21st August 2005

Past Time Rail
The Torbay Express

Route:
1Z27 : Bristol Temple Meads to Kingswear
1Z28 : Kingswear to Bristol Temple Meads

Notes :
(1) 60009 unable to haul train and assistance was given by 7827 which was detached from a service train. Steve Marshall adds: MP223½ is Waterside; the usual place to stall if the driver doesn't build up enough momentum climbing Goodrington bank.
(2) 67014 on rear.

Sources : Sean Emmett & Steve Marshall (on the train)

Tour Review
(from Sean Emmett)

'Lydham Manor' to the Rescue.

Past Time Rail finally got a Manor on the Torbay Express, but probably not how they would have liked!

60009 suffered a bout of slipping getting away from Temple Meads on a dry rail, but we cleared MP 123 at 55 mph and reached 75 after Nailsea, then checked by tardy crossing of barriers at Huish LC to arrive 6 late at Weston.

Good restart from Weston with 75 mph through Highbridge and Bridgwater, arrived Taunton in 27 min 29 sec, ave 58.4 mph start to stop.

Excellent restart from Taunton: 60 mph by Victory LC, 68 mph through Wellington and 52 minimum on Whiteball, some slipping into and through the tunnel. Platform slack at Tivvy Parkway handled expertly, and arrived Exeter St Davids in 34 mins dead.

I don't recall us taking water but willing to be corrected. Pleasant run along sea wall in sunshine (Torquay was UK hottest place at 25C 77F) and reached Paignton in 38 min 16 sec. Then the fun started...

Away from Paignton in hands of P&D Rly crew 14 late on the generous schedule to Kingswear. Up to the 20 mph limit through Goodrington but starting slipping near MP 223 1/4 and came to stand after MP 223 1/2. Many attempts to restart after sanding rails etc all to no avail. Eventually 7827 Lydham Manor detached from its service train at Churston to rescue us. After one false start both locos got us going after approx 36 minute delay. Lydham Manor taken off at Churston to shunt behind its own train in a remarkably smart move - we were away again with 60009 on its own within 2 mins 14 sec of arrival!

Departure retimed from 16.50 to 17.15. No problems this time up to Churston. Penalty was path following stopper from Paignton to Exeter which checked us on Torre bank. We were down to walking pace at one point, but kept going.

Exeter water stop omitted and we had clear run up to Whiteball, passed in 21 min 04 secs at 61/62 mph. Reached Taunton 19 early in 32 mins 25 sec, well before the Virgin Voyager which we were booked to be looped for at Tiverton was due.

During watering announcement made that HST had failed at Highbridge. Service trains diverted via Westbury, but we were unable to do likewise as driver apparently did not have route knowledge and we had passengers to set down at Weston. There were also problems with the locomotive's brick arch that I was unaware of at the time.

Underway 19 late with extra stops at Bridgwater and Highbridge to set down passengers and pick up stranded Wessex Trains customers, so lost more time to Weston.

Nice acceleration after Worle Jn but the put into the loop at Yatton for a Voyager to overtake; then needless diversion to the slow line approaching Temple Meads to arrive 50 late.

So a very mixed day which confirmed what we knew already: 60009 is a racehorse not a carthorse.

Sean Emmett

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Sean Emmett)

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