45596 Bahamas, High Drama Over The Devon Banks ! The Royal Duchy

[@Guard_Amos]

High drama indeed. They're lucky she didn't slip to a stand. Sanders on to full effect for a probably unexpected greasy rail. Certainly no records broken. But, massive respect to the footplate crew for battling on and the loco's owning company for keeping the loco in such good condition

[@ianglasse809]

Congratulations MSV on another video masterclass. Thank you for the explanation as to the situation that confronted the footplate crew and big applause to the crew in how they dealt with it and salvaged the excursion.

[@mattseymour8637]

A brilliant performance from a stunning loco and the fact she was blowing off and feathering most of the time shows she steams really well! Well done to the crew and loco for a great performance and keeping going on a hard gradient!

[@richardsymonds5159]

A real credit to Tysley again!!

[@rodneycooperLMSCoach]

Best piece of driving skill I have ever seen in 70 years. Well done to that guy.

[@ajt7027]

A master class in video filming ! Well done Cool and professional handling of the camera whilst drama was unfolding in front of you.

[@snappymike4662]

Great memento of the day, my wife and I were on the train and at one stage up Tigley the carriage all thought the same. Lets get out and push! Great skills by the crew, well done lads.

[@christophernewton9579]

Top job 'Dinting lads' sweet as a nut and tight as a drum. Well done.

[@johnthomas5966]

Wow pretty much at the limit. Great job filming it for those of us not on the train, well done crew for not leaning too hard on the regulator and well done fitters and support for fully working sanders full of dry sand. (Not always the case)

[@FeckHallBahn]

Superb - and what a team on that footplate!! Masters of their craft. Fantastic footage too. Thank you for sharing

[@OlanKenny]

A Magnificent effort from Loco and crew. We've seen stronger, more powerful locos come undone over those banks many times so it's good to see the jub get over in one piece!

[@MarshSteamVideosTM]

Well said ! Many thanks

[@stuartbroome1258]

Brilliant video on a loco I once cleaned at Dinting, lovely to see her in action. Well done to all, and the video graphed.

[@alantoms3263]

Mightier locomotives have tried ... and failed, particularly on Hemerdon! Fantastic viewing - and driving - knowing the extra details. Thanks for sharing and it shows Jubilees can be a pretty powerful steed! Al.

[@robindeer-park5755]

Excellent Footage Thanks

[@UKBamber]

Thank you for showing what I could distantly hear from Castle Meadow in Totnes.

[@MarshSteamVideosTM]

Our pleasure!

[@stephenharper9961]

Beautiful locomotive beautiful class showing why they were so popular

[@adamc1272]

This just gave me a full-on adrenaline rush. Fantastic work by the footplate crew as far more knowledgeable viewers than I have already stated. Harold Gasson would be proud of the firing!

[@michaeltaylor1869]

Nice video of jubilee 45596 Bahamas well done great camera work as usual I am really enjoying your lovely videos and camera work keep your lovely camera work up I am really looking forward to seeing your next video bye for now Philip

[@Stockport9b]

Beautiful camera work. Bahamas runs like a clock either blowing off or feathering on the climbs. I used to be a trainee fireman on Bahamas , Warrington and Tiny at Dinting back in the early 70’s now in Canada 🇨🇦

[@stuartrutt9524]

Great stuff and superb crew control when you consider in working days the Castles were allowed 8 coaches and the Kings 10 Bahamas with 9 on shows how well the loco crew managed.

[@ericdumptee9084]

WOW! what an awesome crew,and top condition ten wheeler ! She blows her pops even while pulling a grade..CONGRATS

[@briancarson68]

Great range of shots and it was pleasing to see some slow moving action for a change. Super work as usual Mr Marsh.

[@philipizzard2584]

Nicely filmed chaps thanks 🙏 and a great recovery at Tigley also by the crew after being thrown a red signal

[@updistant]

. Great video. As good as it gets from loco and crew, Dodgy signallers pathing in front of it though.

[@peterdovey5182]

What a joy to watch, thank you so much for showing this superb film.

[@butikimbo9595]

I've not seen a video like this for a while. Simply fantastic chase to a steam tour and lovely landscape though.

[@haroldwilkes6608]

The coefficient of friction of steel wheels on steel rails under extreme conditions can fall to as low as 0.05...it requires a patient and skilled crew to overcome it and climb a grade.

[@railfreightdrivergallagherGBRf]

The one time you wish you had a diesel on the tail end! That signaller miles away in his posh air con office needs a stern talking to. Had many a red myself on steep grades and it can be a nightmare to get started, even with a powerful diesel loco. The crew of Bahamas deserve a gold medal.

