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The 'Angel of Bedlam' Railtour '1Z78/79' to the Mendip Quarries and Cranmore(ESRly). ..11 February 2012..
This Railtour from London-Paddington used Class-59's usually used on Stone traffic out of the Mendip Quarries.Whatley is via Bedlam-Tunnel-hence the tour name.Today however on the '11 february 2012' 59204 and 59001 took this passenger tour into the yards at both sites.It also visited Cranmore on the East-Somerset-Railway to allow the passengers a brief trip behind steam on the railway there.Much work was done by Railtrack to clear the line from Whites-Crossing nr Merehead to Cranmore.Not before time as it had been becoming very overgrown and almost impassable! These pictures start at Frome on the inbound leg and end as the sun was almost set at Wanstrow as the Tour was heading back to Paddington.A good day was had by all! Me in particular!
The final shot of the day.59204 moves along the Merehead line heading for East-Somerset-Junction and then Paddington.59001 had been dropped off at Merehead so it was now the sole locomotive again.The train, now '1Z79' passed this point at Wanstrow at 16:50 with the sun sitting right on the horizon.5 minutes later and it would have gone.After it passed so was I!
..11 february 2012..
Despite its booked departure time from Cranmore being 15:35 it actually left at 15:44.59204 was the lead-loco but it was decided to 'do' the shot that was supposed to be the i/c one.It is actually better for the light as it had moved round to a nice angle.So here is 59001 DOR slowly moving away from me at a speed of about 5mph! Note the heavy logging that was necessary to return this line to traffic. Network-Rail must have spent £1000's to make the line active again for this tour.Lets hope a few more come this way soon.
..11 february 2012..
After 59001 had cleared the points at the Station 59204 was able to shunt the '12th' coach into the now clear side track for the resident shunter to take away down to the workshops.59204 can then rejoin the tour(Now '1Z79') for the return leg via Merehead to Paddington as the Train engine.
..11 february 2012..
59001 re-enters ESRly property as it brings the Tour back into Cranmore to collect the passengers in readiness for the next leg of the Tour.
..11 february 2012..
Whilst the Railtour was parked back on the approaches to Cranmore,the rear engine 59204 did a shunting move and seperated the rear coach from the tour consist.This 12th coach was a Mk-1 Buffet that was effectively being delivered to the workshops at Cranmore for overhaul.After the train moved back into the station in readiness to depart it was shunted past it and collected by a resident diesel shunter.
..11 february 2012..
Having run round its stock in Cranmore platform the ex-GWR Valley-Tank 5637 is seen starting away for a trip down the line to Mendip-Vale just a few miles away.There is nothing like temperatures around 0 degrees C to really enhance the smoke effects!
..11 february 2012..
5637 again! Do not often do steam so a 2nd bite at that cherry was not to be missed! Particulary a sunny-snowy scene like this one.
..11 february 2012..
After all the passengers had vacated the Tour-Train it reversed back past the boundry of the ESR to allow the resident steam shuttle to access Cranmore Station.This was hauled by an ex-Barry restoration 5637,a 0-6-2T of GWR origin.Here it is viewed approaching the platform putting on a good display for the masses.
..11 february 2012..
59001 shows off its 'Ice-Cream Van' livery standing at the head of recently arrived '1Z78' from Paddington via Whatley.Cranmore is quite a pretty station,such a pity these railtour visits are few and far between!
..11 february 2012..
59001 with '1Z78' stands parked at Cranmore.Just the first 4 or 5 coaches were on the platform so quite a few people on this 11 coach excursion had a fair walk to detrain.A light dusting of snow was still evident even by the middle of the day making for a nice wintery feel to the picture.
..11 february 2012..
'1Z78' with 59001 stands at the 'End of the Line' as far as Network-Rail are concerned.From here it is East-Somerset-Railway track.One of the many NR/DBS staff that were present stands having a chat with the driver about the next move.Various telephone-calls,point clipping and token exchanges were to take place before it moved off the enter Cranmore Station proper. Note how clear the track is now.6 weeks ago the track was invisible from this viewpoint and virtually impassable to trains! Good Job--NR.
..11 february 2012..
Despite being pretty much on-time at East Somerset-Junction the working made exceptionally good time and actually appeared here on the approach to Cranmore nearly 30 minutes early!Consequently this is a bit of a grab shot across the still partially snowy fields as I had no time to get to my pre-planned position! 59001 with its mixed rake of Mk-1 and Mk-2 coaches in either Blood&Custard or GW Choc-n-Cream with a just visible 59204 are moving very slowly probably in deference to the poor track conditions.
..11 february 2012..
After visiting Whatley (No shots there due to the total lack of access and permanant shadows) the next port of call was to be Cranmore on the ESR.59001 which was attached at Whatley led from Frome.Here it is seen passing Witham-Friary slowing for the junction to take the freight-only line past Merehead to Cranmore.
..11 february 2012..
'Vale of Glamorgan' 59204 heads the morning 'inbound-1Z78' leg of this tour from Paddington going firstly to Whatley Quarry.Train was just the one engine at this time.59001 would be collected at Whatley.Working seen approaching Clink-Junction at Berkley-Marsh nr Frome.