VT Welsh Marches - 25/05/19

Nothing seemed obvious. We were held at English Bridge for a while with nothing moving around us. Progress however was slow between Wellington and Cosford.

I’ll have a go at writing a full review later...

 

Today's results - back up on Flickr now it is working again.

Broad Common on the run into Droitwich, she was working nicely here but no steam as the temperature was already nice and warm!


Getting a shift on after the stop at Abbotswood Junction.


The return leg, storming past Wistanstow on the climb to Church Stretton.

 

That puzzled me too. There was some slow running for no obvious reason on one or two other stretches during the day, but particularly on that stretch. RTT showed nothing close in front, and we were delaying a service train close behind. I hope someone from VT can tell us. Also why we stopped for a few minutes at Abbey Foregate Junction: the signal was off but there was a chap in high-viz standing by the track about where our loco stopped.

Edit: I meant to say that this was an excellent trip which I thoroughly enjoyed.

 

Reuploaded - My footage of Clun Castle tackling Llanvihangel Bank for the first time since the 1980s (don't know preciously which year). Also, I filmed her at Ladywood between Worcester and Droitwich and Bredon near Ashchurch. Enjoy.

 

Excellent. Pity about the going away bits!! The place you filmed on Llanvihangel Bank is the top of the steepest 1in82 section, mp20 3/4. Good choice.

 

First time filming at Abergavenny

 

Thought I’d try a write up for this. I’m not as familiar with spotting points of specific interest (I.e. locations, mileposts etc) and it’s by no means as comprehensive as Oswald’s and others, but I thought it’d give an insight into the day.

The Welsh Marches - 25th May
7029 ‘Clun Castle’

Still feeling fresh off my trip around the country filming the GB I felt that another 300+ mile day filming wasn’t going to do it. With a week to go, I grabbed two of the last three tickets in standard and stitched a friend up. He doesn’t have the same interest in the hobby as I do, but fancied coming along for the trip.

A half five get up and go, we arrived in Dorridge in good time to grab a couple of snacks before heading to the station. Tyseley’s 47 arrived with the stock - load 10 (inc POB and REG), 7029 with Ray Churchill at the controls the other end. With the diesel staying on the back, the additional weight would add up to load 13/14? We were eight back, and would be all day.

The window opened and we were away 2L. Not an awful lot could be heard from upfront and nothing was ever evident from behind. Speed was up to 42 by Widney Manor but nothing more on the run into Birmingham. The two seats opposite were never claimed and so a table to ourselves! Further slow running continued until Stourbridge where a late running service train blocked our route. Once away a max of 75 was achieved just after Blakedown with more sedate running until Worcester.

Water was taken - late arrival, late departure. Once away the Castle’s bark was heard reverberating around Worcester. Another stop was soon taken at Abbotswood for pathing. Once our path was set we were away 3L, progress was steady and saw a maximum of 68 before the 10mph restriction for Ashchurch. Another steady get away and again not much could be heard from eight back. Following a crawl through Gloucester, now 6L speed slowly reached the high 60’s along the banks of the river Severn, not enough to bring back our deficit. All with something of a silver lining though as by the time Maindee was reached 7L, the proceeding Manchester service along the Marches was some 20+ minutes ahead and guaranteed us a clear run. Clun could finally be heard on and off as we made a series of accelerations, slowing only for Cwmbran and Pontypool and New Inn... but that’s the point where I felt Clun was really given a chance to show off! With help from a falling gradient, speed rose rapidly and the noise got louder. 32 quickly became 60, the roar from upfront becoming clearer still. Continuing over the rising and falling gradients before Penpergwm and the eagerly anticipated climb of Llanvihangel, the roar was not fading. 60’s quickly dismissed. Into the 70’s and still sounding great even towards the back! For a short while it became something really special..! In fact so much so the brakes were applied and we were back down to 70mph, the foot of the bank was hit. The roar now faded, Abergavenny was passed at 60mph from which point my GPS lost signal. It wasn’t until just over halfway up Llanvihangel that I got another reading... 36mph. Speed continued to fall at a noticeable pace with a minimum of 24.1mph. At this minimum, and the hill not yet dismissed, speed began to rise until the summit was crested between the speeds of 29-32mph. With a load equivalent to 13/14 this is either down to an incredible pick up from upfront, or the more likely help from behind... not a lot was heard from Clun throughout the climb, but nor was anything obvious from the 47. A quick recovery up to 75mph was made and we were cruising in the high 60’s to low 70’s until Ray brought us steadily into Hereford for the day’s layover, now only 2L.