[@rjas365]

Brilliant coverage of real action, thanks Liam and Phil. Talk about being in the right place(s) at the right time through experienced choices of location, none less than for the red signal. The shot at 01:43 with the long pan was excellent. Even watching this many miles away, there was a tremendous sense of achievement at Hemerdon Summit. What a demonstration of crew expertise! Kind regards, Bob

[@MarshSteamVideosTM]

Cheers Bob, triumphant in the face of adversity, a great performance and show from the crew !

[@suesmith3744]

I was willing her up that gradient , massive respect to the driver ✊🏻🚂

[@EMuksteam]

Superb video Liam and Phil. Fantastic locations. Great work by the crew. Great days filming.Enjoyable watching. Outstanding. Kind regards C&A

[@ADMIRALSCORNER]

Great coverage of wonderful action Thank you.

[@ianwarriner8193]

Excellent , bloody good boiler too 👏

[@locomotive6727]

Hi , Fantastic ,Well done crew & Great filming and locations MSV...Dave

[@MarshSteamVideosTM]

Cheers Dave, hope you're well and thanks for the comment.

[@locomotive6727]

@@MarshSteamVideosTM Hi Liam & Phil,Great videos .(I Keep taking the pills lol )...Dave

[@HenrysAdventures]

Fantastic video! I was a bit worried she wouldn't make it up Rattery but she did a fantastic job!

[@marvwatkins7029]

Great telephoto lens work. Loved seeing all the spotters on the bridge. Meanwhile, than engine had quite a workout that day.

[@MarshSteamVideosTM]

Thanks, the bridge always attracts big crowds whatever the engine.

[@peterthompson2968]

like others I was on the train. Fantastic runs by this steam loco on approach to Exeter W/bd and along the sea wall. often spare steam feathering the valves. Both footplate crews worked their socks off. 2 emergency stops , one each way, from EWS? great effort by crew and loco to restart up hill west of Totnes. More please.

[@ianbrown9108]

Thanks for another fantastic video.

[@44662dc]

What drama and excellent filming well done to the West Coast crew.

[@charlesemerson6763]

Excellent video. The ground must have been shaking as she crossed the summit at Hemerdon.

[@nigelmitchell351]

Superb panned shot to end on, brilliant.!

[@MarshSteamVideosTM]

Cheers Nigel.

[@steamisbest]

It looks as though the rules have changed, a few years ago I was on this same tour and we were held for over 5 minutes at the signal on the down hill approach to Totnes to allow the previous train to get over the bank before ours was allowed to go. We shot through Totnes and straight up the bank without a problem. The staff on the train told us that this was the norm now to prevent stalling on the bank and having to roll back to Totnes as had happened on a previous tour.

[@MarshSteamVideosTM]

This is correct and this is usually what happens, though a red light just after Totnes is near disastrous, fortunately it was dry !

[@nickhowes5348]

Clearly the signalman at Exeter panel not “with it” practically. Should be forced to do a firing turn!!!

[@spuds4t]

@@nickhowes5348 Lol NIck

[@coolepilot]

excellent work all round.

[@jenniferhamilton4833]

Fantastic video thank you.

[@davidsheriff8989]

what a wonderful video..hats off to all involved and the so many unamed workers....

[@SCO77YK]

Brilliant video for so many different reasons.

[@MarshSteamVideosTM]

Glad you think so!

[@WaverleyWanderer]

Great sound

[@Unkidi]

Fantastic' Great Filming And A Stunning Loco. x

[@MarshSteamVideosTM]

Many thanks!

[@iannicholls4791]

A great class of Loco one of Staniers upgraded castles. Stannier was a prdigy or Churchward the 2 greatest. I wonder how much input Stanier had towards the GWR KIng. The came the princess and the coronation. I have been on the route many times behind a King pulling 12, no problem.

[@7007GreatWestern]

Errrr....you actually think this is an upgrade on a 'Castle'? I suggest you take a look at this :- kzbin.info/www/bejne/iYuWapiEq72dl5I

[@jordangriswold1234]

@@7007GreatWestern Jubilee over a Castle any day. Jubilees are supreme to any Castle and anything Great Western.

[@7007GreatWestern]

@@jordangriswold1234 Thanks for sharing your objective, balanced, evidence-based analysis!

[@iankemp1131]

Well, of course they were originally downrated Castles to fit with the LMS policy of medium power locomotives (Midland traditions died hard). But the double chimney on Bahamas gives it some extra oomph and two of the class (should have been more) were rebuilt with bigger 2A boilers - those would surely have given Castles a run for their money, even after the latter were given higher superheat to match post-war coal and conditions.

