Saphos 2024

Peppercorn A2 pacific No. 60532 "Blue Peter" with a Kings Cross to York private charter crossing the River Wharfe at Bolton Percy.

First railtour in over 20 years I believe.

Was the diesel assisting?.......who cares!


60532 "Blue Peter", 13/07/24.

 

John Humphries on the regulator of 'Gresley' for todays run to Kingswear, seen backing onto the train at Taunton following its arrival behind 47712 from Bedford.

An on time departure from Taunton saw speed starting to climb from the off, plenty of noise from the engine for those of us five coaches back. Speed rose to a high of 53mph at Wellington before finding the light drizzle forecast on the climb to Whiteball, where speed fell to 42mph by MP172 following two slips, and a low of 39mph into the tunnel and over the summit. By MP175 the brakes came in for a short period with a fall from 60-57mph, before acceleration began again. A high of 75mph obtained at MP182, however short lived before the brakes came in at MP182.5, and sustained 68-70mph up to MP189.5. Speed slowly decreased for the pathing stop at Exeter, arriving 5 early, covering the distance in 37min 31sec.

A slightly early departure from St Davids to allow 2T15 ahead, we departed on restrictive aspects, but a clear road from St Thomas came into play, passing the station at 27mph. Acceleration continued to a high of 65mph at MP199, before being eased back until Cockwood Harbour at 60mph, where brakes applied for the Dawlish Warren pathing stop - the distance covered in just over 15 minutes. Four minutes late out of Warren to allow the late running Plymouth Voyager to overtake, and a few slips on departure, passing the sea wall at Dawlish at 43. Accelerating out of Parsons Tunnel saw 57, and up to 59mph at Teignmouth. Now cruising in the mid 50's on the approach to Newton Abbot.

 

Nothing noteworthy regarding the return run between Paignton and Exeter, other than the exceptional display put on by the crew during the climb through Torre which saw us top the summit at 16mph, having fallen from 40 at the bottom. A mundane run along the sea wall, sitting on the tail of the Exmouth stopper. Now sat at Exeter, awaiting the Barnstaple service to proceed ahead. Attached photo shows the A4 meet briefly with Lydham Manor before departure from Kingswear.

 

A one minute late start away from St Davids, and up to a maximum of 74mph at MP183, where speed slightly dropped to 68 on the short climb from Cullompton to just shy of Tiverton Junction. 68/64 was maintained until parallel with the loop where the brakes came in, and speed fell to 25/27 at Tiverton Parkway, before powering away again through the platform. Speed reached a further 49mph at the summit of the less aggressive eastbound climb to Whiteball. We're coasting down towards Taunton as we speak on the approach to Bradford-on-Tone at 75. A nice soundtrack from now the ninth carriage back wherever the regulator was open. Only a further 4 1/2 hours to go until home, once the ScotRail Spoon drops back on!

 

Many thanks for an interesting report.

On holiday and journeying from Norfolk to Cornwall, i made a quick detour and was stood on the bridge at Tiverton Parkway. 60007 coasted into view before starting to accelerate quite vigorously through the platform. The service train was at least four blocks ahead leading me to speculate that maybe the cause of the slowing was a restriction through the platform? Perhaps someone else on here may know for sure.

Anyway a lovely break from driving, and an excellent sight, smell and sound.

 

Timings for tomorrow's ERE from Wolverhampton:

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U18317/2024-08-03/detailed
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U18315/2024-08-03/detailed

It's the usual arrival and departure times at Kingswear but, on the return, the loco changeover in Fairwater Yard seems to be timed for longer than the previous time I did this tour. Stationary from 1907 - 1955. I'm sure it's not usually that long, it's about 20 minutes normally I think. Not complaining mind, just an observation! I've no doubt I'll be getting well looked after and well lubricated during that break, but it's probably a contributing factor to the post-midnight arrival back into Wolverhampton.

Weather forecast for Kingswear is saying, thankfully, it will be a bit cooler tomorrow. Been far too hot for me recently!

 

Any idea what steam loco is on tomorrow's train?

 

It will be 61306 Mayflower.

 

Thanks.

 

61306 Mayflower and 5239 Goliath at Kingswear

 

A trip on the English Riviera Express today. Kidderminster to Kingswear; 47805/810 from Kidderminster, Mayflower from Taunton onward. 16 Severn Valley Volunteers, having a jolly boys outing.

