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All across the Great Western territory => Diary - what's happening when? => Topic started by: JayMac on June 14, 2010, 18:21:34



Title: 'The Brunelian' FGW HST Railtour. 25th September 2010
Post by: JayMac on June 14, 2010, 18:21:34
Pathfinder Tours in conjunction with Modern Railways, Railways Illustrated and First Great Western are running a High Speed Train railtour on 25th September 2010 as part of the 'GWR 175' celebrations.

The tour starts at Paddington, thence to Swindon via the B&H and TransWilts for a visit to the STEAM museum (entrance included). From Swindon the HST then travels to Bristol Parkway, down the freight line to St Andrew's Road then the Severn Beach Line into Bristol Temple Meads. From Bristol Temple Meads it will visit the Portishead Line as far as the Network Rail boundary. Back to Bristol Temple Meads for the train to be serviced, thence on to Paddington via Box Tunnel.

FGW are splitting 2 sets to provide a 2+7 with 2 TFBs, 4 TFs, and a TGS.

Full details, including fares and timings can be found at either the  Modern Railways (http://www.modern-railways.com/railtour.html) or Pathfinder Tours (http://www.pathfindertours.co.uk/index.php/event-list.html?day=20100925) websites.

Some rare workings there for a HST. Anyone know whether HSTs have ever visited the Severn Beach or Portishead Lines?
 


Title: Re: 'The Brunelian' FGW HST Railtour. 25th September 2010
Post by: Brucey on June 14, 2010, 18:44:39
Looks like a very good tour.  Shame I won't be around the area on that day as I'd love to see an HST on the Severn Beach Line (didn't even think the line would be suitable for a HST)!


Title: Re: 'The Brunelian' FGW HST Railtour. 25th September 2010
Post by: 6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01 on June 14, 2010, 18:46:55
is it me or have fgw been involved with quite a few railtours this year?


Title: Re: 'The Brunelian' FGW HST Railtour. 25th September 2010
Post by: Brucey on June 14, 2010, 18:48:47
I notice that "train travels under Clifton suspension bridge" on the Portishead Line.  Probably a good one for enthusiasts and photographers.  Another one that I'd like to see.

May have to change my plans to be in Bristol on this date!


Title: Re: 'The Brunelian' FGW HST Railtour. 25th September 2010
Post by: devon_metro on June 14, 2010, 18:55:57
I'll actually be in the area in September, so might be worth a trip to the Clifton suspension bridge for this one.


Title: Re: 'The Brunelian' FGW HST Railtour. 25th September 2010
Post by: inspector_blakey on June 14, 2010, 18:58:58
Voyagers have certainly used the Severn Beach line during diversions before (I think whilst Filton Abbey Wood was being remodelled a few years ago). I think there's also a posted speed limit for HSTs, or used to be, at Narroways Junction.


Title: Re: 'The Brunelian' FGW HST Railtour. 25th September 2010
Post by: JayMac on June 14, 2010, 19:08:05
There are 'split' speed boards along the line with different speeds for loco hauled and DMUs. Guessing the HST will be limited to the hauled speed.

Seriously considering giving this one a go, happy to pay the ^65 and join at Swindon. Hoping that's possible.


Title: Re: 'The Brunelian' FGW HST Railtour. 25th September 2010
Post by: Brucey on June 14, 2010, 19:09:45
Seriously considering giving this one a go, happy to pay the ^65 and join at Swindon. Hoping that's possible.
The Torbay Express website appear to be selling tickets for this one, where they only offer Paddington and Reading as PU points.


Title: Re: 'The Brunelian' FGW HST Railtour. 25th September 2010
Post by: JayMac on June 14, 2010, 19:12:43
Ah, Swindon won't be possible unless there's a scheduled stop on the return working. Gonna be an early doors trip up to RDG methinks.


Title: Re: 'The Brunelian' FGW HST Railtour. 25th September 2010
Post by: devon_metro on June 14, 2010, 21:06:34
They often do 'part fares' assuming there are seats of course.


Title: Re: 'The Brunelian' FGW HST Railtour. 25th September 2010
Post by: JayMac on September 23, 2010, 21:56:33
Rather short notice, but.....

From Modern Railways (http://www.modern-railways.com/latestnews/?p=199):

Quote
Opportunity to travel on the Portbury branch this Saturday

Travel on the Portbury freight branch railway!

There is an opportunity to travel on the branch railway line to Portbury docks on the afternoon of this Saturday, 25 September. The trip, organised by Modern Railways magazine and train operator First Great Western, will see the Portbury branch host one of FGW^s InterCity 125 high speed trains, normally used on the Bristol to London run. The Portbury branch is normally used only by freight trains and there are seldom opportunities for passengers to travel over the line.

