Vintage Trains 2024

Down to 9mph...

Better effort on Rattery, min 23mph.

 

Note, we've all been requested back at Plymouth for 9am tomorrow for possible 09.15 earlier departure - better path now possible apparently.

 

Full marks to VT for a very professional and well run day. 7029 has also put in some sparkling running - hopefully a special day in store tomorrow.

 

Sounding very well up Tigley and Rattery, the safety valves were a bit lively to say the least.

 

Clun Castle at Yatton.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/16582147@N07/53711209862

 

A quick upload from the sea wall at Dawlish this evening, 7029 working away from the station - I guess there was a speed restriction through the platform? A decent number of people out to see her, but not huge crowds.

 

Post deleted.

 

Horse Cove with just enough light still in although the worst of the line side works (a cabinet) and 1 photographer on the path removed in PS. Not as good as this location was in the past but a Castle here has been a want for a long time.

 

With a speed check of 20mph at NA instead of the usual 50mph, no possibility of a faster climb, but still blowing off at the top

 

Yes, clearance slacks at Tackley, Bedminster, Yatton, Exeter St Davids, Starcross, Dawlish, Newton Abbot and Ivybridge.

We only recovered to 49 mph after the Newton Abbot slack before Dainton loomed, and maybe could have worked a bit harder to have a bit more in hand?

But I appreciate it's a lot easier to drive an engine from an armchair, or on a simulator, than on the footplate.

 

Yes, we will run in the path of a cancelled XC

 

Great shot. Please may we have a copy for publicity? We will of course credit you. Thx

 

Not feasible and we had one more carriage than 5043

 

Thanks very much.

Absolutely, I was planning to send to vintage trains with anything I get tomorrow if I get something good.

 

Wow! What a compliment to get

 

The Great Western 1Z48 Day 1

There was a tangible sense of excitement aboard as we departed Birmingham Snow Hill on a train surely so long anticipated in the minds of many.


We were soon making good progress out of the suburbs of Birmingham and into the Warwickshire countryside. I was fortunate to find myself on a table with three gregarious gentlemen - all good humoured and between us we can speak to past or present firing experience on the Worth Valley, Severn Valley and Spa Valley Railways. One of my companions has up to date professional route knowledge from a TOC which provided a real asset in my backward seat timing later on - I like to think I know the route from Exeter - Plymouth pretty well but Bristol to Exeter - well, “could do better” as a school report might have said.


The bacon rolls and coffees came in due course and were very welcome when they arrived.


A good run to Bristol ensued with some spells of 70mph+ running and some definitely discernible noise from the Castle on pulling away.


One very welcome feature was the Tour Brochure which will surely become a collectors’ item. It is, in my opinion, extremely well presented and a credit to those who put it together. The comparative schedule of the 1904, 1964 and 2014 performances was a highlight for me.

Being diesel assisted as far as Bristol, I decided not to embark on any serious timing before that but rather to soak up the atmosphere and get to know my travelling companions.


The Bristol stop saw the front end of platform 15 crowded but I still managed a carefully framed photograph of the crew including VT driver Martyn Fake and his fireman (sorry don’t know your name!) with tea mugs in hand looking out of the cab! The latter looked appropriately dressed -and covered in a serious layer of soot - in his GWR firing jacket.


I decided a lunchtime pint might be in order on this seemingly sunniest day of the year so far and bumped into a couple of my travelling companions in the Sidings pub opposite the station approach. There was nothing on hand pump - “none till Monday” but I tried a pint of the cask craft IPA “Neck Oil” which proved extremely quaffable, leading to refills…


Having completely forgotten I had ordered an afternoon tea I bought a couple of sandwiches and quickly ate these as 7029 swept the empty stock into the station.


Now the timing and GPS stuff came out and we made an on time departure from Temple Meads.

Flax Bourton Tunnel was reached in 11m45s (50mph) with the Castle being steadily and sensibly warmed up on the run out of the historic City.


Once out of the tunnel we made good use of the favourable gradients to reach the early 70s and we cruised across the Somerset levels, reaching around 73mph near Bridgwater. All too soon the brakes came on and we reached Taunton.


