The Golden Arrow, 9th-11th October.

47832 on the back apparently.

 

Oh, and 231 K 8 has made it to Calais with the empty stock it seems, load 7.

 

is this returning today or staying at dover

 

I think it has already left Dover en route back to Southall - not sure what is leading though !!

 

Yes, makes a lot of sense to me.

Shame it couldn't have been an E5000 class electric loco!



NOT my photo, but I think I have some super 8 film somewhere of one on the Arrow.

 

I am shocked. I thought you were a man of steam. These bl**dy things brought an early end to mainline steam in Kent! Only good thing that came out of it was that many of the locomotives, some very rare, were sent to Nine Elms, Salisbury, Exmouth Junction etc. so that us West of England spotters could catch some rare "cops".

 

Through Sittingbourne 28 early, diesel on the back doing all the work and stop at Adisham missed.

 

I was going to head up to Sole Street to see (and hear) her up the bank, but checked RTT and saw how early she was, won't get there in time now! Never mind eh?

 

Diesel doing all the work?

 

Didn't the Night Ferry go for a lengthy run around South London to be turned requiring two loco 's because of steep gradient's.

 

The Brit looked excellent through the Warren from the cliff-top café at Capel. Have video from new camera but cannot work out how to load HD onto Youtube.

Just made it to Snowdown on the return, too late for camera, and the Brit was certainly doing bulk of the work there.

Still no times up for the return run on Sunday which is odd and it will still need a diesel for the train to be backed down to Dover Priory on Sunday and presumably assist going up Lydden Bank.

 

Also looked great emerging from Shakespeare Cliff Tunnel. Nothing coming out of the chimney, but this is such a classic, stunning location that it was still worth taking a picture. Very surprised when the 47 emerged from the tunnel on the back of the train. It wasn't exactly a demanding schedule nor an exceptionally long train. 70000 has tackled Bearsted Bank (the steeptes climb on today's schedule) unaided before - in April 2011 if my memory is correct.

 

Yes she did. Made a fine sight and sound that day.

 

That was where I had planned to go if I had gone out. The classic location to see the Arrow. I think you can get a shot from a footpath that heads West from near the roundabout on the A20, showing the sea and the whole of Shakespeare Cliff as well as the tunnel mouths? This fine shot was taken there in 2010.



As for the diesel, I mentioned that earlier. For such an important bi-country trip I think it was a very sensible decision, even if "normal" operational reasons influenced that too.

 

'Ere you go, shame about the audience!

 

I don't know what came over me.

 

Looked a lovely day down there.

 

It was, café was not yet open but gave us a free coffee each! - result!