Steam charter 24/03/18 & diesel charter 30/03/18

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TimBrown
Posts: 1280
Joined: 05:59 Monday 4th July 2016
Location: Worcester

Steam charter 24/03/18 & diesel charter 30/03/18

Post by TimBrown » 12:08 Friday 30th March 2018

The Sarum and Sulis Express hauled by 60163 'Tornado' called at Worcester Shrub Hill on Saturday 24 March 2018. It was hauling 13 coaches with 500 tons on the drawbar and pulled away without slipping, accelerating hard accompanied by the distinctive three cylinder beat; a very powerful and capable locomotive - fast too!
24 March 2018 Worcester Shrub Hill 118.jpg
24 March 2018 Worcester Shrub Hill 119.jpg
24 March 2018 Worcester Shrub Hill 120.jpg
24 March 2018 Worcester Shrub Hill 121.jpg
Then today Friday 30 March 2018 The four day Easter (Highland) Chieftain Charter made an early morning call at Worcester Shrub Hill en route to Inverness with DRS heritage diesel locomotives 37259 and 37605 in charge. This train also had 13 carriages in tow.
30 March 2018 Shrub Hill 129.jpg
30 March 2018 Shrub Hill 131.jpg
30 March 2018 Shrub Hill 132.jpg
30 March 2018 Shrub Hill 133.jpg
30 March 2018 Shrub Hill 134.jpg

MattW
Posts: 979
Joined: 20:42 Sunday 3rd July 2016
Location: Cornwall

Re: Steam charter 24/03/18 & diesel charter 30/03/18

Post by MattW » 18:29 Friday 30th March 2018

Brilliant! Got to love a 37 8-)

chason
Posts: 242
Joined: 14:24 Friday 22nd July 2016
Location: Bromsgrove

Re: Steam charter 24/03/18 & diesel charter 30/03/18

Post by chason » 08:22 Saturday 31st March 2018

Some great pictures - thank you. Got to agree with MattW about Class 37's. I could listen to that unique exhaust note all day.

As for Tornado, I went on a charter last year behind it from Derby to Newcastle on Tyne and back. Much as I like the Severn Valley and Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Railways, chugging along at 25 mph can't really compare with steam at speed on the mainline.

TimBrown
Posts: 1280
Joined: 05:59 Monday 4th July 2016
Location: Worcester

Re: Steam charter 24/03/18 & diesel charter 30/03/18

Post by TimBrown » 11:35 Saturday 31st March 2018

There is a reversal of the norm here, because 60163 'Tornado' entered service as a new build in 07/2008 and is barely 10 years old. When working at optimum steam pressure with a keen fireman and skilled driver it can probably put down around 2,500 HP at the rail.

37259 was built 01/65 and is now 53 years old.
37605 was built 04/62 and is just coming up to its 56 th birthday.

Though class 37 make a distinctive noise they are only rated as Class 3 and give a maximum output of approx 1,360 HP at the rail, they are and were very versatile mixed traffic locomotives. Years ago it was possible to see three together working very heavy iron ore trains from Port Talbot through Cardiff and Newport en route to Llanwern steel works - the noise when they opened up was deafening.

I would entirely agree with Mr Chason that it is wonderful to see steam engines at 'full chat' on the main line hauling heavy passenger charter trains.
However, some of the preserved lines have steep gradients and passengers are rewarded with a loud and melodious sound track when the locomotives are worked hard at 25 MPH!

MattW
Posts: 979
Joined: 20:42 Sunday 3rd July 2016
Location: Cornwall

Re: Steam charter 24/03/18 & diesel charter 30/03/18

Post by MattW » 21:37 Saturday 31st March 2018

TimBrown wrote:
11:35 Saturday 31st March 2018
However, some of the preserved lines have steep gradients and passengers are rewarded with a loud and melodious sound track when the locomotives are worked hard at 25 MPH!
Very true.
Front coach window behind a GWR 2-8-0 climbing up from Bodmin Parkway springs to mind 8-)

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