70000 - Cumbrian Fells Express - 30/05/2015

Not to long to go now. Interesting to note that, Steam Info, are reporting that, N09 could be in the frame.
Are both locos even remotely steam worthy at this time ?

Timings

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U50715/2015/05/30/advanced

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U50716/2015/05/30/advanced

 

60163 will probably be back together by then... but with running in, test runs etc its looking a little improbable.
Dont know about 60009....

 

I can't see 60009 running non stop Barton to Appleby without a water stop.

 

Won't 60009 need running in and at least a test run as it hasn't run this year apart from a LE has it?

 

Anyone from the A1ST on line? The lack of updates on the website about the engine does suggest there's no chance of it making the 30th May, or even the 2nd June. We've paid a lot of money to book those trains. Pathfinder have form for not cancelling if locomotives are not available and running trains diesel hauled which has cost me big time. I hope UKRT will postpone the 2nd June because there's no suitable alternative for Tornado on a tour described as TWO 'EAST COAST LEGENDS' COMBINE TO MAKE THIS A TOUR NOT TO BE MISSED.

 

Possibility of 70000 on 30th May vice 60163 if unavailable?

 

Lovely engine though she is, hardly an 'East Coast Legend' !

 

Is the East Coast legend day 2nd June? Quite agree it should be rescheduled if the advertised format can't be provided.

 

Was mooted as being a 13 coach train. don't think they'd risk the Brit on that heavy a load over Grayrigg and Shap unassisted. It would also have no chance of keeping the schedule outlined on RTT let alone making it to Appleby on one water stop.
Anyone know if No.7 would be available for 2nd June? The SD train has been cancelled to be rescheduled so seems like it will still be up north. Meets the East Coast Legend criteria.

 

No. 7 is currently out of gauge for the Whitby branch, so is marooned at the Moors for the time being.

 

No news update on the A1ST website. Looks very much like 60163 will not be running this train, nor probably the 2nd and 4th June.

 

I really do hope that this assessment does, in the event, prove to be without foundation. It is, after all, based on an inference that no news (about the progress of the overhaul) is bad news. But in this context its worth pointing out that the most recent update on the A1ST website, reflecting status as at 22nd April, occurred prior to a Twitter update relating to a steam test on 28th April. So clearly not everything that has been going on has been captured and published on the website as yet.

Echoes of the concern about too much premature pessimism have been better expressed elsewhere on the Steam Traction forum earlier this month:

I'm booked on this one - probably the last decent opportunity I'll get for main line steam for some months to come - so I have to be optimistic that this one will come good. And I hope for Pathfinder's sake, too, that, that something positive materialises over the next few days. Their last main line steam venture foundered with Nunney's FTR failure prior to the Marches Castle trip last November. The last thing I would wish to contemplate is the kind of diesel substitution that became necessary on that occasion.

 

UKSteam has 60163 unavailable for the 4th June, 35028 substituting, so no chance for this train either I guess.

 

It could be difficult finding a sub for 60163 on 30 May for the reasons already stated, i.e. the planned run from Barton water stop to Appleby, which presumably would be a challenge for any other loco. Steam could end up starting further north I guess, or run into Carlisle for water and be truncated on the southern leg?

 

http://www.a1steam.com/index.php?op...rhaul-over-run&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=123

 

Indeed, splendid news too that 70000 is standing in on 30th May - don't see enough of it up north! Scot round the coast same day as well.

 

Yes, 2012, was the last time,70000,was over, Cumbria, I think. Be interesting to see if the tour gets re-timed, due to the lengthy running between, Barton & Appleby. I suppose that god awful, Class 66, will need to go along, to provide assistance up, Shap.

 

Thanks for that, and interesting to read those dates for 60163 on the Torbay Express. Was there not some doubt expressed about Britannia's water capacity over the distance between Barton and Appleby though?

 

Is it a 5,250 gallon capacity on 70000 ? If its a dawdle with a gentle shove from behind thatll go quite a long... If she has to flog 13 coaches unassisted and run to a tight schedule ?....

Hmmm Roller bearings; not necessarily a panacea....