61306 'Mayflower' - merged posts

[whole diary]

[PhilWakely]

The steam engine was ok between Taunton and Kingswear but the diesel failed and the return trip to Paddington was cut short at Slough.

The original formation out of Paddington in the morning was for Duffs top and tail. Unfortunately, the 'leading into Paddington' Duff failed, so this was dropped at Southall and the tour then officially started at Slough with just the single 47. Hence the return terminating at Slough.  There was no failure on the return leg.

[GBM]

So is steam banned from Paddington then?

[PhilWakely]

So is steam banned from Paddington then?

No, it was always planned to run the kettle from Taunton. The tour did not run back into Paddington because there was no locomotive to bring the empty stock of the tour back to Southall and no way for the diesel to run around the stock at Paddington.

[bobm]

Another trip to the West Country today for Mayflower and rather eventful for those on board.

Having left Woking just before 6am the tour reached Westbury at 9.30 where one of the diesels failed.  After more than an hour the train reversed and headed up the Avon Valley towards Bristol and down through Bridgwater to regain its booked route at Cogload just east of Taunton over 90 minutes late.

At Taunton it gained Mayflower as booked and headed into Devon. 

Despite the wait there was still a healthy crowd along the sea wall when it passed an hour and a half late.



It was a close thing.   Some might have felt their shot had been photobombed by an interloper which appeared moments before the excursion appeared.

[PhilWakely]

Despite the wait there was still a healthy crowd along the sea wall when it passed an hour and a half late.

I was not that far away from you bobm....




and I was at Cockwood Harbour for the return leg, where I wish it had been 20 minutes later as the tide was just coming in!