Last Time for No.9. 60009 Union of South Africa. The Torbay Express, 8th Sept. 2019
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- čas přidán 25. 08. 2024
- Having resigned myself to the fact that I will probably never see No.9 on the mainline again I was determined to capture her up close and at speed one last time. Having switched from "still" photography to video in 2001, my first opportunity to record the A4 was at Totnes in February 2002, in pouring rain! on the return leg of "The Mayflower" and having dug the file out of the archives for old times sake, I thought I would open with this clip and span the whole 17+ years of my lineside and on-board video association with this remarkable machine. We start coverage of The Torbay Express at Cogload Junction in superb weather with the A4 rushing by to make up time for a 23 minutes late departure from Bristol. Next to Exminster foot-crossing for a thrilling track-level 75 m.p.h. pass where I am lucky to miss a drenching of who know's what? from coach 7 ! and also lucky with a grab shot with only minutes to spare at Waterside Park overlooking a glorious Torbay, the local "37" assisting with the 12 coach load. Lastly to Sprey Point on the Teignmouth sea wall where, although the light is poor and rain is in the air, I am rewarded with the most impressive and fitting final pass which will live long in the memory.
Awesome video of this most wonderful loco. Great way for her to bow out in the South West. Interesting that a blue/grey restaurant coach snuck onto the consist!
Hello Ross and thank you for your kind and observant feedback, I must admit that I didn't notice the restaurant coach at all! Best regards, Alan
Superb video Alan. Rather a wet start for you. Things got better, with a fantastic performance by Union. Brilliantly filmed. Enjoyable watching of this much loved loco. Kind regards C&A
Hi folks and thank you for such nice remarks again. Note that the opening sequence was a wet night in Feb. 2002 and although the weather deteriorated during Sunday, things never got quite that bad! Best wishes, Alan
What a lovely and nostalgic video, Alan. Such a shame if this loco is not seen on the mainline again, but that comment might well apply to a number of mainline steam locos over the next few years, unless the right skills and funds are available to maintain them.
Thank you Keith for such kind and insightful comments. The good news for next year is that The Duke, S.N.G & KEII are returning to the mainline, so it's a case for the foreseeable future anyway of "loose some, gain some". Best regards, Alan
What a way to bow out, such a majestic piece of engineering. I'm not an LNER lover but I will make an exception for this lady, sheer joy to watch even with a slight eye wetness!!!! I to was a bit worried about the wet stuff emanating from No.7 hoping it was nothing dodgy. I was just getting into your 2002 vid when it split into your glorious Devon scenery, didn't no whether to be annoyed or happy!!! Top marks Alan, don't be too sad, she's had a good run.☺☹😢
Hi Bob, once again thank you for your kind and enthusiastic response, which is a pleasure to receive. Believe me, I am grateful that we have any steam at all still running on the mainline and the biggest threat to that I.M.O. is not the occasional permanent withdrawal by an owner but the possible re-nationalisation of the railways at some future date! At least we have S.N.G., The Duke and K.E.II coming back next year. Best regards, Alan
@@Steamclips Nationalization - the sooner the better, all these different companies running on someone elses track - madness. Like putting things out to contract, one sure way of losing money. I am actually amazed that there are still quite a lot of steam tours around - apart from round here!!! Just glad you're out there for us.
the first time I saw 60009 was when it was still resident on the seven valley railway
Seen this racing through Dawlish on Sunday down here for a holiday, did not disappoint managed to get a photo of the front of the loco and the end of the train disappearing boy it was quick I'm no professional photographer , it was difficult to do ,so all credit to you for your work, I waited about 1hour before it came thru ,glad it was not today Monday for me to see it its absolutely teaming it down today lol.
Hello Raymond and thank you for your kind and interesting response. Yes, today would have been weather similar to the opening vintage sequence and I can still remember the discomfort 17 years later! Best regards, Alan
Amazing video and what a glorious loco. Thanks for sharing.
Hello Morgan and thank for your kind and very much appreciated feedback. Best regards, Alan
Thanks for some amazing videos of 60009 Alan, she's such a fabulous looking A4 and will so sadly missed on the mainline ( will John Cameron have a change of heart?) What a sad & fitting end when she disappeared through the tunnel.
I'll keep this memory for ever.
We obviously think alike Paul. Thank you for such kind remarks, they are very much appreciated. Best regards, Alan
My personal favourite A4, lucky enough to sit in her warm cab a few times alone on quiet mornings at Tyseley, fully respect John Camerons decision, but can't believe Haymarkets finest won't ever return to her rightful place on the mainline..very sad.
Me to I will miss her 😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥
Fantastic Video
Hello James and thank you for your very kind and much appreciated feedback. Thanks also for your subscription.... Welcome aboard! Best regards, Alan
Ah Totnes, brings back happy memories sitting there on a hot summers day working the 'Totnes Banker' in 1959 as a 'passed cleaner 'doing a fireman shift to be told, 'they want you on the front of the up Riviera' hopefully one of these days when I'm visiting relatives in Paignton I'll have a chance to tell you the full story Alan, along with Torquay Banker. Thanks as always for sharing Happy Days atvb t ..
Hi and thank you once again for such nice feedback and reminiscences. Best regards, Alan
Superb camera work as usual! When are all the “stick it on a static tripod and just press record “ brigade going to learn the tricky but vital art of panning, and using zoom to change the framing as things move closer and further away?
