60163 Minehead-London 18th June

Went through bruton at 18.59 so running around 20+ down

 

Yeah, thanks for that Duke. I thought there would be loads of posts tonight being as its Tornado, but heading off down to Winnersh / Wokingham bit later, so assuming off Reading about 8.20. When does a train take so long from Reading to Earley as in the timings ? ! Never I would say, so probably catch up some of the time there . Dont think anyone can assume that she will be running 20 down all the way therefore.

 

Just through Pewsey 35 plus late

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Thanks for the info. Losing time !!! Probably getting stuck behind service trains now ?????

 

Sorry its a bit late but 7m early (!) at Taunton. Passed 60163 on the FGW 17.50 Tau--Pnz. Work altered today to catch a glimpse.

The lengthy train appeared v well filled+had a "Royal 67" on the back. Taunton was v busy + it was great to see Tornado again. Service trains seemed v well fillled today. The railway seemed to matter + passengers in my carriage were pleased to see a steamer!! So was I - thanks to S.D./ Mr Bunker/A1 Trust/passengers/Marcus for a wonderful end to the day

 

Currently in hungerford loop. Second hst just passed so should be on the move soon

 

Finally through kintbury at 20.37. Hope that is the end of the delays for you guys further on.

 

Climbing to Brewham summit:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dr6VTcap9c4

 

1.1/2 hours late into Theale, story is it had air pump problems.

 

Through Winnersh 21.50, driver favouring chime !!

 

2 things spring to mind here, firstly, isn't Tornado fitted with two air pumps especially to overcome this situation? Secondly, if things were that desperate, couldn't the 67 have provided air.

 

Through Egham, very quietly, a few minutes ago.

 

What springs to mind for me is are air pumps really worth the bother ? if a modern loco like 60163 can't get the things to work properly the problem will only be worse for heritage steam.

 

Saw Tornado at Ascot tonight (arrived 70 odd late) but it wasn't the air pump that was the problem. It was the hundreds of very drunken race goers who caused mayhem for the platform staff and dozens of police and Interserve Security staff.
How this train got the green light (pardon the pun) to run through, let alone stop, at Ascot during Royal Ascot week and especially on ladies day, is very surprising.
Additional problem was the anticipated arrival of 60163 just minutes before the 2210 Ascot to Waterloo service and the realistic confusion that drunken folk will simply jump on the excursion.
But here is the happy ending. Word soon got around that the "Next train is not for public use and is hauled by a steam locomotive". All you could hear were people slurring "Steam train coming......hic" And when Tornado arrived there was an almighty cheer and spontaneous applause from, it seemed, everyone on the platform! In the end, there was no trouble. In fact Tornado was on her way within 5 minutes of arriving. So well done everyone at Ascot tonight for ensuring everyone was safe so that they could all head back to London and think of their day at Ascot Races and the added bonus of seeing the World's most famous locomotive!

 

Glad to hear everything panned out well at Ascot.
I NEVER use this line during Ascot week,bags of 'hurrah Henry's'..jolly good show,wizard prangs,and half cut ladies with hats over to one side on the way home.Back to normal next week.

 

Well, it wasn't desperate but we were losing time against the schedule from the moment we reached the mainline. I don't think this is surprising as Tornado was dragging 13 coaches and a dead skip on the back. I didn't notice any brake drag or any other indication of a brake problem until a sudden and sharp slowing to a stand near Hurcott. We stood for a few minutes and got under way again with a gradual acceleration and no more signs of brake trouble. A PA announcement was made that there had been an air pump problem and that the alternative air pump had been utilised. We continued to lose time and I doubt that this was due to any train in front. There were some decelerations that appeared to be due to trespassers. Accelerations even on downhill sections were not exciting and rarely did speed rise above 60. Once turned inside after Hungerford, we had to wait for three service trains to pass. I presume that these would have gone by at Theale if we had been on time. After Reading, Tornado seemed to be working much harder, the exhaust sound was crisper and louder and acceleration from stops was noticeably better than previously in the trip. We baled out at Clapham Junction and the train was about 55 minutes late then, having recovered about 20 min on the Ascot line section. Unfortunately, I lost my GPS record after the battery ran down near Barnes and my PDA decided to lock up after a recharge this morning. I can't therefore provide more details. There was speculation on the train that there had been a crew change at Theale. Some thought that this was the cause of the improved running later in the trip. I have no idea who was on the footplate as we had no time to waste at Clapham to get our connection. Nonetheless even although the running was not great, plenty of TEA and good company, made it a good day out!

Cheers
Alan

 

I had been at Wolfhall since mid afternoon so made a half day of it. Weather was OK and the sun seemed to come out every time a stone working passed ! I was wondering about trespass. At one point an up HST passed, followed 20 mins later by a stone train running slowly which then stopped with the rear still visible by the old MSWJR bridge abutments. It stood for about 3-4 mins, then slowly moved off again. Couldn't have been signals as it was only just past the colour light west of the bridge at Wolfhall - did the HST report trespassers ?

About 17:30 the clouds got thicker and the light readings fell. By the scheduled passing time I was struggling to get 1/500 F4 at ISO 800. Then we waited.........and waited. About 20 mins later we could see a bright line on the horizon, at 30 mins late the break in the clouds was fast approaching, at 40 mins late the sun started to break through, and we heard Tornado whistle as it came up Savernake bank. The sun came out, Tornado appeared, gave us a great shot with the sun shining off the deflectors and boiler and headed east. I packed up and started walking back along the canal to the car. 5 mins later the sun went in.

Sorry about the air pump issues, but it saved my day \/


STEVE

 

Well the loss of time in Somerset must be at least partly down to the unrealistic schedule I mentioned earlier. When I saw her climbing to Brewham she was working hard but I’d say far from flat out, however with something around 600 tons gross behind a measured approach is perhaps not surprising. Those extra 90 tons of Class 67 makes a big difference.

Credit to DBS for not starting the diesel and giving a shove.

 

I queered the schedule on the very first post on this topic, tight to Reading & 20 mins Reading to Earley. The answer was that the Reading-Earley times was recovery time to allow for the earlier tight schedule. Also, why was the 67 on the rear? it was a straight run with no shunting or reversing & wouldn't thought any eth was required. I assume it was the engine that brought the stock down, so couldn't it of made its own way back? Was the load any heavier than Clan Line hauls with the VSOE on the same route, often with a 67 on the rear?