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Cathedrals Express Victoria to Worcester 15/05/18

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by NathanP, May 9, 2018.

  1. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

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    Oops, when I click on the link now I get two shots, originally I only saw the one with the train heading right to left which is the one I was commenting on.
     
    MikeParkin65 likes this.
  2. 1020 Shireman

    1020 Shireman Part of the furniture Friend

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    Superb recordings. Almost surreal lighting.
     
  3. LMarsh1987

    LMarsh1987 Part of the furniture Friend

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    The delay certainly helped. It always seems that returns up Sapperton always hit delays.
     
  4. 1020 Shireman

    1020 Shireman Part of the furniture Friend

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    Thought the train was worth a short report on.

    CathEx to Worcester 15/5/18


    We couldn't resist the pull of 45212 on Sapperton, so again the long suffering Mrs S and I got up at 0330 and caught the 0535 from Newport. Plenty of time to have breakfast at The Mad Bishop and Bear. Very good it was too. Got to Victoria in time to watch the train arrive in bright sunshine. 45212 was simmering on the front of a 9 coach train, 8 + POB. 47245 was rapidly detached as it had come in a bit late. We left on time and didn't hear the growl of the 47 on the rear. Sure enough we were told that our driver, Bob Baines, had told the driver of the 47 he didn't require banking so it was a first for us, an unassisted and noisy departure from Victoria.

    Not such a tedious run through the suburbs with some smart running through Kensington Olympia, 39, and Shepherd's Bush, 46. Noisy climb up to North Pole Jn, then a trundle round the back to wait at Acton Wells for our path. It's not a great one, and with speeds rarely above 35 we still got to Feltham Jn on time. After our first pick up of the day, Egham, Bob made the 5 sing and we had an enjoyable run to our stop at Ascot where the tender was filled. The climb away from Ascot was really noisy and smoky, good for the passengers and the lineside photographers alike. 53 through Martin's Heron, still haven't seen it, and then a max of 56 just after Bracknell before junctions got in the way. Down to 31 but Bob made the 5's presence known and we hit 57 through Winnersh and the Triangle before gentle easing through Early, 51, on the approach to Reading.

    We drew into P8 and picked up more passengers. A right time departure saw us sent up the main that now involves the 'flyover'. Decent gradient attacked in some style, reaching 31 as it levels off past mp36 1/2. Then much to our surprise, with a Class 5 60mph restricted engine, we were signalled down the main. The noise from the front was increasing as Bob aimed to get the 5 to the allowed maximum of 60 as soon as possible. We achieved it just before Pangbourne, 5 miles from Reading, a good effort, and ran at just over 60 most of the way to Didcot approach. We weren't allowed to take the east curve and so trundled through the station and up to the north junction.

    The run to Oxford was entertaining noise wise, but the max was 57 at Radley. We were checked around Hinksey and stopped at Oxford for a crew change. Ray Poole relieved Bob and would work the train to Worcester and back to Didcot on the return. We watered in the North Yard and then frustratingly had to wait for a 5 minute late XC to Manchester to pass us before we could join the main line. There are long blocks on the Cotswold line and after smart running down to Hanborough. Not sure if the HST in had a problem but it was 12 late at Charlebury and we were only 3 minutes behind it so it was no surprise that we were checked outside Ascott-under-Wychwood.

    Good running in the high 50s/low 60s made for an entertaining run over the undulating grades to mp89 before we were checked again at mp90, a mile and a half from Moreton-in-Marsh as we were again just 3/4 minutes behind the HST. This provided some entertainment for linesiders as Ray accelerated through the station at 50 and we dropped down into Camden Tunnel at just under 60. We ran down Honeybourne bank at just over 60 and were only 5 down at our booked stop at Evesham for those who wished to go to Cheltenham Spa for the afternoon. We left right time with another noisy start and good running to reach 60, 3 miles out. Ray eased the 5 down to Norton Jn from where we crawled around to Shrub Hill, arriving 4 late.

    It was steak day at the 'spoons, so Mrs S and I sampled a couple of decent sirloins, mine washed down with a decent pint of Rutland Beast while Mrs S sampled a pleasant Chilean Sauvignon Blanc. We had very generous ice cream desserts before we went out into the hot and sunny afternoon for the walk back up Shrub Hill.

    Slightly delayed departure but the timings were very slack and after waiting for a Cross Country at Abbotswood Jn we charged off up the main to Cheltenham Spa. No high speeds on the section due to the 60 mph restriction but Ray provided a good run down the 1in301 to reach 60 in 4 miles. 60 was held more or less all the way down grade and over the level past Eckington. The mile if 1in319 took 4 mph off but we picked it back up quickly on more downgrades through Ashchurch. Past mp80 at just over 60 it got noisy enough for us to hear back in coach 8 and we only lost 4 mph over the mile+ of track. Two miles of 1in285 saw speed fall gradually to 56, the speed we held up the 1in305 to Swindon Road, 56 where the brakes came on for our pickup at Cheltenham Spa.

