South Devon Explorer 27/05/23

50 late back. What happened on the return diesel section?

 

Here's my footage of Bahamas demolishing the South Devon Banks with her 9 coach load. I filmed her at Beambridge, Stoneycombe, Hemerdon and near Pugham Farm. the highlights were without doubt the noisy climb up Dainton and the incredible climb up Hemerdon. I hope you enjoy the video.

 

Trespass at Castle Carey then signal problems in the Pewsey area fortunately for me was the decision to not use G.W.R. and drive to Guildford was not good night to fellow passengers but good morning!!

 

I know two of my steward friends were planning to take garden chairs to sit in among the rubbish in the brake, but have not had chance to ask them yet if there was even room to do that.

 

As ever, Bahamas looked superb. One thing has always puzzled me. Is there a specific reason for its driving wheels to have what appears to be black spokes and polished wheel rims?

It gives Bahamas a very distinctive, even sophisticated, appearance but I've seen no other loco with similar treatment.

Is it something historical relating to this particular loco or simply the current owner's preference?

 

It's how the society wants the locomotive presented, LMS Exhibition Finish I believe it is called, She was turned out the same during the previous ticket.

 

My footage of yesterday's doings. Filmed at Victory Crossing, Dainton and Hemerdon. A bloody superb run up Dainton! I hope you enjoy it

 

Looks like a magnificent run; those of you on board were very lucky. I haven't been on any mainline steam trips for over 18 months; there have just been too many disappointments. If there was a decent chance of knowing in advance about a trip of this quality, I would book and travel half way across the country to be on it. I would also pay a bit more if necessary to have a coach left off so they didn't need a diesel. As it stands, I still find the risks too high. Anybody else feel this way?

 

Isn't that how Silver Jubilee was originally presented (along with gloss black paint, chrome lettering, etc)?

 

Yes, it seems so - thank you

 

Been busy so bit late posting this report of an excellent day. It's a bit long but we had a very enjoyable day with excellent performance from 45596.

South Devon Explorer 27th May 2023

Well recovered after the shock of spending 2 nights in London to do the ACE, it was back on to 'home' territory for us with the Explorer. Hard to believe for many reasons we hadn't been on the Bristol-Plymouth Road since 11th July 2021. As we are always awake early on touring days we decided to drive to Temple Meads and get a service to Westbury. Charged the Corsa e overnight and with 196 showing as the range, we thought it would be OK to do the 88 road miles round trip.

Out at 6 o'clock down the via the A449, M4, M32 and the local road to Temple Meads. After we crossed the new Severn Crossing we dropped into ECO mode as we'd already used 55 miles over an actual mileage of 30!!! In the car park the dial showed we'd used up 81 miles of power travelling 44 miles on the road with a maximum speed of 73 mph.

The service was on time and we had a wander around Westbury that is a very busy station with one platform not served by a track, so only 3 platforms. There were 6 trains in 20 minutes when we were there. We met up with our friends John and Phil who'd driven to Westbury. The train rolled in 5 mins early and we found our 4+4 seats in Coach G. No Buffet Car. As the train reversed we'd be Coach 3 for the outward; Coach 8 for the return.

Got to the Meads on time but the usual combination of late running trains and poor signalling saw us leave with the immaculate 45596 on the front some 8 late with a Cardiff-Penzance stopper not too far in front. We were joined by Dan and Bill, my often window sharing timer on CMEs and any other trains he doesn't have a milepost side seat. Always good to have 'front and back' timers on this route as many posts hide in the undergrowth.

Andy Taylor was our driver, with Chris Birmingham on the shovel. Gentle start, only 21.8 through Bedminster. But then 45596 was opened up and we passed through Parsons Street at 38 and charged the gentle couple of miles of 509r/428r 234r and a bit of 180r to Flax Bourton, the summit passed at a very creditable 51.8. 45596 on form like last weekend. Sounded superb. The 40 mile run to Taunton is down grade or level virtually all the way. The familiar Jubilee roar made itself heard down a mile of 200r to mp124, passed at 61.2. Down a bit of 146f, then 3/4m of 387r we almost hit hot 70 at mp125. Down through Nailsea and Backwell at 76.2 then after a mile or so we hit Brunel's 22 miles of level track between mp128 3/4 to mp150 3/4.

