The Xmas Cheshireman - 22-11-14 with 45407 & 44871

Very good shots Alan .

 

Super showing from the fives today.

 

Absolutely superb Liam, cracking video at well chosen locations - especially the 5s, all the hallmarks of a Great Day Out. You most certainly put the miles in there; now, about those new tyres for your car......

Many thanks for sharing.

Cheers

Alan

 

As it was such a good day out with Ian Riley’s Black Fives I thought I’d put a performance sort of report in as the route had more banks than some small cities! We left BTM in the pouring rain and even Ray Churchill on 44871 at the head of the 12 coach train couldn’t prevent a few bouts of slipping. The Fives passed Dr Days at 28, Stapleton Roan at 40, picking up to 42 in the dip before the 2 miles at 1 in 75 climb of Horfield Bank. Narroways Jc was passed at 37, by the summit speed had dropped to 27. Across the top we passed Patchway at 44, left Patchway Tunnel at 62 and eased into the Severn Tunnel at 59. It’s a 3 mile climb at 1 in 90 from the bottom on the Welsh. Speed out was 41 which was held to the summit, picking up to 44 by the Junction Station. After the obligatory 20 over the Usk River Bridge, we passed Caerleon at 41. After a stop at Cwmbran, it’s straight on to 2 miles at 1 in 106, steepening to 2 1/4 miles at 1 in 95 before Pontypool Road. After a slip or two and a noisy climb the summit was topped at 31.5. The highlight of the outward run is the climb of Llanvihangel Bank. At Abergavenny it’s a start on a tight curve on ¾ mile at 1 in 85, followed by 2 miles at 1 in 82; and finally 2 miles at 1 in 95 to the summit. After a few inevitable slips speed rose steadily to 31 by the top of the 1:82, picking up to a little over 37 at the summit on wet rails. Sorry Bulleid fans, but many passengers commented if Tangmere had been on the train we’d have still been in Abergavenny as we passed the summit in 9 mins 44 secs!. North of Hereford we were checked by a 20 TSR after Moreton-on-Lugg. The Fives hit the bottom of the short 1:100 climb into Dinmore tunnel at 48 and blasted out at 44. After a long 20 Tsr the Fives picked up speed and blasted through Ludlow at 45, Craven Arms at 58, got checked to 40 just north of Craven Arms but had picked up to 54 at Marshbrook. Speed fell steadily to 48 on the 2 miles at 1 in 112 to the summit.

The highlight of the return is the climb of Gresford Bank, just over 4 miles at 1 in 82 and a bit. The Fives didn’t disappoint. We hit the bottom of the bank at 53, had dropped to 41 at 2 miles in but then dug in noisily and speed only dropped to 38 by the summit. The return climb of Stretton Bank saw us pass Dorrington on the 1 in 90 at 46, followed by a solid climb up the 4 miles at 1 in 100 to top the summit at 43. The climb to Llanvihangel is less steep on the return, a mile at 1 in 216, 2 miles at 1 in 170 then 2 ½ miles at 1 in 100. Pontrilas was passed at 57 and our speed was 50 at the start of the 1 in 100, falling steadily to 42 at the summit. Passengers who got off at Abergavenny and Cwmbran missed a noisy end to the day. Quite rarely we went mainline from Newport to Severn Tunnel Jc. Speed into the tunnel was 56. It’s a 3 ½ mile climb at 1 in 100 from the bottom on the English side. Speed out was 47, dropping to 41. Pilning was passed at 44. The mile long climb of the 1 in 68 bank into Patchway Tunnel saw speed drop to 40. The tunnel itself is a very smokey climb of a mile at 1 in 90 and speed had fallen to 32 on exit, and to 30 at the top of the short 1 in 80 climb after the tunnel. An excellent end to what was a superb tour. It’s a pity there aren’t more trains on the route in the year. Very scenic, good location to spend the afternoon, lots of banks and noise for we enthusiasts, and good pubs at the end of the journey.

Drivers were Ray Churchill 44871, Mick Rawlings 45407 outward; Ray Poole 48471, Ian Riley himself 45407 return. Don’t know who the firemen were but they deserve everyone’s thanks for a hard day’s work on the 350+ miles round trip to Crewe.

Many thanks to Ian and his guys for bringing the Fives down a week early and providing what was really the ideal motive power for the route in November. They performed magnificently all day and there must have been some serious hard work put in to service both engines in just over an hour in Crewe. Hope RTC take note and bring them back for next year. Got a feeling it was the first double headed black five hauled train on the Marches in preservation. It shouldn’t be the last.

 

It certainly isnt the last,they are booked to do it again (from Gloucester via Maindee as far as Shrewsbury and return) on the SD trip this Saturday(29th).

Many thanks for taking the time to post this account. Much looking forward to the SD trip.

 

Taken at a familiar location in Cheshire, namely Hargrave.