WITH FULL REGULATOR LOCOMOTIVE PERFORMANCE THEN AND NOW
AFTER I had written the last column, I realised just how much work No. 34067 Tangmere did in the mid 2000s period. It always seemed to be out on the main line, and not just back on its old Kentish haunts, but on South Western lines as well.
Therefore, in the absence of any reports of current main line trips since my last column, I thought I would look back to some of the high quality work done by this much missed‘marmite’locomotive. It was either loved or hated – by the locomotive crews, as well as enthusiasts.
In the right hands, it would steam and run freely, possibly more freely than the rebuilt locomotives and was a match for them uphill. Ex-Nine Elms fireman Pete Roberts was one of those who knew this locomotive best, as you might expect, and he features once again in these pages. All of the runs this time were timed with a stopwatch, but over routes I know well – I don’t suppose the speeds are far adrift from those obtained by GPS.
Good work with a heavy load
On Wednesday, August 1, 2007 had charge of a Kensington to Weymouth Steam Dreams charter hauling the 11-coach green train, plus Class 37 diesel No. 37248, which stayed quiet most of the time and would be used to take the stock to Yeovil Junction for servicing, as was the practice at that time.
