12th May 2007

Vintage Trains
Pompey Vectis Explorer

Locos Used 47853 'Rail Express' & 50049 'Defiance'
Stock Used (3) 3309+349+335+353+1201+9496+5928

Route:
1Z50 : Tyseley Warwick Road to Havant
1Z51 : Havant to Tyseley Warwick Road

Loco(s) Route
50049 Tyseley Warwick Road - Water Orton - Nuneaton - Wigston South Curve - Market Harborough - Midland Main Line - Bedford - Radlett (Milepost 13¼) (1)
47853 (2) Radlett (Milepost 13¼) - Bedford - Sharnbrook Slow Lines via Wymington Tunnel - Market Harborough - (reverse of outward route) - Tyseley Warwick Road

Notes :
(1) 50049 failed at milepost 13¼ by a complete loss of coolant after radiator leak.
(2) 50049 on rear.
(3) Stock listed is as provided by Paul Atkinson. TRUST however listed the rake as;
 3351+99349(349)+99361(335)+99353(353)+3309+1201+5928+9496
Use of 3351, or otherwise, is therefore required.


Two shots of the train arriving back at Tyseley (photos: Clive Hanley)

Source : Paul Atkinson (joined & left the train at Market Harborough)

Tour Review
(by Paul Atkinson)

The train was apparently delayed before departure from Tyseley due a problem with the coaching stock. I surmise that this might have been a catering vehicle. The delay was in the region of 40 minutes, but by the time the train had departed from Market Harborough it was only 11 minutes down. There then followed a fast run up the Midland Mainline, after picking up more passengers at Kettering .

Our engine, 50049 'Defiance' was running well, but shortly after Radlett we ground to a halt on the Up Fast, and there we stayed. Shortly we were informed that the loco had failed with a coolant leak, having deposited its coolant along the track. A rescue engine was sent from Acton , and this duly arrived in the form of Riviera Trains' Class 47 47853/D1733 'Rail Express'.

There was talk of running the short distance to Hendon, but this was soon thrown out. Unfortunately the tour was terminated where it lay, just south of Radlett Station at Milepost 13¼ (from London St Pancras). After a delay of 3 hours 4 minutes the train moved again, and headed back home, with 47853 at the head, and 50049 on the rear. What was to have been the evening meal became lunch, courtesy of the kitchen staff. The return was notable for us traversing the slow lines all the way from Radlett to Harrowden, which included the section through Sharnbrook/Wymington Tunnel.

The Vintage Trains staff were polite and helpful throughout the problems, and hopefully 50049 will be back on the main line soon.

Paul Atkinson

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Paul Atkinson & LASERman)

Miles
 Location Booked Actual   Booked Re-timed Actual
Miles
0.0
 Tyseley Warwick Road 06.47d ?   23.51a 16.34a ?
200.0
0.9
 Small Heath South Jn 06/53 ?   23/44 16/27 ?
199.1
-
 Bordesley Jn 06/57 ?   23/39 16/22 ?
-
-
 St. Andrews Jn 06/58 ?   23/38 16/21 ?
-
-
 Landor Street Jn 07/01 ?   23/36 16/19 ?
-
8.9
 Water Orton 07/08 ?   23/24 16/07 ?
191.1
-
 Whitacre Jn 07/12 ?   23/19 16/02 ?
-
-
 Abbey Jn 07/35 ?   23/07 15/50 ?
-
22.2
 Nuneaton 07.38a ~ 07.41d ?   23.00a ~ 23.03d 15.43a ~ 15.46d ?
177.8
26.4
 Hinckley 07/49 ?   22/53 15/36 ?
173.6
34.1
 Narborough 07.59a ~ 08.01d ?   22.41a ~ 22.43d 15.24a ~ 15.26d ?
165.9
-
 Glen Parva Jn 08/05 ?   22/35 15/18 ?
-
37.0
 Wigston South Jn 08/13 ?   22/28 14/56 ?
149.7
-
 Kilby Bridge Jn 08/15 ?   22/26 14/54 ?
-
50.3
 Market Harborough 08.25a ~ 08.27d ??.?? ~ 08.38 [P2]   22.13a ~ 22.16d 14.41a ~ 14.44d 14.44 ~ ??.?? [P1]
149.7
-
 Kettering North Jn ? ?   ? 14/32 ?
-
61.0
 Kettering 08.39a ~ 08.41d 08.50 ~ 08.52 [P3]   21*54a ~ 22*02d 14*13a ~ 14*23d 14.12 ~ 14.16 [P1]
139.0
-
 Kettering South Jn ? ?   21/51 14/10 ?
-
-
 Harrowden Jn ? ?   21/45 14/04 ?
-
67.9
 Wellingborough 08/47 08/59   21/41 13/59 13/59
132.1
-
 Sharnbrook Jn 08/55 ?   21/29 13/47 ?
-
-
 Bedford North Jn 09/01 ?   2122 13/31 ?
-
83.4
 Bedford 09/02 09/11   21/21 13/30 13/40
116.6
-
 Bedford South Jn 09/03 ?   21/20 13/29 ?
-
-
 Flitwick Jn ? ?   ? 13/19 ?
-
92.9
 Flitwick 09/09 09/25   21/08 13/18 13/30
107.1
102.9
 Luton 09/16 09/34   21/01 13/09 13/17
97.1
108.6
 Harpenden Jn 09/25 09/38   20/54 ? 13/08
91.4
113.4
 St. Albans 09/33 09/41   20/49 13/00 13/03
86.6
117.9
 Radlett ? 09/45   ? ? 12/57
82.1
-
 Radlett Jn ? ?   ? 12.50d ?
-
119.8
 MILEPOST 13¼ ? 09.48a   ? ? 12.52d
80.2
126.3
 Hendon 09/50 DIV   20/37 DIV
73.7
-
 Brent Curve Jn 09/52 DIV   20/34 DIV
-
-
 Dudding Hill Jn 10/01 DIV   20/32 DIV
-
-
 Acton Canal Wharf 10/09 DIV   20/26 DIV
-
-
 Acton Wells Jn 10/14 DIV   20/24 DIV
-
132.7
 South Acton 10/21 DIV   20/18 DIV
67.3
-
 Kew East Jn 10/24 DIV   20/15 DIV
-
134.7
 Brentford 10/27 DIV   20/12 DIV
65.3
137.6
 Hounslow 10/34 DIV   20/05 DIV
62.4
-
 Feltham Jn 10/39 DIV   19/54 DIV
-
139.9
 Feltham 10/42 DIV   19/52 DIV
60.1
144.2
 Staines 10/50 DIV   19/42 DIV
55.8
148.3
 Virginia Water 10/59 DIV   19/27 DIV
51.7
-
 Addlestone Jn 11/10 DIV   19/20 DIV
-
154.0
 Byfleet & New Haw 11/18 DIV   19/18 DIV
46.0
157.9
 Woking 11/22 DIV   19/13 DIV
42.1
-
 Woking Jn 11/23 DIV   19/12 DIV
-
163..9
 Guildford 11/29 DIV   19/06 DIV
36.1
-
 Shalford Jn 11/30 DIV   19/01 DIV
-
167.0
 Farncombe 11/34 DIV   18/59 DIV
33.0
176.4
 Haslemere 11/48 DIV   18/43 DIV
23.6
188.4
 Petersfield 11/58 DIV   18/33 DIV
11.6
200.0
 Havant 12.14a DIV   18.20d DIV
0.0

Timings continue in first table.

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