34067 London - Exeter Sun.5th July

My Photos of 34067 TANGMERE at Exeter St.David's are here: http://preservedrailwaylocomotivephotos ... topic.net/

Enjoy, Best regards SteamHawk216.

 

Excellent run back into Waterloo last night behind Tangmere. Found this video on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppp5x5363Kg

Highlight had to be Andover on the return journey. If anyone has a video from the platform in the evening, that would be great to see!

Regards, M

 

Wasn't at Andover, but I was at Grateley. I got a dramatic view of Tangers appearing over the summit and roaring through under the bridges! Shaln't be able to post for a few days, I'm afraid - too many other projects on the computer ATM.

 

Spamcan81,

Great sound, where were you sat? On the buffer beam? And what did you record it with to avoid wind noise?

 

Glad you enjoyed it. I was at the door midway along the leading passenger vehicle, i.e. next to the support coach, on the fireman's side. Mic is a Røde NT4 in a Rycote wind cage + "fluffy" wind jammer. For my on board stuff I record onto an Edirol R-09 solid state recorder, loads of space on an SD card. My attempt at recording the climbs to Milborne Port and Semley on the return was thwarted by a steward as although I had a first class ticket, he wouldn't allow me to stay in the end vestibule of the lead coach because "I would cause a draught." Given that the passengers had most of the toplights and all of the droplights open I failed to see where the "cause a draught" argument came in. He said I could record from the end vestibule of the "Pullman" diner - no doubt I wouldn't cause a draught there :-k - but that was too far back to be of any real use while recording. Happy with what I got on the outward trip so no real complaints, just puzzled at the logic involved, particularly as none of the pax in the lead coach minded me being there, well none that I spoke to, and some were window hanging themselves to get pics and video.

 

Absolutely stunning performance from Tangmere (and her crew)...plenty of sustained high speed running, especially on the return leg, ahead of time for much of the way, and what a sound climbing the banks (particularly Honiton) on the way to Exeter. WCRC still seem to be feeding her that terrible dusty coal (maybe she's the only loco in the fleet that'll burn it), but she gobbled it up and was blowing off as she approached the top of Honiton bank, so no problems making steam!

I got a SWT unit from St. Davids back to Yeovil to see 34067 being turned and serviced, as I didn't really fancy spending the afternoon in Exeter/Barnstaple/Okehampton...I've seen them all already! Didn't get any duff miles, but in my book that's a good thing. :smt001

Who was on the footplate for this trip? I said thanks, but didn't get their names.

 

Can't find the recording mentioned above! Help please.

Did anyone here do a full log of the journey?

Daren't even comment on you not being allowed to stand near an open window near the front.............. ..#-o

 

Spamcan81s post above Bryan, click on 34067-Honiton.mp3 - Nice bit of recording that, sounds as though she was on the mark! Interesting to see who was firing etc.....

 

KentYeti,
There's a link to the file in my "sparkling
performance" message. Any problems send me a pm.
Soapy Leaver says hi by the way. A few guys were
timing the run so maybe he'll know who they were.
He should also know the names of the crews.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

 

I would assume Pete Roberts,but obviously i wouldn't know as i was ferry bashing!

Sad git,getting the 159 miles in instead of 47!

 

Lovely recording! How far from the summit did you stop recording? Sounds like some nice acceleration on the climb.

I've never been over Honiton behind an original Bulleid! Only rebuilt MNs and Light Pacifics.

Oh yes I did! Dreadful run on a special behind 34015 in Jan 1966. There was some sort of problem going on about who should have driven the train, (I think). Or maybe it was the mix of a Salisbury crew and a NIne Elms loco Inspector. So the crew we had both ways Salisbury to Exeter refused to perform. 22 over Honiton both ways on load just 9 cars. Very sad day. One hell of row developed at Salisbury on the return. Much shouting going on! I said nothing!

 

Thanks for the comments. I recorded the entire climb
but only uploaded a short(ish) selection.
I'll send you the whole climb if you like.

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Interesting comment about being asked (told?) to move by a Steam Dreams jobsworth. I had the same problem on the return trip behind 70013 from Cardiff on March the 1st. I was stood in a centre vestibule with a half open window about 3 or 4 coaches back when this "official" turned up & said I would have to go to an end vestibule & slammed the window shut. This was easier said than done as they were nearly all occupied. No reason was given. I think tour operators should treat customers with a little more respect, especially in the current climate & recent events with Past Time Rail etc.

 

Steward tried that with me on the same trip. Causing a draught was the reason. This ignored the fact that every top light was open to savour the thrash and the guys at the other centre door videoing weren't spoken to at all and their window was further open than mine. I ignored him anyway.
Checked with fellow passengers and they had no problems as most had their heads out of any window they could access. On the 34067 trip I told him I was happy to occupy the leading vestibule and shut the connecting door, remain there until Salisbury so not to disturb diners by trapseing through the carriage and then regain my 1st class seat at the Salisbury stop. Not possible and he was only obeying orders - his words not mine.
I want to do 60019 to Norwich and the climb out of KGX is the one I want to record plus the climb away from Hitchin to Letchworth but with no guarantee that standard class will be in front I'm none too sure I'll take the chance. I've already tried booking first class with no result and I'm none too keen on booking dining class just to keep the stewards happy.