The ^Brunelian^ special train will depart from Bristol Temple Meads at 15.17, running down the branch line under the famous Clifton suspension bridge designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, and will return to Temple Meads at 16.31. Passengers will not be able to alight at Portbury docks.

A return ticket for travel on the Portbury line is priced at ^10 adult, ^5 child. Tickets will be available for purchase on the train. For access to the station, intending passengers are asked to advise the staff on the ticket barrier at Temple Meads that they are joining the ^Brunelian^.

For more information, call Modern Railways on 01892 861803

And, also from Modern Railways (http://www.modern-railways.com/latestnews/?p=201):

Quote
Avonmouth opportunity added to Brunelian walk-up-and-go joining opportunity

There is now the option to take in freight-only track in the Avonmouth area on a cash payment basis on the day on the Brunelian railtour on Saturday 25 September. 14.15 off Bristol Parkway, via Avonmouth to Bristol Temple Meads, then to Portbury and back, detraining at Temple Meads (16.31). Tell barrier staff you are joining the Brunelian, they have been briefed. For Bristol Parkway joiners, the fare is GBP20 (junior GBP10), cash only, Standard Class only. For Bristol Temple Meads joiners (Portbury branch only, departs 15.17, the fare is GBP10 (GBP5 junior).

Darn it to heck, I wish I wasn't potless this weekend! Ho hum.

I've edited the second quote as the original article mistakenly say Saturday 25th October.



Title: Re: 'The Brunelian' FGW HST Railtour. 25th September 2010
Post by: SDS on September 23, 2010, 22:19:54
Damn it, Im working.
Ill prob have to dispatch it as well if its formed incorrectly.


Title: Re: 'The Brunelian' FGW HST Railtour. 25th September 2010
Post by: Chris from Nailsea on September 23, 2010, 22:23:49
In that case, bignosemac and I will hold you personally responsible for any delays to our service ...  :o ::) ;D


Title: Re: 'The Brunelian' FGW HST Railtour. 25th September 2010
Post by: devon_metro on September 23, 2010, 23:04:37
Would have been interested, shame I'm busy. Plus ^20, somewhat outrageous!


Title: Re: 'The Brunelian' FGW HST Railtour. 25th September 2010
Post by: Chris from Nailsea on September 23, 2010, 23:17:19
Join us at Bristol Parkway, at 14:00 - we'll negotiate a GroupSave!  ;D


Title: Re: 'The Brunelian' FGW HST Railtour. 25th September 2010
Post by: SDS on September 23, 2010, 23:24:04
In that case, bignosemac and I will hold you personally responsible for any delays to our service ...  :o ::) ;D
Sorry lads blame them lot upstairs AKA NR.


Title: Re: 'The Brunelian' FGW HST Railtour. 25th September 2010
Post by: Chris from Nailsea on September 23, 2010, 23:25:20
 ;D


Title: Re: 'The Brunelian' FGW HST Railtour. 25th September 2010
Post by: JayMac on September 23, 2010, 23:30:24
Would have been interested, shame I'm busy. Plus ^20, somewhat outrageous!

In mileage terms and in comparison to scheduled rail fares then maybe a little steep, but hardly outrageous. This is a railtour over two parts of the network not served by passenger trains (although they should be - but that's another topic!) so to my mind the price reflects that.


Title: Re: 'The Brunelian' FGW HST Railtour. 25th September 2010
Post by: Ollie on September 25, 2010, 00:12:20
In that case, bignosemac and I will hold you personally responsible for any delays to our service ...  :o ::) ;D
Sorry lads blame them lot upstairs AKA NR.
Oh so it's them who dispatches them? ;)


Title: Re: 'The Brunelian' FGW HST Railtour. 25th September 2010
Post by: SDS on September 25, 2010, 00:49:50
In that case, bignosemac and I will hold you personally responsible for any delays to our service ...  :o ::) ;D
Sorry lads blame them lot upstairs AKA NR.
Oh so it's them who dispatches them? ;)
We can only dispatch them when we get the signals and that is them lot upstairs.


Title: Re: 'The Brunelian' FGW HST Railtour. 25th September 2010
Post by: Ollie on September 25, 2010, 00:51:30
Actually it's not, signalling is controlled from Slough not Paddington.


Title: Re: 'The Brunelian' FGW HST Railtour. 25th September 2010
Post by: SDS on September 25, 2010, 00:59:00
Actually it's not, signalling is controlled from Slough not Paddington.
Still upstairs is it not at slough!!!


Title: Re: 'The Brunelian' FGW HST Railtour. 25th September 2010
Post by: Ollie on September 25, 2010, 01:01:20
Actually it's not, signalling is controlled from Slough not Paddington.
Still upstairs is it not at slough!!!
That sentence makes no sense to me, can you reword it?


