Cath Ex Victoria to Bath and Bristol - 10/12/16

The initial request may have been for 13 coaches. I have a notice suggesting that Braunton , sorry Lord Dowding, will be hauling 12 coaches to Bristol today.

Update: 47.802 is at the rear of the train. <BJ>

 

Has it left Victoria yet?

 

Yes was no report on RTT for a while. On the move.

 

34052 through Oldfield Park at speed at 14:26. An impressive display of clag .....some from Lord Dowding also. <BJ>

 

As seen earlier this afternoon, passing Limpley Stoke

 

Anyone know why its lost 44 mins so far, looking to go see it at Tilehurst (reading)

 

My effort at Bradford on Avon today , once again jay walkers were on the crossing nearest the station , I wouldn't be surprised if Network Rail close this crossing ,staff from the station have run up through the park to try and catch trespassers in the past .

 

Couple of snaps from chasing her this morning. Much as Royal Scot is a fine machine, a Bulleid is still much better! Seen at Victoria and Basingstoke, few more here.

 

Was the 47 doing anything or just tagged on the back?

 

I can say categorically it was doing nothing at either West Brompton or Basingstoke (although it was switched on), but neither of those are exactly demanding stretches.

 

Having a detriment effect on certain posters blood pressure?

 

I saw it pass Chippenham last night going like the clappers - very impressive. The 47 at the back was idling - I had to re-watch my video a couple of times to check as to the class 47.

It left Bristol TM late - missing its 1711 slot and then followed 1730 Bristol TM to Padd. Further delays ensued to both trains - I suspect crowding at Bath Spa ICW Christmas Market.

Chippenham reached/passed from Bath in just under 14 minutes - did the 47 assist?, It was a foul night with rain lashing down.

 

I had to go down to Balham yesterday to do a bit of DIY for my daughter so took the challenge of trying to make something of the awful December murk. This is 34052 approaching Latchmere Junction on the connecting line from Stewarts Lane Junction to the West London Line. The line has just passed under the mainline from Victoria to Clapham Junction and is curving round to pass under it for a second time a few hundred yards further on. The furthest track on the right is used by the Belmond Pullman to get to Clapham Junction. The Top of the viaduct carrying the mainline from Waterloo can just be seen beyond the Victoria line. A fascinating maze of trackwork in this area of SW London

 

Just a quick question for, well, most people...can most people who post all the stuff about diesels on the back etc. honestly say they know the operational reasons for that, or can they state authoritatively that they can tell the difference between when it is working to push or working to provide the electrics for the train.

The reason I ask is that I often see posts commenting on 'clag from the diesel etc' when I've been on the footplate at the front of that trip knowing full well we weren't being pushed.

For instance, I was on the footplate from Vic to Reading yesterday and apart from the initial shove out of Vic no other assistance was requested on that leg. The 47 was still working though, ETH etc.

 

There seems to be a lack of consistency for when a diesel at the rear is required to push. At Bath on the outward leg, the train was only a few minutes late and there were no trains behind, but the diesel was pushing like mad. At Keynsham on the return, the train was already 30 mins late but the 47 was not pushing at all. Unless the diesel had failed it appears a rather strange situation. <BJ>

 

As I have posted elsewhere, it was a massive shame to see the diesel pushing like mad out of Reading on what is after all, a level piece of line. Absolute no excuse for this as the train was on time.

No my video, but start cringing at 6.00

 

Taking it's weight that was

 

Not once it had cleared the platform. If that was "just taking its weight", it must a "bloody" heavy weight