We roared through Nailsea and Backwell at 76.2; Yatton at 75.9; crossed Huish LC at 74 before a touch on the brakes. Assumed we'd got too close to the stopper a mile or so from Worle Jn, the entry to the Weston-super-Mare, but not so and we passed the junction at 75 and held just over 74 down past Uphill Jn that told us that the stopper was behind us. Good stuff signaller! 74/5 all the way then. The Jubilee roared through Highbridge at 75.7; Bridgwater 75.5 then a bit of rising grade for a couple of miles, 256r/340r that barely affected 45596. We passed mp153 at 74.9 and wondered if we'd achieve the holy grail of an even time from Temple Meads to Taunton, though we were not booked to stop there. After another 3 miles of level track we were still bowling along at 76 with Cogload Jn in sight. Up over the junction speed dropped a bit to 70 but rose on the 572f back to 74. Then on level track with Taunton Station in sight, the brakes kicked in at mp161 and we slowed to come to a stand in Platform 3 just after 1052, over 6 minutes early.

We had bested even time as the 45 miles had taken us only 44m 23.6s. Great start to the day.

We weren't supposed to be stopping here as our water stop was at Tiverton Loop, and at 75 through the station we should have been able to keep ahead of any service behind us, even with the climb of Whiteball in our path. But control is control. The PAD-PGN was 15 late and had only left the station at 1049 and wouldn't have cleared the signals to Tiverton Parkway. Thing was it took us into a slot where we in all likelihood we'd have to wait for the late running CDF-PNZ that was in the Weston-super-Mare loop when we passed it earlier. And that came to pass as the stopper rolled into P4 at 11 o'clock and left 2 minutes later. Sadly it wasn't an HST Short Set but a 5-car IET. We were released just after 1104 which was earlier than expected.

Always fun attacking Whiteball from a standing start. With 9 up we predicted 40-45 at the tunnel entrance, hoping for the latter as Andy was enjoying himself up front and 45596 was in fine fettle. Level 3/4m that we left at 23. Much more noise as we hit the 3/4m of 322r/329r and we passed mp164 1/4 at 37.3. Bit of level/724r took us to mp165, 48 with the familiar Jubilee roar and bits of coal bouncing off the toplight deflectors onto our timing sheets!!. A mile of 369r saw a steady increase to pass mp166 at 52.9. Over Victory LC onto a mile of 203r to mp267, 54.2. 3/4 m of 338r/222r to Bradford and Tone LC, 56, then the noise level went up significantly on the mile+ of 174r to pass mp169 at 56.1.

The section to Wellington is where drivers pick up speed for the steep climb to the summit. We left the section, ave 500r to pass mp170 1/4 at 57.7, just falling off the max of 58.2.

Here's where the serious bank starts with almost a mile of 90r with the Jubilee roar echoing around as we passed mp172 1/42 at 53.2. It steepens to just under a mile at 86r, left at 45.4 at mp172 1/4, and then to the final 3/4m of 80r. to Hard section this and we passed mp273 at 40.7. Almost immediately we roared into the sanctuary of the tunnel and the easing 127r at 40.3. The line climbs through the tunnel for over half a mile at 203r. We left it at 40.8 and passed mp174, the summit, at 41.8. Time elapsed from Taunton start was 11m 16.98s. A very good climb as after all, 45596 is only a Class 6 locomotive.

