The Pembroke Coast Express - 23/8/15

Real Time Trains suggests Pembroke Coast Express will only get as far as Tenby if it runs?

 

And so does UK Steam seehttp://www.uksteam.info/tours/t15/t0823a.htm

 

Probably one or more of three reasons for the cancellations- lack of rolling stock (due to what appears to be a crash programme of refurbishing the tannoy system as part of the ORR requirements); lack of a suitable locomotive; lack of bookings.

If PCE runs to Tenby only it might suggest a locomotive has been sourced which has gauge restrictions further west, or will be range-limited on the return run (sounds as though it might be 61306, which carries less coal than other classes previously seen on this route, and bear in mind there are plenty of stiff climbs to stoke-up the boiler for).

However, if the former, anything that can get through the platform on the tight curve at Narberth should be able to go just about anywhere. Thankfully, did this route about three years ago in its entirety, but that's no consolation to those looking to 'tick-off' new track.

 

Mayflower is doing a trip to Stratford upon avon on the Saturday steam coming on at Hanwell Bridge loop, although she is in gauge for the route Ray has doubts to whether she could manage it with the load predicted as there are some stiff climbs on the route, the train is already fully booked. the train is not going to go to Pembroke dock and he said the train could be cancelled or postponed due to lack of locomotive.

 

Hmm. Not looking too promising this time around, then.

 

The train will be taking a DL on the back because of turning at Carmarthen and the section to Tenby, and so it will have to assist on the banks whichever steam loco is used. Perhaps it will have to assist more, or more often, if it's Mayflower. More of a problem might be raising a second support crew to cover 48 hours or more in use.

Then there's the question of getting the loco to Bristol on Saturday night/Sunday morning. When is the ECS booked to go to Bristol? If it's the same set as used for the CathEx, then when it returns to Southall from Southend-on-Sea (in the early hours of the morning), Mayflower could be attached to the rear (having been serviced in the mean time) without being turned, all ready to set out from Bristol (with the DL on the back). That would only need "minders" on the footplate. However, if it's a different rake of coaches, that's either going to Bristol earlier, or is already there, then a steam crew (or another DL) will be needed to take Mayflower down there once she has been serviced. Any of these options involve a lot of extra planning and extra crew hours, both for the volunteers and the WCRC staff.

Of course, it may be that Tangers has been repaired in the 2 weeks since her failure on Hemerdon, depending what was found to be wrong when she got home. If there was a fault with the steam reverser, as various people speculated, then I suppose it might have been fixed and tested by the end of this week. It there's other damage, e.g. to valve gear or to tyre profiles (as a result of the slipping) then repairs may take rather longer. @Tony172 - are you able to enlighten us at all?

 

No news on 34067 but know all effort is being made to have her available for this trip


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

isnt 44932 still based in Bristol ? Could that be a possibility for the loco ? or has something happened as it seems to have been off the radar for quite some time.

 

44932 is in pieces at 10A having an overhaul


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Ah perhaps that's why i haven't seen it about recently then !

 

Too bad Nunney Castle n/a.

 

5029 has done this trip several times before, so it would be nice to ring the changes for those on board who have done it on previous occasions- if a locomotive can be sourced, that is.

 

Running it with Tangmere will make it a cast iron certainty there will be assistance a lot of the day if they take the usual load 11. There'll be assistance up the 1 in 75 of Filton Bank, probably up the 1 in 90 out of the tunnel, definitely on the 1 in 50ish on Cockett Bank both ways and out of Tenby where it's even steeper and on a curve. A diesel lover's delight.

 

That will be the case whichever loco is available. None of the current mainline fleet could take 11 and a DL over Cockett etc. without assistance. It's a moot point whether Tangers or Mayflower would need more assistance, and would depend on the driver and the conditions.

 

At least the back up won't be very far away, only 10/11 coaches back instead of over 70 miles away in Bristol for example.

 

I am not sure that any pacific has made an incident free climb of Cockett bank westbound, without the help of a diesel. Can anyone advise otherwise ? The 10mph crossover at the foot of the bank and the damp conditions under the flying arches at the tunnel entrance make it very challenging.

 

If it can be timed, NR should reverse the formula to Cockett downhill and Felin Fran on the return if it is known that a particular locomotive might make a meal of it uphill. I would have thought there would be a path around Felin Fran and onto the South Wales Mainline at the time of day in question. If Trostre sidings were in good condition, then they could provide refuge for water and pathing on the outward.

 

Cockett is a steep climb (about 1 in 50) in both directions, but a little harder westbound because it can't be approached at any speed. The usual format is via Felin Fran westbound and via Cockett on return. This train is booked via Cockett both ways.

 

RYTC say on the Tickets it's only going as far as Tenby due to engineering works.

UK Steam Info now saying 34067 is on the West Somerset Steam Express on Sat 22nd replacing 60009. Outward leg only with diesel return to Paddington. So 34067 is probably going to Bristol from the WSR to work the Pembroke Coast on 23rd.