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Vintage Trains Oxford Circular 15/06/19

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by gricerdon, Jun 5, 2019.

  1. mrKnowwun

    mrKnowwun Part of the furniture

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    Around Kennington Junction. But timings being what they are, who knows. I have only managed accurate passings twice, one 30 seconds apart and one stationary meeting at Rugby
     
  2. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    The big money shot will be from the camera on Scotsman - not that you get both locos in the frame that way.
     
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  3. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

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    That's only because you want to be at the front........
     
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  4. LittleRedTrain

    LittleRedTrain Member

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    Clun Castle looking good, on time through Banbury this morning.

    DSC_0308-cropped.jpg

    Standard seemed very lightly loaded, would've been tempted to do it myself but £60 return, although reasonable for Birmingham-Oxford, seemed a bit steep for just Banbury-Oxford.
     
  5. LittleRedTrain

    LittleRedTrain Member

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    Just left Oxford. Diesel on the back but not sure if it's working
     
  6. Will RL

    Will RL Member

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    Get in the Anderson shelter folks...
     
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  7. mattspencer

    mattspencer Well-Known Member

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    The le path has disappeared off the system. From the amount of noise coming from Clun the three times I've seen it the 47 is doing nothing.
     
  8. gricerdon

    gricerdon Well-Known Member

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    If it’s Ray driving then the DL should not work
     
  9. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    To be fair the DL doesn't sound as though it's doing anything and the acceleration confirms it but we have Saunderton soon.....
     
  10. mattspencer

    mattspencer Well-Known Member

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    47 quiet through Saunderton station
     
  11. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    52 min from 45 at High Wycombe
     
  12. jon5051

    jon5051 Member

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    Two shots at Appleford LC and Beaconsfield

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  13. banburysaint

    banburysaint Member

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    The climb on Saunderton was unassisted. The locomotive on the rear is a sensible precaution given the lack of white space in the timetable and lack of vacuum fitted locomotives on the mainline should anything go a miss - the financial penalties would be crippling. I have had a fantastic day on the circular tour, plenty of noise from 7029, a very enjoyable picnic hamper lunch of very high quality food. You even get to keep the wicker basket, china plates and metal cutlery. Well done Vintage Trains

    Sent from my PRA-LX1 using Tapatalk
     
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  14. MellishR

    MellishR Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    Given the schedules, today wasn't going to be about performance, with or without a diesel. I've had a good ride, with plenty of sound from the loco accelerating from numerous slacks. I reckon diesel added to the load, not to power.
     
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  15. D1002

    D1002 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Saunderton:

     
  16. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    I agree with all that. The climb of Saunderton (that was the only extended bit of work that the loco had to do) was very much what you would expect with a Class 7 plus 350 tons or so gross and an idling Class 47. Given the route and the fact that this was a stroll around the Chilterns it was all good in that respect. Clun went well and barked when it was asked to. We kept to our path and didn't get in the way of anything else, as far as I could see. The crews did a good job so what's not to like?

    Well I'm sorry to pour just a little cold water on a well organised and run trip but, on the price for starters, this little circular worked out at about 90p a mile of steam. For about 105 pence per mile I could have been on Tornado with the Pullmans and silver service each way up to Scarborough. Oh, and no diesel either. But to be fair, that was my decision when I booked. However the diesel is slightly different.

    VT through its own correspondent on here was proudly saying that the circular was planned to run without a diesel. I booked on that basis and even checked when I purchased the ticket. At some point that decision was reversed but I didn't see anyone from VT coming on here or anywhere else and telling everyone about the change, even though I suspect it was known about before the train left Tyseley this morning. There was no opportunity to abort until the evidence was seen as 7029 pulled into Oxford Parkway but by that time I had driven a hundred miles for a trip I wouldn't otherwise have booked on, or at least claimed a refund/credit on the basis of a change of plan from what was promised.

    Perhaps this lack of openness and clarity was just an 'early days error' and not the shape of things to come. With Bahamas coming up I sincerely hope that VT gets its PR act together a bit more on what is and is not going to happen with those trips.

    That said - and end of niggle - my thanks to the crews and those who made it all happen today.
     
  17. D1002

    D1002 Resident of Nat Pres

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    The presence of the idling diesel added to the event from both the passengers and photographers point of view. All the more load for her to haul up Saunderton bank :).
     
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  18. mrKnowwun

    mrKnowwun Part of the furniture

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    Nowt wrong with giving the Castle an extra Kilo or two* to haul up Saunderton (*to go with the fat cats on board anyway..... ;))
     
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  19. alts1985

    alts1985 Well-Known Member

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  20. NathanP

    NathanP Member

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    I had a great time, and it was good to meet a couple of fellow Nat Pres'ers. With regards to the diesel, yes it was a disappointment, but these things happen and it didn't diminish my enjoyment of the trip. My first time up Saunderton behind a Great Western!
     
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