[@7007GreatWestern]

'@@iankemp1131 Hi Ian. At last, an intelligent analysis!!! The LMS famously wrote to the Board of the GWR asking for drawings of the Castle Class in preparation for designing the Royal Scot Class. The GWR Board also famously declined their request! Personally, I think the GWR board should have written to their counterparts at the LMS in 1945 and asked them for the drawing for the 'Jubilee Class' instead of pressing ahead with the ill-fated 'Counties'!! You mention the fact that a Jubilee would give a 'Castle' a run for its money. I don't doubt it - quite a few Old Oak drivers thought an ex-works 'Modified Hall' almost as good as a 'Castle. It does make me laugh when you read some of the childish comments on here about a Jubilee being" better that anything Great Western" or that a Jubilee is an 'improved Castle'. The LMS intended the Royal Scot to be their 'improved Castle' - the historical record is quite certain about that.

[@titup2]

I notice that in every shot there is steam from the safety valve; the fireman earned his ride that day! Remarkable performance up Hemerdon; sure, she was working hard, but, after all, she is only a class 5 loco and I think Black 5s are limited to 7 coaches over the banks and she looked well in control the whole way up.

[@PeakBoy45143]

Jubilees are a class 6P in the BR classification, they were only 5XP under LMS. More powerful than a black 5.

[@titup2]

@@PeakBoy45143 Thanks. Still an impressive performance to haul 9 up Hemerdon without the aid of an oilcan.

[@nigelduckworth406]

@@PeakBoy45143 Weren't they 6P 5F or is my memory failing?

[@dansterland1824]

Nice to see it we no bloody diesel thing on the back sounds fantastic 😁😁😁😁😁

[@03fuzzy]

Sounds and looks lovely remember taking the kids to see it at Dinting years ago.

[@MrKnowwun]

Rattery bank section, best vid i have seen in ages gosh the crew were ace.

[@MarshSteamVideosTM]

Cheers Geoff, the Rattery section was totally unexpected and yes, full marks to the crew !

[@raiskis1]

Great stuff.

[@johnstubbington5163]

An excellent fireman was on board!!

[@gilbertfranklin1537]

The most amazing part of the journey was when they changed the cars around into a different order - still 9 being pulled, but in different positions and some changed to different colors, etc. Wonder how they did that without a siding to pull off onto? Great work - or some nifty video editing... 😏👍

[@cr10001]

If you read the description, the last shots were on the return journey. They turned the engine and I think the carriage immediately behind the engine goes with it as 'crew coach'. The rest of the train just goes 'backwards'.

[@gilbertfranklin1537]

@@cr10001 - Guess I missed that - thanks! 😉

[@cr10001]

@@gilbertfranklin1537 That's OK, quite observant to notice the change. I didn't believe you at first :) but you're right, they did change. It was easy enough to jot down the carriages as they went slowly past - red, red, Pullman, etc... and compare with the last clip. What almost foxed me was the front red carriage which (I think) stayed with the engine both ways. And it's surprisingly easy to lose count, even with just 9 coaches.

[@freespirit5680]

Beautiful engine.

[@spinningbackspin]

What a thrilling video. Would have loved to have been there to feel her roll by.

[@andykimpton7877]

Marvellous !

[@anotherluckyone]

Very good video. Thank you.

[@MarshSteamVideosTM]

Thank you too!

[@aitchee95]

Excellent clips Liam

[@MarshSteamVideosTM]

Many thanks Henry, all the best.

[@iankemp1131]

These trains are usually given a clear path, and signalmen won't normally slow a train down for no good reason, so one assumes the red light was because something had failed to clear the section ahead - maybe a diesel equally in trouble on the slippery rails and steep bank? Anyway, great achievement by the crew to keep things moving and stop the slips quickly. Agree also with the comment on good maintenance of the sanders, and likewise the fireman had the boiler nicely blowing off. (EDIT; comments further down indicate it was a slightly late service train ahead and that it would have been better if the signaller had slowed Bahamas on the downhill before Totnes rather than the 1 in 66 after it!)

[@MarshSteamVideosTM]

Usually the locomotive on the Royal Duchy has a slow descent down Tigley towards Totnes so there's plenty of distance between the service in front, this is usually the case and the worst case scenario is you're held just outside of Totnes but two be checked on the bottom of the bank is beyond ideal ! Not sure why the featured scenario played out, as its usually always avoided and the driver on the regulator pretty much drives all steam excursions up that bank without issue.

[@bailemcdowell1025]

Great video I love steam locomotives

[@keithalexander3386]

That is what we in Lancashire would "Nobbut just!" Well done that driver!

