Just got confirmation on an Interesting trip I have planned for this Saturday...
Depart Waterloo for Swanage headed by Black 5 45305, return to Waterloo headed by 70013 Oliver Cromwell.
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ooh, cheers for the heads up.
Timings here:-
www.uksteam.info/tours/t11/t0514c.htm
I'll probably be at Hinton Admiral station making appropriate hand gestures as you pass by :-)
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Enjoy!!!! Wish it was I...
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Might be around to give you a wave as you pass through Farnborough
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Just got confirmation on an Interesting trip I have planned for this Saturday...
You train spotter and to just think your old man was a Railway man just like me.!!
Best wear your brown mack and you goggles with your note book. :-)
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>> You train spotter and to just think your old man was a Railway man just
>> like me.!!
>>
>> Best wear your brown mack and you goggles with your note book. :-)
Not me mate, I shall be in first class quaffing wine and shoveling down a 4 course meal.
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Well, we got a wave from the engine driver as the train passed through the Hampshire countryside this morning.
Seemed to be running ~10 - 15min late.
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Came through Hinton right time, almost coasting down the hill into Christchurch so not much in the way of sound effects Presumably Zero was scoffing his roast swan or whatever at the time. Back there at 10 to 6 this evening hopefully with Oliver Cromwell on the front.
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Well one thing Zero missed was the Lancaster just now doing a very low circuit round my house and from / to Zeros way.
I have never heard it at speed and so low. WOW!!!
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>> Well one thing Zero missed was the Lancaster just now doing a very low circuit
>> round my house and from / to Zeros way.
>> I have never heard it at speed and so low. WOW!!!
Damn.
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>> Came through Hinton right time, almost coasting down the hill into Christchurch so not much
>> in the way of sound effects Presumably Zero was scoffing his roast swan or whatever
>> at the time. Back there at 10 to 6 this evening hopefully with Oliver Cromwell
>> on the front.
It was 15 mins late out of Waterloo, went round the Hounslow loop, then the Weybridge loop, was 10 mintues late out of Staines, 7 minutes late out of Woking, and had made it all up by the time we hit Southampton Central. (the full English breakfast had been cleared away by then and Black 5 had been watered at Winchfield). Lovely run down to Wareham, and it all got a bit hairy when we branched off for Swanage. The line to just before Corfe Castle is Railtrack, and rarely used with a 10 MPH speed limit and Poor old Black 5 had a real struggle to take the gradients without excessive wheel-spin. There is a bizzare process to enter and leave Railtrack, involving locked gates, catch points and Railtrack staff walking the track for 200 yards.
On arrival at Swanage we had the glorious sight of THREE locos all in steam, 70013 Ollie Cromwell, Black 5 45305, and 4-6-2 "Battle of Britain" Class No. 34070 Manston, a surprise steam fest indeed.
Ollie hauled us out of Swanage, and the increased power of this loco was cleared. Much sniggering as we passed Corfe Castle, the first Cromwell passed the place and left it in ruins, followed by the bizzare Railtrack joining process again. Being much heavier Ollie had no issue with wheel slip, and glided smoothly onto the main line and then powered us back north east again, hitting 70mph several times, bang on time at all points. 4 course meal served on the return journey, and we left the train at Woking.
Great day
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Ollie didn't need much wellie to climb the bank from Chirstchurch, although the driver did put their foot down (so to speak) just after passing Hinton Admiral, as the train disappeared out of shot. Unusual to see a steam special run both ways on the South Western mainline without a diesel on the back.
Note for non puffer nutters - Ollie can go much faster then 70, but they're not allowed to, presumably it beats the carp out of the track.
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Its licensed for 70 max, you could feel that slight "chuga" as the driver held her back, it was a *very* easy cruise, tho its funny to think my old man hammered much more out of him on the Norwich run 50 odd years ago!
Yeah the two different engine run was pretty unique and unexpected, it wasnt what was planned when we booked 4 months ago.
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Last major steam run I did was behind a ' spamcan ' ...City of Wells . It hauled us from Carlisle to Hellifield where a Lord Nelson took us on to Carnforth.
Sadly, both locos that never would have been seen on that line. Oh for a Spinner and the Midland Compound !
Saw Tornado at speed near Appleby and a red Jubilee with a full red LMS train last year......on it's home ground !
Going to see friends in the Eden Valley soon, We're thinking of going by train for the first time...Manchester to Leeds then on to Appleby where we can get picked up. A few quid cheaper than Penrith but a little slower.
Should be fun.......must get a railcard next week.
Ted
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For the Steam buffs... - spamcan61
