*Twenty years ago today*
A brilliant report on a
Champion event
Neil Phillips
A brilliant report on a
Champion event
Neil Phillips
Following D1015 Western Champion’s long-anticipated return to the main line in February 2002 it worked a number of tours to various destinations, but for many of us ‘The Big One’ would be Paddington - Penzance, and for old times’ sake this was the one I would have to get a seat on. As soon as the news broke in December 2002 that ‘The Big One’ was on, I wasted no time in making a booking. At that time the ‘Royal Duchy’ was expected to take place on Saturday 7th June 2003, but in mid-April participants received a letter from the organizers, Past-Time Rail Ltd, advising that the installation of TPWS (Train Protection Warning System) equipment was taking longer than expected, and without it the train would have been limited to 75mph resulting in a long day, as well as not allowing D1015 to show its true 90mph potential. The date was therefore shifted to Saturday 9th August, which caused me a slight inconvenience I was able to work around (I was supposed to be going on holiday that day……..to Cornwall!) but the change was to introduce another problem which hadn’t been apparent in June – the weather was very, very hot, to the extent that buckling track had instigated speed restrictions. On the morning of the tour I had to get from Swindon to Reading to join it and the HST was definitely not achieving anything like 125mph, even at 07.00. However I had allowed for this and arrived at Reading in good time. The tour was supposed to have departed there at 08.10 but eventually appeared through the heat haze a little late – and promptly ground to a halt barely into the platform. It turned out that there was a TPWS fault affecting the system itself, not the locomotive, and this was quickly resolved with only a short delay. Once aboard we set off for the South West 20 minutes late at 08.30. One benefit of heading in that direction was that the air temperatures weren’t quite so extreme, so there were no further heat-related trackwork delays and D1015 got to show us what we’d been missing for over two decades. The loco had been temporarily renamed ‘Sir Misha Black – Western Class Locomotive Designer’ at the time and also carried incorrect but attractive D1000-style cast alloy BR emblems and red bufferbeams. The small white triangles visible above each cab door were TPWS notices. The Golden Ochre paintwork really lit up in the strong sunshine!
Photography from a moving train was a challenge (this would, by the way, be the last time I’d use 35mm film – like so many others I’d shortly join the digital revolution), especially from my window seat on the ‘shadow’ side of the train, and the literature supplied made it clear that leaning out of the carriage windows was a safety violation which could jeopardize future tours as the continued use of Mark 1 coaching stock was under review (even 20 years ago….but at the time the main concern had been the antics of an irresponsible minority leaning the top half of their body out of the door windows and shouting and waving like lunatics at the general public) – I believe the Dawlish seawall section was of particular concern in this regard this time as we received a verbal reminder at Exeter over the intercom. So I had to be content with the novelty of riding behind a Western again on the main line – until we crossed the Tamar (no bridge shot, I was on the wrong side!) I did manage to snatch a few at certain locations out of the sliding window but with a table in the way it wasn’t easy. The one I really wanted to capture was D1015 at Truro (right side for that one) but……well, let’s just say I wasn’t very happy with the guy at the door window in front of me who chose that precise moment to challenge the rules, and it didn’t look like he was even taking a photo - I think the slipstream must have blown my ‘disapproving comment’ in the opposite direction! Arrival time at Penzance was scheduled at 13.35 but was probably around 10 minutes late as I recall being about 10 behind passing St Austell and Truro (I still have the timing sheet as well as all of the other paperwork). As ‘RAIL’ magazine reported on the front cover of Issue 468 (20th August – 2nd September 2003), this was the first Western to Penzance – a type once seen there in abundance - for 26 years. We never thought we would ever see it again - and, as Guy Vincent pointed out a few days ago, it appears that we find ourselves back in that situation again now, however we must remember that this locomotive, 40 years old at the time, is now 60…….. While D1015 was away being fed and watered I did the same, grabbing a beefburger and chips in a harbourside café – it was just too hot to go galivanting along the coastline, even if it was in search of a Western!
