The Mayflower - 6/09/25

@2857Harry For me it also comes down to the tender type on 5043 versus 7029 as I prefer the look of the Collet tender on 7029 when compared to the Hawksworth one on 5043 although both look very nice overall.

 

Well done!

 

Steam in the City - 7029 and 45596 head home to Tyseley, from our hotel bedroom window in central Birmingham.

A great day today behind steam - thank you Vintage Trains!

 

Looks to have been a great day down in Devon. Really wished I could have gone but unfortunately was working.

Bahamas seems to have gone out with a grand farewell and seeing it run with Clun Castle must have been a sight. Hope everyone who saw them both had a great time.

 

On the return Andy bailed at Taunton leaving Alistair to Clun’s controls thereafter. Martyn Fake took Bahamas.
There was jest in passing at the amazing talent Kev had in controlling Bahamas from 10 back..!

 

From someone who welcomes any steam engine to the South West, here's a short video of The Mayflower at Hemerdon and Tiverton Parkway......

 

A day of mixed for fortunes for this linesider. The spectacle of the return legs through Tiverton Parkway was the highlight. Just four minutes between the two trains. I think on reflection, Bahamas swansong was that run up Shap earlier in the year.

 

7029 Clun Castle and 45596 Bahamas on the return leg of The Mayflower seen at Bankland View attachment 93963

 

Here's my footage of 7029 Clun Castle and 45596 Bahamas putting on a brilliant display up the Devon Banks, making Whiteball, Rattery and Hemerdon Bank look very easy. The video also features 5029 Nunney Castle hauling The English Riviera Express on the same day. I hope you enjoy it.

 

The proceeds are shared between the two loco owning groups, surprisingly the crews are quite friendly with each other, no duels at dawn, fisticuffs, or sabotage of the others loco! And of course those who were there and contributed know who's engine was the best presented and most audible There are even some having a 'haste ye back' sentiment towards the inside engine.

 

37240!!

 

A few of my pictures taken yesterday - great day out thoroughly enjoyable - Nunney Castle passing us when in the loop at Tiverton will long live in the memory.
All locos performed superbly. Big thanks to all the staff at VT, Bahamas Trust, Loram and Network rail.

Hope the paintwork isn’t too badly scratched on the locos and stock - the number of line side vegetation strikes was far too frequent - deplorable in a way as it was all mainline running.

 

Are not all the crews from VT?

 

I wonder why VT choose to run 2 37's instead of just their own, lack of confidence in one being up to the job of recorvering the train should a break down occur maybe, does anyknow know why?

 

Probably as is the case with almost all other Train Operating Companies where part of the tour is diesel hauled there are almost always two diesels utilised in case of failure… I should imagine the fact that the tour was returning to Birmingham up the Lickey incline was another consideration!

 

I think if I remember correctly last year there were 2 20’s on the Mayflower but on the 1Z48 tour only a single 47.

Good point regarding the Lickey, I hadn’t thought of that.