Down grade to Tiverton Parkway, 405f, mp177 1/4+ at 59 after a brief 70 at mp176 1/2. We cut off the mainline into Tiverton Loop and stopped opposite MP179, just about 6 minutes late. A tanker was there waiting for us. A couple of trains passed us and water was taken quickly enough to be given a green signal some 5 minutes early. Out of the loop onto almost 2 miles of 155f where Andy worked 45596 a bit gently. We passed mp181, end of 155f, at 59.7. Then it got noisier and again bits of coal landed on our table as speed rose down the 2 miles ave 320f, to pass mp183 at 69.7. All downgrade to Exeter and we passed over Hele and Bradnich LC, mp185 1/2, level, at 74.7; 4 miles, ave 420f, later, Stoke Canon LC, mp190 1/4ish, 310r at 77. We were close to Cowley Bridge but were slowed to 17.4 at mp192 1/2, to let a train off the branch to Okehampton. It was an Exmouth train so would cross to P1, well out of our way. Shortly we had a green and accelerated through Exeter St Davids, 286r, mp193 72c, at 32. On the way down we were amazed at the number of mileposts and lineside boxes were being consumed by Ivy.

There's an unofficial 'Exminster Challenge' the aim being to pass the site of the old Exminster Signal Box, mp198 3/4, at 75. Gently undulating track for almost 5 miles to mp197 1/2, 67.2, then after close to 2 miles of level track we passed mp198 3/4 at 72.1. Decent enough for the load.

Then it's the scenic bit along the estuary over mostly level track. We roared through Starcross at 66 but then 45596 was eased and we ran through middle road at Dawlish Warren at 63.6. The service train expected to pass us there was running 15 mins late. Past Langstone Rock for a first sight of the monumental new Sea Wall and Community Space around the Stilling Basin below the railway arches at Dawlish. An easterly wind and high tide produced a rough sea so passengers on the left of the train saw a bit of the recurve effect that weakens the force of the waves and sends the water away from the wall. Watching it being constructed over the past 4 years on Dawlish Beach Cam has been really entertaining.

Back to the train and after the 5 tunnels we roared through Teignmouth at 62.3 heading towards Newton Abbot. We approached NA at 59 and began the charge to the bottom of Dainton Bank. One difficult bank, especially for a Class 6 with 9 up. We passed mp215 on the level at 59.2 with the safety valves lifting. They were still up as we hit 60 at mp215 1/4, still on the level. Mp215 1/2 was missing but the bank really starts at mp215 3/4 at a 'gentle' 98r, passed at 58.9. The roar from the front was ear shattering as 45596 hit the steeper 57r, speed still 51 as we passed mp216 1/2. The next quarter gave 45596 a bit of help from the bank as the gradient eased for a short bit of 71r but then it ramped up to 46r on a tight reverse curve as we passed mp216 3/4 at 47.9. The steepness would be enough, but the tight reverse curves pulls more speed back with every yard the big wheeled Jubilee covered.

After another tight reverse curve over a split quarter, 46r easing to 56r, we passed mp217 at 44.4. Great climbing but the bank bit back as we were about to hit the seriously steep section up a split quarter of 56r then 41r. Speed fell to 38.3 at mp217 1/4. Fantastic sight and sound over the next quarter with severe gradients of 41r/39r/36r, saw speed fall to 32.9 at mp217 1/2. Some bank is this, and the next tight curve and severe gradient of 36r easing to 44r saw speed falling to 27.5 at mp217 3/4 with the tunnel mouth tantalisingly close. At the tunnel mouth the gradient eased to 84r with our entry speed 25.3. An really excellent climb by a big wheeled Class 6. Dainton might be a short bank but just under a mile and a half of it is almost twice as steep as Shap with the added disadvantage of steepening tight reverse curves. Time from mp215 was 3m 30.63s.

Relief for the fireman who'd done an excellent job to provide enough steam for the climb as the bank fell away steeply. We passed mp218 just after the tunnel exit at 45 and Andy had the brakes on most of the way down to mp219 1/2 where the fun really starts on the return.

Virtually all downgrade to Totnes now. The brakes came in hard at mp220 and we were worried we'd be brought to a stand at the station approach signal as speed fell to 9.9 at mp222. Only a mile to the lower slope of Rattery Bank, a bank drivers find worse than Dainton. It has similar tight curves and cuttings that happily wouldn't have any effect as it was such a beautiful day. The target is to carry 60 past mp233 situated just after the bridge after Totnes station.

