .

Sunday 34067/70013 on the Royal Duchy to Par and return

Monday 34046+5029 on the ACE PZ to Exeter.

Is that it please?

 

What state is the Royal Albert Bridge in at the moment? Is is still shrouded in plastic for repainting?

 

Yes, Sheff, that's about right. All the times are on UKsteam.info now, with links to RTT, including the light engine moves on Saturday (on the loco movements page).

 

Thanks, I'd been lurking on UK Steam waiting for some of the times, and have just run Truro through RRT too.

 

Are there any good phot'ing locations around Truro? I seem to remember there's a bank near Redruth at the road side?

 

Yes Sheff you've got it right but will be 34067 on the Duchy , that was confirmed to me on Sunday.

 

Hey sheff your in my home town..message me for locations I know loads! I'm heading down to Penzance for the ACE arrival and will probs go to slodgers sidings to get some overnight stabling pics! Blazey turntable is always good for the royal dutchy, as is respryn bridge

 

I have a suggestion Al. Once you get onto the old SR mainline to the West at Byfleet, (assuming that area is still on the map and not been wiped off by any recent grass dryness fire tests. ), sit on the North side of the train. And tell us what is actually that side, (the non milepost side from days of old).

Those of us from the good old steam days still ask each other if there was anything that side of the train. We mainly assume it was just a brick wall all the way to Exeter and Weymouth. A sort of Southern Hadrians Wall. But of course none of us ever looked that side of the train, we were always concentrating on the mileposts on the South side.

BTW. Are you planning to send regular reports from the train?

I have an LSWR main line "pure steam surprise" to add here as the journey progresses. Assuming I am at home all day!


PS. I am still laughing at that wonderful grass dryness fire test video. One of the funniest things I have ever seen. Even though I alone was subsequently singled out for a stern warning via PM for doing no more than repeating the name it was given.