70000 Britannia "Flat"-out across the Somerset "Levels"
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- Опубликовано: 6 фев 2025
- The Railway Touring Company: The Great Britain VIII 28&29 April 2015.
The title of one of my favourite films could well have described this clip; I refer to Lemony Snicket’s “An Unfortunate Series of Events”! The first and most unfortunate of course having happened way back on 7th March with repercussions now throwing the current mainline steam schedule into complete turmoil. The theme continued on the day with uncertainty as to whether a diesel would be attached to the “steam” leg with the inevitable diminishment of any of the climbs on-route. One positive element however was an excellent weather forecast with exceptional visibility, and this decided my location for the down leg. Windmill Hill, Curload, on the Somerset Levels has panoramic views in all directions but I had never filmed there before and never seen footage posted from anyone else. The unfortunate events continue however with the appearance of a big black cloud at the critical moment and a violent gusty wind making panning particularly difficult but with the second camera at Athelney Crossing we experience 70000 at maximum speed for at least a mile until an amber on the “distant” approach to Cogload Junction results in a brake application. It seems only a short time ago that Cogload was not a junction at all but a meeting of two separate double-tracks, but today on the new “improved” network, our train has to give way to a service from Bristol. Incredibly, we can watch the restart from 4km away as the final zoom-out emphasises. The last (even more) unfortunate event was the positioning of 66122 as pilot on the return “steam leg” even though it performed quite happily shoving at the rear on the down leg! The explaination for this surfaced much later: a delivery of poor coal was deemed to have promoted a fire risk in the dry(ing) conditions! Here we see the train approaching Exeter on the upper reaches of the Exminster Marshes and finishing with a view into the Double Locks pub as the train disappears - I must admit that the prospect of drowning my sorrows there at that moment was pretty compelling!! Let’s hope that things improve soon for everyone involved.
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This to be my fave video i have seen for ages...respect how you captured the feeling of old and new...and the fact you caught it from a distance was just amazing great work..cheers rich
Hello Rich and thank you so much for your kind comments, I appreciate your feedback very much. Thanks also for your subscription, welcome aboard! Best regards, Alan
Tremendous sustained pan from 2:00 to 3:20 - fabulous work, thank you.
Hello Steve and thank you for your kind and much appreciated comment. Best regards, Alan
God i love steam engines when at high speed and those rods and smoothly rotating along - very satisfying , great video and amazing pan
Hello Adam and thank you for your kind feedback and impassioned comments, with which I entirely concur! Best regards, Alan
@@Steamclips ok then
It's interesting how one can watch a video of a single object and be happy. Thanks for sharing.
Glad to have brought you joy Malcolm, thank you for your kind and much appreciated feedback. Best regards, Alan
Beautiful country and a beautiful video. I used to watch the trains from the platform of Long Sutton and Pitney Halt, now long gone.
Hello Ben and thank you for your kind and very much appreciated feedback. Best regards, Alan
Steamclips - I enjoyed this video and can sympathize with your "Lemony Snicket" reference. That black cloud was a nuisance during your pan shot. At least the train was still visible and you did a remarkable job despite the conditions. As a fan of steam locos, there is nothing to compare to the sound of the "breathing" a steam locomotive makes as it runs, rests, or whatever it's asked to do. They are truly remarkable "living" machines. I did find it somewhat humorous at point 02:46 to 03:00 where 70000 seemed to "dive underground and "furrow" through the countryside with only it's exhaust plume visible. :-) Keep up the great work with your videos, and I look forward to more from you.
Hello Dana and thank you very much for your kind and thoughtful comments. I entirely agree with your sentiments about steam loco's or indeed any steam engine for that matter, they are almost living things and as most enginemen will tell you: "definitely female" (in the nicest possible way or course!). Best regards, Alan
Alan:
Thank you for your reply, and you are very welcome. Regarding your comment about "..as most trainmen will tell you: 'definitely female'.." I will correct you with only ONE exception to that rule: Union Pacific's Alco 4-8-8-4 "Big Boy"! He was christened with the moniker "Big Boy" from the very outset, and he was and is ALL male.