The afternoon heat haze over Penzance is apparent in the classic photo over the wall. At this point I looked right and recognized Adrian Curtis, well-known author and expert on all things Class 52 and whose magazines and books I had been collecting for some years, also getting an elevated view, so I finally got to say hello – I wasn’t surprised he had also felt the need to ride on this one (unfortunately Adrian passed away a couple of years ago). Departure was scheduled for 16.15 and I took my seat at around 16.10……and instantly began to melt! We were all so relieved when forward motion introduced some air movement through all of the open windows – I don’t think any were closed that day. The return journey was not without incident as there was an emergency brake application in Devon’s Marley tunnel (apparently the driver failed to hear the vigilance device sound above the noise of two roaring Maybachs in an enclosed space!!) and on the approach to Newbury the combination of hard driving and high air temperature caused the leading end transmission to overheat, resulting the associated engine being shut down so the DTG’s travelling engineer could solve the problem in safety. Reading was reached at reduced speed on the rear engine alone, and just after I disembarked the leading one was restarted, filling the underside of the platform canopy with dense clag, which was quite impressive……..from a safe distance! Luckily it was 21.30 and the station was relatively quiet…….except for the twin Maybachs of course. The overheating would reoccur at Slough but Brunel’s ‘billiard table’ ensured the other engine was enough to reach Paddington, a modest 20 minutes late. A successful day out despite the problems caused by the extreme heat.
Just ten days later I was back in Penzance again – this time by car, and the weather was still very sunny but a little cooler. 2003 was quite a summer – very unlike the one which followed, as the residents of Boscastle will acknowledge…..
Best regards,
Neil Phillips
Photography from a moving train was a challenge (this would, by the way, be the last time I’d use 35mm film – like so many others I’d shortly join the digital revolution), especially from my window seat on the ‘shadow’ side of the train, and the literature supplied made it clear that leaning out of the carriage windows was a safety violation which could jeopardize future tours as the continued use of Mark 1 coaching stock was under review (even 20 years ago….but at the time the main concern had been the antics of an irresponsible minority leaning the top half of their body out of the door windows and shouting and waving like lunatics at the general public) – I believe the Dawlish seawall section was of particular concern in this regard this time as we received a verbal reminder at Exeter over the intercom. So I had to be content with the novelty of riding behind a Western again on the main line – until we crossed the Tamar (no bridge shot, I was on the wrong side!) I did manage to snatch a few at certain locations out of the sliding window but with a table in the way it wasn’t easy. The one I really wanted to capture was D1015 at Truro (right side for that one) but……well, let’s just say I wasn’t very happy with the guy at the door window in front of me who chose that precise moment to challenge the rules, and it didn’t look like he was even taking a photo - I think the slipstream must have blown my ‘disapproving comment’ in the opposite direction! Arrival time at Penzance was scheduled at 13.35 but was probably around 10 minutes late as I recall being about 10 behind passing St Austell and Truro (I still have the timing sheet as well as all of the other paperwork). As ‘RAIL’ magazine reported on the front cover of Issue 468 (20th August – 2nd September 2003), this was the first Western to Penzance – a type once seen there in abundance - for 26 years. We never thought we would ever see it again - and, as Guy Vincent pointed out a few days ago, it appears that we find ourselves back in that situation again now, however we must remember that this locomotive, 40 years old at the time, is now 60…….. While D1015 was away being fed and watered I did the same, grabbing a beefburger and chips in a harbourside café – it was just too hot to go galivanting along the coastline, even if it was in search of a Western!
The afternoon heat haze over Penzance is apparent in the classic photo over the wall. At this point I looked right and recognized Adrian Curtis, well-known author and expert on all things Class 52 and whose magazines and books I had been collecting for some years, also getting an elevated view, so I finally got to say hello – I wasn’t surprised he had also felt the need to ride on this one (unfortunately Adrian passed away a couple of years ago). Departure was scheduled for 16.15 and I took my seat at around 16.10……and instantly began to melt! We were all so relieved when forward motion introduced some air movement through all of the open windows – I don’t think any were closed that day. The return journey was not without incident as there was an emergency brake application in Devon’s Marley tunnel (apparently the driver failed to hear the vigilance device sound above the noise of two roaring Maybachs in an enclosed space!!) and on the approach to Newbury the combination of hard driving and high air temperature caused the leading end transmission to overheat, resulting the associated engine being shut down so the DTG’s travelling engineer could solve the problem in safety. Reading was reached at reduced speed on the rear engine alone, and just after I disembarked the leading one was restarted, filling the underside of the platform canopy with dense clag, which was quite impressive……..from a safe distance! Luckily it was 21.30 and the station was relatively quiet…….except for the twin Maybachs of course. The overheating would reoccur at Slough but Brunel’s ‘billiard table’ ensured the other engine was enough to reach Paddington, a modest 20 minutes late. A successful day out despite the problems caused by the extreme heat.
