2010 'TORBAY EXPRESS'

Interesting report No7 - thank you. The previous Sunday Torbay (30th May), on the return run we were hampered by the local to Exeter including being held at Aller and a stop of 5 minutes before Dawlish Warren.

At W-S-M we were held for a late running incoming HST before being released and a clear run saw 71.5 mph entering Flax tunnel.

I trust that the time taken to get the loco and support coach onto BH was significantly shorter than the nearly 3 hrs for the previous Sunday!

 

Thanks 'Midland Red'.

71.5 mph at FB is a pretty good figure, that would be my second best with 6024, the best (with 11 coaches) was 73 mph on 8/7/07. This has only been beaten by Tornado with the full 75 mph on 9/8/09. These are just runs I (and son) have timed.

I keep a record of the time between MP128.75 and FB Tunnel (in). I picked 128.75 because it used to be easy to spot in the gathering gloom of a summer evening but now it's got creeper growing up it and it isn't so easy anymore! Anyway for me the die is cast, so if anybody fancies noting times I would be interested to hear any figures. The current mark to beat (which I admit is unlikely) is 3 min 54.77 seconds, but anything under 4 mins is very good.

One other word of caution, as you go into the cutting at FB, GPS speed sometimes falls, I guess it depends on the position of the satellites. Anyway cross reference to milepost times is highly recommended.

 

It certainly does - and the number of satellites visible, and the position of your receiver's antenna - and many other influences too!

 

Have booked for Sunday's run. Are the car parking charges at BTM still as high as suggested at the start of this thread? I have a repatriation fee as well to cross the bridge on the way home.

 

I'm sure that the street parking charges by the Novotel in Victoria Street and in most other parts of Central Bristol don't apply on a Sunday.

 

You can park for free in Clarence Road 5 minutes walk from the station(Somebody advised this in a thread in 2006 I Think?). I have parked there 5 times and had no problems.

 

I might give that a try next time having paid £7.20 last week. Also the machines rejected half the coins fed them and refused a credit card!

 

Thank you all. I shall consult my A-Z

 

A selection of my photo's from last weeks run can be found at http://paul-simpson.fotopic.net/c1859939.html

 

If anyone is on the tour, or line side for this the tour code is t0613k
http://railtours.national-preservation.com
Remember it costs nothing to register and send messages.

 

6024 a few minutes down at Long Ashton, Bristol, with 11 chocolate and cream coaches. <BJ>

 

Any news of todays train? No reports on South West Rail Gen. Was I the only one to pop out to see it this morning? <BJ>

 

Are you registered on Rail Tours Live?

 

Not yet. How many messages did I miss? <BJ>

 

None actually, however, it's very early in it's life to expect hundreds of messages within the first week.

 

I saw it in the gloom at Taunton this week, shots below and more at http://jonpotterphotos.fotopic.net/c1860843.html

 

Nice shots. A bit of a claggy start from 6024 there.

 

Thanks. Yeah, was very impressive!

 

Great day out yesterday, have to say the Ibis is well positioned near to the station, don't know how long that view will last, but I took a couple of photos from my hotel room of Spud propelling the support coach onto the stock Some very spirited running all day. Thanks to all involved

 

Very glad that you enjoyed the run i stayed at the ibis too and thought the same as you lets hope we dont lose the view to soon.
not a happy bunny on leaving kingswear the apple crumble i made for tea for the lads fell on the floor of surport coach off the work top
blow.hubby got to do some wood work to make sure it don't happen again .

all the best
jane