GWR 7029 + 5043 - Unassisted Double Header over the South Devon Banks - The Mayflower - 27/09/24 скачать в хорошем качестве

GWR 7029 + 5043 - Unassisted Double Header over the South Devon Banks - The Mayflower - 27/09/24

Following on from 'Clun Castle''s exploits in May, Vintage Trains ran The Mayflower from Birmingham New Street to Plymouth. This would be a small piece of preservation history as the last time a pair of Great Western Castles double headed over the South Devon Banks was in 2003 and the last time a brave of Double Chimney Castles tackled the route was in the days of working steam, believed to be in 1965(?). Diesel haulage would take the train to Bristol, where both of Tyseley's Castles, 7029 Clun Castle and 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe would take over for the run over the South Devon Banks unassisted! Class 20s 20142 'Sir John Betjeman' and 20189 would take the train broom New Street via Bromsgrove and Cheltenham to Bristol East Depot where the Castles would take over. From here the pair would run to Plymouth via Taunton and Exeter to Plymouth over the South Devon Banks. The return would follow the same route with the Castles surrendering the train to the 20s at Bristol. We begin at a windswept Whiteball. After being routed into the wrong platform at Bristol Temple Meads where the Castles were out of gauge, the subsequent rerouting meant the train was 25 minutes late departing. After a brief pathing stop at Taunton, 20 minutes has been retained for the ascent of Wellington Bank. Sime tricky filming conditions with a strong gusty breeze greeted the train as it burst under the A38, fitted with the appropriate Mayflower headboard. 7029 and 5043 storm their way passed the camera up the 1-in-80 gradient at 56mph, easily hurling the 12 coach train on towards Whiteball Tunnel. Just before the pair disappear behind the hillside, a CrossCountry Voyager blocks the view. Very lucky! Next came the climb of Rattery. The gallery of photographers in the field await the arrival of the Castles on the easier 1-in-90/95 section. 'Clun Castle' and 'Earl of Mount Edgcumbe' appear thumping along at 37mph. Strongly attacking the gradient, the pair were actually accelerating up this section of the bank! Disappearing behind the trees towards Rattery viaduct, the Earl slips slightly, by which time the train was at 39mph. Impressive! Lastly after the break in Plymouth was the assault on Hemerdon! After a long and tentative wait, due to the failure of the South West's GSMR, all those waiting were unsure of the train's progress from Plymouth, or if it had even left at all! Eventually, the sound of rolling thunder indicated the pair had reached the foot of the 1-in-42 gradient. The Castles lay down an almighty smokescreen as they stomped up the bank. Drivers Alistair Meanley and Kevin Cronin have the regulators firmly in the roof for the stiff climb. The rousing performance culminates with the duo reaching the summit, whistles screeching, at 24mph. An extremely strong performance with over 500 tonnes behind the locomotives. Great stuff! I caught the train once more near Tiverton, but I wasn't happy with this shot hence it's absence. Fantastic to see Tyseley's Castles living up to their reputation of being strong and reliable locos on the mainline, producing some truly exceptional performances over their former stomping ground in Devon. Timestamps: 00:00 - Whiteball 01:18 - Rattery 03:40 - Hemerdon Filmed on a Panasonic HC-X1500 with an AudioTechnica AT8024 microphone. Enjoy.