Just ten days later I was back in Penzance again – this time by car, and the weather was still very sunny but a little cooler. 2003 was quite a summer – very unlike the one which followed, as the residents of Boscastle will acknowledge…..
Best regards,
Neil Phillips
1 - D1015 to Penzance, 9th August 2003 at Reading. Copyright Neil Phillips.
2 - D1015 to Penzance 9th August 2003 - passing Lostwithiel. Copyright Neil Phillips
3 - D1015 to Penzance 9th August 2003 - passing St Austell. Copyright Neil Phillips.
4 - D1015 to Penzance 9th August 2003 - passing Truro. Copyright Neil Phillips.
5 - D1015 to Penzance 9th August 2003 - Penzance Arrival 1. Copyright Neil Phillips.
6 - D1015 to Penzance 9th August 2003 - Penzance Arrival 2. Copyright Neil Phillips.
7- D1015 to Penzance 9th August 2003 - Penzance awaiting departure 1. Copyright Neil Phillips.
8- D1015 to Penzance 9th August 2003 - Penzance awaiting departure 2. Copyright Neil Phillips.
Thanks ever so much Neil for your fascinating report - so detailed, on a very memorable event. It certainly brings back memories.
Six weeks to go for the
Cross Country HST's
Clive Smith
Cross Country HST's
Clive Smith
The clock is ticking with Monday 18th September the last day the XC HSTs will be on timetabled services on the network. I've been out and about over the last month at different locations to capture their last days in operation .
Regards, Clive Smith.
Regards, Clive Smith.
(1) 43301 heads the 1V48 08.11 Leeds - Plymouth with 43285 on the rear at Laira on the 9th July 2023. Copyright Clive Smith.
(2) 43366 is leading with 43378 on the rear of the 1V50 06.06 Edinburgh - Plymouth on the 4th August at Aish with Brent Hill in the background. Copyright Clive Smith.
(3) 43304 emerges from Kennaway Tunnel with the Sunday 1V48 08.11 Leeds - Plymouth with 43357 out of sight on the rear on the. 6th August 2023. Copyright Clive Smith.
(4) 43366 heads the Sunday 1V56 09.08 Edinburgh - Plymouth at Dorsley Barton Farm Bridge west of Totnes station with 43378 on the rear on the 6th August 2023, Copyright Clive Smith.
(5) 43378 leading with 43366 on the rear of the 1S51 12.27 Plymouth - Glasgow Central descending the incline from Dainton Tunnel to Aller on the 7th August 2023. Copyright Clive Smith.
Many thanks indeed Clive - you certainly get out and about - superb views.
Last trip up the branch.
Jon Hird
Jon Hird
Two photos attached of todays (8th August 2023) Fowey Docks - Goonbarrow empty CDA’s passing Luxulyan. This will be their last trip up the Newquay branch.
Thursday they will go loaded to Fowey.
Friday morning empty to Treviscoe (from Fowey)
Friday afternoon loaded to Fowey (from Treviscoe)
Friday evening empty to St. Blazey and into store (from Fowey)
So there’s still a couple of opportunities to see them if anybody wants to..
All the best, Jon
Thursday they will go loaded to Fowey.
Friday morning empty to Treviscoe (from Fowey)
Friday afternoon loaded to Fowey (from Treviscoe)
Friday evening empty to St. Blazey and into store (from Fowey)
So there’s still a couple of opportunities to see them if anybody wants to..
All the best, Jon
66199 approaching Luxulyan - last trip up the branch. 8th August 2023. Copyright Jon Hird
Tail end of the last CDA's up the branch - 8th August 2023 Copyright Jon Hird.
Many thanks Jon - you have provided an excellent report.