If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

CathEx - London and Bristol to Ludlow and Shrewsbury - Nov 29th

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by Big Al, Nov 11, 2014.

  1. Shoddy127

    Shoddy127 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 1, 2005
    Messages:
    1,905
    Likes Received:
    330
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Portsmouth
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Great stuff Matt, that first shot is cracking with the sunshine!
     
  2. cg

    cg Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2005
    Messages:
    1,296
    Likes Received:
    214
    Gender:
    Male
    Good to see that someone made it to Purton to produce some cracking footage, I would have done, but hit some debris en route, and burst a tyre.
     
  3. Sean Emmett

    Sean Emmett Member

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2014
    Messages:
    578
    Likes Received:
    489
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Bristol
    Bristol Parkway waiting for diesel to come on front
     
  4. free2grice

    free2grice Part of the furniture Friend

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2005
    Messages:
    5,283
    Likes Received:
    2,650
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired Rolls-Royce engineer
    Location:
    Bath Green Park / Mangotsfield
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Now 103 mins late departing Bristol Parkway. A long day out for the passengers. <BJ>
     
  5. david1984

    david1984 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Sep 13, 2005
    Messages:
    12,910
    Likes Received:
    1,387
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Birmingham
    Not much luck today with Welsh Marches tours, one being yinged to death by a class 67 washing machine and the other getting home Sunday Morning :(
     
  6. 5944

    5944 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2006
    Messages:
    8,031
    Likes Received:
    7,605
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Train Maintainer for GTR at Hornsey
    Location:
    Letchworth
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Even longer for anyone who joined at Paddington. It doesn't look like there's a connection anywhere en route for passengers to get back into London, unless 23.10 from Swindon drops more time.
     
  7. ADB968008

    ADB968008 Guest

    Maybe Its becoming a sleeper :)

    23.10 isn't scheduled to stop at Slough.. would be a problem if people had arranged themselves around that...
     
  8. Paul42

    Paul42 Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2006
    Messages:
    5,921
    Likes Received:
    3,827
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    East Grinstead
    But they might have changed to it at Swindon. It arrived in Swindon after the Cath Ex.
     
  9. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

    Joined:
    May 30, 2009
    Messages:
    21,064
    Likes Received:
    20,773
    Location:
    1016
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    My guess is also that Paddington people were told to get off at Swindon and pick up the late running train from Taunton, otherwise they would be stranded at Slough.

    So if today's delay was a problem with the stock, possibly the braking, then that's down to West Coast. A timely reminder that the rolling stock needs as much care and attention as the steam locomotives and therefore cannot be taken for granted.
     
    EveningStar92220 likes this.
  10. Autotank

    Autotank Member

    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2005
    Messages:
    552
    Likes Received:
    114
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Radio Producer
    Location:
    Berkshire
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Just saw it leave Twyford - the latest tour I have ever been out to see! Still a couple of Black 5's at my local station just had to be seen! Caught the A4 at Didcot earlier as well so I'm a happy chappy!
     
  11. alastair

    alastair Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 7, 2005
    Messages:
    1,232
    Likes Received:
    748
    Yes that is exactly what happened. Paddington people caught the service train at Swindon,accompanied by an SD steward. SD had gone through the whole train checking exactly where everyone needed to get to. People were told that if they needed to get taxis from Paddington to send the receipt to SD.

    It was a brake problem,reportedly,that meant we left Shrewsbury an hour late. The pathing/water stop at Craven Arms loop was shortened but the signaller kept us waiting there for a service train. Being then 90 mins late,we were unable to make up any time after that as even when the diesel came on the front at Bristol Parkway we were still restricted to 60mph. Still,a good trip with the Riley fives. The outward sector ran early for most of the trip,and the gradients were flattened in great style.
     
    ADB968008 likes this.
  12. GBoreham

    GBoreham Member

    Joined:
    Mar 15, 2014
    Messages:
    356
    Likes Received:
    984
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Burscough Bridge
    Footage of the 5's on the Marches yesterday from Ashlet Hill above Church Stretton and Church Stretton station. Also includes a shot of 345 on Compass Tours' 'Festive St Nicholas Explorer' at Burscough Bridge.

     
    981smithy likes this.
  13. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

    Joined:
    May 30, 2009
    Messages:
    21,064
    Likes Received:
    20,773
    Location:
    1016
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    My experience with SD is that if there is a problem they are really well organised in sorting things out on their side to try and make it as easy as possible for the passenger. Given that this delay was down to a failure of West Coast rolling stock then I assume that the extra costs involved in getting people home (and not just from Paddington either) would be passed on to the TOC. It's turning into an expensive year for them.
     