Hi and thank you for your kind feedback and interesting comments about static offerings we see on CZcams, more often than not; "secondary" recordings by "still" photographers and I really appreciate your recognition of my efforts. Best regards, Alan
Yet another fine clip only to be expected from this illustrious channel (I nearly wrote "50037 channel"!) liked that opening shot from 2002 and what a cracking shot of the tunnel by Smugglers Lane to finish with! Yes I would love to see the Southern line via Tavistock reopened but you just can't beat the GWR route can you? And Thank You Number Nine indeed!
Hello David and thank you for such lovely remarks, I truly appreciate it. Best regards, Alan
Always a pleasure may I recommend Toby Trainspotter's clip of the same train at Bradford-on-Avon? Short but sweet, as the saying goes!
It was nice to meet you sprey point yesterday 👍 subscribed
Cheers Nathan
Hello Nathan, the pleasure was all mine. Thanks for your subscription, welcome aboard! Best regards, Alan
'twas awesome being behind it. Wondered what the max speed was.
Hello Philip and thank you for your interesting comment. I was on a tour behind "The Duke" in 2005 with a "last minute" decision by the onboard Network Rail inspector that the train could continue past it's planned (steam hauled) destination and continue as a re-positioning move on the E.C.M.L. to the tour's final destination. It was so fast, I was unable to film out of the door window (or even approach it!) and G.P.S. showed speeds of up to 90 m.p.h. but (of course!) the crew would not admit to more than 75 !! So the answer to your pondering is: you will never know! Sounds like you had a great trip. Regards, Alan
@@Steamclips
Many Thanks. Good answer indeed.
Philip
Excellent footage, I think it's fair to say the torbay express 2019 season hasn't exactly gone smoothly, although nothing could be as bad the Great Britain 8, still at least 60009 did what she could, and considering the proposed museum for her keeps getting rejected we may see more of her yet.
Hello Callum and thank you for your kind and interesting comments. It was a 12 month extension to the mainline boiler certificate that has kept her alive but John Cameron seems determined to lock her up with the Great Marquis in his Fife Museum and let's face it, he will save about £100K not having to overhaul the boiler! At least we have S.N.G., KEII and The Duke returning next year. Best regards, Alan
Lovely and nostalgic video Alan. Shame she's not down these parts again or that Sprey Point might get changed in the future, but might lead to an altered filming spot. What kit were you using back in 2002? Was it pre-digital then?
Hello Gareth and thank you for your kind feedback and question. I look forward to developments on the sea wall, my only concern is that security fencing might be included in the project. The digital camcorder I used back then was a JVC GR-DV2000, a really good all-rounder with excellent quality for the time. The clip here is from the original 4:3 format cut to 16:9 and therefore not of the original picture quality. Best regards, Alan
@@Steamclips Thank you for your reply Alan. Crumbs! That's some camcorder for the time, I did a search and found one article that listed it at around $2200, with a 680,000 pixel CCD, so not even one. But really good for its time. My first digital a Canon IXUS 500 could only record at 10 frames per second and for 30 seconds per clip! In stunning 640 by 480.
I did find Network Rails plans somewhere (they'd published for consultation) and I'm not sure about the fencing but I would have thought that they might do something like that - but the footpath does appear to go on the opposite side nearer the cliff and much higher up so a different vantage point. Perhaps will have to see what happens to Kings Walk in Dawlish and that will give an idea of intent.
Kind regards,
Gareth
It shouldn't ever be the last time we see no. 9. She's far too valuable to let go of. Let's hope we see her again on the main line, where she should be for many more years to come; a more fitting way to outlive her owner. Her public needs her; Main Line Steam Tours without an A4 upfront are like eating pizza without cheese. Not good, believe me.
Alan, I'm a big fan of UK steam, but observing from thousands of miles away. May I ask why this is the last time for 60009 on the mainline? Is it a mainline restriction, or is 60009 at the end of a boiler certification, or? Great video!
I believe the owner is putting it into a museum in Scotland :(
Hi and thank you for your kind feedback and question, which I think is best answered here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Cameron_(farmer) Best Regards, Alan
the owner could not agree on someone else overhauling his two locos and operating them
and,,, as he is in his 80s i think the financial and sheer burden of running them is just too much for him,, so he is putting them in his farm 2 miles away from where i live,, but he has had planning turned down so im not sure of the state of play at the moment,, it was going to be a museum and open to the public... but the roads to the farm are not really suited for the increased traffic caused by the attraction,, but the road could be altered to get better access to his farm and a farm and transport museum would do very well where his farm is located as we get lots of tourists in the area,, so we wait until an answer is found
Is this getting discontinued??
Hello and thank you for your question. 60009 will be permanently retired to become a static display in the owners museum in Fife, Scotland sometime after the mainline boiler certificate expires in April 2020. Regards, Alan
@@Steamclips the mainline boiler certificate can be renewed as it's still going strong and sturdy...
im confused is this recently or 2002
is 60009 in the nrm now
Hi and sorry to have caused you confusion. The title describes the subject as: "....... Torbay Express, 8th Sept. 2019" and in the description I explain that I open the sequence with my archive footage from Feb. 2002 in order to span my 17+ years of recording this locomotive. I hope that this explains. Regards, Alan
Steamclips is 60009 at the nrm
P.S. the the locomotive will be permanently retired to a museum in Fife, Scotland in April 2020 and there are no plans for further visits to the Southwest.
I believe it’s before retirement in 2020 Alan because John Cameron who owes that Engine And The great marquess has decided to retire his engines and put them on display
Right again Scott! Best regards, Alan
yeah alan
1:30 - dropping coal! (tut-tut)
Wow! You win the prize for the most observant viewer!! Looks like they had a very good fill of coal. Good job it didn't hit the manual points lever, that could have been interesting!! Regards, Alan