Saphos Trains

I did a Steam Dreams tour to Plymouth with 60163 some years ago. I think the load was a massive 14 coaches. It was supposed to be double-headed with 71000 but that wasn't available so diesel assistance was needed from Exeter to Plymouth. DB produced a nice clean Class 66 but at Network Rail's insistence it was coupled behind 60163 and not at the rear of the train.

 

Going up Rattery now. Plenty of noise from the Scot. I'm too far forward to hear the diesel but I've no doubt it's helping a little. I've got no speedo but our speed seems to be staying the same. Not a problem for me as the Scot is so audible.

 

Arrived in Plymouth. Asked the crew about the wreath and apparently it's in memory of a colleague who died yesterday

 

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I'm afraid that is incorrect and there is no safety issue or it would not be allowed, end of.
If what you say was a safety issue how have British railways and all current operators got away with operating HST/intercity 125 trains for the last 50 years near enough where there is clearly a loco pulling at the front and another pushing at the rear?

 

Or I guess even more extreme a 4TC being propelled by 33 or the ECML sets being propelled by a 91

 

46100 Royal Scot at Bishops Lydeard and Bradford on Tone

 

The wreath on the scot is in memory of Gareth Jones, who passed away yesterday, a truly great engineman and gentleman, a wreath has also been carried on a class 97 (37) on the Cambrian and Dolgoch has carried black ribbons on the TR, Gareth started on the Talyllyn aged 14, before getting a job at Machynlleth.

 

Gareth Jones (centre). True gentleman.

 

Will be a late departure from Plymouth. Passenger collapsed in the vestibule and receiving medical attention.

 

GWR /BR western trains in steam days nearly always had the train engine on the front. It was so the train engine driver had the brake. Although there are plenty of photos taken between Exeter and Plymouth with the opposite .My photo attached, 12.30 Newquay to Paddington ,4940 Ludford Hall with pilot 6305 next to the train in Newquay station. Note book recalls ,6003 King George 1v,Newton Abbot to Paddington. Summer 1953

 

A short video of the return at Hemerdon....

 

You never mentioned anything about being controlled by a single person, you said if additional power was added to a train it had to be at the front of the train, I used the HST as an example where this does not happen!
If a diesel was added into a steam charter train consist it would still require 2 seperate drivers in communication with radios whether it was at the fornt or back.

 

Royal Scott at Dawlish Warren

 

Now that I've had some sleep, some thoughts on yesterday's Golden Hind trip.

Premier Dining was all Mk1s.
Standard Class was in the Mk1 buffet coach.
I was First Class and was in a Mk2. There were 2 Mk2s yesterday, both for First Class. One of them was painted in the Statesman livery, although one of the crew told me it hasn't actually been used on the Statesman yet.
The aircon in both Mk2s failed in the heat yesterday and so things soon got very "sticky", for want of a better word. Luckily I was at the end of the coach and with the door windows open in the vestibule, I was able to catch a breeze and hear the loco.
The whole train was turned at Plymouth and the Mk2s were at the front for both the steam sections. It also meant that every passenger got a view of the Dawlish sea wall as well.
In both the Mk2s the luggage space behind every seat had been stocked full of crates of bottled water, which was all complimentary. Staff were coming around with icecubes on a regular basis as well. A lot of water was got through in the heat yesterday (I myself had 3 1 litre bottles), so well done to LSL for having the foresight to anticipate the heat and stock up on water.
Despite the stifling heat, the on board hospitality really was first rate. Regular teas/coffees, icecubes, bottled water etc. It is not a thin uniform that LSL gives its staff. Long sleeved shirts and woolen waistcoasts. I was roasting in jeans and t-shirt so I can't imagine how much hotter they would all have been.
Passenger in the Mk2 Statesman coach behind mine had a seizure right after re-joining the train at Plymouth. Ambulance was called, which meant we were around 45 minutes late leaving. He was taken to hospital in the ambulance and one of the staff accompanied him there as well, which I thought was really nice. Presumably LSL now have to arrange for that staff member to get back to Crewe from Plymouth.
Performance-wise, I'd have to watch the videos to see how much the diesel was assisting, but I can tell you that 46100 was definitely working hard and was clearly audible each time we went up a bank.
I'm out with LSL again this weekend. I'm doing the Midland Pullman up to Fort William and Mallaig Sat/Sun/Mon so I might post some pics of that as well.

 

Type 3 seen coming off the Cambrian sporting the wreath...

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S&C Fellsman times are up on RTT:

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U53057/2023-09-20/detailed
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U53059/2023-09-20/detailed

Interesting to see what motive power they use.