Torbay Express 2018

Heres my video of the last Torbay of 2018...

 

Nice one Nick.

 

Thanks Colin.. Hope you are well mate.. be better when the King is back on the Torbays but Clan Line is a great engine.

 

Thanks Colin.. Hope you are well mate.. be better when the King is back on the Torbays but Clan Line is a great engine.[/QUOTE]


Didn't hear very optimistic news on that front. 6024 not expected to be available for the 2019 season. Real problems with sourcing 'guaranteed' locomotives for next year. Tornado is out and about on preceding Saturdays; June 8th and 15th; July 20th; August 17th, 24th and 31st; and then September 7th and 21st. Apparently there is going to be a Cornishman with 60163 in June.

 

Didn't hear very optimistic news on that front. 6024 not expected to be available for the 2019 season. Real problems with sourcing 'guaranteed' locomotives for next year. Tornado is out and about on preceding Saturdays; June 8th and 15th; July 20th; August 17th, 24th and 31st; and then September 7th and 21st. Apparently there is going to be a Cornishman with 60163 in June.[/QUOTE]Being a DBC job,, and assuming LSL fleet will be increasingly required for Saphos / Statesman duties, it really limits the possible options. 6233 and 60007 are the only ones that spring to mind for 2019 along with MN28.

 

My footage of last Sunday's run, filmed at Saltern Cove and Cockwood Harbour. Also featured is 6023, working services on the DSR, filmed at Saltern Cove, Waterside and Hookhills Viaduct, in between seeing Clan Line. I hope you enjoy it

 

As nothing much has been posted about the performance on the day, here's my last post for the 2018 Torbay Express Season. Don't think we've done as little as 2 trains since they started running. Shame No.9 didn't get a chance to show us what she could do. Such is life...

The Final Torbay Express of the 2018 Season

Due to the weather, not a vintage season of Torbay Expresses. The best was the first and as we always 'do the last' we had to do the route I find least interesting, that via Weston-super-Mare, made worse by a Yatton pick up and set down in 2018. The shunting at BTM actually went well with Clan Line doing the 'short shunt' of the stock into Platform 3 from which we departed only 2 late. Our crew on the outward was: Vince Henderson on the regulator; Steve Rodenhurst on the shovel with the evergreen Tommy Rees as TI. We were Coach 11 of 12 on the outward, not milepost side, and a fullish Standard Class so I stood at the middle window to do some timing.

A decent enough start saw speed rise to 42 passing the Freightliner Terminal, the foot of the gentle climb to Flax Bourton Summit. With 12 on, anything around 50 is decent and with noise enough to be heard 11 back Vince accelerated up the final mile and a half plus at 1 in 234/180/short 340 to top the summit at 53. Over the top and down the other side towards Weston we blasted through Nailsea and Backwell at 72 and topped out at 74 just before mp128. Then we braked for Yatton. It's a bit of a trundle on the level for 4 miles to Worle Jn and the run through Milton, 48, into Weston, 5 late.

We left 5 late and once out on the main at Uphill, mp138 and a bit, at 46, we set off in earnest for Taunton and our water stop/pick up. It's almost pan flat for 17 miles and we heard the unique sound of a rebuilt Bulleid being worked hard with her 12 coach train. We passed 60 around mp140 and speed rose steadily to 70 close to mp 143 1/2. We flashed through Highbridge at 73 and maxed at 76 around mp149. Speed was held around 75/6 through Bridgwater to mp156 and dropped to 69 as we climbed over Cogload Junction. Back to 73 off the junction, a speed held to mp160 1/2 as we slowed for Taunton. We were just over even time, 28 mins, for the 27 miles from Weston.

Steve was happy with the coal and the way Clan Line was steaming so all looked good for the attack on Whiteball. The first of the season on 3rd June was good so I've done a comparison here, June 3rd speeds in brackets.

