I was at East Croydon yesterday evening (15/10) around 18.50 on Platform 6 waiting for my train when all of a sudden there was a shrill whistle and a steam locomotive hauling a single carriage burst through. I checked on RTT and was running from North Road, Darlington to East Grinstead sidings - so clearly heading for the Bluebell. Anyone know anything about this service and why it was only hauling one carriage (which was lit but didn't appear to have anyone in it.)?
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Unusual steam service yesterday
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zwk500
Veteran Member
Nearly all Steam Locomotive moves made not in passenger service will be accompanied by the Support Coach, also know as the POB (Private Owner Brake), which often has a little kitchenette area for hot drinks/food when on the move, is used by the support crew accompanying the loco for the journey (including overnight if needed, although driving crew get hotels I think), and sometimes has a store of tools (and even parts) to help service the loco when away from base. Sometimes it can be outstabled at sidings with basic or no facilities. It also can function as the brake vehicle for the main tour formation if needed for length saving/passenger capacity reasons.
The accompaniment of the Support Coach is why 'light' steam loco moves are usually classified as Class 5 schedules rather than Class 0. It is possible for Steam locos to run without one as a Class 0 schedule, but it's rare to do so for more than a fairly loco trip (e.g. for Coal or turning).
The accompaniment of the Support Coach is why 'light' steam loco moves are usually classified as Class 5 schedules rather than Class 0. It is possible for Steam locos to run without one as a Class 0 schedule, but it's rare to do so for more than a fairly loco trip (e.g. for Coal or turning).
Deepgreen
Established Member
Amusing to see the OP describe it as a "service" - an image of a trainload of people crammed into a single brake springs to mind! I was surprised to see this happening in the peak at East Croydon - must be spare paths after all!
So was I - quite an odd choice to run through London in the middle of rush hour!
For anyone interested it’s currently due to return to Darlington on Sunday 26th October. Timings are still tbc.
Yeah I know... I didn't know what else to call it. Haven't revised that part of the railway lexicon!
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Really interesting info zwk500 - cheers
Sad Sprinter
Established Member
I saw this too, wondered what on earth it was.
Well, it was quite dark and I was until pretty much the last second facing the other way. Therefore it moved too quickly for me to catch anything like a nameplate. I did notice, however, that it was cab-leading.
zwk500
Veteran Member
Not unusual for engines heading to the Bluebell, as the prevailing gradient is rising northbound and therefore it is preferred for their engines to face north.
Turning for the Bluebell is a right pain because the nearest triangles are at Stewart's Lane or Willesden/Acton Wells, unless you do the rather roundabout route coming in from the south and reversing at South Croydon. That means there's a fair distance of the 45mph limit on tender-first running (instead of the 60 for things like Black 5s or 75mph for big express engines like Tornado most engines are allowed Chimney-first).
This can sometimes mean you need to look at the jobs later in the calendar for the operator to work out which way round it should be.
I've had the opportunity once to ride in Tornado's support coach on a run from Crewe to Holyhead and back.
zwk500
Veteran Member
45mph can have problems keeping headway ahead between stops, 60mph tends to fit quite well. Although it does vary between lines and depends exactly what gaps you can slot into. And running backwards is also more awkward for the crew, who obviously will have to keep looking one way for signals and then back the other to handle the controls.
andylikestrain
Member
Would anyone be able to tell me how I can find out when & where steam movements like this take place? I think it used to on www.uksteam.info, but of course that website is no longer updated. Thank you!
zwk500
Veteran Member
RailAdvent has most if not all of them, I think. You may need an account (which may or may not be paid) to see full details of non-passenger movements.
Yeah Herald and RTT are the ones I use on the occasions I do go looking for light steam loco movements.
It also helps if you are aware of any obvious movements that could take place and bear in mind that some mainline locos are very rarely going to be put on a low loader (otherwise we would have had Flying Scotsman visit the GCR, Gloswarks, and the Llangollen in the near 10 year it has been back).
For instance, if a heritage railway is having a mainline steam loco visit with a NR link, its a case of bearing in mind when the loco could arrive or depart that railway if they announce a gala for a set weekend with no last minute changes. Same with predicting the end of railtour season runs, I once caught Duchess of Sutherland thundering up the Midland mainline light loco at Elstree and Boreham Wood in December 2022 as it had wrapped up its railtour season for the year and was heading to Butterley.
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