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THE BLACKMORE VALE EXPRESS 16/7/11 - hauled by Clan Line

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by Paul42, Feb 21, 2011.

  1. Paul42

    Paul42 Part of the furniture

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    From UK Railtours website : -

    "Believe it or not, 2011 sees the 25th anniversary of the return of regular steam power to the Southern Region. At that time the BR Board was opposed to mainline steam anywhere than on a handful of prescribed routes, but Network SouthEast saw this as InterCity telling it what to do on its own patch and decided to stand up to them!

    With Salisbury Area Manager Gerald Daniels very much in the lead, the Blackmore Vale Express brought Bullied Pacifics back to where they belonged, hard at work on the West of England Main Line. Gerald will be our guest of honour on board our commemorative Silver Jubilee trip featuring 35028 'Clan Line' all the way!

    Departure is from London Waterloo, travelling via the Linford Street Flyover, built for Eurostar services but now very little used, Herne Hill, Tooting and Wimbledon. From here our journey is direct via the Main Line, pausing at Salisbury for twenty minutes or so while the loco is watered.

    You have a choice of destination, with a break of around three and a half hours at either. One is Sherborne, without doubt one of the most beautiful towns in England. With its abundance of medieval buildings and the superb Abbey, Sherborne has much to offer visitors. It has a delightful shopping centre with a large choice of handcrafted goods and antiques.

    Or stay on board to Yeovil Junction. Our train will arrive at the former 'Down' platform, home to the Yeovil Steam Centre. The old turntable still exists and you can watch while Clan Line is turned and serviced ready for the return journey. There is quite a lot to see here and it should be possible to enjoy rides on the centre's demonstration track to Clifton Maybank Sidings and back. A prominent landmark is Yeovil Junction Signalbox, unfortunately scheduled for demolition next year when the route is resignalled.

    An hourly train service operates between Yeovil Junction and Sherborne and vice-versa and the journey time is only six minutes so for a small extra cost you can spend time in both locations.

    The return journey takes us back through the Blackmore Vale to Salisbury for a further water stop, taking a diversion via Romsey, Southampton and Winchester. After setting down at Woking we return via the main line to Waterloo.

    Many of us will hold fond memories of the old Blackmore Vale Express. It is quite unusual for Clan Line to haul anything other than the VSOE Pullmans so demand for this special trip is certain to be considerable. We hope you will want to join us (and indeed Gerald) on a memorable day out! "

    Standard £ 89.50
    First £ 129.00
    Dining £ 189.00
     
    Paul42, Feb 21, 2011
    #1
  2. Bulleid Pacific

    Bulleid Pacific Part of the furniture

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    Looks a decent trip and a worthwhile cause for celebration, although I don't think I'll be able to get the time off work to do this one...
     
    Bulleid Pacific, Feb 21, 2011
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  3. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    I agree - this is potentially a great trip. Many thanks to UK Rail Tours and the loco owners for making it happen. However, before you book, be aware that for most of the day Clan Line will be dragging around a Class 67 diesel, This is because of the arrival back in Waterloo in the evening where a long train, having to use platform 19, cannot have a diesel attached once it's arrived due to 'calling on' issues. (I believe that's right). UKRT has confirmed that there will be a diesel.

    This is not about having another 'pop' at diesels on steam trips. I am sure that UKRT and DBS, whose crews prefer having unfettered steam trips, will not have done this by choice. It's operational NR stuff. But is it really necessary?

    The train leaves Waterloo and picks up the SWML at Wimbledon having exited London via Herne Hill. Why can't it return the same way and into Victoria rather than using the main line from Wimbledon via Clapham. Problem solved. I doubt if a different arrival station will confuse travellers, most of whom may well have used a 'London Terminals' ticket to get to the train in the first place - so no cost issue. And the extra time, given UKRT provisional times, will still bring the trip back by 10 pm, which is normal.

    We know that an 8P pacific CAN haul the equivalent of 16 coaches but does than mean it should? It is bound to make a difference to the starts and hill climbing (from Woking outward and Eastleigh returning, in particular). And then there is the extra effort, fuel and potentially more track time used. All very sad really when there is a solution to hand.

    Perhaps with four months to go, something may be possible that works better for the engine, the crews and those punters who have a view on such matters.
     
    Big Al, Mar 11, 2011
    #3
  4. KentYeti

    KentYeti Guest

    I'm with you Alan on this. 35028 and her various crews has shown more than any other UK main line steam how to handle very heavy trains on a regular basis, (VSOE when it regularly had a box on the back).

    But it would be lovely to have just a decent 12/13 car load so that if there is a good performance on 16th July it can be compared back to "the good old days". Especially as it is not often that a normal main line run can be enjoyed behind 35028.

    May be on the train even with a box on the back. And just hope it stays switched off, or not working, or whatever those things have to do without pushing.
     
    KentYeti, Mar 12, 2011
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