I also have to agree with what an old Engineer who actually operated the Big Boy locomotive told me a while back: "Just as any cattle rancher will tell you, you need a bull or two to keep your cows happy and in line, so with a steam locomotive fleet. 99.9% of all steam locomotives are christened female, but the Big Boy was the Bull for the rest of the herd of Cows, just to keep them in line! And he was just as cantankerous and ornery as any female too! He was a Bull after all!"
I take your point Dana, thank you for your informative and amusing response. Best wishes, Alan
Despite events described ,,,, simple outstanding footage and incredible zoom and camera control ,,,, that must be a record camera pan,,, so rock steady its almost untrue ,,,,, awesome footage many thanks for the planning time and sharing ,,,, Alan
Hi Alan and thank you once again for your encouraging and very kind remarks. Best regards, Alan
Terrific pan shots. Well done. Cheers, Dave.
Thanks Dave, your kind remarks are very much appreciated. Alan
Great video mate,have liked.thats a great shot of britannia here.nice shots and sounds.really enjoyed watching this.kind regards josh :)
Aian you've done it again with this awesome video. Brit is still one of my favourite engines. I never saw her in steam days ,but ihave seen her a few times on the Mid Hants Railway.
Thank you again Michael: I really appreciate your kind and positive comments. Best regards, Alan
Just amazing pans...so smooth...just a brilliant watch. I spoke to the Train manager on 70000 at Taunton Yesterday and he said the reason the 66 was leading from Plymouth to Bristol was they were taking no chances on some of the gradients in Between.. ! I was quite stunned to see 66122 in front as it arrived in Taunton...Hope this helps..best wishes...Steve.~.
Hi Steve: thank you so much for the very kind remarks and for filling me in on the operational details. I must say that as a passenger, I would not have been happy that on what is going to turn out to be a rare steam leg on this tour, the steamer effectively became relegated to a "load" on this leg. As banking was normal over Devon banks, I don't quite understand the nervousness on this occassion. Best wishes, Alan
Me neither...
The pinnacle of Modern steam locomotives
Very good footage again. Let's hope that the unfortunate events don't continue!
Thank you for the kind comment Keith. Best regards, Alan
How about "Triumphing over adversity"?
I love the distance tracking shots from my adopted (boyhood) county and can still feel
giddy watching those huge driving wheels spinning at speed on my favourite class of steam loco.
I used to spend after-school hours at the far end of the UP platform of Bath Spa station
back in the mid-50s and it was always a thrill when the up "Merchant Venturer" would
appear, pulled by a Britannia class rather than the usual GWR Castle or King - although
the big brass bell that identified the oncoming KGV was the local exception.
Your posts are unfailingly entertaining and demonstrate the sort of attention to subject AND location that makes them stand out and bear repeated viewing. Compelling stuff.
Thank you so much Mark for both your kind feedback and your wonderful reminiscences, we seem to be kindred spirits from childhood! Best regards, Alan
this would be the best run i've seen from a Britannia class loco,usually something happens to spoil a trip but everything must have just clicked on the day
Hello Jim and many thanks for your comment. As you rightly conclude, Britannia performed really well on this tour and now, looking back over the season, it must be said that 70000 has probably been the most reliable loco throughout 2015. Let's hope that her splendid performances continue on the main line. Regards, Alan
just noticed Allan 70000 Britannia is back on the mainline this time its been used for the Sophos railtour along with 46100 royal scot 34046 braunton
Thank you for the comment Scott, looking forward to filming her again. Regards, Alan
Anytime
Some lovely high speed shots there.
Noel
Cheers Noel, thank you for the nice comment. Alan
Ah, Britannia, makes me yearn for lost boyhood hovering on the platform at Norwich Thorpe and all for a tuppenny platform ticket! I can smell it wet coal and hissing steam and in winter puddles on the platform and rain hanging on the greasy casing of the engine contaminated with coal dust until the globule became so large it developed a life of its own and made its way down with a gravitational rush.
Thank you for your wonderful reminiscences Glyn, they made me smile. Regards, Alan
I don't know how they keep from throwing a rod. It's amazing all that reciprocating mass can cycle that fast.
Hi and thank you for your interesting comment. Think about another 40 m.p.h. and you suddenly realise why Mallard needed so much work after her record setting run!! Regards, Alan
@@Steamclips I don’t know what the consequences of breaking a rod at that speed would be but can easily imagine it be unrecoverably catastrophic.
