The Royal Wessex, 22nd May 2010

Depending on the load, I think a Black 5 might have a few problems on Parkstone bank. She'll certainly have a hard job matching Ollie's timings. Therefore, I think 777 might be turned at Yeovil, too, and might assist as far as Bournemouth, or perhaps Southampton.

 

A round of applause for RTC, West Coast and Ian Riley for arranging alternative steam haulage. It could have fallen to become just another Diesel hauled tour.
Brian

 

I know times have changed Steamage and we are no longer in regular steam days and we now have the added hazard of that flange lubricator just before Parkstone Station but ! day in day out the old S and D drivers brought the Pines Express up Parkstone Bank with a class 5 - either Black or Standard variety - with anything from 8 to 12 bogies on their own. Way over the limit they were supposed to take but to them it was not done to take a banker - flat out from the start at Poole Station and up the bank to a glorious sound. Those memories live on in my mind! Mind you it would be rather nice to have 777 banking !! DH

 

The times for this train have been changed. 44871 and 30777 will now double head throughout to Weymouth, and 44871 (only) will return light engine to Yeovil Jc to turn. The 5+ miles of Evershot bank (with 2 miles at about 1 in 51) always seemed a very tough proposition for 30777 alone. The 2.5 miles of Parkstone bank (1 in 60 max) should be a (slightly) easier task for 44871 on the return.

 

I see on uksteam that 30777 ends up at Swanage - any idea if the loco is due to operate service trains on the Swanage Railway, or indeed how long it is actually due to stay there for?

 

30777 is due to leave Swanage on the 31st May at the head of the return section of this charter :http://www.railwaytouring.co.uk/index.php/the-swanage-bell---310510-030710-260910.html Hopefully 70013 will be okay for the section from London.

 

A further update on 70013 from another forum says that she has been spotted on a lowloader returning to the GCR for repairs and is possibly expected back in mid-June.

 

I had a report it was seen on a low loader around 6.30am on Western Avenue London Tuesday morning !
Somebody where I work in Reading passed it on his way to work.

 

twr12 said this last week:

777 would be a wonderful addition to the last day of the Swanage Railway gala, if she was available. Even if not actually hauling trains, I guess she'll be in light steam somewhere on Sunday, on the shed or in a siding, so it should be possible to make her visible to visitors. Or maybe she'll have a "mini gala" of her own the following weekend, before taking The Swanage Belle back to London on Monday

 

Haven't heard yet whether approval has been obtained to use 30777 at Swanage. Incidentally its arrival won't be in the middle of a Gala - it will co-incide with the last day of our Victorian Week.
Our steam service this week is using Drummond M7 No. 53 and we'll also have 30585 [on hire from the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre at Quainton] with special 2 coach trains on certain days.
Further information on: http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/victorian.htm

 

This one could run pretty late. According to the radio there was a fatality at Maidenhead earlier this morning and all services between Padd and Reading are running up to an hour late.

 

ON TIME TWYFORD

 

Yeah, ridiculous. Even our local radio station Radio Berkshire 8.30 news, Lines between London and Reading closed !! Quick look at FGW site showed they were all getting back to time. Good job didn't delay visit to Twyford. Black 5 is on front. excellent show for the gallery of viewers.

 

More or less on time at Theale, going well.
Video now up, still processing.
Apologies for the shakes.

[youtube]<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wv1Xrliwl7Q&hl=en_GB&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/wv1Xrliwl7Q&hl=en_GB&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>[/youtube]

 

2 mins up at Heywood Road Junction. Going quite casually along the Westbury avoiding line.

 

Crofton a few minutes down. The load today, 11 maroons. Looking and sounding superb. Credit to all concerned. <BJ>

 

I see it is watering at Southampton Central. I don't know the area at all but am considering a trip to see it there from Portsmouth tonight. Anyone know if it will water in the platform and if it is possible to get into the station? If not any suggestions of where to go to see it which is within easy reach by rail from portsmouth?

 

Steam charter reported to be following a Gloucester to Weymouth unit from Westbury .
The unit will divert into Frome allowing the charter to overtake. <BJ>

 

Going well at Crofton this morning:

 

Lovely location and lovely photo. You even got a small bit of clag from both locos. Some days it all goes right!