RTC Cotswold Venturer 16/06/18

60009 not fit to run? You’re mistaken surely?

 

Just a shortish report on No.9s first run back. Hope there will be many more and they all fill. If you can, don't miss a chance to travel behind the legendary engine in her final year of mainline running.

Cotswold Venturer 16th June 2018

Due to the earlier departure time we couldn't get to Paddington so had to join at Slough. As no-one had posted anything we didn't know No.9 was on the front until it came into view. No.9 was steam tight and looking the part drifting in to the station with Bob Baines on the driver's chair. Only load 10 but No.9 was back.

Out on the relief with easy timings speed, got no higher than 64 at mp26, west of Maidenhead. We rolled into Reading right time. Unfortunately we were out on P12 so didn't have the fun of charging up the flyover. Again, out on the relief the running was OK but nothing better. Our max was 66 just after Goring and Streatley. Bob gave way to the legendary Ray Poole at Didcot Parkway. Ray was to take us to Worcester and back to Reading on the return. Decent getaway off Didcot North Junction. Appleford 52; Culham 57; Radley 67, our max on the section, held almost to Kennington Junction.

The usual water and pathing stop below Oxford North Junction and for once the Hereford-Pad/Pad Herefords were close to on time and we weren't delayed. We crossed Wolvercot Jn at line speed, 40, and climbed the light gradients to mp68ish in fine style, ending the section at 53. Ray was enjoying No.9 and the light load and we climbed through Hanborough at 65. The max was 70near Combe and we ran over the undulating gradients to Charlbury in the high 60s; Charlbury 68; Ascott-under-Wychwood 65; Shipton 68. We climbed noisily to Kingham, 69, and to 70 on the level. On gradients averaging 1in350 for 2 miles+ we passed Moreton-in-Marsh at 57.

Down through Blockley we hit 71 and Ray had to brake quite hard down Campden Bank, entering the tunnel at 70, then down Honeybourne Bank with a max of 73 at mp98 3/4. Braking brought speed down to 51 through Honeybourne but we were soon back up to 70 before easing and slowing for our stop at Evesham. Our departure was brisk on the downhill section, 69 at mp111; 68 through Pershore before we drifted down to Norton Jn and to a right time arrival at Shrub Hill.

The highlights of the return are usually fast running from Abbotswood Jn to Cheltenham and beyond, and the climb of Sapperton.

We left right time but a few miles below Abbotswood Jn signalling problems led to some signal to signal and we came to a stand just below Eckington at mp74 3/4. Once under greens the noise level rose with our speed. Ray obviously didn't want to lose time to the pinch point around Gloucester. Speed rose to 34 at mp75then No.9 reached 47 up the mile of 1in319 to mp77 1/4 before gaining speed on the to blast through Ashchurch at 68, but by now 21 late. With a fair old racket from the front we climbed the 5 miles at an average of 1in295 to Swindon Road Crossing at a solid 69; passed Morris Hill at 68 before slowing for the 40 on the tight curve through Cheltenham Spa. Once clear of the station noise and speed rose down the grade to 70 at mp90, surprisingly our max down through Barnwood Jn to Tufley.

No.9 lost no speed on the noisy climb of the 1in104to mp98, but the brakes came on soon after. We crossed Standish Jn at 23. Not quite sure why we were running so slowly as there didn't seem to be a train in front of us. Then Ray changed the note from the front and set about getting No.9 up to line speed by Stroud to attack the foot of Sapperton at the 50 allowed through the station. We passed through Stonehouse at 40 but then only picked up 5 mph on the downgrade to mp104. Then things got really noisy as No.9 accelerated up the mile of 1in276/620, topped at 46; down and on the level to pass Stroud at 48, close to line speed.