When you are 10 years old with a platform ticket in one hand and an Ian Allen train book in the other and you are standing on the platform and 70000 Britannia thunders past you 6 foot away it something you will remember for the rest of your life.
Amen to that John, Britannias were always my favourite even though I was (and still am) a GWR fan. Thank you for your much valued comment. Regards, Alan
like that nice long opening pan, nicely done.
Hi and many thanks for the nice comment. Best regards, Alan
I just can't imagine the stress on the side rods and crank pins " big ends", how does the oil in the pots feed the journals, surely centrifugal force will throw the oil outwards ?.
Hi and thank you for your interesting comments and question. As a retired engineer, I can give you an answer to your oil question. There are three "forces" in action on the flow of the oil from the pot on a rotating crank: gravity, centrifugal force (actually inertia!) and capillary action. When the crank is rotating, gravity has little effect but capillary action is fairly constant, drawing the oil into and around the bearing and therefore the main mode of lubrication. The centrifugal action is neutral during a whole revolution, at the top of the stroke the oil tends towards the pot as you suggest but at the bottom of the revolution it is forced into the bearing. Thank you for keeping my "little grey cells" active! Best regards, Alan
+Steamclips Thank you Alan for your reply. I guessed Gravity would have little effect, and Capillary Action i'm familiar with, "soldering copper pipes", but Centrifugal Force "Inertia" having equal forces on the oil during a complete revolution now makes perfect cense, what goes up must come down in a vertical rotating oil pot. Thanks again and really great Steam clips, cheers chris.
Truly awesome 👍
Great camera work
Thank you Jack, I really appreciate your kind feedback. Best regards, Alan
I have seen more smoke emitted from my OO gauge locos ! In other words, NONE !
Quite amazing - the fireman must have taken a nap on this leg of the trip.
Great videography as usual - the long shots were remarkable.
Take a look at Japanese preserved steam videos - complete reverse of the Britannia with black smoke thick enough to cut with a chainsaw !! I don't know why their steam locos are such clag machines, although it seems like a combination of bad fuel - slack for the most part, and/or bad draughting - there is never a good exhaust blast from these locos, which are otherwise well cared for and well used.
5 * * * * * for this video.
Hi and very many thanks for your kind and interesting remarks, especially about Japanese locos of which I know nothing at all, and so must take a look! I guess that the difference is because all the B.R. standard designs are a distillation of every good idea from around the incorporated pre-nationalisation companies, so it is no surprise that they seem to be able to burn anything and everything cleanly! Best regards, Alan
Just wonder what foreign people think of this giant of the past rushing through our glorious countryside. Makes me proud of my heritage.
Hi and thank you for your interesting and valued comment. Regards, Alan
Steam trains going so fast... I never thought possible. What a beautiful sight to see one going flat-out. And they don't make smoke.
Not flat out, limited to 75. Most pacifics are capable of 100 with a load.
Great videos 👍🏻
Hi and thank you for your kind and much appreciated comment. Best regards, Alan
You're very welcome !
IF there`s a more majestic sight than a British pacific steam locomotive at speed then tell me about it !! Lovely tracking shots , thanks !
Amen to your comments about British pacifics at speed! Many thanks for the kind comment. Alan
If someone made a film out of the A4s the plot would be:fast as fuck boi
This video clip is all the more reason why I am getting my Dapol Britannia sound Chipped
Stuart: just promise me that you have no plans to fork out for a Class 66 to spoil the illusion!!! Alan
I have absolutely no plans for a Class 66 as my layout is manly set in the 1976 to 1987 period so no 66s any time what so ever
Hi! I stumbled on your site by chance and I'm really impressed by the difference. I dread to think how many hours you must spend researching your vantage points especially at places such as Cogload where you appear to be miles from anywhere - even the subject! I wonder, in the case of the "weird" double heading, which is classed as the train engine and who does the braking? Thanks once more for such an enjoyable "clip' . Robin.
