70013 to Plymouth 25th July

What bits fell apart on the right hand side, as seen on arrival at St. Philips Marsh?

 

Could you elaborate please? I saw it returning to London today, there didn't seem to be a problem.
By the way, don't you mean Barton Hill.

 

Only what I was told by the DBS 67 driver who worked the Tornado train back to Eastleigh. I may well have got the depot wrong.

 

Yes, I was told yesterday that there was some problem with the motion on the latter stages, the crew were aware of the problem but carried on. No obvious signs of concern when I went up to see the loco on arrival at Temple Meads. The climb of Flax Bourton certainly indicated the crew did no feel the need to ease off.

 

They were paying a lot of atttention to the LH big-end at Exeter St. David's on the outward. However whatever was wrong with the RH motion, it doesn't seem too serious, just something to keep under observation. It was a truly fantastic trip...

 

Short video of the returning train at Flax Bourton now uploaded;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffKcc58gfbE

 

10 minutes of on-train footage:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XiiiYE6XFY

Enjoy the sound track, some filmed from the 1st coach.

 

So it was possibly the second fastest time between Plymouth and Exeter in preservation (bearing in mind we were a minute late leaving Plymouth)? The crew deserve a pint for that!

 

Yes I think that is the case, apart from the famous run with 6024 I am not aware of any other runs under the hour. I got the speed at Whiteball summuit as 59mph on the GPS, I was told numbers between 62 (as reported) and 57mph, usuall problem with GPS as you go into a cutting I guess. Comparing consecutive 1/4 milepost times I think 58-59mph is fair.

As far as I am aware this was the fastest time on the climb to Whiteball (Eastbound) with the Stonehill bridge restriction in place, although Tornado might have done it faster on one of TE (but slower on the runs I've timed).

Looking through the log the running all day was exceptional. Approaching Bristol we were averaging over 69 mph from the signal stop outside Bridgwater. Unfortunatly a slow run into the platform meant we missed even-time, nevertheless an outstanding all round trip.