The Rail Enthusiast thread

[Mad Doug Biker]

Yes I always liked the 73s because they were different from everything else.

I also remember reading that due to the weight difference at both ends of the loco, they had to have a counterweight fitted, and if you were to remove it, then theoretically, the loco would start to tip up onto one end!

 

[Smurfy]

REALLY??!!

Third rail goes as far as Portsmouth, Southampton, Bournemouth and Weymouth. Your idea of Western may be different from mine!

I feel like a right anorak now!

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Yes, its bloody WEYMOUTH!! It almost level with Bristol!!

I always wanted to see trains on the quay, but alas, never got the chance. I did, however, go on the two Slammer Farewell Tours down there though

 

[Hover Fly]

The big advantage of Moon bunny's house, although she doesn't think it's much of an advantage, is that from the front windows we can see DRS flask trains passing. 2 class 37s on one empty flask one day, 2 class 20s on 4 full flasks another.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

The first Weymouth tour I did was the South West Trains one with VEP 3417 Gordon Pettit and the blue and grey CIG, 1497 (of Lymington branch fame) in May 2005. Waterloo to Weymouth Return. It was a nice warm day, the beach at Weymouth was PACKED, and I got stupidly sunburned because I had forgotten to buy some cream and didn't realise I was getting burned so much.

The second tour, the South East Trains farewell tour in September 2005 was, however something very special indeed!
The train, made up of a CEP (1698), CIG and a VEP started off at Ramsgate at about 6am or similar (I boarded at Deal) and went via Ashford to London Waterloo via the 'Eurostar Curve' at Wandsworth Road. Then out to Weymouth, then back to London again, then down to Ramsgate, back to London (London Bridge) and then back to Ramsgate again, arriving back at about 10 at night. A total milage of 500 odd miles apparently.

Between Weymouth and London, via Ramsgate, the CEP was gradually taken apart (with the supposed* permission of SET) internally for souvenirs, seeing as it was to be its very last run. I have now learned since that apparently Ramsgate actually wanted it for a service on Monday Morning, but couldn't use it, so it really WAS its last working.

 

[I like Skol]

I did a railtour from Sheffield to the south coast back in the late 80's. It was hauled by a triple header combo of class 20's named River Rother, River Sheaf and River Don. The final leg of the journey was hauled (slowly) by a class 09 shunter. Happy days

 

[Spartak]

Taken at Buckfastleigh on the South Devon Railway last summer.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Sea King looking rude there!

Anyway, the last tour I did was a charity one called 'The Shambles' using a couple of West Anglia class 317s from Shenfield to York return last May.

The staff let us into the rear cab of the unit for almost all of the journey to York, so we got to see the East Coast Mainline, only backwards!!

 

[I like Skol]

Here we go - http://www.hondawanderer.com/20064_20030_20118_Balcombe_1987.htm

It could well be my head hung out of one of those windows

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

I want to go and see one of these London Underground 150 events too.

 

[Spartak]

View attachment 23299

Taken at Buckfastleigh on the South Devon Railway last summer.

If anyone is ever in the area the South Devon Railway is a great day out ......... Lovely ride along the river to Totnes, Little Spartak #1 loved it

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

At the other end of the country however, I got class 58 haulage between Edinburgh and Blair Athol and return when 58016 and '045 worked up to there on the last ever of the annual Worksop Depot Tours (it was the year of their withdrawl you see).

For many, including myself, it was the first (and so far only) class 58 haulage we've ever had!

Class 58s over the Forth Bridge. Amazing!!

 

[Spartak]

Back in the SW, Avon Valley Railway ( Bitton, between Bristol & Bath ) recently had a Diesel day, in which a Class 31 was running no. 130 I believe.

 

[Smurfy]

I did a railtour from Sheffield to the south coast back in the late 80's. It was hauled by a triple header combo of class 20's named River Rother, River Sheaf and River Don. The final leg of the journey was hauled (slowly) by a class 09 shunter. Happy days

I was about to ask if anyone on here is a 20s fan. They're a little odd to say the least. I've only seen a few, and always in sidings, never moving anywhere. Have I missed out?

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

At one time Bo'ness had a '14, a '31, a '33 (019) and 50021.

All are now gone to other homes, including the '31 which is, or at least was sent to the Strathspey. I had it for haulage more than once.