Busy day at Temple Meads on Sunday 16th September 2012

Geoffers · Post by **Geoffers** » Tue Apr 17, 2012 6:22 pm

I was just marking up my diary for future steam train excursions when I noticed the entries for 16th September.

UK Steam Info notes:

34067: Waterloo-Salisbury-Bristol and return

5029/34046: Bristol-Weymouth-Bristol

35028/70000/71000: Bristol-Weston-Exeter-Kingswear and return

Let's hope they all run!!

the green mile · Post by **the green mile** » Tue Apr 17, 2012 11:39 pm

Spare a thought for the signallers and station staff who have to juggle this lot.

Ian L Jamieson · Post by **Ian L Jamieson** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 11:07 am

You lucky people in Bristol. It never happened in my day [after the end of normal steam], and having been back once or twice in the past twenty years, I would not wish to return permanently. But I do envy you all these steam excursions.

free2grice · Post by **free2grice** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 11:52 am

the green mile wrote:Spare a thought for the signallers and station staff who have to juggle this lot.

I don't think it will be that bad. In the morning one charter heads west and one heads towards Bath. The charter hauled by Tangmere will arrive at lunchtime and depart late afternoon. The trains arriving back at BTM late evening had approx an hour in between them last season ....and that is assuming that all three charters in September actually run. <BJ>

the green mile · Post by **the green mile** » Fri Apr 20, 2012 11:44 am

I do! Sunday evening platform capacity is very tight. Then you have to take into account the various ecs moves which is a lot of work for the signallers. Additional platform staff who need to be extra vigilant looking for doors on the catch, especially with stock not fitted with central door locking. Minimum of 2 dispatchers per train over and above their normal workload and someone has to manage the ends of the platforms because there is always someone who thinks it is ok to walk down onto the ballast for that special photo. You know the one - "I don't see any harm in it. I will go wherever I want and spoil it for everyone else when a ban is imposed" Rubbish bags have to be carted away and binned and it is not unknown for a request to tank toilets.

Just a few of the factors which need to be considered. However well spaced out these specials are on the day, they are a challenge to manage.

free2grice · Post by **free2grice** » Fri Apr 20, 2012 9:00 pm

the green mile wrote:Sunday evening platform capacity is very tight.

However well spaced out these specials are on the day, they are a challenge to manage.

Last year when I was at Bristol Temple Meads awaiting the return of the Weymouth and Torbay charters I noticed how quiet the station was.
The railway system coped well in the old days when loco hauled trains and goods traffic arrived and departed 24 hours a day. <BJ>

the green mile · Post by **the green mile** » Sun Apr 22, 2012 10:14 pm

The Torbay job normally comes back when things have quietened down a bit and, being a regular operation, the shunting away for stabling on the Middle Siding is normally a fairly slick operation.

A fairly untypical incident occurred a year or so back with a later arrival on platform 3. The guard in helping a mobility impaired old lady off the train managed to drop her head first between the train and platform. Luckily she was not badly injured and was recovered by platform staff and paramedics without splitting the train, but this still blocked the platform for an hour. Platform 3 is used by terminating Voyagers for direct empty stock movement to Barton Hill. Platform 1 can be used instead if it a 4-car class 220 but a 221 with 5 cars has to use a higher numbered platform, which then involves a double shunt to the depot. That's a fair bit of extra work for all involved

A lot of form filling was carried out that night.