    Surprisingly the little 4-6-0 slipped twice on dry rail despite not being pushed hard. We got to 60 3 miles out but were checked by signals approaching Barnwood, passed still 6 late. We drifted to a red signal at Gloucester Yard Jn. Where we were held for the Cheltenham Spa-Paddington HST that left Gloucester 6 late. Unfortunately it was going our way via the Golden Valley, stopping at both Stonehouse and Stroud. The signal blocks are long and generally need 8-10 minute gaps between trains. The TSR50 was on the 1in104 was inconsequential but we did get to 45 as we passed Blakethorpe. The brakes came on shortly after as we slowed for the inevitable red signal at Standish Junction. Only a 2 minute actual stop but we were now 18 1/2 minutes late.

    At least it meant we heard the crisp bark of the 5 as Ray worked it hard over the slightly climbing grades to Stonehouse, 36, and on towards Stroud, passed at 45. The line speed is only 50 here so we were going almost as fast as allowed. It got very noisy as we looked to pick up as much speed as possible up the 2 1/2 miles of 1in250. We crossed Capel Viaduct at 46; and came off the section onto Bourne viaduct at 51. As the grade steepened to 1in103 we ran across St Mary's Crossing at 50. We lost 4 mph to the 1/2 mile 1in75; worryingly another 4 on the 1/2 mile of 1in0 onto Chalford Viaduct. The grade eased to almost a mile of 1in74 but we lost speed over every quarter to leave it at 35. Over the half mile of 1in75 we crossed Frampton Viaduct at 35 but as we came off the 1in75 onto the 1in60 speed fell to 31.6. made a great sight on the left hand curves. The sound of the 5 flat out on the 1in60 reverberated around the Golden Valley but our speed fell to 27.8 at mp96 1/4; to 25.7 as we passed where mp96 should have been; to just over 24 where mp96 3/4 should have been and to 24 as we entered the almost mile long Sapperton Long Tunnel, the 5 still being worked flat out.

    The gradient eases to 1in90 almost immediately to the accompanying wonderful muffled sound of the exhaust as it bounces down off the tunnel roof. We slipped twice in the tunnel which was a bit of a surprise. The summit of the climb is just before the exit, from 1in90 up to 1in94 down. There's less than 100yds before Sapperton Short Tunnel and we left that on the 1in94 down at almost 39. We didn't dash down the bank to Kemble as we were due to make a short water stop as the planned stop at Milton Junction was 86 miles away, possible with No9 and its 6000 gallon tender, but not for a Black Five with a Stanier Tender with a water capacity of just over 4000 gallon.

    We arrived 31 late and left after an excellent bit of work from the Bells and Two Tones driver and the support crew left 10 minutes later. We were going to need a bit of luck to get through Swindon unchecked. We rapidly got to 60 down the 1in330 but only crossed Minety LC at 56 on the level. Speed picked back up to 60 at mp82. We ran over Purton Crossing at 58 and after mp80 passed at 57 Ray allowed the 5 to drift towards Swindon Jn, 17. We were in luck and had green signals out onto the GWML. Despite the best efforts up front and lots of noise heard 8 back, it took 6 miles down the long 1in834/level track to get to 60 and running at 62/3 to Wantage Road, we still lost a minute or so to the schedule. There was carnage on the GWML with a track problem between Slough and Paddington so with the guard's permission we left the train at Didcot Parkway. We were 36 late.

    We watched and listened to a smart departure before waiting for the late Paddington-Newport. That's the problem for we South Walians, getting back after the marathon days out from Victoria, even when the trains are right time. On the HST home we checked the arrival time, 2302 and a bit. If we'd stayed on the train we'd have been pushed to get back to Paddington for the last train, the 2330. So a good day out as we actually got home at 2305, a mere 19 1/2 hours after leaving home.

    Great to run behind a Black 5 with a sensible load again. There didn't seem to be a lot left on Sapperton but that's the way we like it!! Our first run over Sapperton with a Black 5 in the 35th year we've been bashing steam on the UK mainline, and it didn't disappoint. Superb engine 45212.

    What a rarity for us, two Steam Dreams trains in 10 days. As I said on the 5th we'd love to do more of their trains which is a distinct possibility with the diesel being left at the termini. It's a friendly train and there was some enjoyable banter both weeks with stewards who know us well from the years we travelled regularly with them. We always said, no diesel and we'll travel when we can. Shame again about the loading, but hopefully the diesel free nature of their trains will see this improve. Having said that, RTC's loadings are down too in 2018. The Cumbrian Mountain Expresses aren't even filling with the frequent £25 off discounts.

    Thanks to Steam Dreams, West Coast, and Ian Riley, and to NR for allowing the train on the big railway, though the 0943 path out of Victoria is a bit grim. The only good thing is that with the non-availability of No9, a big Class 8, the point to point timings can comfortably be achieved by a Class 5 if the load is well matched.
     
    thickmike, Shoddy127, eggbert and 6 others like this.

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