Hi and thank you for your kind and much appreciated feedback. Thanks also for your excellent question. As far as I understand, the return leg from Plymouth was treated as "a rescue", which means that the loco on the front, instead of being an "assisting pilot" actually takes over complete control of the train, effectively downgrading the original train engine to a part of the trailing load, although being in steam it would certainly still have contributed to the motive effort where possible. Best regards, Alan
Alan, Thank you again on an incredible sight and fantastic video. The flat out speed on a guess... 80plus mph??? Disappointed to see the Diesel at the end of the coaches; was the Diesel pushing?? The earlier clip we saw only the 70k was hauling away. In most of clips we see steam engines from US having a Diesel along and very few from UK. Can you elaborate pl., thank you in advance. VishG
Hello VishG and many thanks for your kind comments and questions. The maximum speed allowed on Network Rail in the U.K. for a steam locomotive hauled train is 75 m.p.h. and this is the likely speed maintained in the first clip, without diesel assistance judging from the sound at the crossing and lack of any diesel smoke. Best regards, Alan
Actually, the diesel engine does nothing but provide electricity for the carriages, especially when needed at night.
This is what gives us railway enthusiasts a bad name. You should *never* go past the barriers on crossings, another train could be coming and it's trespassing.
Hello and thank you for your comment. In defense of the the onlookers at the crossing seen through the safety fence by the camera and operator, they may actually not be trespassing as you suggest. This is because the crossing is half barrier and at an angle to the track. I believe that everyone was behind a white line on the road which has since not yet been replaced after resurfacing for some reason. Regards.
No use crying over spilt coal and water. I sympathise with Britannia having to put up with poor quality coal. If I had been at the scene of poor quality coal arrival, I would have demanded a better quality heap be delivered quick-smart and then the steamy wouldn't have had any trouble. Kiss to her for her troubles.
Ładnie ta "parówa" zapieprza. Kiedy za komuny jeździłem nad morze na kolonie, to pociąg się ciągnął jak gówno po szybie. Z Wrocławia do Gdańska w 10 godzin. Teraz tą trasę pociąg pokonuje w nieco ponad 5 godzin. I co ciekawe: Te pociągi za granicą jak je widzę, są eleganckie, czyściutkie. Nasze lokomotywy to była masakra. Upaprana czarnym tłustym brudem, obciekała nie wiadomo czym na tory, no syf malaria. Na takich przykładach człowiek zupełnie traci patriotyzm, czując się mieszkańcem beznadziejnego, brudnego i popapranego kraju.
Ciekawy! Dziękuję za cenny komentarz. Pozdrawiam, Alan
Great shots despite the problems you had.
Hi and thank you for the nice comment, it is very much appreciated. Regards, Alan
a great video was great locations its certainly a sad time though what is going on with WCRC and hope that something can be agreed to see steam on the mainline for the future as its not a sight having a 66 at the front all the time
Hi C&A, always nice to get your thoughts. Thank you for the kind remarks and sentiments on the current situation. It is very interesting to view the WCRC website where they actually try to put a positive spin on this clearly disasterous situation which rather gives the impression that their heads are not in the right place regarding their relationship with N.R.! Best wishes, Alan
As we say in Merica....she's a hauling ass!. Impressive for sure. Love the huge tall drivers.
Hi and thank you for your fun & valued comments from "across the pond". Regards, Alan
And I thought Silent Movies were a thing of the past.
That was amazing she was really hauling ....just a shame about the EWS in front eh lol
Hi Stephen and thank you for your comment, glad you enjoyed the clip. Regards, Alan
Why were you and those other people stood the wrong side of the level crossing barrier? Unless there was an NR man present who said it was ok to do so, what makes you think this is acceptable?
Matt Veale Hello and thank you for your question. I cannot speak for the other people that you see in the shot but both camera and operator were behind the steel safety barrier and shooting through it. I do not condone anyone standing on the wrong side of a safety barrier, whether there be an official present or not. I hope that this answers your question.
Another superb video - thanks for posting. One question - whats the purpose for the diesel ? Is it to supply extra breaking, or motive power just in case the steamer fails (perish the thought) or what?
