60009 UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA

[DAVE]

60009 is due to "pilot" this weeks Torbay trips this Saturday and Sunday.
The King is off to Yeovil on Saturday but will no doubt be waiting in the wings for a call for Sunday if required!!!
On last years Torbay trip although 60009 completed the trip it had to be withdrawn for the next with "brickwork" collapse in the firebox.

Dave Nailsea

[DAVE]

60009 Union of South Africa arrives at EWS Barton hill at 1745 tomorrow Thursday.
Will be coming via the Severn tunnel on route from the Severn valley railway due to the bridge North of Yate being out of gauge for all large steam locos apart from the Black Fives in the South bound direction only.

Dave Nailsea

[mow]

Does anyone know if the A4 has set off from Kidderminster, if so are there any good vantage points en route to Barton Hill?

http://www.uksteam.info/tours/t06/t0727p.htm


This linnk was updated a few minutes ago.

[Roger]

A good vantage point could be Pilning station or the road overbridge just beyond Patchway station where the loco will be seen climbing out of the tunnel.

[horace]

I must admit at being somewhat suprised by the out of gauge restriction on a A4 and other large steam locos by a bridge north of yate. When i was younger 9f's, brittania's, and just about any other steamer could through yate. Is this a new bridge built to low, or is it years of track ballsting that has lifted the track, or (more likely) that railtrack maintain the bridges so badly that they are scared of the exhaust damaging the underside of the bridge unless there is half a mile between the top of the chimney and the underside of the bridge. I find some of railtracks rules somewhat starnge to say the least.

[DAVE]

Latest information is 60009 is not running to Bristol today and is still at Kiddiminster.
Saturdays Torbay trip is cancelled.
6024 King Edward will be running to Torbay on Sunday after Saturdays trip to Yeovil.
Another late night early morning for the SUPERB back up crew for 6024.
Long Live The King!!!!!!!!

Dave Nailsea

[DAVE]

Horace apparently this paticular bridge is out of gauge due to the ballasting of the track on the Southbound side.

Dave Nailsea

[DAVE]

Having seen 60009 a few weeks ago "lying" at Bridgenorth on the SVR its no surprise that its reported as Failed to Run today.
60009 looked very forlorn and certainly not up to the condition of 6024 which performs regularely on the mainline .
This would not be the first time that a last minute withdrawal of 60009 has occurred!

Dave Nailsea

[mow]

Went over to Pilning Station to photograph The Union of South Africa, but ended up with some shots of passing trains, but not the A4 - should appear later on today, unlike 60009.

http://michael527.fotopic.net/c1034300.html

[James]

I must admit at being somewhat suprised by the out of gauge restriction on a A4 and other large steam locos by a bridge north of yate. When i was younger 9f's, brittania's, and just about any other steamer could through yate. Is this a new bridge built to low, or is it years of track ballsting that has lifted the track, or (more likely) that railtrack maintain the bridges so badly that they are scared of the exhaust damaging the underside of the bridge unless there is half a mile between the top of the chimney and the underside of the bridge. I find some of railtracks rules somewhat starnge to say the least.

It's the track-ballasting problem again...I guess NR don't give the gangs time to do a proper job and the new ballast is just added to the old, reaching a point when only modern units can fit through. I've heard stories of even Class 66s hitting bridges due to this.

So much for the loading gauge...