  14. Bifur01

    Bifur01 Member

    Joined:
    Jun 20, 2012
    Messages:
    641
    Likes Received:
    117
    Here's my video of the Cathedrals Express at Purton and Llanvihangel:

     
  15. I. Cooper

    I. Cooper Member

    Joined:
    Feb 5, 2011
    Messages:
    567
    Likes Received:
    666
    Location:
    Salop
    Was it?
    The signalman at Sutton Bridge Jnc actually said the delay was due to a problem with the steam engines - but that did seem odd as from where we were stood it was possible to see the smoke from them over at Abbey Foregate Jnc, which was occasionally moving around - which would imply the 'problem' didn't prevent them moving.

    Of course if it was a braking issue then there are an awful lot more connections and waggly bits on the rolling stock than on the locos, so the probability would be for a rolling stock problem. The danger is when Chinese whispers get cast in stone. There was also muttering at Sutton Bridge about having to wait until a diesel arrived with the steamers suffering problems - something I personally didn't take seriously (and hadn't been suggested by the signalman) as I suspect it was based on people making assumptions of their own rather than hearing further info from elsewhere.

    The previous week I understand the station staff at Shrewsbury said the reason for the delay was 'a large metal object on the line', their explanation later changed to a diesel with a broken air line in the Chester area causing the delay. On the forum afterwards we learnt that servicing the locos over ran which accounted for the late departure, and then having missed the alloted path it snowballed thereafter - no mention of failed locos around Chester at all.

    I've learnt to take reasons for delays with a good pinch of salt unless it comes pretty direct from the loco operator, train operator, or someone lineside stood watching what is happening. I don't doubt everything heard has a grain of truth about it, the problem is working out how much.


    Interesting comment (before you deleted it).
    I noticed on RTT that the loco movements to/from Coton Hill and out of the yard around the triangle and back were all cancelled with the comment, "This service was cancelled throughout due to a problem with the track (IS).". There didn't seem to be any other movements listed on RTT for alternative arrangements for taking the ECS elsewhere or turning the locos, which added to the puzzle whilst stood waiting.
     
  16. green five

    green five Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Apr 30, 2006
    Messages:
    6,595
    Likes Received:
    2,242
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Hampshire
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Another thread concerning a SD trip which makes for depressing reading. I really feel for SD and their passengers on this one. It's not the first time it has happened to them and sadly it probably won't be the last time. I have been on two of their trips operated by WCRC which got back very late or didn't get back to the start point at all. One of these trips was very late due to the WCRC Class 37 on the rear having serious brake problems on the outward run. The 37 was dumped at the destination but sadly on the much delayed return run the steam loco (34067) also failed. SD handled the situation well on both occasions but they really shouldn't have to sort things out like this on what seems to now be a regular occurrence.
    Yesterday the carriages seemed to be the problem. I also heard reports that the Class 47 on the rear of the RTC trip failed. Seems to be a maintenance problem somewhere.
    As someone else mentioned previously the carriages need maintenance too. I will post again what I said in the SD MHR - Bluebell railtour thread:
    "The bad bits:
    The SD carriages are still sh*t. The coach we were in had lights which didn't want to work. When someone asked if they could be fixed the reply from the WCRC member of staff wasn't very polite. He also added that the carriages should have been scrapped long ago!"
     
  17. iswise

    iswise Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2010
    Messages:
    220
    Likes Received:
    43
    Here are my two clips from yesterday. The roar of the two fives on Llanfihangel will live long in the memory! Thanks to all concerned. Note that the first clip at Purton was shot from the right side of the fence despite possibly appearing otherwise (but it did involve a lot of bramble scratches!)
    https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=T1O7WUusZbQ
     
  18. LMarsh1987

    LMarsh1987 Part of the furniture Friend

    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2013
    Messages:
    2,882
    Likes Received:
    3,589
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    TBC
    Location:
    Birmingham & Arley
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    The double duo, seen emerging through the mist, then followed by a fine show at Abergavenny.

     
    MikeParkin65 likes this.
  19. iswise

    iswise Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2010
    Messages:
    220
    Likes Received:
    43
  20. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

    Joined:
    May 30, 2009
    Messages:
    21,064
    Likes Received:
    20,773
    Location:
    1016
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Fair point. Just to say that I wasn't using the post to have a pop at West Coast. I was simply observing that if it was a problem with the stock then I wouldn't have thought that Steam Dreams would have to foot the bill for additional costs associated with taxis etc. And, yes, it definitely has been a troublesome year for West Coast. As for the quality of elderly rolling stock, whatever the rights or wrongs or fairness of comments about their fleet it's certainly the case that a substandard steam locomotive doesn't get to leave the depot on a charter but things can go wrong en route with rolling stock the same as with a steam locomotive.
     

Share This Page