We were passed by two trains at Taunton and we were 11 minutes late as we left. The class 47 diesel had been detached at Bristol as planned and was in a path in front of us from Fairweather Sidings. Not too far in front, it would seem, as we were checked at slower than expected speeds for some time before Andy Taylor, who had taken the regulator from Bristol, could start to make some noise and headway. The result was to be a significant handicap for the climb of Wellington Bank.


Speed peaked at just a shade under 50mph near Wellington but the gradient began to bite back and 7029 slowed as she pulled her train - weighing 317 tons tare (perhaps around 340 -350 gross?) up the climb.


19m53s from Taunton (measured from coach 8) we plunged into the darkness of Whiteball Tunnel at 33nph and made for the summit and a speedier run downhill.


We had sustained some bad luck at Taunton but it would seem our fortunes changed. Now running over 15m late, it seemed likely we would get put behind the Exmouth-Paignton stopper - assuming it was on time. So, for a quick glance at Real Time Trains as we passed Cowley Bridge heading for the Cathedral City. “Exeter Central - approaching”. It was late! As Andy applied power through St David’s it was clear our luck had indeed changed.


Nothing in front until Plymouth, and the Paignton - Exmouth would be out of the way across the junction in time by Newton Abbot - could the rare “golden hour” be in the cards? A rare beast, everything has to be just right - fast (75mph) running where permitted, no slacks and good climbs of the banks. If anyone of those three is missing it is impossible to get to Plymouth under the hour with much of the 53 miles capped at 60mph and the last quarter mile into Plymouth capped at 25.


Speed was into the 60s by the Exminster area but stayed there before the brakes came on quite seriously, reducing us to about 25mph at Starcross, presumably a gauging restriction. No golden hour today!


We then enjoyed a beautiful run along the sea wall - sunshine, sea, sand, the deep red sandstone, with a Western engine on a rake of chocolate and cream coaches. Is it really ten years since a GWR/BR(W) last graced this scene? I think it is…


A slack through Dawlish but none through Teignmouth - which way would Newton Abbot fall? A slack there would have consequences! As the brakes came on passing Hackney sidings, we had the answer with speed through the station around 34mph.


Andy managed to get the train up to a peak in speed of 48.2 as we hit the nursery slopes of Dainton Bank. Soon on to the steeper stuff, we were down to around 40mph as we swept round the long right-handed curve and over the road bridge at Stoneycombe. Speed was dropping off quickly as we passed the site of the old signal box in the early 30s. Gradient-wise the worst was yet to come and the battle cry from the front grew louder.


As the gradient tightened to the final S bend we were down below 20 and now on the wicked 1 in 36/44. Still the speed dropped and we were not far into double figures with a good quarter mile still to go to the tunnel. With a heart in mouth feeling we reached a minimum of 9mph and Andy just kept us going. We had made it and plunged into the dark wet environs of Dainton Tunnel with a slip at just over 10mph.


A quick run down to Totnes, and as we raced through the station at close to 60mph it was time to start all over again. “What - another one?” as “Brenda from Bristol” might have put it…


We were down to 49 as the really steep bits started a mile or so into the climb and 7029’s stentorian tones could be heard 8 coaches back. Eventually, the welcome sight of the “Fireman’s Church” at Tigley slipped into view and we recorded a minimum of 23.3 before we made progress up the easier 1 in 90 where speed increased. The top of Rattery has a sting in the tail of a further short stretch of 1 in 65 and after a further short drop speed once again increased such that we soon plunged into the smoky and warm single bore Marley Tunnel at 36mph.


An uneventful run over the top ensued, with one more check at Ivybridge.


A quick run down Hemerdon and soon we reached Plymouth, 1h51m6s from Taunton (1h11m21s since passing Exeter). I let the crowds diminish a little before going down to look at the star of the show and to take some pictures.


A long but wonderful day and a quiet evening to unwind was in order.


I write this early on Saturday morning and we have an instruction to be Plymouth by 0900 as an earlier and better path may be available. 5043 managed the top of Hemerdon at 17mph in 2014 and with one coach more, this morning will certainly be a challenge. To be continued…

 

Thanks for an excellent report, I very much look forward to part 2 - hope you have a good day.

 

Thanks, Mr Wistle, hope you, your wife and your visiting cat are well.

thanks for the good wishes, and, yes, there will be a Part 2…