Cosch E, so 8 coaches back out of 12 on the outward run. The diesel hauled leg passed without issue, minimal delays, nice food, and good company. Mayflower came on at Taunton and right time 1057 departure followed. Audible all the way up Whiteball, even 8 back, we attained 40mph by Norton Fitzwarren, 49 in to the bottom of the climb to Whiteball, speed dropped away up the climb with 28mph in to Whiteball Tunnel. Over Whiteball 2 mins late at 1117, 32mph out the tunnel. Can hand on heart say that from more than half way down the train, the B1 very much made itself heard. 74.5 attained in the Collumpton area as we raced towards Exeter, but held outside Exeter for a good 5 minutes, saw us 2 late through St Davids. 62mph attained through the Exminster area, before we slowed up for our pathing stop at Dawlish Warren. Out of the loop Right time and Mayflower audible again to get us away down towards Newton Abbot, 56.5 the most attained between Dawlish and Newton. Up to 40 away from Newton, then on the climb up out of there we slowed to 27mph. 3 Early in to Paignton, but RT away, a steady climb up Goodrington followed. 23.2mph was the fastest up Goodrington bank, our booked cross with the PDSR service at Churston missed, and we rolled down in to Kingswear.

Five minutes late away from Kingswear for the start of the return run. 4 coaches back this time, and the very audible B1 made a cracking climb of the bank to Churston. 22.3mph the most attained on the climb, with speed hanging around the 20 mark through through the tunnel. Held for booked time before heading away from Paignton, 28.2 over the top of the climb away before running down to Torquay. A steady climb up between Torquay and Torre due to the signals being against us, we climbed in to Torre at 11mph. Following the Paignton-Exmouth service which was 3 late, gave us plenty of noise from the front end, Mayflower put in a strong performance up the Hill, down to 8mph at one point she got the train back to 29.7 by the top of the bank out of Torre. 40 through Newton Abbot, but as per the regular path we followed that stopper to Exeter so the results weren’t exactly spectacular along the sea wall. 45.9 the max attained for a steady trip, although there was a nice little bit of noise out of Kennaway Tunnel through Dawlish station. On time in to our Exeter stop, but 2 late away having waited for a late XC service. The B1 sounded absolutely amazing getting us away from St Davids, and we were soon in to the mid 30s by Cowley Bridge. 50.4 accross Stoke Canon, 60.5 at Hele, 64.8 at Cullompton, 59.8 at Tiverton Parkway, 48 in to Whiteball Tunnel and over the top. Mayflower was audible all the way from Exeter, but the last bit from Tiverton to Whiteball was the best of the day. Music to everyone’s ears as the B1 hammered up the bank. 3 down in to Fairwater Yard, where we said goodbye to Mayflower after a stunning run. Doubtless there will be a “But Mayflower can’t do 12 coaches by itself so it had to be shoved” comment, but there was little evidence of shoving from the back, and even if there was the noise from the B1 was more than adequate! The diesel took back over and some fast running, good signalling and good regulation saw us run early up to Bristol, which gave a lovely sunset run along that section. Good running, some more food and drink, and we were back in Kidderminster Right Time!

In terms of the exprience offered by Saphos today, it was a little less of the usual high standard we’ve been treated to before. It all seemed a little less attentive from our stewards, and it was much longer waits between food service and ordering drinks/them arriving etc. I suspect we’ve fallen foul of having so many good experiences, that we came to expect a lot, and today was slightly underwhelming. Most of you know I’m normally 10/10 accross the board for Saphos, but it’s more of a 9/10 today. Noise from the B1 a 10, food quality still a 10, rolling stock quality a 10, Service and attentiveness 8. But that really doesn’t detract from making another booking, looking forward to some A2 haulage hopefully.

 

Just had stuff through the door for a Christmas White Rose trip to York from Barrow (steam on at Warrington which is different I suppose), thought about it but heck even 'standard' is £165 each, its a very different market they are aiming at.

 

B1 61306 Mayflower from Taunton to Kingswear today banked by Black 57311. Shame its not banked by a Black '5'. <BJ>

 

47 wasn’t doing much “banking” last week! B1 sounded amazing

 

Yes, unfortunately 60007 has a platform restriction at Tiverton Parkway. The run from Exeter to Tiverton was a really top notch performance. The class 57 was carrying it's own weight, in fact at 75 mph 60007 was probably tugging the diesel along. Approaching Cullompton at 75 mph the loco blew off, and was eased to prevent water pick-up, in any case brakes came on soon after for the restriction. 41 mph rising to 45 mph in the final two miles of 1 in 115 is also a pretty good effort.

 

Saturday 10th August at MP131 Beam Bridge, a rather smoky 61306 Mayflower on the Taunton to Kingswear portion of 1Z49 0547 from High Wycombe.

 

At Collumpton for the return 1Z52 1635 Kingswear, 61306 Mayflower drowned out the noise of the adjacent M5 motorway, Don't know what type of coal they were burning but super smoke effect!

 

61306 Mayflower accelerating along the Dawlish Sea Wall with the outbound "English Riviera Express" earlier today.