70013 1st March to Newport

That's the second superb panning shot I've seen of 70013 taken yesterday =D> , although I'm not sure if I prefer D1059's or Mighty Moguls. :-#

A couple of mine from yesterday, was hoping for a bit of steam from 70013 when it was crossing over the viaduct but having to stop at the signal a few hundred yards down the line meant it wasn't to be.

Crossing Huckford Viaduct


Patchway Station

 

Yes, it was a good day out ! The stops approaching Bristol Parkway were due to a signal failure.

David

 

I wondered about that, after the first stop & phoning the signalman the train proceeded against the signal only to be stopped again just after crossing the M32. This signal turned to green. Altogether a very good day out. This coach connection to Cardiff was also very straight forward. As for the return, WHAT A PERFORMANCE! Storming through Swindon & Didcot whistle blowing. Even accelerating through Tilehurst after a signal check before crossing to the relief. I think leaving Reading on the return was almost on par with an HST, what a noise! A few people at Tilehurst must have been caught out on the down trip as it crossed from the relief to the main just before the station. Just as an aside, it looks as if the Green Train has had a repaint from the bogies up. Very smart it looked with West Coast roundels on the sides. The steam heating also worked in the coaches I walked through. Don't forget, she had 12 fully loaded coaches + support coach on.

 

The coaches did look very smart. I hope they'll sort out those wheel flats soon though - surprised they don't set off lineside detecting equipment at the moment as some of them seem very loud.

 

Maybe they looked smart on the outside but coach E had no heat and lights on the outward journey, no tannoy, a bad wheel flat that drowned out the sound of the locomotive and a toilet door that did not lock. Steam Dreams are going to have to do better than this if they are to maintain their patronage in these difficult times.

 

Yes, I was on Didcot platform 1, and it was stunning! Not sure if I can post the video for a few days, though. My PC is rather full with another project at the moment (will be 4 DVDs!)

Shame about the square wheel on one of the Green Train coaches - made a horrible noise. Must have been hell for the passengers to have that racket all day...

 

Coach J seems to have got a square wheel too. Spoke to Steam Dreams today while booking 34067 to Exeter and they said that wheel flats had been attended too but they've picked up a couple more almost immediately.

 

I reckon the Reading departure was the best sound of the day. I'll upload a sound clip in due course.

 

Glad to hear you got the Didcot bit no matter how long it takes!!! The problem with the GT train is i doubt it has had any work done since NSE days!

 

I was on this one too and it was magic!!!!!!!! Early, or on time, everywhere except that faulty signal at Bristol and the acceleration of the Brit with 13 on was very impressive. Lots of signal checks, but that just made for lots of re-starting noise. I was half a carriage (+ support) on the way back and I agree about Challow-Tilehurst, particularly Didcot, which will live in the memory forever.
Fast line Didcot-Tilehurst both ways was due to the relief lines being closed all day.

 

Cant agree with you more 6136. But if that was loud, think of the sound when she attacks the devon banks! \/
Just one fot from me which was at Newport.
http://67022.fotopic.net/p56692104.html

 

I though the start out of Slough on the way home was the most impressive.

Very good day... except for the buffet car.... emergency lamps and the batteries died!

Fantastic running, well organised with the coaches onto Cardiff. Will be nice to do that run again perhaps getting into Cardiff next time. Haven't drunk so much tea in ages.....

 

A very good trip yesterday.Great run through Didcot on the return.
I will look forward to video of the run through Didcot.

Thanks to Steam Dreams and West Coast.

My photos can be found at http://paul-simpson.fotopic.net/c1661619_1.html

 

I did one of the Liverpool Street - Norwich trips last year and the stock was very tired,wheel flats everywhere! Plus I paid for Premier Dining and was housed in a Mk.2.BSK.
Colin

 

Yes well the GT isn't exactly known for its qualities,and to dine in the same seats and same coaches as those sat with their lovely sarnies (and in the cramped comp even worse) isn't really that good but hey,you southerners have money to throw away

 

You are assuming I am a Southerner!! I might have left the dark Satanic Mills for a better life in Constable Country.
Colin.

 

Sound clip of the first four minutes of the evening Reading departure. Enjoy.

 

Brilliant clip there Spamcan,we could hear it from the platform for ages. I wasn't assuming anything Colin,merely stating that SD use mainly standard stock for Premier dining which doesn't seem right really,dining in a TSO doesn't sound right!

 

Nice! I'm looking forward to riding behind 70013 on Friday but I very much doubt it'll sound quite like that!

 

Cheers.
The full sequence runs for about six minutes before the driver eases off. The eastbound climb out of the Severn Tunnel was quite good too but slowing almost to a halt for signals near Patchway curtailed the fireworks somewhat. With what wind there was being a tail wind my wind cage was very effective up to quite high speeds and a high pass filter will remove most of what wind rumble there is so have got lots of "footage" to listen to from this trip. Hope they get those flats sorted soon though as they'll be a bit of a pain with a quieter loco up front.