The Cumbrian Mountain Express 22/04/17.

It depends how well proven the MN is in two weeks time? A 7P Scot is almost the equal of an 8 according to those who ought to know.
Or maybe the green snowplough will be available by then?

 

No.9 would be a good replacement if things go well at ELR Easter weekend.

 

There's still 2 weeks until this tour. depending what the problem was yesterday, that may well be sufficient time to effect a repair.

 

Sorry am I missing something, if the 7P 46115 cannot haul a train, why would the identical 7P 46100 be able to?

 

Loadings, the tour is booked for 8p power to use an 7p would mean lighter loading , not ideal if the train is heavily booked caan the operator afford to drop off 1 or 2 coaches ?, 46115 is coming towards the end of its ticket so might not be so strong, where as 46100 is only a couple of years into its ticket but i would imagine using either of the Scots will mean deisel assistance .

 

Use them both??? What a sight that would be...

 

I'm not sure why a diesel would be involved if 46115 is on the front. It went over Shap with 12 unassisted 2 weeks ago, so see no reason why it wouldn't do the same again.

 

This will be the first CME to run over the reopened S&C so I would imagine the bookings are very good. Option to reduce the load may be limited unless alternative dates are available and acceptable to a good number of customers. A defining moment for RTC and WCRC to pull a rabbit from the hat and ensure pure steam. Maybe @meltonnorth can inform as he has in the past?

 

I am not sure how WCRC are expected to extract a Rabbit from any hat, if the rule book says an 8P is required and none is available it will be up to the promoter to decide whether they want to a) pay the additional cost of an assisting diesel and crew or b) alternatively whether they want to pay the cost of an addition steam locomotive and crew, or c) drop a coach I suppose?

One interesting thing for those of us not ITK is who do the locomotive owners contract with to provide the motive power, is it WCRC as TOC or RTC as promoter as that rather identifies who the onus lands on, if RTC contract with WCRC to provide TOC services including stock and locomotive then its WCRC's problem, if they don't then its not really??

 

It is the problem of who sold the tickets to the paying customers. As we know the Customer is King! The ticket seller has to manage his provider for he then is the customer.

We have drifted into speculation. The Duchess may be fixed. Another 8P could be found. A Scot could repeat the feat of taking that load over.

 

When was the last time WCR ran a thirteen coach steam tour ? If 46100, 46115 and 46233 all become unavailable in the coming weeks, then you can expect a Jubilee and a 47 !

 

Viewed from a train passing CHC today, 46233 appeared to be having attention to the RH side outer firebox area.
The loco remains in BR green, early logo .

 

Also visible on the Crewe 3 railcam if anyone's interested.

 

Couldn't be certain if the cladding is partially removed. No news on the PRCLT social media?

 

Just received e ticket. And the loco is . . . . . 46115 Scots Guardsman and the load is . . . . 10 + kitchen + POB.

 

Got our too. Shame about the Duchess. Hope she'll be fit for GBX and the 2 CMEs in May. Not really that disappointed as it's been a while since we did SG with 12 over Shap; and a southbound run over the S&C with no slacks should be entertaining. Bit later back into Crewe but it's always a lottery on a Saturday night for us and the 2009 Cardiff.

 

I wouldn't bet on it yet. Could still be 46233. Anyway the Scot will be OK provided the TPE isn't more than about 7 or 8 late

 

Has the TPE ever been on time?