The first of The Railway Touring Company, The Royal Duchy is suitably hauled by the last steam locomotive to cross the Tamar at the end of B.R. steam: 34067 Tangmere. In bright sunshine and strong breeze we pick up the light pacific hurrying down the Culm Valley at Rewe. After the Exeter water-stop, 34067 picks up speed across Marsh Barton for a high speed run down the Exe. Last but not least, we see the crossing of the Royal Albert Bridge over the Tamar to Saltash, resplendent in new coating and finally devoid of all scaffolding and covers. But as one local confided to me, referring to the approach spans: “pity they couldn’t have finished it!” Pleased to get the panning speed right whilst the train is out of sight in Saltash we see her picking up speed over Coombe-by-Saltash Viaduct and finally disappearing around the headland to Wearde Quay. It is always ominous when you see Tavistock Junction “passed” but then no report for Hemerdon on Realtime Trains and such was the case on the return as Tangmere stalled on the bank giving the title of this clip an unfortunate double meaning! The clip posted by moormanpete • A Day of Steam, Tornad... shows no slip and full steam pressure and as a BoB would normally only need 80% of full tractive effort to lift 9 coaches up a 1 in 42 by my calculation, there must have been something seriously wrong with Tangmere on this outing as confirmed by it's withdrawal from the 5th Aug. Weymouth tour.
2 авг 2015
