The Great Britain XVI - 13/04/24 to 21/04/24

Freeloader

 

5 minutes behind a unit leaving BMV so possibly a good run if all on time

 

Yes I forgot the tour was run for your benefit as a photter. I also forget you’ve paid £4000 to WCRC/RYTC to phot this tour.

Annoys me just as much as enthusiasts coming to phot at an SVR gala and then moan when it’s a wrong loco/coach combo. Get over it and spend the ticket money if you want input!

 

The Great Britain XVI, Day 1, 44781, 45407 The Lancashire Fusilier, 13th April 2024.
Filmed at Tilehurst.

 

Not actually a "freeloader" (as not depriving others materially at no cost to him/herself) but certainly not in a strong position to complain. We've all had disappointing linesides, but that's life. I did toy with the idea of going out for this today but decided against as I suspected there would be little good photographic/video action available, but that is certainly nothing to do with the tour organisers, or anyone else.

 

With Black Fives being restricted to 60mph, is a "mid 60s blast" likely? It seems a shame that the Lickey run isn't shadowed rather than assisted, as two 'Fives' should be able to handle it, but perhaps pathing requires a faster ascent.

 

I thought the Fives were now good for 65mph ? I remember 45212 was the first to run with its new limit on a midweek Cotswold Venturer back in 2018.

 

Literally stood just out your shot at the end !

 

Some photographs of today's leg in Kent. Hope the passengers had a enjoyable day and a good week to follow!

Leaving Swanley behind and taking the line to Rochester.


Seasalter, many locals out on the bridge to see her.


Catching the hazy sun on the approach to Birchington on Sea, again a good number out to see the train here and someone even brought out their union jack!


Best of the day and worth the walk down and then back up to the top of the cliffs, working past Capel le Ferne on the approach to Folkestone.


One last shot at Eynsford, seen crossing the viaduct north of the station.

 

I'm wondering why WCRC decided to doublehead for the second part of today's trip but not the first part, with a diesel on the back all the way.

 

How many of us at Tilehurst to see this pass today!

Wrong side for the sun but you can't win them all.

 

Clearly a good place

 

Diesel on the back was for the ETS/CDL supply. So that’s natural anyway. Not sure about the ins and outs of not D/H all day….Support crew? Crew hours?

 

I would guess one could handle Kent and as the tour was passing Southall logical place to attach the second for tomorrow.

 

As someone who is on the train, and near the back on this leg, apart from the shove up to Grovesnor bank we have barely heard the 47. FYI 65% of this year’s travellers are regulars and yes we are enthusiasts. While the WCRC situation has been a detriment to what we would like, we have kept the faith and will make the best of it and hope for better in the future..

 

Would you mind if I suggested you did one little tiny thing?
And that’s Grow up.

 

"Freeloading"? "Grow up"? What pompous nonsense. It was an informative post that may have helped people decide to not waste their time. Was I "Freeloading" when going into engine sheds in the fifties in a more tolerant and less censorious time? ( It looked very nice at Goring, even without a platform ticket).

 

Just out of interest what decade are we in now?

 

Day 1 of the tour captured at Sittingbourne, Barming, West Ealing, Didcot and Kemble:

 

Not many better ways of starting a Sunday morning than nipping up to Bromsgrove to watch a pair of Black 5s charging The Lickey. Thanks to everyone - organisers, crews and paying passengers for making it happen.