We left on time and passed mp164, 3/4 miles out at 32(30) with noise rising we got to 50(49) over the 3/4 mile at 1in724; crossed Victory Crossing, the end of a mile and a quarter at 1in369 at 53(53). After 3/4 of a mile at 1in203 we were still doing 53(54), but only getting to 54(56.5) at the end of 3/4 of a mile at 1in338over Bradford-on-Tone LX. The next 1/2 mile at 1in222/490 was left at just under 53(57). The 2 miles to Wellington is mostly at 1in174, with a bit of 1in667 then 1/2 mile at 1in170. We held speed but no more and on the 1/4 mile of level track only picked up to 54.5(59). Speed fell slightly to 53(59) up the half mile of 1in288/133 before we tackled the serious part of the climb.

Even 11 back we heard Clan Line dig into the steepening grades. We passed mp171, the start of the 1in90 at 51(56.3); left it at mp171 3/4 at 46.7(51.2). Over the final 3 miles + of 1in90/86/80 on the final stretch, quarters from mp172 on the 1in86 were: 45(48.8); 43.9(47.8); 42.3(45.8); then on the 1in80; 172 3/4 40.8(43.3); 173 38.4 (41.5); tunnel entrance 38.1 (40.7). As on June 3rd we felt the motion of a couple of slips as 35028 itself entered the tunnel. Time to the tunnel was 14m 42.26s(14m 19.29s). We did expect better on a bright and sunny day, but it was still a decent climb with 12.

After the slips Vince eased Clan Line over the summit at 42 before we accelerated to 75 by Tiverton Parkway and rolled down the bank; Cullompton 76; Hele and Bradnich 76; Stoke Canon 75. We rolled through Exeter at 32(27) and things got noisier after St Thomas as we set off for the sea wall. We 'did' the Exminster Challenge in style, passing 198 3/4 at 72.3(66) and after the usual line speed around the sea wall and through Teignmouth, Vince and Steve got Clan Line up to 68 at mp212 before we were checked for Newton Abbot. We were slowed to 16(15) as we went 'around the back', and passed mp214 on the platform edge at 27(26). We'd accelerated to 42(43) by Aller and hit the bottom of the two miles+ of 1 in 110 through Kingskerswell at 47(48.4). We passed mp217 at 47.3(46.2) and MP 217 3/4, just below the summit at an excellent 44.6(43.7). Then 35028 was eased and we drifted over the summit at MP 218 at 36(42). Nice climb away from Torquay, passed at 36(43), with speed only falling to a minimum of 35.1(37.1) over the short sharp 1/4 mile of 1in56. We ran into Paignton almost 5 early and left in the capable hands of the DSR crew 5 early.

The PDR crew did their customary superb climb from Goodrington Sands to Churston. We hit the 1in71 at 28(24) and held it through Goodrington with a min of 24(27.2). We crossed Broadsands on the easing 1in93 grade at 27(27.1); crossed Hookhills Viaduct 1/2 a mile into the 1in60 at 26(25.2) before being eased for the 10 mph Churston approach. Another excellent climb with load 12.

As on June 3rd we took the car ferry across to Dartmouth and had lunch in the Royal Castle. My beer choice for the day was a pint of Pandit, a seriously moorish IPA. Between us we sampled mussels, fresh sea bass, fresh plaice and roast pork. Three of us shared a bottle of Sharphams Special Reserve. Plenty of time for dessert. I had an excellent white chocolate and blueberry blondie, a quite heavy cake thing, with a side of clotted cream. One of our party sampled the bread and butter pudding, traditionally eaten with cold milk. Mrs S and our fourth had the excellent local ice cream.

As it was such a lovely sunny afternoon three of us walked along the riverside to the Dart Marina and watched the King take the service train in and out of Kingswear as we had coffee and biscuit. Then we took the Higher Ferry across and walked alongside the line back to the station. Clan Line came past us early, 1540ish. Back at the station, much as we love Clan Line, we couldn't help wishing it had been the green king at the platform as the blue king rolled in with the final DSR service train of the day, complete with the Pullman Observation Car.

I didn't attempt to milepost on the return due to the low sun and no seat on the milepost side. I used various 'reference' mileposts and the GPS's trip odometer for 1/4 miles for the rest of the day. The DSR crew made an excellent start and we passed the Higher Ferry LX at a bit over the line maximum. The climb to Greenway Tunnel is just over a mile at 1in66 eastbound. We met it at 28(27.2); speed fell steadily around the curves to mp227, 20(24.7) and we roared into the tunnel at 20(20.3). we burst out and with a cacophony of noise speed increased to 21.9(22.5) at mp226. It's mostly a mile of 1in75 to the summit at mp225 3/4, passed at 23.1(22.2). Excellent enginemanship again from the DSR crew.

