The Bristol Railway Archive

BR Class 8P 4-6-2 71000 (Duke of Gloucester) will be in and around Bristol this Bank Holiday weekend.

The Southern Irishman 3rd May
On the return journey from Fishguard the train is due to pass Chepstow at 20.12 arriving at Gloucester at 20.42, where 71000 comes off the train and heads to Barton Hill arriving at 22.22. Full times are available here: http://www.uksteam.info/tours/t08/t0503a.htm

The Devonian 4th May
The train to Plymouth departs BTM at 10.49 and arrives back at 21.14. Full times are available here: http://www.uksteam.info/tours/t08/t0504a.htm

The Pembroke Coast Express 5th May
An early departure from BTM at 07.07 for this tour to Camarthen. The return journey arrives back at BTM at 19.48. Full times are available here: http://www.uksteam.info/tours/t08/t0505a.htm

Looking at the timings for the 3rd May, it shows arrival at charfield at 21.30 and departure at 21.45 does this mean that it is to be looped for 15 mins?, if so that would be great right outside my bedroom window

That is just the path that network rail boffins have worked out for it.Unless one of the signal persons secretly reading this thread are on then it probably wont stop there but you never know.

It does seem odd that they are allowing 15 mins throgh charfield when no more than 2 mins would be enough or are they just allowing some slack along the route?. I do hope that the duke will be looped for this time enough for me to phot het/him entering the loop and quick sprint to the railway bridge to vid the departure too

71000 in light steam, + support coach, running late to Newport tonight.
Passed Winwick at 18:32 with 37.417 and 37.401 on the front.
Loco had some additional TLC before departure. <BJ>

tonyperks wrote:Looking at the timings for the 3rd May, it shows arrival at charfield at 21.30 and departure at 21.45

71000 reported 40 late through Pontyclun. <BJ>

Justr been stood at STJ waiting...until it got too dark to see anything.

Just sat at the crossing Charfield loop for hour and ten mins all i saw was a rabbit and a sprinter, looks like we got a thunder storm coming too.

tonyperks wrote:Just sat at the crossing Charfield loop for hour and ten mins all i saw was a rabbit and a sprinter.

Just had a call from that rabbit and he tells me that the Duke did pass him but later in the evening. He heard that the train was late because the water tanker broke down near Magor and the support crew had to find a water hydrant.

Glad to say that there were no problems with the loco during the day.
The loco will be staying at Barton Hill after today's railtour and not the WSR as expected. <BJ>

free2grice wrote:

tonyperks wrote:Just sat at the crossing Charfield loop for hour and ten mins all i saw was a rabbit and a sprinter.

Just had a call from that rabbit and he tells me that the Duke did pass him but later in the evening. He heard that the train was late because the water tanker broke down near Magor and the support crew had to find a water hydrant.

Glad to say that there were no problems with the loco during the day.
The loco will be staying at Barton Hill after today's railtour and not the WSR as expected. <BJ>

Train left temple meads 1hr. late with diesel loco between Duke and carriages,after first taking diesel off,then putting on again. chippy

Gave up waiting at a wet Yatton for it. Not having the best of weekends really is it?

I gave up waiting for it at Claverham at about 11.45am and started to cycle back. I went on the new cycle track between Backwell and Flax Bourton and it passed me along this stretch when it was in a cutting, ended up seeing just the very top of it

BristleGWR wrote:I gave up waiting for it at Claverham at about 11.45am and started to cycle back. I went on the new cycle track between Backwell and Flax Bourton and it passed me along this stretch when it was in a cutting, ended up seeing just the very top of it

I believe that is called sods law isnt it?!

Anyone know why they decided to tack the 67(Skip) directly behind it and not at the rear as usual?

Rich_Eason wrote:

BristleGWR wrote:I gave up waiting for it at Claverham at about 11.45am and started to cycle back. I went on the new cycle track between Backwell and Flax Bourton and it passed me along this stretch when it was in a cutting, ended up seeing just the very top of it

I believe that is called sods law isnt it?!

Anyone know why they decided to tack the 67(Skip) directly behind it and not at the rear as usual?

The skip! came in with the carriages,uncoupled,then left the station.There was a long pause after the Duke coupled up to the carriages,well over 1/2 hour,then the skip returned and rejoined the train,this made the train late leaving. chippy

Rich_Eason wrote:Anyone know why they decided to tack the 67(Skip) directly behind it and not at the rear as usual?

Someone at Bedminster said that a compressor had failed or was faulty, and that 71000 would have to be left at Bristol. I presume they had a quick think and used the 67 to provide the air for braking.