Stoke Courtenay

[checkrail]

Nipped up to the ELR yesterday for a ride behind 4079 'Pendennis Castle' from Heywood to Rawtenstall and back. The Castle was in splendid nick and fine form.  I last saw this loco pausing at Starcross with a down stopper in the summer of 1961.

 

 

 

John C.

[Neal Ball]

4 minutes ago, checkrail said:

Nipped up to the ELR yesterday for a ride behind 4079 'Pendennis Castle' from Heywood to Rawtenstall and back. The Castle was in splendid nick and fine form.  I last saw this loco pausing at Starcross with a down stopper in the summer of 1961.

 

 

 

John C.

Lovely loco John. I am hoping it’s at Didcot when we get over in the summer. 

[checkrail]

And here's its slightly younger sister 5000 'Launceston Castle' heading west through Stoke Courtenay in early 1939.

 

 

 

That fence is getting worse - needs attention.

 

John C.

[checkrail]

3 minutes ago, Neal Ball said:

Lovely loco John. I am hoping it’s at Didcot when we get over in the summer.

A good chance I should think.  The crew told me that the aim was to take it out to a preserved line about 3 or 4 times a year.  I think that's usually for a week or two. Next destination is apparently the Churnet Valley Railway so you might want to check on 4079's summer schedule. 

[Neal Ball]

8 hours ago, checkrail said:

A good chance I should think.  The crew told me that the aim was to take it out to a preserved line about 3 or 4 times a year.  I think that's usually for a week or two. Next destination is apparently the Churnet Valley Railway so you might want to check on 4079's summer schedule. 

Thanks John,

Last year of course the Saint was in steam and I had a cab ride on it, which was great.  Previously it had been at the Severn valley, but they were in drought conditions so no steam was running that day.
 

This year, it will be nice to see Pendennis Castle in steam somewhere.

 

Just found the loco roster for Didcot. Let’s hope it’s not the class 31! https://didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk/article.php/93/locomotive-roster

 

Thanks again, Neal.

Edited April 29 by Neal Ball
Roster added

[Siberian Snooper]

11 hours ago, checkrail said:

Nipped up to the ELR yesterday for a ride behind 4079 'Pendennis Castle' from Heywood to Rawtenstall and back. The Castle was in splendid nick and fine form.  I last saw this loco pausing at Starcross with a down stopper in the summer of 1961.

 

 

 

John C.

Must have sounded good starting out of Bury, over the flyover!

 

 

[Nick Gough]

3 hours ago, Neal Ball said:

Just found the loco roster for Didcot. Let’s hope it’s not the class 31! https://didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk/article.php/93/locomotive-roster

 

Thanks again, Neal.

 

I bet you wouldn't mind if it was this class 31?

https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/locomotive-assisting-a-2800-2-8-0-goods-engine-up-the-1-in-news-photo/90748142

[checkrail]

In its first few months of service '8750' class 3603 runs in off the branch with a goods train as the Castle heads for Pymouth.

 

 

 

John C.

[checkrail]

To finish this sequence:

 

 

Think I've said this before but over time those first generation Dapol signals become very reluctant to return to the fully horizontal position.  And eventually they get to the stage where it needs two presses of the push-button to make them move at all.

 

 

John C.

[checkrail]

Here's one specially for fellow Little Muddlers @KNP who may currently be suffering pannier withdrawal symptoms while the prairies take over.

 

Hmm - strange.  That coal wagon is coming back from the branch line fully loaded.  Was it surplus to requirements or is there a coal mine at Earlsbridge that I didn't know about?

 

John C.

[Neal Ball]

5 hours ago, Nick Gough said:

 

I bet you wouldn't mind if it was this class 31?

https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/locomotive-assisting-a-2800-2-8-0-goods-engine-up-the-1-in-news-photo/90748142

 

That would be very nice Nick. 

 

Of course I would settle for the 61xx in steam.... and maybe something on the Broad gauge - perhaps in a few years eh!

 

5 hours ago, checkrail said:

In its first few months of service '8750' class 3603 runs in off the branch with a goods train as the Castle heads for Pymouth.

 

 

 

John C.

 

Nice set of photos John thank you - for both sets.

[KNP]

48 minutes ago, checkrail said:

Here's one specially for fellow Little Muddlers @KNP who may currently be suffering pannier withdrawal symptoms while the prairies take over.

 

Hmm - strange.  That coal wagon is coming back from the branch line fully loaded.  Was it surplus to requirements or is there a coal mine at Earlsbridge that I didn't know about?

 

John C.

Shouldn't have to wait to long....Panniers are never faraway.

They sometimes turn up when you least expect them.

 

Nice pictures.

[Siberian Snooper]

4 hours ago, checkrail said:

To finish this sequence:

 

 

Think I've said this before but over time those first generation Dapol signals become very reluctant to return to the fully horizontal position.  And eventually they get to the stage where it needs two presses of the push-button to make them move at all.

 

 

John C.

 

The signals eventually give up the ghost altogether, on Ruan which will be at Thornbury one is now worked by a Tortoise point motor and the other by A SG9 servo, which is currently a bit temperamental, some of which is operator error, hopefully Phil can sort it out before Friday.

 

 

[Siberian Snooper]

A quick update Phil has found several minor mechanical problems which have been sorted, He now needs to source a thicker bit of piano wire for the link from the servo to the signal.  Looking good for Friday.