Steam Train slips to a stand at Parkstone (28/11)

[ushawk]

The Poole - Bristol Temple Meads steam train this morning has slipped to a stand on Parkstone bank, of course blocking the line.

The service was formed of a steam loco and 10 coaches, but the Class 33 that took the train ECS to Poole wasn't attached to the train - so it didn't have enough power to get up the bank - an awful decision in an area with poor rail adhesion !!

On the move now over an hour late, probably as they got the 33 from Poole to rescue it !!

 

[tsr]

For the interest of members, this is apparently hauled by 5MT 44871, which has replaced Tangmere (which had that nasty incident on Saturday involving a connecting rod falling onto the third rail at Winchfield).

The service which has been delayed this morning is 1Z87 0803 Poole-Bristol TM, as implied above.

I wonder why they chose to run it without the 33 banking (or whatever the correct term is these days), or another suitable option?

 

[Monty]

10 coaches is a bit of a tall order for a Black 5 to cope with up Parkstone Bank without assistance at the best of times. Merchant Navies required assistance on this stretch of line regularly back in steam days.

 

[Eagle]

I'm getting the weirdest sense of déjà vu here...

 

[ushawk]

I'm getting the weirdest sense of déjà vu here...

Near enough 1 year ago to the day too.

Surely if its happened before, a banking loco should have been attached to the back ? Looks fairly clear who might be picking up the bill here.

 

[341o2]

as regards deja vu, me too as on arrival at Sway informed that the train had stalled on Parkstone bank just as Tangmere did earlier this year. Just about every steam special on this line this year has been diesel assisited if not diesel hauled due to fire risk.tempting fate to detatch the diesel and give the steamer a heavy load, interested to learn that even the rebuilt MN's to overcome slipping due to Bullied's design neded assistance

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

as regards deja vu, me too as on arrival at Sway informed that the train had stalled on Parkstone bank just as Tangmere did earlier this year. Just about every steam special on this line this year has been diesel assisited if not diesel hauled due to fire risk.tempting fate to detatch the diesel and give the steamer a heavy load, interested to learn that even the rebuilt MN's to overcome slipping due to Bullied's design neded assistance

Although I don't like a steam special having a diesel on the back, i think these days it is probably a sensible idea to do so to avoid problems such as the incident mentioned here.

 

[crewmeal]

What happened in the days of steam and the old spam cans were running every hour? Did they have problems then?

 

[Eagle]

Back then there were fewer leaves on the line, because lineside trees were routinely cut back as a fire precaution.

 

[341o2]

What happened in the days of steam and the old spam cans were running every hour? Did they have problems then?

It was indeed one reason to rebuild the spam cans because of their tendancy to slip due to torque plus oil leaking from the bath containing the valve gear and inside cylinder rod bearings. In my opinion one of the best books on the life and work of OVS Bullied is S. Day Lewis' Bullied Last giant of Steam, published some 50 years ago and presumably virtually impossible to obtain nowadays (I am proud posessor of an ex library copy)

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

Back then there were fewer leaves on the line, because lineside trees were routinely cut back as a fire precaution.

Yes, they don't seem to do very much in the way of cutting back the vegitation these days, I guess it's their excuse to save money.

There is section between Hampton & Fulwell where the side of the trains get whacked several times by overhanging branches etc and quite hard too. It can not do the trains much good either and they are already having to take some out of service owing to the recent poor weather conditions! They could have done some pruning of these trees etc recently as that line has been closed on recent Sundays for other track work, so it could have been done at the same time.

 

[Eagle]

Yes, they don't seem to do very much in the way of cutting back the vegitation these days, I guess it's their excuse to save money.

Because the consequences of lineside trees are a lot less severe nowadays (some trains losing grip, versus a large fire).

 

[341o2]

I thought this incident was caused by greasy rails rather than leaves, but do agree that in the days of steam lineside vegitation was cut back.

Reminds me of an incident on the Gunnislake branch where there is an unprotected crossing between Calstock and Gunnislake on a steep up gradient. Steam trains and the first generation DMU's had sanding gear. Along came a new generation of DMU's with anti slip devices.

The Cornish mizzle defeated this new fangled gear and the train was unable to proceed without assistance and the problem was solved by having the following hi tec items on board. One bucket of sand. One shovel