Lovely three cylinder chatter from an A4 working hard and No.9 was as we hit the 2 1/2 miles at 1in250, crossing Capels Viaduct, just after mp 102 at 50. Ray had No.9 really notched up and we lost no speed over the next mile to pass mp101 but then the brakes came on for an unexpected yellow aspect signal. The locals were revolting - or at least getting too close to the four foot and we slowed to 27 with a lot of chime whistle warning. Fortunately we were not brought to a stand and Ray used the level track across Brinscombe Path to pick up speed to 37 onto the 1/2 mile of 1in310, left at 40. Here the grade steepens to 1/2 mile+ of 1in103. St Mary's Crossing, the mid-point, was passed at 42 and we met the 1/2 mile of 1in75 at 42. With some serious noise up front No.9 only lost 2 mph to the mile of 1in74 and picked up to 43 over the level across Frampton Viaduct. The final close to a mile of 1in 60 was a bit special as the A4 climbed flat out to charge into Sapperton Long Tunnel at 38.2 mph, a climb worth the fare alone.

We dropped down the bank to pass Kemble at 61 before Ray was able to race down the grade to cross Minety Crossing at 67; pass mp84 at 69; and mp83 at 74. We crossed Purton Crossing after 3/4 mile of 1in404 at 71 and then Ray eased No.9 for Swindon approach. As we ran through the Loco Yard at 31 we could see greens into the station and beyond. We crept through the station at 22 and a mile on were doing 53. Down the mile after mile of 1in834 we crossed Marston at 71; passed Bourton at 75 and on the level and slight downgrades speed didn't fall below 75 for the next 7 miles through Shrivenham and Uffington.

We had greens on the main and so avoided a trip into Challow loop. Speed hovered around 73/4 past Wantage Road before we slowed for our water stop around Milton Junction now a minute early. Control let us out 12 early but signal checks brought us to a stand in Didcot Parkway for a set down and crew change virtually on time. Spike Hodges wasn't there to relieve Ray so he took us on to Reading on Brunel's billiard Table, unfortunately on the relief line. We passed Cholsey at 67; Goring and Streatley at 67, our max on the section. No.9 was eased through Pangbourne, 46 and down to 23 at mp40 1/2 as we were within 5 mins of the Didcot-Pad stopper.

A short burst of speed to 53 by Tilehurst followed before we trundled into Reading. Spike was there to relieve Ray. He told me in Paddington that his train from Cornwall had been delayed by over 30 mins so he couldn't get to Didcot in time. Once clear of the station area, Spike got to grips with the A4. To a loud chatter from the front we hit 68 by mp33; 70 through Twyford, 5 miles out and 74 just after. We flashed through Maidenhead at 74 after which Spike eased off and we lost speed slowly for our final set down at Slough. No chance of any fireworks after Slough as we were within 5 minutes of the Did-Pad all the way in to a right time arrival at Paddington, well in time for me to have a snack and a pint of ESB at the Mad Bishop and Bear before getting the 2132 to Bristol. Home by 0030 for a few hours sleep before setting off for Bristol to do the Cornishman Express.

Great to see No.9 back. We were robbed of what looked like a serious rapid and fast assault of Sapperton by the locals getting too close to the four foot, a great shame. At Worcester, I and many others took the opportunity to thank a very dirty John Cameron after his stint on the footplate for bringing No.9 back for a final fling. Much as he loves the big engine being on the mainline and seeing how much passengers and linesiders alike appreciate and enjoy the engine, this will be her final year unless someone manages to change his mind.

So many thanks to John for bringing No.9 back. Anyone wanting to travel behind the A4 should. It's a magnificent machine. We're going to book as many of the final year's trains as we can.

Thanks to Nigel for running the train which wasn't full, a real surprise; to WCR for providing the excellent crews and stock. How long will we see Ray Poole on the footplate we wonder?; and to Network Rail for letting us use their big railway. Operationally it was a decent day for a Charter Train.

 

Another great write-up Shireman - keep them coming. I for one really enjoy them. I was actually on this one - got a last minute ticket once it was confirmed that No.9 was doing the honours. Well worth it - must try to catch it again before it retires.

When I left the train at Slough I came across Ray Poole sitting on a bench and thanked him for his efforts. He's quite a character as well as a great driver. He told me he learns something on every trip and that's what keeps his mind sharp!

 

Late arrival but I have been away on the Isle of Wight and missed this, but luckily my dad is handy with a camera, enjoy

 

My three shots of the A4 on her mainline return: