Forum Topic

Steam Train Heard

Did anyone hear the familiar steam whistle of a steam locomotive in Ealing around 6pm today (Monday 5 Sep). Wonder what it was?

Darren Halford ● 5327d10 Comments

Yes you are correct, I was lucky enough to be on the Atlantic Coast Express that weekend.We started at Waterloo with Tangmere & Britannia, but it should have been a "King Arthur Class" called Sir Lamiel, 30777, but the engine was rather over enthusiastically fired, and as well as setting fire to most of the rail network it travelled over to get to Southall, it damaged the ash pan.Then Tangmere failed outside Taughton, so we had a Diesel (class 47) behind and Britannia on the front. Two days in Cornwall, Plaistow, Newquay, etc, then return trip with Diesel & Britannia.The operator is Steam Dreams and they basically do trips almost every weekend to somewhere.

Pete Aron ● 5323d

Thanks for the tip-off about the Goodyear blimp. I wonder if it still parks overnight at the Fairoaks Airfield near Chobham.In the meantime ...here is Tangmere moving around the grassy sideings at Southall.

Jim Lawes ● 5323d

Is over Ealing centre now. (17:30).

Mark Law ● 5323d

Enjoyed the film of Nunney Castle with carriages passing  through Drayton Green (Halt) on Les Bailey`s photostream.Watching a Castle beating up towards Hanwell and the Wharncliffe Viaduct was a favourite from Jacobs Ladder or the old milk platform at West Ealing.Jim, Noticed the Goodyear Blimp heading south towards Brentford just before seven this evening roughly following the South Ealing Road.http://www.goodyearblimp.com/cfmx/web/blimp/

Robert Darke ● 5324d

Picture of the action this past weekend by "my contact" Les Bailey on Flickr.

Jim Lawes ● 5326d

http://www.uksteam.info/tours/trs11.htmThe calendar of Steam Events on the above website suggests that was a 3 day event called tyhe Atlantic Coast Express..and as stated 34067 Tangmere and 70000 Britannia were linked to the convoy of coaches.There are pictures of the action in cyberspace and a video too.

Jim Lawes ● 5326d

Coincidentally looks like 34067 Tangmere and 70000 Britannia operated from Southall to Greenford via Drayton Green and back on Saturday. This type of movement is usually to turn the engines around due to a lack of turntables.                                                                                                        t0903p.htm(Would be nice to know in advance even if not GWR)

Robert Darke ● 5327d

The first steam engine to be built since the 1950s - Tornado - is currently housed at Southall Station as its got pleasure runs from London over the next few days.No doubt it was Tornado that was hooting. It you see it you'll know it's Tornado if it's painted green.

Eric Alan Leach ● 5327d

I was driving towards East Acton and only caught a quick glimpse of a large shiny black engine and a carriage possibly painted in GWR colours moving slowly alongside Old Oak Common Lane towards Willesden Junction at about 1930 last night. It could have come from either Acton Main Line or South Acton.

Chris Bell ● 5327d

There are still some hidden away engine sheds in the London Borough of Ealing where enthusiasts lovingly maintain various Steam Engines that still earn a living by pulling passenger filled coaches around the south of England.They leave their carehome in the backwaters of Southall and zigzag their way to Victoria or Waterloo for the days work...and then ease home again for a clean up and a nights rest.The Chiswick Forum often has threads showing videos and pictures of these trips passing by..thanks to the efforts of Ian Wylie and Richard Jennings.Unless, of course, it was a Special Excursion from Bristol!

Jim Lawes ● 5327d

Yes indeed..... Heard it too, was in the garden in Northfields..... Was it a steam train - where was it going I wonder??

Samantha-Jane Hunt ● 5327d