Jump to content
 

Clun Castle making the BBC news website


jetmorgan
 Share

Recommended Posts

Apparently she was the last steam loco to leave Paddington...... Don't you just love journos?

 

Nearly as much as I love critics! I wonder what info the journalist was given and the degree to which his words were re-written by a sub? Plus, of course, such detail trivia doesn't really matter to his audience and the extra words would probably take him over his few seconds of time allowance. I was on that record Plymouth-Bristol run and some other 7029 exploits, including a return from North Wales (Clun took over at Crewe if I recall correctly - diverted due to engineering works) and an early Sunday morning amble along the Oxford-Thame-Princes Risborough line. Unusual track behind a 'Castle' I suspect. It's good to see her back. (CJL)

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • RMweb Gold

and an early Sunday morning amble along the Oxford-Thame-Princes Risborough line. Unusual track behind a 'Castle' I suspect. It's good to see her back. (CJL)

Pedant mode on:

 

Actually there was a late morning Oxford-Paddington working which was regularly Castle worked and phots appear in various books (I assume for diversion route knowledge but never seen any confirmation).  In Celebration of Steam 'The Chilterns' p.72 there's a pic of a 1000 Class County on this working which was certainly rare. 

 

Pedant mode off!

Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm really looking forward to 7029 being back on the main line again.  I remember a particularly volcanic departure southbound from Oxford in the mid-1980s - sadly I was only watching from the opposite platform rather than window-hanging, but the no-nonsense sledgehammer sound from the double chimney was quite remarkable even for a GW loco, echoing back from the surrounding buildings and staying audible for several minutes as the train accelerated through Hinksey and Kennington. In addition to the famous Plymouth-Bristol run, Stationmaster Mike has recounted elsewhere how Clun beat HST times over Sapperton in 1985, so I am very interested to see how it performs in the 21st century.  Mind you, it's got its work cut out to improve on the performance of shed-mate 5043, which beat Clun's record time from Plymouth to Bristol by several minutes a few years back (and could have knocked even more time off if we hadn't been delayed by an HST in front between Plymouth and Totnes, and again on the way up to Whiteball).  We are very lucky to have two beautifully restored double chimney Castles operating on the main line - many thanks to the Whitehouse and Meanley families for making it possible.

 

David 

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...