With a mile on the level to Totnes, Andy opened 45596 up as our fireman did round after round of firing to provide the steam needed for the bank. 45596 roared past mp223, 66r, on a tight right hand curve at 41.4. The jubilee roar echoed around the walled section and after a 1/4mr of 66r, and 1/2m of 71r speed was holding at 37.5 at mp223 3/4. The next half a mile steepened to 47r and speed fell to 30.3 at mp244 1/4. Over the next quarter, the 47r eased a bit to 50r, mp224 1/2 passed at 26.8. 45596 struggled a bit over the next one, 50r easing to 56r, where we passed mp221 3/4 23.5; and after one of 46r/57r, we were down to 20.3 at mp225 and the roar had gone. Noisy valve chatter saw speed fall on the next quarter of 52r, mp25 1/4 passed at 19.1, then a bit of relief as Tigley Church was passed after a quarter that eased from 52r to 74r, at 17. Over the next 1/2m of 90r, 45596 recovered to 22.6 at mp226. Then there was a fairly gentle 3/4 of a mile at only 90r where speed recovered to 25.3 at mp226 1/2, then after a quarter of 95r to 28.1. We missed the mileposts on the 'sting in the tail' half mile of 95r/65r, then 65r to mp227 but 'got' mp227 1/4 after a split quarter of 65r/level, 28.5. The summit is just inside Marley Tunnel but the timing summit is the previous mp227 1/2 after 1/4 at 200r/131r, passed at 33.6. Elapsed from mp223 to 227 1/2 was 10m 10.2s.

Still a bit more work, the 3 miles+ of gently rising gradients from 775r to 117r to Wrangaton Summit at mp232, passed at 54.7.

Downgrade to Plymouth, including the 2 miles of 42f.41f that becomes the mighty Hemerdon Bank on the return. We had a max of 72.9 down the bank despite firm braking. Control let us into P8 at 1312, 12 minutes early after an exhilarating run from Newton Abbot. Time elapsed from Exeter St Davids was 67m 20s.

Time for dinner. We took a taxi down to the Barbican and wandered across to the Rockfish Restaurant just before the swing bridge opened. Not too much freshly caught fish on menu but I had Red Gurnard after a Baltic Whitebait Starter. Both were delicious. Diana, John and Phil had the lightly battered Hake. It looked superb and was. Sadly all they had was Salcombe beers in cans. I had the IPA while John and Phil had the Stout. The IPA was OK but I'd noticed a bar next door at the open air part of the restaurant and took an excellent pint of Salcombe Pale Ale back to the table.

Surprisingly as it wasn't very crowded they only had Artisan Italian Gelato, ice cream to us, for dessert. 'er indoors and I had two scoops of an excellent Madagascar Vanilla and one of moorish Double Chocolate, John all Vanilla, and Phil being adventurous, Vanilla, Double Chocolate and Salted Caramel.

A truly excellent meal. Can't get anything like that 'on train'.

We walked back. The swing bridge was up to let a poser through but it swung back quite quickly. On our way we just happened to pass the Gog and Magog, a Wetherspoons known for excellent Devon beers. Unfortunately they had Teignworthy Brewery's Cor' Bugga', a 6.2 percent rich dark ale with a touch of port on a hand pump. I'd had it in bottles years ago but never off a hand pump. It was a seriously interesting tasty beer. But one was enough. We'd heard that Plymouth Council had butchered the trees on Mayflower Walk but we weren't expecting to see the trees lying all over the place ruining the water features and nooks and crannies up the middle of the pedestrianised area. No wonder the locals were furious.

At the station we watched 45596 leave the bay and drop back onto the train. Didn't seem to be a whole lot of coal left in the tender. Bill Monteith was our driver with Chris Yates our fireman. Both excellent at their arts. Went up to have a chat. Bill was looking forward to the run but like us was disappointed steam was only back to Taunton, especially as they had to return the locomotive to St. Philips Marsh in Bristol that evening. Weird a path couldn't have been found back to Westbury in a decent time.