 

Should have added that on the 70013 trip I was in the carriage my seat was in so it wasn't a case of being in the wrong carriage. I really can't see what the problem is if you're not annoying anyone else.

 

My pleasure Martin. The full climb from the 20 mph slack at the bottom to entering the tunnel took just over 8 minutes so I uploaded around half of the action.

 

I really feel I should post something in this debate about standing near open windows etc. I imagine I will get told to grow up, stop having a childish tantrum etc. But I'll take that, so here goes.

To me the UK steam Heritage operations are what I would call "an industrial scale". Enormous. Both main line and Heritage Lines. Incredible volume and variety of operations. With the vast majority of the market "joe public" with hard core enthusiasts a small minority. With a lot, (but not all), of those involved in the wider range of operations not always the type of enthusiasts the hard core ones amongst us would recognise as enthusiasts: they are maybe more professional heritage operatives than anything else. A very broad statement that must have many exceptions I am sure. So the needs of the minority of hard core enthusiasts cannot easily be met, partly because they are not always understood, and can be seen as being in conflict with the perceived needs of the vast majority of others, (as in the desire to listen to/record the noise of steam loco working hard up a grade.) Or the costs/operational issues are too much to contemplate in always trying to get a loco facing the "correct" way on Heritage line, when only tiny minority of visitors would actually appreciate/want that done.

The German heritage steam scene is much smaller and for those areas I have been involved with, very "clubby". One group I spent a lot of time with before circumstances at home stopped me travelling would see DB, (German Rail), as the train operators, DB Museum as the loco owner and promoter, but with loco crews, (all DB Inter City Express drivers as full time jobs), "front coach listeners", most on train staff and a number of lineside photers for each trip all members of our club. One trip we did three years running was to a location at the end of a single track secondary main line. No loco turning facilities or on DB lines anywhere near. So when I got the working timetable in advance there was a 36 mph, (60kmh) speed limit for the tender first return journey! No worries I was told. X has been over and checked a triangle down the line that goes into a small industrial location. It's suitable and safe for our pacific to turn on. And so it was. Local contact between our loco crew and the signalling staff got a pathway to and from the triangle, and the loco got turned! The crews had the fun of driving the pacific up to more normal speeds. Those of us in the front coach corridor, (we changed ends in the train after the outward journey as a matter of course), enjoyed all the many station restarts up to speed, and the lineside photters had a worthwhile day out. Joe public on the train didn't give a damn of course! And no one put their hand out for all sorts of payment for the unscheduled movement and loco turning. And that was happening in the 21st Century.

But the whole cost base for the trips must have been way under what it is in the UK, (light trains often ran, may still do so). Marketing by the Museum was not brilliant, so hard core enthusiasts who turned up week in week out were a significant minority of the passengers.

So it has been an enormous culture shock trying to get involved with the UK Steam Preservation movement. And I can understand the frustration of those who want to enjoy the noise of the loco from close back in the train. But I think that is a trade off now between the desires of what I perceive as a small minority and the size of the operations here where the majority of the income comes from "joe public" who don't give a damn about the things we care about.

 

Bryan, it's the inconsistency in the application of these "rules" that's the biggest gripe. I had no problem recording 60163 on her Doncaster - Durham - Doncaster run, both northbound and southbound. On the 70013 trip I'd explained that I produce CDs for the 34081 sales effort and asked for permission to record from first class in the event this was leading for the eastbound climb out of the Severn Tunnel. Permission was granted but not needed as standard class was at the London end. Yet the steward in standard class tried to stop me under the "causing a draught" ploy in spite of all the windows in the carriage being open and people videoing from other windows not being asked to stop. On the 34067 trip the standard class steward had no problem with any of the "window hangers" and let them go about their business yet the first class steward wouldn't let me record from the front but was happy for others to film from the self same carriage. All very strange. A far cry from the days when booking forms actually asked if you were doing sound recording and put you next to the loco if you said yes.

 

I can well understand your frustration at the inconsistency, especially when you sometimes want to record a CD to help a great cause.

And what wonderful days you once had. Actually being able to book a seat where you could record from! Sad that the German scene is down a bit at the moment. But if 03 1010 does get overhauled then front coaching behind the "roaring monster" as she is known would get some stupendous recording opportunities.

I am going on a 34067 trip soon. Just a short one on the Surrey Hills route. A short one chosen so my expectations are not too much. But I do hope I can get somewhere near the front and by an open window on the climb of Gomshall. If not, I'll stick to linesiding and the odd journey behind a favourite class on a Heritage Line.

Having said that I am a bit tempted by the Weymouth run tomorrow. Couple of almost decent timings: Winchfield to Shawford and Basingstoke to Woking, (25 mins, but unchecked could well be an even time start to stop). Not feeling 100% so will maybe not make the effort.