[@steveinjersey9021]

Great camera work

[@jerrylarson723]

Great Crew excellent .

[@SimonTog]

Very nice video, great sound :)

[@Quebecoisegal]

Thanks for the excellent video and gosh, she's working hard but up to it. The thumbs downers should be ashamed of themselves.

[@steamgent4592]

Now this is what I like a slow slog up the gradient!! You chaps can keep those easy 45+mph hill climbs they don't sound nearly as fun!!

[@larx4074]

Terrific!!

[@Jonathantuba]

Some great filming there - well done! That looks like some long lens you used for some of those shots - out of interest what lens and camera were you using?

[@caerphillycastle]

Excellent Liam. What happened to your Dads last shot at Burlescombe, I know his battery was low! Geraint

[@MarshSteamVideosTM]

Didn't press record lol

[@caerphillycastle]

@@MarshSteamVideosTM Ahhhhhh! It has happened to all of us, Geraint

[@paulsanderson9586]

A stalled (steam) loco does no one any favours, is there any notification of a steam loco to the remote signallers, particularly if a (wet) incline is involved?

[@jerrydowse5061]

Good point.Why no diesel on the back ?,would have been a great help...

[@cameronfane1]

there's too much steam coming out of the weasel the train will go the same seed all the way cool video from cam

[@davidguest230]

Double chimney not double headed!

[@cr10001]

That was almost painful to watch. Not that Bahamas was suffering, more that she just couldn't get the traction. I recall being behind a NZR J class 4-8-2 (also built by North British about 5 years after Bahamas) with 10 or 11 on, that took what felt like half an hour to climb the 1.6 miles of 1 in 37 from Auckland up to Newmarket, one damp morning, fighting for every inch. After that she was fine. North British built good locos.

[@johncavill1139]

well done to that driver squeaky bum time

[@stnicholas54]

LMS 45596 working hard. At 6.40 I thought she was approaching a dead stop.

[@MarshSteamVideosTM]

Close, down to a few mph at best.

[@marvwatkins7029]

At 4:00: Everybody get out, get behind, and PUSH, heave ho!

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

Look at Bahamas it’s slugging it out

[@rogerredding5269]

A bit puzzled what was it given a red signal for anyway on this seveior gradient??.

[@MarshSteamVideosTM]

There was service train which was just ahead, about 4/5 minutes and there are long signal blocks, so the control halted the train at the bottom just after Totnes, which meant a restart on the 1/66 gradient.

[@MrDavil43]

@@MarshSteamVideosTM And I bet the service train was virtually empty!

[@alanwarren2861]

Is it my imagination or does the bridge seem to jump off its foundations at 15.57 as Bahamas passes underneath?!!

[@MarshSteamVideosTM]

I think that was me putting weight on my camera as I prepared to zoom back !

[@trevorfrancis3527]

12 out 10 to the footplate crew of '496! What a bravura performance from them and their gallant steed who defied that dozy signaller. Just what could have been ahead of them to warrant a red light on that section - or was he locked in the loo? Anyway; no diesel needed on this voyage with this spirited locomotive and it's very competent crew: they are stars! Monstars!!!

[@AndreiTupolev]

1003 Paddington - Penzance which passed Totnes five minutes before seems most likely. Probably hadn't quite cleared the section

[@dieselbeema4255]

I bet the signalman won't be on the driver's Christmas Card list this year! P.S. Double headed??

[@spuds4t]

Modern SIgnal guy unaware of Steam unflexibilty/modern traction

[@nigelduckworth406]

What is/was the limit for Castles unassisted on Dainton and Hemerdon? Someone will know.

[@Rosie6857]

(Nigel Duckworth) That someone is me, a 78-yr-old steam nutter who knows absolutely everything (well, quite a lot, anyway). The limit for Castles from Newton Abbot to Plymouth was 9 , Halls, Granges and Stars 8, Kings 11. It is known that a Castle managed to get 13 up Rattery and a King 14 but these were exceptional cases due to some sort of pilot mismanagement. All these limits are pretty close to the maximum pull of the loco with boiler pressure well up. It is therefore rather surprising that Bahamas was allowed 9 on this route because the tractive effort of this class is less than that of a Hall, let alone a Castle, unless Bahamas has had its boiler pressure uprated to 250 psi instead of the usual 225. Some of the class had this modification but I don't think Bahamas has it. The good boiler and double chimney ensured that the pressure was up to the mark but even so on Hemerdon there must have been literally nothing to spare, i.e. full regulator and full gear and hope for the best. Excellently produced video - thanks.