Back on board, 8 back now. Got ready for the off - except some plonker had printed 2 sets of the outbound runs. So I had to record from bottom to top on the timing sheets. Our predictions on board were for a speed of 10-15 at the end of the 42r, over the steepest part of the climb. Blasts of the hooter and we were away right time.

As the locomotive had been standing for hours so the fire would not be in prime condition so Bill made a measured start up the 109r to Mutley Tunnel, 8.5. Down the 72f we passed mp245 1/4 at 23.6. Bill used 83f gradients well and we passed mp244 1/2, at 49.7. More downgrade and we passed mp244, close to Laira Depot, 77f, at 56. The track levels off then at mp243, 59. Little rise to 240r alongside Tavistock Yard, with quite a roar at 59, then a 1/4m of 81r, mp242 1/2, 58.2 took us to Plympton River Bridge, 660r/111r, at 57.6. Would have liked 60 and a bit.

The steepest part of Hemerdon Bank is the first 1/2m at 41r. Despite the mighty roar from the front, speed fell rapidly with mp241 3/4, passed at 49 and mp241 1/2, 44.3. Despite the next 1/4m easing to 47r, speed dipped below 40 onto the mile of 42r at 38.6. 45596 climbed steadily as speed fell to 21.2 at mp240 1/4, then to 13.1 at mp239 3/4, the end of the 42r. With little momentum speed fell to a minimum of 12.7 just before the change of gradient post to 51r. Bit further on we passed the gradient post showing 89r just before the overbridge at 19.5. Serious climb done and speed rose over the 630r to pass mp239 1/4, in Hemerdon Siding, at 21.2. A very decent climb for a big wheeled Class 9 with 9 up. Elapsed time from North Road to the end of the 42r was 13m 53.74s.

Rapid rise in speed by mp248 3/4, 457f, 40.2 and then 5 noisy miles of ave. 250r, to Ivybridge Viaduct, mp235, 150r, 49.1. Further steady climb from there, again. We passed mp234, 295r, at 47.4; speed fell by mp233 1/1, 169r/100r, 45.9 and after 1/2m of 100r/122r, speed was down to a min of 41.7. after 1/2m of 307r then a bit of 120r we passed Wrangaton Summit at 43.

Down the steep Rattery Bank towards Totnes now with the brakes on. We'd heard there was a 20mph TSR near the bottom due to problems with the retaining wall before the bridge. We did drop to 28 at mp223 3/4.

Then Bill released the brakes and the familiar roar returned and 45596 picked up her wheels on the level mile, ended at mp222, 52. as he attacked the 3 miles+ of undulating grades to mp220. Missed some mileposts as the sun 'strobed' through the trees and picked them up again as we passed mp 220 1/2, 120r, at 49.5. Dainton Eastbound is short, sharp and nasty due to the tight reverse curves through Coombe Fishacre. Picked up mp 219 1/4, a bit of 105f, 50, before the serious climb started. We roared past mp219, 55r, at 46.2, then over a half mile of mostly 38f with the wheels squealing on the curve, we passed mp218 1/2 at 43.5. Another curve and slightly easier 43r to 37r at mp218, 26.9. the tunnel mouth loomed just ahead and 45596 lost her wheels and slipped into the blackness at 24.9. Superb for a big wheeled Class 6 with 9 up.

Relief up front and time for Chris to take a breath after his excellent work providing the steam 45996 needed. Down the bank in the high 50s with the brakes holding 45596 back until we neared Newton Abbot station, level, 61.1. Along the estuary speed was kept in the low 60son the level track. We passed through Teignmouth Station at 60. The Avalanche Shelter Dawlish side of Parson's Tunnel looked almost complete. We ran through the other 4 tunnels at 59 and Dawlish Station at 59.2. Through the Warren at 62 then 45596 roared along the level to flash through Starcross at 65.5. Nothing of interest to time after Starcross. We arrived at P6 in Exeter St Davids 3 down, 69m 33.5s after leaving Plymouth North Road.

Everything was fine up front so we looked forward to the attack on Whiteball, just over 20 miles away over mostly rising gradients. Only the final 2 miles at 115r are significant but virtually all 20 miles are on rising gradients and really hard work for Chris, our fireman. Thought a 22 minute climb possible with possibly 60 into the tunnel.

