WCRC 8F's "Busman's holiday" in the South.

June will see WCRC's 8F 48151 working in the South of the country on a number of Steam Dreams workings. One run (19th June) has been changed so that it now starts at Aldershot, my local station and runs to Canterbury and back to Aldershot. Does this mean that 48151 and the Green train will be briefly stabled on the MHR or will there be an ECS run down from London to Aldershot with the 8F on the rear? A bit early I know but this is a rare route for an 8F so I am very interested in this run.

 

Looking forward to this myself, it would be great if it was stored at the MHR but I'm sure the ECS will either be

stabled in Woking yard or dragged down from Southall on the day.

Mike M. ( 70c )

 

Well it's getting near the 8F's first run down here (19th June)and there are still no movements for the loco from Carnforth to Southall. Anyone know when it's coming down?

 

An advert in one of the local papers yesterday said that the Canterbury trip on the 19th June is now starting from Alton and also now picks up at Farnham. Just checked the SD website and they are now taking bookings for people to get on at Alton and Farnham. The return run only goes as far as Aldershot though with passengers returning to Farnham and Alton on service trains.

 

The return leg does go all the way through to Alton however it is diesel hauled. This explanation was included with the tickets which came through today.

"We would also like to advise you that the final leg of the journey from Clapham Junction to Alton will be diesel hauled. Due to engineering works our locomotive and its volunteer support crew are required to leave their depot in Lancashire at 0545hrs on Saturday the 18th before berthing overnight at Alton. Even with this change, the steam loco and the dedicated team who look after it will only get back to their depot in West London over 40 hours later at 2200hrs on Sunday. Additionally by employing the diesel for the last section from Clapham Junction we are able to get back to stations at an earlier time."

The times however seem to suggest 48151 will work to Kensington Olympia on the return, with the diesel then working onwards from there and not Clapham Junction.

 

My Dad and I are planning on photting the 8F near Etchingham on the June 21st excursion through Sussex. Haven't seen 48151 since September 2007 so really looking forward to seeing it.

 

Just got the tickets and timings myself DUKE71000. Another frustrating and disappointing change for Steam Dreams and their passengers. I did see notice of the engineering works a couple of weeks ago and had a feeling they might alter this trip somehow. They are also cutting it a bit fine by moving 48151 on Saturday. We thought it would come down a bit earlier than that as it's not doing much up North at the moment. Still, I am looking forward to the trip with 48151 despite the changes.

 

We have now also got the tickets for the Romney Marsh lunchtime circular on the 21st. Another disappointment for Steam Dreams as they have lost the Bromley South pick-up and have got to take the passengers that were joining there on a service train back to Victoria to catch the railtour!

 

Ironically we are getting a train from Bromley South to Victoria (and back later) anyway for this tour because we wanted the full steam mileage!

Regards,

Dan

 

The loco change is at Willesden.
www.uksteam.info/tours/t11/t0619b.htm

 

Can someone advise what the grade is on Camberley bank,I am told its very steep? Doing it from Aldershot,should be a good trip.

 

IIRC Camberley Bank is 1 in 60. It certainly provided 41312 with some hard work when she hauled a Daylight Railtour to Windsor some years ago. She got stopped at the foot of the bank and had to haul her load of six carriages up the testing grade. A great soundtrack for those on the train as the Ivatt slogged up the bank. Looking forward to see what 48151 can do up there!

 

Thanks! Should sound rather good!

 

I didn't realise it was that steep along that line. Is the 1/60 to west or east of the station at Camberley?

 

I will try and dig out the Guide book for the trip with 41312 tonight to look up some of the other gradients on the line. From memory, going from Alton to Windsor, the gradient started just before Camberley station and continued through the station.

 

Thanks green five, any info would be good, especially for any passengers, linesiders not familiar with this rare section for steam.

 

I haven't found the guide book yet but am just writing to say that the timings for 48151's move South are now on the UKsteam info site. I think a trip over to Bentley station might be in order on Saturday night. The 8F is being towed on the rear of the ECS down from Southall arriving at Alton around 21.30. I did hear some worrying news today though regarding engineering work (track renewal) at Farnham overnight on Saturday. Hope the ECS and loco are not delayed otherwise I don't think the trip will be starting at Alton. Right, now I am off in search of that railtour guide!

 

Thank goodness the route is free of all engineering work and you should have a grand tour.
The engineering work is way over at Reading/Wokingham out of this area.
Looks like it should be a fine day before the heavens open up again on Monday.

 

Right, I've had a look at the gradient profiles in the "March Hare" guide book. It seems that most of the interesting gradients on the Alton - Staines section will be on the Diesel hauled return run. On the outward run with 48151 there are two miles of 1 in 60 on Camberley bank with the station about halfway up the bank. The summit is at Bagshot Tunnel. There is a long descent on 1 in 60 to Bagshot itself with a climb of 1 in 90 from the station. There are other less challenging grades on the route but going from Alton to Staines it is mostly downhill. There is the 1 in 100 up to Aldershot from Farnham which was always handy in the MHR Daylight Railtour days for letting us know when the railtours were approaching. We stood on Aldershot station many a time listening to 73096 climbing the bank with the Green train in tow. Sunday will almost be like the old times.

 

Thanks for that info green five, let's hope for a good trip.