[@nigelduckworth406]

@@Rosie6857 Many thanks for this interesting information. Being originally from manchester where I spent my trainspotting days, I hardly ever came across the Great Western and knew very little about it, So these facts are quite an eye opener. I used to see Bahamas all the time in those days. The Jubilees had a bit more TE than the Black 5s but without reference to my combined volumes, which I can't find at the moment, I thought they were bordering near to 29,000 lbs, or at least some were, hence the 6P/5F power classification. Whatever the TE was, it acquitted itself rather well outside its usual hunting grounds.

[@Rosie6857]

@@nigelduckworth406 Yes, the "Jubes" had a bit more tractive effort than a Black 5, 26610 lb vs 25455. According to my Combined Volume (a 70th birthday present from my younger brother) a couple of Jubilees were fitted with Royal Scot type boilers with 250 psi pressure but I am certain Bahamas is not one of them. Their tractive effort was 29570 lb, same as a rebuilt Patriot but still less than a Castle at 31625 lb and it's tractive effort that counts on banks like Hemerdon provided the pressure is kept up. So, well done that Jubilee. As I said earlier I'm surprised it was allowed 9. I wonder how it coped with Dainton West which is even steeper (1 in 38) but much shorter and can be rushed.

[@cameronfane1]

it looks like they will get there by 4pm full steam head

[@jamesburnside3023]

WOW is all I can say

[@parkiedel7910]

I reckon if that was a 4-6-2 it was dead. I'd want a 4-6-0 on a tough bank any day.

[@cameronfane1]

nont lot of stem going to the cinders

[@cameronfane1]

I love stam trans

[@cameronfane1]

more steam is coming out the wise

[@mickboakes7023]

Didn’t she do well. Great job by the footplate crew.

[@wam2610]

why no banker?

[@jordangriswold1234]

Because they decided not to have one to give Bahamas a challenge.

[@wam2610]

@@jordangriswold1234 this is not the way to treat 'heritage' locos, they have worked very hard during their working lives and in my opinion deserve better treatment than what we see here

[@jordangriswold1234]

What do you expect them to do when they’re taking a loco up a 1 in 42 gradient with a heavy load on? Have the regulator at half way so it wouldn’t have enough power so it would come to a stand still? Sometimes a loco needs to be worked hard because it was what they were designed to do! If BLS didn’t trust Bahamas to climb Hemerdon Bank then they wouldn’t have let her on this tour. This is about recreating experiences from the past for people to enjoy today that they may have never seen or have been lucky enough to see in the steam days and I’ll have you know that Bahamas is very well looked after and is one of the best kept locos in preservation. Having a diesel shoving Bahamas on the rear would’ve completely ripped the soul out of this tour. The crew did a fabulous job on getting her up Hemerdon and they deserve a lot of credit.

[@wam2610]

@@jordangriswold1234 to recreate this journey like back in the days of BR I am sure a 'banker' would have been provided, enough said

[@jordangriswold1234]

@@wam2610 No need for one, if they didn’t believe Bahamas could do it then they would’ve had a diesel banking it no doubt. Hemerdon and other gradients in Devon didn’t really see much banking on passenger services in steam days so this is more authentic to recreate the experience having no banker.

[@JohnSmith-pd1fz]

Interesting isn't it the way the lushest, greenest and most prolific vegetation always seems to grow alongside motorways Railway lines and roads where, if the "climate change" bollocks it to believed, the worst polluting vehicles travel up and down spewing out their poisons.

[@marvwatkins7029]

This engine is too weak for 9 full carriages on any grade or should've been double-headed.

[@stephensaines7100]

Or a helper cut in behind for the serious grades. I can't see how subjecting a beautiful but aging loco to those kinds of stress is in anyone's interest. Had that loco failed, it could put future endeavours in jeopardy.

[@cr10001]

You realise those are some of the worst main-line grades in the country and on most main lines it would have no trouble at all with 9 on?

[@edmundbrain456]

Total tosh you talk . You know nothing on the subect Best say nothing .

[@kennethhume8628]

A diesel on the back would have been handy .

[@jordangriswold1234]

Nah, a lot better without one. Let the steam loco do all the work as it should be!

[@highpath4776]

@@jordangriswold1234 An 0-6-0 from the SDR on hand can be useful for a bit of a push.

[@jordangriswold1234]

@@highpath4776 How when non of their locos are mainline registered? 🤦‍♂️ There’s no need for any banker when they have trust in Bahamas to do the job and she did it absolutely fine on her own.

[@edmundbrain456]

No it would,nt would have been a non event with a diesel in the consist .