Torbay Express Season 2012

Just a couple of words of caution -
Torbay Express have advertised 35028, but I understand that MNLPS have not yet concluded the agreement to work the Torbay Express on some dates. (Info from a MNLPS committee member.)
Also check what 35028 is already booked to work for VSOE during the summer - the last being 17/08/2012 Victoria - Oxford and return. Like most locomotive owners MNLPS won't turn down work they already contracted to operate.

Cheers, Neil

 

This is what I had wondered, the vsoe has been the main source of Alan Line's work for many years now, will it just be doing say one run on the torbays, and now they can put it up on the website as a crowd puller. Or are we going to see a few light engine movements for 35028? Either way fair play on a cracking line up for this year, I for one will be making a few trips down to Bristol for a few runs and also a few chases with the camera

 

I agree. I think we should mentally add "(tbc)" to this news. It's intersting to look at the VSOE and Steam Dreams tours in July and August that she's already commited to. My best guess (and it's only a guess) is that she may work the three Torbays scheduled for September, though that is in the middle of her normal annual maintenance period.

 

Now then, I could be onto a little private enterprise here. I could do what Mr Farmer does with his field by Dainton Tunnel and charge a quid per punter. Might get the cost of the loft back in about 200 years!

The only snag is - no balcony. The work was done under Permitted Development, so no need for Planning Permission, a balcony would have meant a planning application (oh and more £££) The full 180 degree pan will have to be carefully orchestrated by holding camera out of the window at arms length so as not to get the window frames in the shot! First chance to attempt this will be 6024 in March. I will post the results!

 

TORBAY EXPRESS;

Not long now till the 1st torbay express is there anyone on this forum going on it ;?

all the best
jane;

 

Re: TORBAY EXPRESS;

Hi jane,
Look here for the original thread about this years torbay express: http://railways.national-preservation.com/whats-going/34490-torbay-express-season-2012-a.html

 

Going back to the comments about Clan Line being treated as "TBC": I talked to a couple of committee members at the MNLPS AGM about Clan Line not working the Torbay trains after all. No one wanted to be drawn on the reasons, except that the difficulties were not of MNLPS's making - they were keen on the idea and (reading between the lines) rather looking forward to it, but things didn't work out. There was a very vague hint that things might be different next year.

 

Tickets arrived today. Well hats off TE and DBS for an interesting schedule. The run in the morning looks much as usual, 9:15 off BTM and 11:55 at Paignton. On the way back however the times are 17:15 off Paignton and 18:30 at Taunton. Thats 75 minutes Paignton to Taunton (59 miles) inclusive of the climbs of Torre Bank and Whiteball and 60 mph limit on the sea wall. Far from impossible but certainly no scope to hang around.

19:35 at W-S-M and 20:10 at BTM, so looks like the only slow part of the trip will be the 35 mins W-S-M to BTM, following a local I expect. Still should be an intersting day if the schedule remains as per "Confirmed Timings" with the tickets.

 

What about NR? Some people on here are always ready to criticise them for poor timings - don't they get a mention when they come up with a good path like this?

 

Sorry, and NR of course.

 

Re: TORBAY EXPRESS;

Yes I'm hoping to book one or more this year. The problem for me is getting a service train from Swindon to BTM for the start, ie they don't get there in time. So what I'll do is get a service train to Taunton, and get on the TE there at the water stop, and stay on all the way to BTM on the return.

 

70000 Britannia now rostered for the first of the Torbays on Sunday, 1st July.
Loco to run from Southall to Bristol on Saturday (prov).

Thanks to uksteam for the info. <BJ>

 

From Southall (not Carnforth)

 

Try from Southall.

 

Bristol Temple Meads will be the place to be on Sunday morning with two main line steam departures within a short space of time. Britannia will be heading west to Kingswear and Tangmere (provisionally) heading south to Weymouth.
<BJ>

 

Timings for the 2012 Torbay Express thanks to uksteam . <BJ>

torbay.htm

 

Timings for a 5Z55 on Saturday. I presume that they are the times for the transfer of Britannia to Bristol. <BJ>

5Z55 30/06/12
Southall Loco Services Ltd 09:29
Southall 09:39/09:41
Southall West Jn 09/44
Heathrow Airport Jn 09/48
Slough 10/02
Maidenhead 10/15
Twyford 10/24
Reading 10/32
Reading West Jn 10/35
Didcot East Jn 10/59
Didcot Parkway 11/00
Foxhall Jn 11/02
Wantage Road 11/11
Challow 11:16/11:48
Uffington 11/55
Swindon 12/07
Wootton Bassett Jn 12/15
Chippenham 12/27
Thingley East Junction 12/29
Thingley Jn 12/30
Bathampton Jn 12/42
Bath Spa 12/46
North Somerset Jn 13/07
Bristol East Jn 13/09
Bristol Temple Meads 13:11/13:24
Bristol Barton Hill W.r.d. 13:30

 

Actually a closer inspection of the times on UKsteam shows an even better path than I thought. The departure from W-S-M is at 19:41 so that is immediately after the 19:38 arrival from Bristol. The previous Bristol service left W-S-M at 19:27 so should be far enough ahead not to cause the ‘Torbay Express’ any problems. The fastest steam time (I believe ever) W-S-M to Bristol is 22 min 25 sec so that would put is into BTM at 20:03 ½ whereas the FGW service is due in at 19:54. So the traditional finale of the TE over the little climb to Flax Bourton looks like it’s back on this year.

 

Thanks, that sounds good. Although I live in Weston I always join / leave the TE at BTM as that short stretch can include some of the best running of the day, and these timings make it look like we can expect just that this season. Pity there aren't as many TEs running this year but I guess it's hard work filling a train every Sunday for three / four months.