A steady climb away from St Davids, 515r, 26.2, then it got noisier as we passed Riverside Yard, 300r, 36. Past Cowley Bridge Jn, 620r, at 38 and we left the 1 1/2 mile of 620r at 48. Mixed 280r/level/310f to Stoke Canon LC, 52.8 then a steeper mile of 217r to mp189, 55.5. 45596 was roaring away now and over ave. 400r we passed mp187 1/4 at 60.4. next over a couple of miles of 219r/534r,lev we really roared across Hele and Bradninch LC, mp185 1/2 at 66 still accelerating. On the 535r we got to 68.1 a mile further. Looked good for a decent summit time and speed. Bit of recovery on a bit of falling grade to mp182 1/4 but we lost speed to 52.3. a couple of miles of nothing above 316r took us past the old Cullompton Platform at 51.9.

Bit worrying over the 2m at 155r and we only passed mp179 1/2 at 40.7. Just as well there was a mile of falling 304f/207f past Tiverton Jn. Speed picked up to 55.9 and we didn't lose anything to the 216r and passed mp177 3/4 at 56. 45596 roared through Tiverton Parkway, 242r at 57.4 and left the 242r at mp176 1/2 at 58.2. Over 1/4m of 162r we took 53.8 onto the 2 miles of 155r. 45596 was worked hard so poor Chris had a job to keep the boiler pressure up for Bill to use. A thunderous roar around the cuttings but speed fell to 53.4 at mp175 and to 51.7 at mp174 1/2; then 48.1 at mp174 1/4 under the trestle bridge. The gradient eased to 203f before mp174, passed at 51.4. we dived into the tunnel at 53.3 24m 21.1s after we departed Exeter St Davids. Decent enough climb from a Class 6 with 9 up. Didn't do the Duchy when 45596 did the route so nothing to compare it with.

Not very interested in the run down Whiteball. We passed mp271 at 76.5; Wellington at 75; Bradford and Tone LC at 71.6 before the brakes came in. We passed Victory LC at 43 and ran and Bill let 45596 run down to Signal E481 where unfortunately we lost 45596.

It had been superb day out with 45596, as was last week's ACE. Superbly maintained and turned out locomotive that performed really well all day. A real credit to the BLS and their support crew and members who were on the train selling lots of raffle tickets. Didn't win again but who cared?

Somewhere near Teignmouth I hit my 2,000 mile mark behind 45596. Our first run behind her was way back on 10th August 1989 on a CME from Carlisle to Hellifield. Impressed then and still really impressed now. 45596 has the biggest 'gap' to date in my railtouring history. We did a stunning Welsh Marches Express on 23rd April 1994 when passengers congregated to the front of the train over Llanvihangel and later on Stretton Bank due to the loud roar and superb performance. A friend's 40th Birthday made it a very memorable day. Then a bit of a hiatus as the next time we travelled behind her was 18 years 56 days later on 18th June 2022 on a superb Cotswold Venturer.

Thanks to Kelly at RTC for negotiating the pure steam run. All the work she does in the background to get us proper steam on the mainline is much appreciated.

Thanks to: the Bahamas Locomotive Society for bringing their magnificent locomotive down south again. We really appreciate it; to WCR for the stock operations on the day, and especially for the footplate crews. Both firemen had tough turns to keep boiler pressure up for the banks and for some high speed running; to Network Rail for a decent day of train regulation. Only question was why they didn't let us storm through Taunton at 75 in the morning and do a stunning climb of Whiteball; our train manager Les and the stewards who did a fine job all day despite being 'seat less'; and thanks and apologies to the Catering Guys usually ensconced in the Buffet Car. Think they did a decent trade off the trolley but seats were lacking.

We're out on the CME on Saturday. Fingers crossed that the Fire Risk Status stays green.

P.S. For anyone interested, the Corsa e only had 52 miles left on it when we got home. It had devoured 144 miles of power in 88 road miles. The joys of electric car ownership.