Title: Re: 'The Brunelian' FGW HST Railtour. 25th September 2010
Post by: SDS on September 25, 2010, 01:04:28
Actually it's not, signalling is controlled from Slough not Paddington.
Still upstairs is it not at slough!!!
That sentence makes no sense to me, can you reword it?
The signal centre at slough, is still up some stairs, isnt it!!!


Title: Re: 'The Brunelian' FGW HST Railtour. 25th September 2010
Post by: Ollie on September 25, 2010, 01:05:40
Ahaha - the way you say upstairs would imply you intend to mean NR at Paddington - how is anyone supposed to know you would mean upstairs in a different county?


Title: Re: 'The Brunelian' FGW HST Railtour. 25th September 2010
Post by: SDS on September 25, 2010, 01:08:08
Ahaha - the way you say upstairs would imply you intend to mean NR at Paddington - how is anyone supposed to know you would mean upstairs in a different county?

Yeah I did originally mean upstairs at PAD, but I thought id change my mind.


Title: Re: 'The Brunelian' FGW HST Railtour. 25th September 2010
Post by: Chris from Nailsea on September 25, 2010, 21:05:09
Update from me: 'bignosemac' and I enjoyed a cracking afternoon out on this charter HST - from Bristol Parkway to Bristol Temple Meads via the Henbury loop, Severn Beach line, BRI, Portbury and back.  :D

We met up with a few FoSBR members on board, and had a chat with them about local railway campaigning issues, too.

I have numerous photos: however, I need to download and edit them, before bignosemac and I can publish our best ones here.

(From which you may infer: someone forgot his camera. :o ::) )

CfN. ;D


Title: Re: 'The Brunelian' FGW HST Railtour. 25th September 2010
Post by: SDS on September 25, 2010, 22:18:10
FGW are splitting 2 sets to provide a 2+7 with 2 TFBs, 4 TFs, and a TGS.


Looked like a normal set to me when it came into PAD. 2 TFs 1TFB, 1 TGS and 3 TSO.


Title: Re: 'The Brunelian' FGW HST Railtour. 25th September 2010
Post by: JayMac on September 25, 2010, 22:19:23
Cheers Chris!   ::) :-[

Can I still blame latent dentistry induced anaesthesia? Or just normal run-of-the-mill absent mindedness?


Title: Re: 'The Brunelian' FGW HST Railtour. 25th September 2010
Post by: JayMac on September 25, 2010, 22:21:21
FGW are splitting 2 sets to provide a 2+7 with 2 TFBs, 4 TFs, and a TGS.


Looked like a normal set to me when it came into PAD. 2 TFs 1TFB, 1 TGS and 3 TSO.

Fairly certain it was a 'normal' 2+7. Although I didn't walk the whole train.

EDIT: 2+8 apparently. Wasn't counting.... to busy looking out the window and marvelling at a HST passing my local station which is normally the preserve of 143s!


Title: Re: 'The Brunelian' FGW HST Railtour. 25th September 2010
Post by: devon_metro on September 25, 2010, 22:36:07
Am impressed they got a path over svb. Presumably it passed a SVB service at Avonmouth, should give it enough time to get to stapleton rd.


Title: Re: 'The Brunelian' FGW HST Railtour. 25th September 2010
Post by: Electric train on September 25, 2010, 22:37:21
Actually it's not, signalling is controlled from Slough not Paddington.
Still upstairs is it not at slough!!!
That sentence makes no sense to me, can you reword it?
The signal centre at slough, is still up some stairs, isnt it!!!
Actually no Slough IECC (or Slough New SN) is a single story building.
Great the Brenelian went well :)


Title: Re: 'The Brunelian' FGW HST Railtour. 25th September 2010
Post by: JayMac on September 25, 2010, 23:17:15
Am impressed they got a path over svb. Presumably it passed a SVB service at Avonmouth, should give it enough time to get to stapleton rd.

We were slotted in to the normal SVB timetable although there was a cancelation on the SVB line of the service that we were due to pass at AVN which was then scheduled to follow us in to BRI. I think....

'Train fault' was the reason given, so probably unrelated to the railtour.


Title: Re: 'The Brunelian' FGW HST Railtour. 25th September 2010
Post by: JayMac on September 25, 2010, 23:25:08
....and to add to CfN's comments upthread.... a grand day out.

Nice to see different of parts Bristol from the windows of a HST. The highlight being the run to Portbury along the Avon gorge. Also the double takes that waiting pax did at Shirehampton and Sea Mills when they saw a HST trundling through.

And the amount of folks at the lineside, particularly at Pill, waving at the novelty of a 'passenger' train on normally freight only lines.


