This years family train excursion was to be the longest yet. Vintage trains had organised the Mayflower trip from Birmingham New Street to Plymouth. The Birmingham to Bristol leg was to be diesel hauled and the Bristol to Plymouth leg was to be doubleheaded by Clun Castle and Bahamas both of which were nearing the end of their boiler certificates
Fortunately the trip was to make a stop at Worcestershire Parkway so the four of us arrived for the 0650 departure. The surprise was that it would be double headed diesel!
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| Two diesels for the price of one! |
The two steam trains had travelled from Tyseley to Bristol friday afternoon via Oxford (5Z41) so we had to make a detour to Bristol East depot to change locomotives before going to Bristol Temple meads to collect the final passengers
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| Now with Steam |
The scenery along the coast was stunning esoecially at low tide The added excitement was that we followed immediately behind 5029 Nunney Castle hauling the Saphos trains English Riveria express from High Wycombe to Kingswear and we were followed by our diesels (0Z45)just in case our locos had trouble. It must have been a long time since there were consecutive steam trains through Dawlish warren!
Our train arrived in Plymouth at 1310 some 31 minutes early (saphos arrived 59 minutes late!) !
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| After discharging the passengers at Plymouth, the steam trains had to go for a rest:- |
We went for a walk to Plymouth Hoo and around the city
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| The Harbour |
returning for the 1638 return departure (1Z58) which actuually started at 1645,
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| The steam trains waiting to attach at Plymouth |
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| The diesels wait to follow us to Bristol |
Dawlish warren got exciting as it was high tide and the wind was sending waves across the sea wall
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| Passing waves at Dawlish |
We arrived back in Bristol at 2016, some 26 minutes late, mainly due to having to accede to Nunney castle returning on the same route.
We changed to our two diesels the drivers of which obviously wanted to make up lost time, peaking 85mph passing the Gloucester Junction bypass, between Cheltenham to Ashchurch and Ashchurch to the Parkway, We arrived only 11 minutes late at 2157. The diesels took off in a hurry and arrived back in New Street on time!
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