23 April 07 - The Great Britain - On Line Photo Supplement

For those of you not in the know, there's an excellent online Railway Magazine called "The Railway Herald". It's completely free in a downloadable PDF format and is published roughly every two weeks. The current issue contains a supplement covering the Great Britain railtour with some excellent picture of 6024 (and 5051) as well as all the other loco's featured in this mamoth trek around the UK. Simpy click on the logo and take a look for yourself.

21 April 07 - Great Western Society, Didcot

A quiet day on Saturday with just myself & Martyn in attendance. Another working party member did appear (who shall remain nameless) only to take the mickey.! Anyway, when not distracted by ice-cream we got on with cleaning out the ashpan and smokebox as well as some work on the support coach date labeling. I'm sure the Sunday crew were there polishing like crazy.

14 April 07 - The Red Dragon

Another fantastic day weather & performance wise as 6024 headed West into Wales with the Past Time Rail promoted Red Dragon to Carmarthen and back. Straight into the action driver Paul Burns soon had the loco barking up the 1 in 75 of Horfield Bank, speed hovering in the mid 30's all the way up the climb. Once through the Severn Tunnel and into Newport for the first servicing stop, which was swiftly completed, we were back on our way, this time turning left just past Cardiff Central to take the Vale of Glamorgan line to Bridgend. This includes the stiff climb from Aberthaw Cement works up to St Athan and once the again the loco had the 12 coach train effortlessly up the bank. Accelerating away from Bridgend and into the climb of Stormy Bank, the loco continued to increase in speed all the way up the gradients, the EDHP around the 2000 mark almost all the way before using the downward grade to reach our maximum past Margam prior slowing for our next service stop at Port Talbot.

A crew change here saw Newport's Fred Lewis take over the regulator and it was not long before we were into the climb of Skewen Bank, again speed maintained in the mid 30's up the 1 in 88 before dropping down to Landore and the subsequent climb of Cockett Bank. Speed is restricted over Swansea West Jc so with no run at the 1 in 52, the engine simply settled into her rhythm, with speed in the mid teens. before having to stop to await the single line section for the run down to Llandeilo Junction. After this there was some easy running along the level of the "Welsh sea wall" and into (this year) a sunny Carmarthen for the mid tour turn & service. Time to depart had soon come around and once again 6024 got into her stride along the levels through Ferryside, Kidwelly and Llanelli before hitting the return climb of Cockett Bank. We a run at the hill in Eastbound direction the loco stormed on up the 1 in52/50, speed eventually falling to the mid 20's before heading into Cockett tunnel. A long stop for signals just past Landore meant a relatively slow return up Skewen Bank before dropping back in Part Talbot for the servce stop a few minutes down.

The servicing was quickly completed and with Bristol's Geoff Ewans now on the handle we made our way homewards 8 minutes early. This was soon lost though with a long stop to get out of the loop at Margam East, but once away the loco was put about her work with the 1 in 100 of Stormy Bank ahead. Speed at the bottom was in the mid 40's and we plenty of noise from the front end speed only dropped to the low 40's by the time we'd reached Stormy sidings, a great performance. A quick stop at Bridgend and then the passengers were treated to some excellent running in the mid 70's on the slight down grades towards Cardiff, before switching to the relief line for the run into Newport and the final servicing stop of the day. A 16 minute early departure was once again negated with a prolonged signal stop at Magor. Once away though speed was allowed to build down into the Severn Tunnel for the final climb of the day up to Patchway. Geoff was soon making plenty of noise from the front end and 6024 certainly responded with speed increasing from 50 to 55mph up the 1 in 100 before easing on the exit of Patchway tunnel and then the final descent into Bristol Temple Meads right on time.

An excellent days running and you can see a few video clips of this run at these links... Horfield Bank, Stormy Bank Westbound, Cockett Bank Westbound

7 April 07 - The Great Briton

The second day of this tour de force railtour started in glorious sunshine at the Western most end of the British network, 6024 and 5051 having moved down from St Blazey early in the morning. Large crowds had gathered as both loco's headed away, a feature of the day with large numbers of people out to see the train for the entire length of the trip. Both engines made light work of the immediate climbs, the running only curtailed when the preceeding train was caught up through the Cambourne - Redruth section. Once through Lostwithiel the gradients are against the collar and the Bodmin & Wensford loco's whistled in salute as we forged on up the grades towards Doublebois, the sound of both engines echoing over the valleys below. An early arrival into Plymouth was only curtailed by having to wait our path behind a unit from the Bere Alston branch, but once into North Road it was all hands to the watering of both locos. With the castle very low on water and poor hydrant pressure the stop ran some 20 minutes late before we could storm out of the station and get into the immediate task of Hemerdon bank. With the bridge restriction at the bottom of the bank lifted the train headed onto the bank at line speed and chattered on up the hill bresting the top at a respectable speed. At Totnes, there was more whistling from the South Devon Railway loco at their Littlehempston station and there was no easing of the pace as both engines roared on up to Dainton tunnel. The slightly late departure from Plymouth meant the planned pathing stop at Newton Abbot was not needed so the chance to run through the station and onto the sea wall section meant and on time arrival at Exeter for the final servicing stop of the day.

With the ever efficient Bells & Two Tone on hand to deal with the watering of both engines the train was away on time and into the climb to Whiteball tunnel. This section demands plenty of effort from both engines with no easing in the grades and both loco's and crews were up to the task heading up past Burlescombe church and into the tunnel. A planned pathing stop at Taunton Staiton turned into a pathing stop at the signals one section outside the station, much to the disappointment of those on the platfom. Once away again though the Somerset levels were soon being covered mile after mile under the setting sun before finally coming to an early rest in Bristol Temple Meads.

This was of course sadly 5051 Earl Bathurst's final turn with a public train and it was a sad moment as she sat in Bristol Temple Meads at the end of the day, knowing the job was done. Let's hope it's not too long until she's back running again. Here's her proud crew at Penzance... Picture