Title: Re: 'The Brunelian' FGW HST Railtour. 25th September 2010
Post by: JayMac on September 26, 2010, 01:17:43
Also, as this railtour was part of the "GWR 175" celebrations, there is one person, above all others, that we have to thank:

(http://media.dyson.com/images_resize_sites/inside_dyson/assets/UK/main/IsambardKingdomBrunel_01.jpg)

IKB. We salute you.


Title: Re: 'The Brunelian' FGW HST Railtour. 25th September 2010
Post by: Chris from Nailsea on September 26, 2010, 01:24:58
Hmm. 'Views from an HST' - but very unusual ones, this time!

Our HST was this one:

(http://img543.imageshack.us/img543/1796/thebrunelianfgwhstrailt.jpg) (http://img543.imageshack.us/i/thebrunelianfgwhstrailt.jpg/)

... and we went under a few bridges that HSTs don't often go under!

(http://img831.imageshack.us/img831/1796/thebrunelianfgwhstrailt.jpg) (http://img831.imageshack.us/i/thebrunelianfgwhstrailt.jpg/)

(http://img830.imageshack.us/img830/1796/thebrunelianfgwhstrailt.jpg) (http://img830.imageshack.us/i/thebrunelianfgwhstrailt.jpg/)

(http://img710.imageshack.us/img710/1796/thebrunelianfgwhstrailt.jpg) (http://img710.imageshack.us/i/thebrunelianfgwhstrailt.jpg/)

(http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/1796/thebrunelianfgwhstrailt.jpg) (http://img69.imageshack.us/i/thebrunelianfgwhstrailt.jpg/)


Title: Re: 'The Brunelian' FGW HST Railtour. 25th September 2010
Post by: JayMac on September 26, 2010, 01:49:40
The 'Brunelian' passing through a certain station in Wiltshire. Shame it wasn't booked to call.  ;D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gePEw4cdmIw


Title: Re: 'The Brunelian' FGW HST Railtour. 25th September 2010
Post by: SDS on September 26, 2010, 21:09:06
The 'Brunelian' passing through a certain station in Wiltshire. Shame it wasn't booked to call.  ;D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gePEw4cdmIw

I like the sign at the end of that clip!

The menu for first class looks nice, will get a pic of that up shortly.


Title: Re: 'The Brunelian' FGW HST Railtour. 25th September 2010
Post by: JayMac on September 27, 2010, 17:23:50
Another video of the trip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXckDvmmMfA


Title: Re: 'The Brunelian' FGW HST Railtour. 25th September 2010
Post by: Brucey on September 27, 2010, 17:31:59
That video has made me VERY jealous.  Wish I was in Bristol last weekend to travel on (or even just see) this service :(


Title: Re: 'The Brunelian' FGW HST Railtour. 25th September 2010
Post by: JayMac on September 30, 2010, 21:05:26
From the same uploader as the previous link. Further video; this time on the run back up to Temple Meads from Ashton Gate:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmjXE13pXjQ


Title: Re: 'The Brunelian' FGW HST Railtour. 25th September 2010
Post by: Chris from Nailsea on September 30, 2010, 21:24:25
That video has made me VERY jealous.  Wish I was in Bristol last weekend to travel on (or even just see) this service :(

Never mind. (http://www.millan.net/minimations/smileys/consoling2.gif) (http://www.millan.net)  Some of us were there.  ;D


Title: Re: 'The Brunelian' FGW HST Railtour. 25th September 2010
Post by: SDS on September 30, 2010, 23:11:02
And some of us wanted to be there but had to work!


Title: Re: 'The Brunelian' FGW HST Railtour. 25th September 2010
Post by: JayMac on September 30, 2010, 23:56:25
OK... not quite the same as being there, but a few more pics (courtesy of Chris from Nailsea - I'd forgotten me camera!) of the railtour as it made it's way across Bristol:

St Andrew's Road Signal Box.
(http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt68/bignosemac/Brunelian%2025th%20September%202010/TheBrunelianFGWHSTRailtour25Sep2010039a.jpg)

Approaching Avonmouth Station.
(http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt68/bignosemac/Brunelian%2025th%20September%202010/TheBrunelianFGWHSTRailtour25Sep2010053a.jpg)

Near Ashton Gate.
(http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt68/bignosemac/Brunelian%2025th%20September%202010/TheBrunelianFGWHSTRailtour25Sep2010087a.jpg)

The end of the line, Network Rail limit at Portbury.
(http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt68/bignosemac/Brunelian%2025th%20September%202010/TheBrunelianFGWHSTRailtour25Sep2010110a.jpg)

Entering Pill Tunnel on the return from Portbury.
(http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt68/bignosemac/Brunelian%2025th%20September%202010/TheBrunelianFGWHSTRailtour25Sep2010137a.jpg)



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