RTC 2025

Indeed - and I see that yet again the water stop at Winchfield was a problem, delaying the following SWR Basingstoke train by over 20 minutes. From a 20 late arrival there, the booked 20 minute water stop actually took 26.

 

B5?

 

'Black Five' 45212 (I assume).

 

it is an improvement, I believe in the past the water stop was scheduled for 10 minutes! A ridiculous suggestion which it always left late from. Surprised with the extra time it has the same problem.

 

Correct.

 

63.5 miles been done for years now in the other direction. Although not as far as the 89.75 from Exeter St David's to Laverstock by 34067 on the back.
I would suggest as there used to be about 6 DCE's a year in its heyday, and this year 2 popularity has wained.

 

Well, I'd have been pleasantly surprised if it was a Robinson "Fish Engine"

https://www.lner.info/locos/B/b5.php

 

For me the peak of interest was when they were trying to get 31806 on the tour. Which of course never succeeded and is no longer possible.
The tour I booked on got as close as having the LE paths put in, but alas, they were cancelled.

 

Anyone know why return DCE now only going to CJ and via Staines. Does the diesel have an issue?

 

In case Waterloo's signalling falls over yet again?! More seriously, as the return trip now has no water stop(s), I guess the steam has failed.

 

New timetable up, but with no water stops…
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:98464/2025-07-23/detailed

 

My guess is that it seemingly doesn't work well, as the return looks to be diesel-hauled (terminating at CJ with no water stops en route).

 

Confirmed 45212 failure at Weymouth, diesel back to Clapham

 

My video from this morning - I had intended to add the return at the (rare for steam) Weybridge stop, but...!

 

Hot box one of the stewards tells me.

 

So, that's 45212 and 70000 failed on the same day...

 

Would suggest that ecs move to Southall is easier from Clapham than Waterloo hence routing via Staines to ease such a move AND also reduces risk of further problems if train is subject to further problems between Clapham and Waterloo.

 

It is the default route if a loco fails on a railtour in Wessex or Sussex. It's a head on run via Kensington and the Poplar Incline, therefore no need to find another loco to haul the ECS out out of Victoria or Waterloo.

Cheers, Neil

 

The reason is simply because there is only one loco on the train, which makes a reversal at Waterloo impossible.