Great Britain XV: 15 - 23/4/23

Going through Sleaford rather than the avoiding line.

Sent from my XQ-AS52 using Tapatalk

 

Day 1

A couple of queries for the movements at Plymouth...

When the train arrives at Plymouth, 1Z10 Platform 7, 5 minutes later a light loco oZ10 leaves Platform 6 but I cant see how it got there ??

Later there is West Coast Railways light engine movement from Plymouth to Bristol
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U66201/2023-04-15/detailed

Does this mean there are two West Coast Diesels involved in the movements at Plymouth? One on the train all the time and one assisting with shunting?
As had been said they will need a loco on the back for the return for the banks so I think there must be two diesels involved..

Its just a query, I know most arent intereested in the diesel side so be nice please.

 

I was all geared up to watch Bahamas on Thursday until I found out the move was postponed for 24 hours. Thursday Plan B - as it was a foul day head over to (an undercover) Preston station to watch 44932 head south. Mission aborted, RTT showed the train had been cancelled - ah well, such is life. The weather brightened. After it was too late to head to Preston RTT showed the train was running after all - b*gger! Despite a forecast to the contrary it remained dry and bright for the rest of the afternoon. Mrs W went out for a walk and I waited in for an Amazon delivery (arrived about 15.30) - the item was faulty!! In the evening I dropped off the item at an Amazon return point in Langho (don't ask!) - Langho was dry and cool but with no sign of steam.

Should I try to watch Bahamas today or concede defeat? Oswald says, "No surrender!", but it all depended. I had won first prize in the NHS Lottery, an appointment with my GP (the second prize was £10,000). If he was running late I would have no time for Wilpshire and if he was running very late Pleasington or Cherry Tree would also be out of reach. I went in for my appointment 20 minutes late but it didn't take too long. This left me with just about enough time to get to Ramsgreave & Wilpshire.

There was a fairly large gap between service trains and an opportunity for Bahamas to run early. After parking, a glance at RTT showed that the train had already left Clitheroe (16E) and the prediction was that it would pass R&W at 12.06 - it was now 11.55. Down onto the platform that was deserted save for three "children". They were probably aged about 12 or 13 (school holidays) and were practicing mutual swearing/cursing/obscenities (presumably this forms a part of their social studies course). After a couple of minutes they left - thank feck for that!

Then, with probably less than 5 mins before the train was due, it began to rain. Light spit spots were soon replaced by steady rain - brolly up! The train appeared and cruised up the hill pulling along but a single coach. It was all over in less than 30 seconds - don't go there, Oswald. Two minutes after the train had passed the rain stopped, it must be me! As @RalphW has previously advised it could have been dry at Langho, but today I simply didn't have the time. 6C, feeling cooler, 15E, speed of no significance and 4 watching (including Oswald). Was it worth it? And the answer is . . . YES!

 

It does all look somewhat confusing, to me that looks like some of the LE moves for the diesel I assume was due to be following the tour could still be in RTT, I could of course be wrong.
To me the most confusing is this move which I can only assume is the Black 5 turning on the Laira triangle, so not sure where the steam loco servicing & watering would be taking place tomorrow.
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U66194/2023-04-15/detailed

 

All set at Paddington!

 

Can you advise on the diesel assistance please? <BJ>

 

Diesel is on the rear, heard no assistance thus far from my own and mates footage. No idea what's happening at Plymouth.

 

Notch 4 !

 

Watching Railcam. Gentle getaway after the Newbury Racecourse water stop. 9+POB, 5 Pullmans so heavy 10. The 5 lifted the train away on its own. Would have been interesting to have seen 35018 tackling the banks with that 10.

 

Does Railcam have sound?

 

Depends which camera you look at, some do some do not.

 

I was wondering if the lack of assistance from the diesel in this case was confirmed by sound or only visually. Just curious.

 

Racecourse has sound and the 47 was on tickover. The Dawlish set have sound as does Teignmouth. No more cams on the route unfortunately. Teignmouth and Dawlish will be better on the return.

 

44932 at Crofton this morning with the Great Britain XV climbing to Savernake. Working hard with no obvious effort from the 47 on the back.

Berks and Hants Steam 1 by Stephen Dance, on Flickr

 

The Great Britain XV and The Saphos tour at Bedwyn. Forgive some of the iffy camerawork, my good Sony camera is irretrievably broke, and I chopped the tip of my zoom finger off midweek!

 

The Great Britain XV at Wick, near Langport.

 

Day 1 of the tour seen departing Paddington, passing Twyford, and Hungerford. Followed 90 minutes later by 34046, and ending with 1001 on its tour of London termini:

 

Very fine - the exhaust covers the train pleasingly. I shall be walking the canal there on Wednesday. Was this from a bridge or a drone?

 

Nice work as ever. The highlight for me was the shot of 34046 where two of the three 'orangemen' working on the trackside cabinet didn't even look up to watch the steam pass! The speed through Twyford looked impressive - is 44932 a 60 or 75mph loco (I though all the 'Fives' were 60, but unsure)?