Hello Alistair. Thank you for your kind feedback and your interesting question to which my rather long answer is the sum of my current understanding. A diesel is provided on most (if not all) steam tours mainly as backup in case of failure and also on some tours where reversing of the train is required during the journey. The diesel can be provided in 3 different ways: 1) engine(s) strategically available along the route as on the Torbay Express and Royal Duchy (Taunton, Exeter, Plymouth). 2) A light engine running on its own path either immediately ahead of or behind the train (In the early days of steam tours, this was very common but now seems to be quite rare as the railway gets busier). 3) a diesel attached to the rear, saving a separate path and providing instant support. If the diesel is required for braking or for the majority of power (as in a fire risk), it becomes "in charge" of the train and therefore must be attached to the front of the train as in this clip and the first two runnings of the Torbay Express this year. In this instance if the steamer is kept on the front with the diesel in behind, the steamer become "pilot" and can contribute but if the diesel is placed right up the front, the steamer becomes part of the load, cannot contribute and thus demoted usually ends up blowing the whistle a lot for effect! When attached to the rear, the diesel can provide "banking" assistance when required or run with just enough power to negate its own weight but usually it will be towed as a "dead" load as in this clip. Best regards, Alan
Much obliged Alan - thanks for clearing that up.
Scrap the clip, it's got a diesel contaminating it
It would add to the watching experience if there were two men in tweed suits having a fist fight on top of one of the carriages.
I cannot argue with that Marcus! Thanks for making me smile. Regards, Alan
why is it that steam trains are alllllllllllwayyyyss have diesel trains at the back like wtf
Not always Ben, check out my latest upload; ruclips.net/video/UujizeCN5hU/видео.html where a diesel on the back may have made things a little easier! Regards, Alan
I had the pleasure of going over Shap on a full train pulled by the magnificent 46115 Scots Guardsman with no diesel on the back last year. I know there are reasons for the diesels, but it's so much nicer without.
its sacrilege having that pig iron on the front, if its got to be on the train stick it on the back, it spoils look of what the Brit was doing
Amen to that Jim, thank you for your comment. Regards, Alan
Jim Young i quite agree 66's are awful looking things at the best of times that TOTALLY destroyed the spirit of that railtour!!
I must defend the 66's but it is a tradegy to see the 70000 get towed, I also don't see why the steam engine can't power the carridges itself rather than have diesel engine at the back because it spoils the asthetic.
By maximum speed surely you mean maximum legal speed, 75mph. If a 9F could manage 90 then you know 70000 was cruising, not flat out.
Hi and thank you for commenting. My "flat-out" was an illusion to the Somerset "Levels" and not to the actual maximum speed of 70000 and in response to your comment I have slightly modified the title to make this clearer. Regards, Alan
Definateley Blowin Out those cobwebs!!!!
Why can't people just stay off the railway, even at that level crossing everyone is stood in front of the barriers and therefore 'on the line'
Soon the operating companies just won't let steam run if everywhere these engines go people act like fools and tarnishing the image of all railway enthusiasts
Hi and thank you for your comment and concern about the behavior of local bystanders at the crossing. In their defense I would urge you to take a Google satellite view of location 51.053113, -2.937497 (not street view as that is out of date in regards to road markings), you will see that the half-barrier crossing is diagonal to the line and that the non-barrier side of the road has a stop line on the road which from the angle of the shot looks like it is actually in front of the barrier. Although some may be a little in front of the road marking, their encroachment is not nearly as bad/unsafe as the footage implies. Regards, Alan
Thanks for the civil reply, I see what you mean and I suppose is not too bad.
I'm a train manager on virgin trains and my 'railway safety' brain engages when I see stuff like this - just like when people get dangerously close as my train is coming into or out of a station- it's scary stuff especially at peak times
Not nearly as bad as those I saw on Flying Scotsmans first run, we had to slow right down because of them just walking on the line
How the could "operating companies" decide who can run trains on the railway.
I really thought the railway, in general, is owned by the state, hence the companies don't decide but the railway owner does.
As a 40-year veteran of the railway, I do agree that some people have no idea whatsoever about safety, and it would be a good thing if railway enthusiast clubs would do something to make things dader, but the notion that train companies could decide who may run trains on the railways sounds like US railroad practice, and that is not what the railways nor the country nor the taxpayers needs.
Nice one.
Cheers man, thanks for the positive comment. Alan
kewl
Hi and thank you. Best regards, Alan
Needs a decent air horn
Gods Garden Railway ..
Amen to that Rick! thank you for your comment. Regards, Alan