Atlantic Coast Express 4th-6th Sept.

Ah yes, but what about coal? Hope they thought about that.

 

Reported 10 late dep Waterloo. <BJ>

 

Reported through Totters Lane, Winchfield / Hook at 11:10. Thanks to EC.

Load 12. <BJ>

 

Official timings c/o Roger Smith:

12:17 dep Salisbury
12:44 Warminster
12:50 Westbury
13:15 Bath Spa
13:30-14:00 BTM
15:23-15:48 Tiverton loop
16:01 Exeter
16:26 N.Abbot
17:18-18:15 Plymouth
18:53-18:56 Bodmin Parkway
19:10-19:48 Par
20:55 arr Newquay.

Hope this helps. <BJ>

 

Looked fantastic on the fast line through clapham, picture to follow.

Not much mention, but 70013 was wrong way around, and the 47 pulled it through Kensington, to queens town road and short of vauxhall, giving a standing start for 70013 up the eurostar line gradient to Wandsworth road, would have caught a few by surprise, departed just a minute or oso before 70000 and 34067 went past

 

Was going like the clappers through Fleet, not long after the 11.04 stopper to Basingstoke, so a few minutes early.

Two pictures on Flickr in the 'Stop Press!' Collection; see the Set dated 4th September :

http://www.flickr.com/photos/train-pix/collections/72157627090322278/

I hpe that there will be a few more pictures and videos from other people as the day progresses.

 

Seen passing Walton on Thames,a most impressive sight.http://stephenleek.smugmug.com/Rail...Steam-2011/17580045_BxQB2R#1462112276_SN42hf8

 

Reported through Andover on time at 11:59. Thanks to Basingstoker. <BJ>

 

Here are the pair racing through a rather damp Winchfield:

[video=youtube;hKpM01pvLTs]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKpM01pvLTs[/video]

Definitely worth getting up early for!

It nearly went t**'s up though as a stopper rolled in just as they approached so a quick change of position was required. Now have to sort out the photo's.

 

If that follows a true ten late ex Waterloo and from Platform 19, that means superb running to that point.

Would love to hear a bit about the down run to Salisbury when poss. With two locos it is just possible the even time booking Overton -Sals start to stop could be met for once.

 

Won't need them. The Brit's crew can sit down and take a rest while Tangmere shows how it should be done.

 

We departed Waterloo at 10.26. 2 late on our times from SD. Had some superb running so far but both locos had to come off for servicing at Bristol East Yard and we`re now late as a result. I hope those on around the Newton Abbot area are prepared to catch us passing The Torbay, someone could have a lovely shot!

 

Three shots from this morning including one which I adjusted to show the weather how it should be for the ACE!http://steamtube.ning.com/photo/albums/atlantic-coast-express-4th-september-2011
Please note they are only low quality. I am still trying to get used to the software on the new PC.

 

Back on the move. Currenly racing across the Somerset levels in an attempt to reocover a little time. Passed Worle at 15.06 if that's any help to anyone.

 

Class 14 power along the Wylye Valley:

 

Well then. If anyone ever doubted the magic of steam then they should have been at Woking this morning!!

Imagine the scene. A packed platform and the announcement to "Stand Well Away From The Platform Edge Through Train Approaching" and what a through train as Tangmere and the Brit screeched their whistles as they passed a high speed through platform 4.

It really was a "hairs on the back of the neck" event and general passengers were amazed too witness the passing of steam locomotives at such speeds.

If it left Waterloo at 10.26 it had only taken 27 minutes to passing Woking which is only slightly slower than the electrics.

Wonderful, truly wonderful!

 

Just received a text from Alberta saying stopped at Taunton Fairwater yard, hot box on 34067. And it was going so well!

 

We've been told by the stewards that its a cylinder problem. Tangmere and support coach to be detached at Fairwater and a class 47 to shove us over the Devon banks.

 

Thanks for these updates and I am sure those lineside will appreciate what has been coming through so far.

Sad news to hear about Tangmere and I hope it is something minor, especially after all the hard work that has gone into making this tour happen so far.

Neil.