45596 "Bahamas" brings steam back to 'The Dorset Coast Express' 01/09/2022

Описание: In a year hampered by exceptionally dry weather, and exonerable strike action, 'The Dorset Coast Express' programme for 2022 has suffered with tours being postponed or cancelled, and seldom featuring their advertised steam traction. As temperatures have begun to fall, Ex-LMS 'Jubilee' Class - 45596 "Bahamas" finally took up the reigns of the Railway Touring Company's excursion, heading to the seaside with West Coast Railways Class 33 - 33025.

Beginning out of London Victoria with 45596 at the helm, the tour would travel via Feltham to Byfleet & New Haw, where it would join the South West Mainline. From here, the 'Jubilee' would make a sprint down the SWML to Weymouth. For the return working, 33025 would lift the tour out of Weymouth, hauling the consist as far as Southampton Central. Here, a reversal would see "Bahamas" regain control for the charge back to London, working via Romsey and Andover. The role filled by 33025 had originally been scheduled for Swanage Railway based Ex-SR U Class - 31806. At short notice, due to the unavailability of other resident locomotives, 31806 was pushed into service on the Purbeck branch line, forcing its removal for the DCE.

On the outbound leg, the 'Jubilee' put on a sprint has it headed to the Solent, passing through Eastleigh on the down fast line. Overtaking the tour while it stopped in Southampton, 45596 put in a fine performance through Ashurst New Forest with 33025 providing assisstance. With Weymouth in sight, the consist powered away from Dorchester Junction on the final dash to the seaside. On the return leg of the tour, 33025 attacked the 1-in-50 gradient of Upwey bank, passing Bincombe with 45596 lending a hand. Latterly the consist is seen powering up Parkstone bank at Poole Park. Finally, with 45596 back in control, the 'Jubilee' lead the consist through Mottisfont & Dunbridge as it headed back to the capital.

Despite lower temperatures than a few weeks ago, and the ocassional rain shower in the south, the lineside in southern counties remains dangerously dry. The crew of 33025 were advised to provide more attentive assisstance, especially in the New Forest. However, fires were still a sizable issue with 45596 setting an embankment alight in the Dorchester area on the outbound leg.

All footage filmed on Thursday the 1st of September 2022.