Cath Ex to P'mth (and IoW): 02/06/18

Incidentally, according to the timings, 45212 is indeed going through Tooting next Saturday. That, coupled with a steam run across to the Harbour itself is enough to cause me to book it. It remains to be seen whether the diesel is wielded up through Rowlands Castle on the return.

Having looked at the timings in more detail, it's also going via Streatham, so double bonus for me. Although I think I did Streatham on UKRT's Downsman with 34067 in 2009, I'm not entirely sure, so at least I can prove it this time! Taking in Herne and Tulse Hills, it's not a route that has seen much steam in recent years.

 

Assuming I have tracked them all correctly on RTT - Lots of movements for the run on 2nd to Portsmouth and Salisbury

5Z81 ECS Southall to Victoria http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54870/2018/06/02/advanced
1Z82 Victoria to Portsmouth http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54858/2018/06/02/advanced
5Z82 ECS Portsmouth to Fratton http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54859/2018/06/02/advanced
5Z84 ECS Fratton to Portsmouth http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54861/2018/06/02/advanced
1Z84 Portsmouth to Salisbury http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54860/2018/06/02/advanced
5Z85 ECS Salisbury to Salisbury East Yard http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54862/2018/06/02/advanced
5Z86 ECS Salisbury East Yard to Salisbury http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54863/2018/06/02/advanced
1Z86 Salisbury to Portsmouth http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54864/2018/06/02/advanced
5Z87 ECS Portsmouth Fratton http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54865/2018/06/02/advanced
5Z88 ECS Fratton to Portsmouth http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54866/2018/06/02/advanced
1Z88 Portsmouth to Waterloo http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54867/2018/06/02/advanced
5Z89 ECS Waterloo to Southall http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54871/2018/06/02/advanced

 

According to the SD website 1z84 is diesel hauled with the Black 5 on the back.

 

I thought it was going to be steam hauled to the Harbour, diesel hauled to Salisbury, steam back to Eastleigh, diesel to Pompey and steam back to Vic

 

Interesting thanks - I missed that

 

Yep afraid so. We were going to book on it but not now. May go to see it at the Hbr though. Very rare to see steam there.

 

However it looks like 45212 will be working Bristol to Kingswear in 9th June and that ought to be DL free so may try that to see how the 5 which thinks it's a 6 copes with Whiteball

 

Unavoidable unless the Salisbury leg is caped. I understand that it's a glorified turning move due to pathing issues at the Portsmouth end. Still feel it's an unusual day out and I booked with my eyes open, as it were...

 

Yes. Any spare mainline steam locos knocking about?

 

31806 just down the road

 

Any report on this?

 

It was sat outside Portsmouth Hbr waiting for a platform. Beautiful sunny day after a grotty week

 

Wimbledon to Woking a bit of a plod, but a decent enough run on the Direct. Assistance at Petersfield because of restriction, but no smoke observed from diesel just before Buriton Tunnel. Hell of a lot of noise from up front. 45212 is in the picture somewhere at Portsmouth Harbour.

 

Slightly late at St Denys but 5 working hard and 47746 not helping. Managed four shots today though only planned one plus lunch and retail therapy with JB in Pompey. Just the way it goes sometimes. Should probably have been on it but the Cafe Rouge is as good as you get
outside la belle France and you can even see the big ferry arriving from Caen. A very good day lineside for a change. We'll done Steam Dreams for the first steam into Pompey Harbour for a long time and for the immaculate coaches.

 

There was some shovage on Buriton, whilst there was a technical hitch at Worplesdon, as the AWS battery needed changing. This was done at Woking, where it was noted that the service was being 'operated' by the Swanage Railway. Suspect there was a mixup, but there may be one or two complaints heading their way through no fault of their own as a result of the delay. It was otherwise a pretty decent run back to Waterloo, so an interesting day out with, I venture, potential for becoming a more regular occurrence.

 

Nearly all the DCE's last year were shown as a Swanage Railway service as well, must be some bug they have in the system after the start of the Wareham shuttles last year.

Decided to pop across to Pompey from Swanage yesterday for some record shots as steam is quite rare there. There seemed to be loads of photographers and public out for the Portsmouth to Salisbury leg, not sure if they all thought it was steam hauled rather than on the back. Little haulage by steam as mentioned up thread, and it was pathed to depart two minutes behind the all stations to Southampton that I traveled back on, so not much speed involved either.

On the viaduct into the Harbour passing Gunwharf Quays.


Against the stops at Harbour station


Pulling the ECS into Portsmouth & Southsea (or is it called Matalan now?)


Front ends at Portsmouth & Southsea