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Weymouth Seaside Express 2013

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by Steamage, Jun 17, 2013.

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  1. Steamage

    Steamage Part of the furniture

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    Times for this year's Bristol-Weymouth excursions are now on UKsteam.info, with links to RTT. There's a 30 min earlier start, and 70 min earlier return compared to last year, yet over 30 mins longer on the beach. This is achieved through faster running both out (3:02 vs. 4:14) and back (3:15 vs. 4:07). I wonder if this means that the load is lighter this year, too? I think it might be. The hardest work is the climb to Evershot tunnel in the morning and the climb from Weymouth to Bincombe tunnel in the evening. The allowance for Weymouth - Dorchester West is just 1 minute less this year, but the time from Yeovil Pen Mill to Maiden Newton is only 23 mins, compared to 32 last year. Or maybe there are fewer speed restrictions on this section this year?

    Whatever, the first run this year is scheduled for Sun 30th June. Nunney Castle or Braunton are the rostered locos at the moment, according to UKsteam. And Clan Line takes The Cathedrals Express down the Sou'West mainline to Exeter the same day. Good excuse for a day out...
     
    Steamage, Jun 17, 2013
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  2. david1984

    david1984 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Hopefully should make it more attractive to families, less running time, earlier return and longer time at the destination, all looks good on the face of it.

    I notice there's a 0ZXX in from Tyseley - Whitlocks End and back on Wednesday which suggests Nunney's out for a shakedown light engine run.
     
    david1984, Jun 17, 2013
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  3. steamvideosnet

    steamvideosnet Well-Known Member

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    Well, judging by it's performances on the Devon Banks yesterday, I imagine 44932 is a contender for the WSE too? Load 8/9 would be within tolerances on this route, surely? If it can get up a 1in38 and 1in42 with 8 on with few issues, 8 or 9 on a couple of 1in52s should be easy! :)

    James at SVN
     
    steamvideosnet, Jun 17, 2013
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  4. mike1522

    mike1522 Long Time Member Friend

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    It is a good thing that the Torbay Express season starts on a different day. Only one mainline loco shall be needed out of Bristol. The following week is when a question mark needs to be posted. 2 engines will be needed out of Bristol for both trains.
     
    mike1522, Jun 17, 2013
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  5. david1984

    david1984 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Would of gone for a ride on one of these with a good choice of loco/route/destination, unfortunately Arriva Cross Country seem to have decided they can't be bothered to crawl out of bed until 10AM on a Sunday, then want 50 quid for the priviledge of traveling in stinky pooh Voyager, so have to scrap that idea :(

    It's ridiculous I could get to Machynlleth prior to 08:30 from Birmingham when the Cambrian steam ran, but a city such as Bristol prior to 10:30 on a Sunday is completely out of the question.
     
    david1984, Jun 17, 2013
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  6. Bifur01

    Bifur01 Member

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    I should be on the first WSE of the season, hoping for Nunney, but the Black 5 would be fine also.
     
    Bifur01, Jun 17, 2013
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  7. Sidmouth

    Sidmouth Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Moderator

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    The absence of a number of engines from what I'll call the Bristol pool must be of cause for concern to the operators . 34046 isn't ready , presumably some impact from the extensive repairs to 70000 , 4464 will be tied up at York for a good portion of July , any updates on Tangmere ? . 5029 hasn't passed its test yet (hopefully will)
     
    Sidmouth, Jun 17, 2013
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  8. Robbo

    Robbo Member

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    Yes cutting it a bit fine between loaded test run on 25th June and 1st WSE on 30th. Hope all goes to plan.
     
    Robbo, Jun 17, 2013
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  9. Bifur01

    Bifur01 Member

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    Well, it'll have had a few tests done by then. I hope it'll make it.
     
    Bifur01, Jun 17, 2013
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  10. Sidmouth

    Sidmouth Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Moderator

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    I know its a long shot but 5029 on the first Shakespeare ? (selfishly I can hope)

    70013 maybe for Bristol or does that need a main line test run as well .
     
    Sidmouth, Jun 17, 2013
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  11. david1984

    david1984 Resident of Nat Pres

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    I'd imagine 70013 would need one, I noticed on Youtube it had a high speed test on the GCR last week, certainly out the cab it looked around the 50 mark heading over Swithland Reservoir.

    Personally I'd rather 5029 did the WSE and 70013 got a shakedown on the SE, yet to have a mainline Brit.
     
    david1984, Jun 17, 2013
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  12. Bifur01

    Bifur01 Member

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    Or what's happened with 70000? Haven't seen it for ages, how badly affected is it?
    Tangmere is a possibility, as is 70013, if it's ready.
    Would love to have Nunney though.
     
    Bifur01, Jun 17, 2013
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  13. Sidmouth

    Sidmouth Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Moderator

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    70000 had a collision at the NNR in March . Whilst superficially didn't look to bad , smoke signals coming out of Bury seems to suggest a lot of repair work required . Smoke signals also raise a question mark as to whether 34046 will go main line so we'll watch that with interest. I'm sure Ian on "the works" will update as and when ready
     
    Sidmouth, Jun 17, 2013
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  14. Robbo

    Robbo Member

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    Robbo, Jun 20, 2013
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  15. eggbert

    eggbert Member

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    25th aug and 1st sept look like have been changed to Royal Duchy's, was looking forward to having a few trips on the Weymouth's, hope no more get changed
     
    eggbert, Jun 20, 2013
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  16. Robbo

    Robbo Member

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    WSE for 30th June and 14th July now showing loco as TBA on UKSteam. The Torbay Express also showing 5029 only for 7th and 14th July.
     
    Robbo, Jun 22, 2013
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  17. Bifur01

    Bifur01 Member

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    I'm hoping for 70013 on the 30th, Tangmere would be my second choice though. Not enough bark.

    Edit: On the other hand, UKSteam now lists the Shakespeare express as being 4965, so Nunney should, theoretically, be free. That'd be my first choice, of course :)
     
    Bifur01, Jun 22, 2013
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  18. Paul42

    Paul42 Part of the furniture

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    From the Torbay Express website : -
    LIKELY LOCOMOTIVES FOR 2013

    Steam locomotive No. 5029 'Nunney Castle' passed the Light Engine Movement Test on 19 June and No. 34046 'Braunton' is being tested on 1 July. These two locomotives have been booked to haul the Torbay Express this season, which will, we believe, be the first time either of these engines have been used.
     
    Paul42, Jun 22, 2013
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  19. david1984

    david1984 Resident of Nat Pres

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    4965 does the lions share of SE's but other loco's do make occasional appearances, I think your probably right however that 5029 on a SE (at least early in the season anyway) is unlikely, there's 5043 and 4936 (unless it gets a hire job) that theoretically can be used.
     
    david1984, Jun 23, 2013
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  20. mike1522

    mike1522 Long Time Member Friend

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    I would like to put my bets on Ollie being the power for the 1st WSE! Tangmere has an obligation on the Bath And Bristol this Saturday and 70013 isn't listed for anything this Weekend. I just don't see Tangmere going London-Bristol-Three Bridges and back out to Bristol all in one day that might be a bit farfetched.

    Than again I'm all for Nunney.
     
    mike1522, Jun 25, 2013
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