Hereford was enjoying warm sunny weather, so a quick get away to the local Spoons was taken and sealed us an outside seat. A couple of pints and a rather terrible burger later, we decided to amble away the time in Hereford simply exploring the city.

17:15 soon came around and we were back onboard. Clun was away on time but there seemed to be no hurry. Moreton was eventually crossed at 63mph where speed continued to creep up to a cruise in the high 60’s low 70’s - 73.2 being the max recorded with restrictions seemingly traversed at Craven Arms and Church Stretton. Spouts of acceleration could be heard, but again nothing was clearly audible.

There was a somewhat slow approach to Shrewsbury followed by a stop at Abbey Foregate Jnc. Still no clue as to the reason? The proceeding train was well ahead of us now due to our late running. After about five minutes we were underway once more. Speed barely hit 60 as the brakes were on again, without any clear reasoning - the proceeding local was well in advance and the TfW service now hot on our heals. A period of further slow running saw us at no more than 30mph from Wellington right through to Shifnal where a burst of acceleration took us to 35/40mph. With Albrighton bank ahead I thought this would continue to rise... brakes came on again at another slow spell of running saw Cosford passed at 18mph! Some noise could now be heard upfront as the 1-100/1-132 Bank was conquered, Clun lifted the train to reach 28mph by the summit. Speed continued to rise for the short distance we had left before Wolverhampton. Despite the now 14L deficit, Wolverhampton was approached where it had been decided that it wasn’t worth the passenger stop and we instead made our way straight into the Walsall line.

Nothing to note through the Birmingham suburbs, speed continued to be sedate with no real gain made on the schedule. In fact that was more or less it for the return to Dorridge. I was however surprised at how easily a path was found to get us in and out of New Street.

It was pleasant to have a trip behind Clun Castle, and was interesting to see what the operations of Tyseley’s new lease of life as a TOC was like, certainly a shame to dismiss the operation due to a diesel tagging along at the rear. All in all it was a good day with thanks going to all those making the day possible. Was only a shame to note that Clun isn’t as audible from the train as I thought given the noise it’s been presenting from the lineside perspective, although this could be in part to my position onboard...

I’ll try for a more comprehensive review on performance in the future as I get more into these things.

 

Rookie mistake: no crew names other than Ray Churchill.

3/10, must try harder.

James


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I got the barmaids name, any points there?

 

Don’t try and be clever, it doesn’t suit you...

James


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You'd get more points if you got her number!

 

That seems quite unnecessarily catty. Will RL did open his report with the acknowledgment "by no means as elusive or comprehensive as Oswald’s and others" (though I'm not sure what he meant by "elusive").

 

Yes I agree. Maybe effusive? A very good general report. Please don’t be put off by nasty comments. It was a good report

 

I suspect James was joking. There seems to be a recent obsession amongst the northern photographic community to know the names of the driver/fireman.
This particular bug hasn’t reached us down south yet.

 

Maybe they should pay their fares and travel on some of the charters to talk to the crews.

 

I agree well out of order, James ! Should of been 2/10 !

 

Hadn't taken any notice of this tour, but just happened to be at New Street last night waiting my HST to Derby and ambled to end of platform.

"My goodness", I thought, "There's a Castle over there"! It gently chuffed out just before the HST arrived. Perfect timing and an unexpected joy on my way home. 7029 looked in stunning external condition.

 

She saw his stopwatch and his notepad in his hand and then that was that !

 

Ummm. You’ve done it again Liam. Quoted one of my posts which has absolutely no relevance to your comment.

 

It was worse away from Nat Press I can assure you! 3/10 sounds like a softened blow for the audience...

Thanks Don, yes need to change my words. Thought I’d give a basic report just to give it a go.

No stopwatch. But I saw her notepad and thought that was outdated! Would rather use the app...