Royal Duchy 2015

OMG!

 

In reply to 83B yes Pete Roberts and Bill Warriner gets on fine with Tangmere and I believe Dave Hewson also, it's already been said by another poster who the driver was from Plymouth, I think it was his first steam trip out of Plymouth.

 

Here's my video of Tangmere of her outward trip to Plymouth and Par. Shots were at Grants Mill Crossing at Nailsea and Teignmouth.

 

According to UKSteam, Tangmere was returning to Southall today but no movement on RTT.

 

There is a 5Z40 on RTT from Bristol Kingsland Road to Southall WCR round about midday. Is this Tangmere ?

 

That's the one, no sign of movement though as it should have started at 11.09, 12 ish from Temple Meads.

 

I think Spike was a long way from "home". I am sure was a Hither Green man in EWS /DBS days before he jumped ship to WCR.
I Spike fired to Colin Kerswell on a double headed black 5 trip out of Plymouth 10 odd years ago, when coupled inside (no route knowledge). On the leading engine was Bryan Dudley-Ward.

Poor old Spike. This was another trip which almost ended in a stall on Hemerdon. The train got the "right away" from North Road quicker than expected and the Black 5 manned by the Southern crew was way of the mark as far as steam pressure was concerned. Video footage is available on You Tube showing Dudley-Ward encouraging the crew behind to put in an effort as the leading engine seemed to be taking the load. Speeds dropped to single figures but thankfully recovered sufficiently to get over the top. By the time Dainton was reach, both Black 5's had warmed up and there were no further problems.

I will see if I can find the video!

 

Unfortunately Dave Hewson was the driver on Tangmere which stalled on Filton Bank out of Bristol a couple of years back which caused serious delays to trains in the area. In his case, he told me that it wasn't anything to do with the engine, but he had to rely on a pilotman who just happened not to tell Dave that there was a big bank in front of him - eek!

 

OK, it's showing as on the way. 90 mins late leaving but already made up nearly 60!

 

Yes Spike was a long way from his usual patch in one sense although someone told me he lives in Cornwall these days. However he is an ex-EWS Hoo Junction man I believe and his usual routes are around the South East. He retired from EWS some years ago but came back to the footplate with WCRC 2 or 3 years ago. I'm not sure if he has driven Tangmere too often. Every time I've seen him it's been on a Black 5 which we all know is a very different beast.

I like many others have mixed feelings about Tangmere - I've had some great runs with her but she has been involved in far too many incidents in recent times and is frankly putting the reputation of all mainline steam in jeopardy. The obvious solution is to stick the dreaded diesel on the back at all times which would be a shame as many of us steam purists would avoid her like the plague in future!

 

I think Tangmere should only run if the 'right' drivers are available. Apparently it being the holiday season and all they weren't. Les told us that Bill Warriner was up country on the North Wales Coast Express yesterday, no doubt coasting along with a diesel on the back and probably regretting he knew that route. I think the number of tours WCRC are committing to is an issue again. Sending her out with a diesel isn't the answer. An engine is fit for purpose or not.

 

Two photos of yesterday's tour on the outward leg, shame to hear that it never made it back.

Tangmere departs Temple Meads by David Chandler, on Flickr


The Royal Duchy by David Chandler, on Flickr

 

It would be surprising if, in the present circumstances, Tangmere of all locos was sent out with anything but meticulous attention to detail in all respects, be it engineering, crew or operational.

 

Serious problems with the auto focus plus the background "commentary".

 

Assuming the sanders are steam operated there is no sign of them being used.

 

I see the Brit is due back in Bristol on the 11th. Good choice for the 16th I think.

 

And when you select 1st gear, you don't expect your car to set off in reverse ! Even more worringly, when you select 1st and it actually sets off going forward, you don't then expect it to spontaneously go into reverse while on the move, violently shaking up your passengers in the process. You would certainly take your car off the road for repairs if this happened.....

 

Tangmere being dragged back to Southall today. between Ruscombe and Maidenhead, at a stately pace....