Our crew from Paignton was Driver Steve Mathews, Fireman Dave Proctor, with that well known 'local man', Bob Hart our TI. With Dave on the shovel steam was not going to be a problem. We made a steady start and passed mp222 at 14 and then the noise levels rose with the speed picked up on the short downgrade/level to mp221 1/2, 27(28.5), before the 1/2 mile of 1in91, left at 33(28). Down the 1in56 then on the level through Torquay, 44(44.5) and onto the mile at 1in56. Plenty of noise but speed fell and we left the section through Torre at 33.7(36). The gradient eased to 3/4 mile at 1in73 but as is usual speed dropped and with a couple of slips we topped the summit at 26(30). A very good climb but not as quick as the 3rd of June, which set a very high standard for future TBEs.

A rapid run through Kingskerswell, 61(58), with a max of 62(55) at Aller. We crossed over to the main at 40 and accelerated through Newton Abbot at 44(29). We reached line speed at around mp210 1/2; passed mp210 at 63.5(59.2); Teignmouth at 59(58) and ran into Clerks Tunnel accelerating at 60(58). By Kennaway Tunnel we'd picked up to 63(56) and rushed through Dawlish at that speed. Plenty of smoke and noise as Steve accelerated 35028 quite hard to pass through the Warren at 67(35) checked). Unlike the 3rd June we had greens all the way and hit 72(57) by Starcross; passed mp201 at 74(38); mp200 at 75(25); and Exminster at 72(44). No fireworks on the way round to Exeter. It looked good for a seriously attack on Whiteball as we passed mp194, my reference point, at 45(45.5) and passed mp193 3/4, the other side of Red Cow crossing at 45.7(46.3).

Disappointingly the expected fireworks on the lower slopes failed to materialise. Despite initial encouraging sounds from the front, our pick up was almost non-existent on the gentle 2 miles at 1in620 and we ran past Cowley Bridge Jn at 49.3(56); past mp192 at 51.7(59.3); end of section at mp191 at 55.4(62.3). The big engine was making plenty of noise but not hitting the expected speeds. By Stoke Canon LC speed had only risen to 59.7(65.3), and barely got above 60 up the 3 miles of 1in300, way below the 73 achieved on the 3rd of June. As the grade eased a bit speed only rose to 65(75) at Hele and Bradnich LC. Speed pickup the same but so much slower. The next 3 1/2 miles rose gently at 1in523, 65.8(75); 1in824, 66.2(76). It got noisier and speed picked up a little to 67(76) over the 1in300 average next mile and a half. It looked better for the rest of the climb as we held 68(77) at mp182.

No small matter of another 8 miles still to go to the summit. The gradient increased to 1in284 through Cullompton 68(76.6). It was still very noisy up front as we attacked 1 1/2 miles at 1in155, but we lost more speed than expected and left at mp180 at 62.4(72.4). Steve used the dip at Tiverton Junction to reach 67(76+) and 35028 picked up a little to snarl past mp178 on the 1in178 at 68(77.2). all seemed well up front as noise levels grew and we stormed through Tiverton Parkway at 69(76.9) onto the 3/4 mile at 1in242, left at 69(76.4). we lost no speed to the short 1in162 that took us onto the final 2 1/4 miles at 1in115. We passed mp176 at 68(74.2); mp175 at 63(71) but dropped to 61(69) at Burlescombe. We dropped just below 60(68.5) after a short 1in212 at mp174 1/4, easy to see under the trestle bridge, but lost speed over the final 1/4 mile of 1in203 to 56.4(69.2) as we passed the summit at mp174. Then Steve eased 35028 into the tunnel at 55.7. From the sound up front something wasn't quite right over the last mile.

