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Cathedrals Express to the WSR 21/08/18

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by Arun Valley, Aug 10, 2018.

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  1. Dan Hill

    Dan Hill Part of the furniture

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    On the tour Saturday there were WSR staff selling tickets for their trains on the charter, and said that they could get off at Blue Anchor, although I'm not sure if it was planned. They were given timetables with markings showing trains that would connect with the charter (a service came into Minehead just a few minutes before we left on the return with a few of those who'd disembarked prior to Minehead).

    Personally despite the early start and late finish I had a nice day Saturday (I was still able to get something to eat and explore the station a bit) and if SD do another one out of Victoria I may consider it as Victoria is a more convenient station for me to get to with even less of an early start for myself .
     
    Dan Hill, Aug 21, 2018
    #41
  2. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Today was one that satisfied everyone in part. The train wasn't full and that tells you something. Load only 9 + POB.

    If you wanted a ride on WSR trains you had to be creative. The charter ran non stop so the only option was to come back early with Braunton and spend even less time at Minehead. It was a day to the sea not a day at the sea.

    The run down was mediocre.We barely kept time and rolled down from Savernake in the low sixties. Coming home was much better but we were held on the Westbury avoider to slot in behind a HST.

    Highlight of the day was Williton to Bishops Lydeard with 7822 and a heavy 8 coaches. (I gave up on going to Minehead). Full and 28% apparently to keep time. Actually we gained time and what a blast it was.

    So goodbye to UoSA from me. Just pleased that one of the crew gave me a good memory of her. The B&H is a great line for fast running.
     
    Big Al, Aug 21, 2018
    #42
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  3. buseng

    buseng Part of the furniture

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    Saw the return at Reading West where it was held for the signal, strangely it stopped more than halfway down the platform waiting for the signal which is at the end of the platform.
    Said HST passed through shortly before 60009. Several "normals" on the platform were taken by surprise. Looked fairly full to me.
     
    buseng, Aug 22, 2018
    #43
  4. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Yes it was fairly full but there were seats to be had in all classes and it was a short train. Standard was popular though.

    I have to say that after a gap of nearly three years since last travelling with Steam Dreams because of their poor record on diesel involvement, they do still tip the balance with service in Standard. Free tea and coffee all day plus a snack menu and orders delivered to your seat. The coach set they use is also pretty smart.
     
    Big Al, Aug 22, 2018
    #44
  5. hampstead

    hampstead New Member

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    Spirited return through Hungerford and Theale
     
    hampstead, Aug 22, 2018
    #45
  6. MellishR

    MellishR Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    I mostly agree, except that I did go through to Minehead. We did go faster coming back, though only reaching 75 mph once that I was aware of, and up to about 50 at best after Reading.

    After we had dropped the pilot at Taunton we sat for a few minutes. The platform indicator showed one Down train running about an hour late and I heard that there had been a fatality somewhere beween Weston and Taunton; but we eventually left only slightly late, at the same time as 1A96, Newquay to Paddington, also running just slightly late. So we toddled along (what was once) the down road until we could cross over and slot in behind it. Although that train was scheduled to stop at Castle Cary it should still have been comfortably ahead of us at Heywood Road Jn, but somehow it managed to reach Westbury 10 late, so it was that same train that we were held for at Heywood Road Jn.

    I had considered getting off at Reading and getting a service train to Paddington in preference to the 2 hour trundle in the dark to Victoria, but in the end I stuck with it.

    Our coach steward was muttering while we waited for the road at Reading, but we were never seriously late and (as can be seen from RTT) our lateness went up and down and we reached Victoria only minimally late.
     
    MellishR, Aug 22, 2018
    #46
  7. Western Venturer

    Western Venturer Well-Known Member

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    Two shots of the train for me, not my best days work behind the camera ( I seem to be saying that a lot lately..must do better..) Filmed at West barn Bridge near Witham Friary and Brewham Close Farm near Bruton. I only used going away shot for last one as the other shot I did I got the settings all wrong and I decided it was un-useable.

     
    Western Venturer, Aug 22, 2018
    #47
  8. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    It really wasn't the network's finest hour for train management yesterday. The Bedwyn service was late away from Reading and even though it caught up time and was on time by Newbury, we trundled along just keeping to our point to point times and that made the water stop rather tight. For some reason we then pottered up to Savernake and dropped more time downhill on an easy schedule to Frome. That delayed the Weymouth to Gloucester service.

    As @MellishR says, on the return the London bound HST held us up at Heywood Road and we were also held at Newbury for a late running service from Penzance. Then there was Reading where they managed to send the charter out directly ahead of a Gatwick Airport service that ran late throughout as a result.

    So given the operating in and around the charter let's hope that the delays caused by the charter itself will be lost amongst everything else.
     
    Big Al, Aug 22, 2018
    #48
  9. gricerdon

    gricerdon Well-Known Member

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    The same HST held us up on Saturday as it was stopped by a freight movement at East Somerset Jct. On every occasion I have been on the GWR in the last few years the operating has been appalling and our charter held up by late running service trains.
     
    gricerdon, Aug 22, 2018
    #49
  10. KristianGWR

    KristianGWR Member

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    My footage from Dun Mill Bridge and Batts Farm, just before the summit of Brewham Bank. Also includes a shot of Saturday's run, filmed at Wolfhall Bridge. I hope you enjoy it! :)
     
    KristianGWR, Aug 22, 2018
    #50
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  11. evilswans

    evilswans Member

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    A bit late to the party but 60009 glinting through Castle Cary



    Matt
     
    evilswans, Aug 31, 2018
    #51
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  12. AnthonyTrains2017

    AnthonyTrains2017 Well-Known Member

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    I like that video, superb
     
    AnthonyTrains2017, Sep 1, 2018
    #52
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