End of Southern Steam: 9/07/24

Too long for Weymouth yes, (one could be left at Jersey Sidings, not sure about elsewhere), but it depends on the NR view of the LE move from Yeovil and it steepish climb to Evershot Tunnel. I see this has become a 5Z move some presumably as last time Clan Line did the tour it will be with its support coach.
But agree two diesels unlikely after some rain, no path in RTT and perhaps less concern over "a branch line" compared to the main line from Bournemouth and the New Forest area.

 

I am an amateur meteorologist (and keen gardener). We had a very wet night and I have recorded a total of 15.2mm of rain in the last 24 hours. Looking at the radar yesterday, wide areas of southern England had even more than that. Today is seeing more heavy showers and tomorrow and Monday have the same in the forecast. Tuesday itself is set to have rain all day. 'Sodden', not dry, will almost certainly describe the ground and vegetation by Tuesday. From a line-siding/photography POV, conditions look set to be good for steam (very cool for July, allowing visible exhaust) but I hope the passengers can enjoy the trip and the weather is kind to them where it counts. I imagine a large proportion of passengers on this run will be enthusiasts so they will perhaps care more that steam is allowed to perform than strolling in sunshine on the seafront.

 

Steam on the front and working without diesel assistance is of course very important for such a train on 9th July of all days of the year, provided the current monsoon has made the route fire safe. Closely followed by fish and chips at 34091 (instead of a walk in any weather on the sea front) for a late lunch, if the chippies are still open at 15.30 after the marathon journey down via 34002, 34098, 34004 and 34042.

 

I don’t consider rain all day as good conditions for photography. Here’s hoping for a lucky bright spell as the train passes.

 

For what it’s worth. NR Fire Risk Statement is now green nationwide for the next five days as at the time of this post.

 

Not ideal, but sun in July tends to mean warmth, which often means a lack of visible exhaust (especially from 35028's notably 'clean' emissions). Today's cameras can cope with dull conditions far better than a while back. I happen to like rainy steam shots as being atmospheric but that's just personal taste, of course. I would rather have good visible exhaust in rain than a seemingly coasting loco in sun. Of course, sun on snow and miles of white crisp steam would be nice, but in July...

I would rather have rain and a working steam loco than sun and a 'figurehead'. Obviously, though, all this is from a line-siding POV and the far more important thing is that the passengers enjoy what they have paid for.

 

I like the typo - let's hope it is Clan Lone!

 

Checking fares to Basingstoke on Tuesday where I am the joining steward I noticed that this afternoon there is:
Signal issues between Poole & Hamworthy
Points failure at Bournemouth
Track circuit failure between Redbridge and Southampton.

Hoping for somewhat better infrastructure reliability on Tuesday evening.

 

There has to be a diesel on the back, it runs round at Yeovil and works the train down to Weymouth. Clan Line and the support coach are then turned at Yeovil before running down to Weymouth to work the train back. The last time it worked this train I believe there was no assistance from the diesel up to Bincombe Tunnel or anywhere else.
When 35018 did the tour last year I was at Bincombe Tunnel and someone remarked that it did a lot better than Clan Line, yes it did because the diesel at the back was making more clag than BIL.

 

Squelching round my garden this morning I am wondering if NR still considers the south of England to be tinder-dry?

 

At least there was a reasonable excuse then! BTW, RH still shows the run ending at Victoria - in case anyone here may be misled by that, it is going SWML (FL) to Waterloo (presumably FL all the way from Basingstoke except for p1 at Woking, as shown on RTT).

 

It’s now green, no restrictions. I’ve now made the decision not to go out for it, it’s forecast for rain nearly all day in the SW tomorrow

 

Many thanks for the update.

 

john as support crew i thought you would be out with it

 

There are about 30 of us with PTS cards so we don't get rostered for every one. I'm on the rich man's Pullman around Kent on 18th July and then the RTC Worcester trip in August. The Belmonds are on Thursdays and that can be difficult for those still working as it means two days off mid week.

 

"All set and ready to go! Clan Line is ready to head out onto the mainline tomorrow for our trip to Yeovil Junction and Weymouth":

 

With the original red nameplates