We'd taken 19m 35.87s for the 20 miles and a bit from Exeter. Under normal circumstances it would have been considered a good climb but when you set such a high standard on 3rd June with a remarkable 17m 27.28s, it goes down as a disappointing one!! With a max of 76(76) at Wellington we drifted into Taunton a couple of minutes early. The effect of the 3rd June being checked for much of the way from Newton Abbot to Exeter was graphically shown by the journey time over the 59 miles from Paignton being only 63m 46s, compared with 71m 31s.

During a chat with the crew on the station we were told they had some problems with water pick up on the climb away from Paignton and intermittently after Exeter. It got worse after Tiverton Parkway at the top of the climb and led to the easing after Burlescombe.

Bit congested at Taunton with an 18l Paddington holding up the Cross Country. There was also a pair of 800s on P2 making up the next Paddington via Weston. We left on time alongside the pair of 800s. Didn't envy them the uncomfortable ride they were about to have. Standard Class seating in a Mark 1 is way more comfortable and the ride of the 800s is a real step backwards from Mark 3s. We crawled out of the station but Steve timed it well to avoid a red at East Jn. Still it was a subdues start and we were only running at 61(64) at Cogload Jn. That was the last comparisons as the 3rd June TBE turned right towards Somerton and we were on the traditional TBE route back via Weston. The sound level from the front rose markedly on the 2 miles of gentle downgrade as speed rose to 71. We couldn't really cut loose as the 800 was a Bridgwater and Highbridge stopper and was only 5 mins or so ahead of us as it.

So not quite the 75+ run we expect and Steve had to throw the brake in 2 miles out from Highbridge as the gap closed. We eased through the station at 50 and didn't have a chance to get above 65 as we closed on it on Uphill Jn approach. We were 5 minutes late into the station. There was a Pad-WSM close to the Junction at the time we were due to pull out onto the mainline but control let us leave a couple of minutes late. No fireworks on the run to Yatton as the 800 was stopping both there and at Nailsea and Backwell, and there was a New Street XC between us.

So we left Yatton 7 down and with a standing start there, the 'Flax Bourton Challenge' is to 'do' 60 into Flax Bourton Tunnel. There used to be a bit of a sweep on the Part Time TBEs and it gave we timers something to do on dark September nights!! We slipped getting away and only left the level mile and a half at 42. The gradients are gentle and over the 1/2 mile of 1in545 noise rose and we left it at 49; next was 1/2 mile at 1in471, left at 52 onto 2 1/4 miles of 1in334. Nailsea and Backwell is a mile in and we blasted through there at 57.3. impressive noise from the front as we left the section at 58.5. Over 3/4 mile of 1in387 we got to a max of 59 and passed the old station on 1/4 mile at 1in146 at just under 59. The tunnel comes just over 1/4 mile into the 1 1/4 miles of 1in200 and we blasted in at 56.2. We left the 1in200 at 56.4 with a minimum of 55.9. Decent enough for load 12.

For once control didn't stop us at the West Signal Gantry and we had a straight run into Platform 3 where we arrived only 4 late.

All in all a good day out with the big rebuilt Bulleid Pacific. Whiteball was a bit disappointing. Churlish to expect another 3rd June, though if the injector hadn't been playing up who knows.

Many thanks to the MNLPS for stepping into the breach to allow the final Torbay Express of the season to run. As always the engine looked superb and performed well all day. Thanks to TBEL for running the TBE; to Pathfinder for handling the bookings and for providing the friendly ontrain stewards; to Riviera Trains for providing the stock, though unfortunately a mixed 'Blood and Custard' and 'Chocolate and Cream' set, not the all Chocolate and Cream Rake. Thanks to DB for providing the excellent crews and for the on-day operation; and to NR for letting the train run. The train regulation was good all day.

Thanks too for the majority of passengers who were happy enough to travel a week later than planned, and for others who ensured the train ran. Great weather for the last Torbay Express. Even the short way is a very scenic route with a decent amount of fast running and Whiteball, Kingskerswell and Churston banks to climb.

No dates were leaked for 2019 but concerns were expressed about locomotive availability. Hope that gets sorted as the Torbay Express is great day out for day trippers and enthusiasts alike.

 

I couldn't guarantee the train journeys but I did mention that you were in for some lovely late warm, summer weather.