Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express 2016

I guess the question with 46115 is the same as was raised about 45699 a few weeks back: it's a little while since she last did any work, and this is "winter maintenance" season, so is she in one piece and ready for the road?

IIRC, 45699 was passed for the coast route last year? Mind you, I'm not sure the tighter ORR load limits would let her take the WCME load by herself. Could Carnforth depot and the support crews turn out the 5+5XP sisters on consecutive days, or is that too much to ask? Then again, if they've got to turn out 2 locos, why not use 46233 Carnforth - Carlisle as booked and paid for, and the 8F around the coast? 48151 could go light to Carlisle early on, and 46233 could drift back over Shap later, loop-to-loop if needs be.

 

Galatea did go round the coast last year Ralph on the 16th of September but must admit it did go the other way !

 

I've a photo of 46229 on the Coast line near Millom from some time in the late 80's / 90's in the southbound direction. Not sure if it travelled between Carlisle and Maryport, but seem to remember it may have only been one way. But that would suggest a Princess Coronation could fit.

The 8F did one of the Cumbrian Coast runs in the same format in 2014. Maybe a different story for the 2016 climate though?

 

Galatea also went south on 30th May.

 

46229 went southbound on the coast route on 11-8-82 but took over the train at Maryport having come from Carlisle with just support coach.

 

Yes, just found that one online. That wasn't the one I was thinking of though.

10th October 1992 was probably it - 46229 - Workington to Bradford. The rest was a 47.

(Source: http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/90s/921010sl.htm)

The '82 trip would mean 46229 has traversed the full length of the line if it ran light from Carlisle.

 

The 8F has gone up Shap and back round the coast at least once, 14-6-2014.

 

Presumably on a path that woulden't have seen a 390 biting at it's heels running at 50MPH though...

 

IIRC it was the normal Northbound path that the Cumbrian Mountain Express runs to. However, we were looped at Grayrigg and Penrith and ended up something like 30 late (possibly more) into Carlisle. Super climb of Shap though!

 

Has no one mentioned 46100 on here ?

 

Not on 75mph timings it hasn't and 1992 was a long time ago, structural changes and deep ballasting would have done a lot to the coast route since 46229 went round there.

 

Another possibility, provided she's not being worked on and that enough support crew are available. It's up to 3 days away from base: light Crewe - Carnforth, the tour itself, light back home. In the past, Loco Services have not often been able to arrange support crews at short notice, but maybe that is changing?

I'd expect RTC to wish to honour their commitment to PRCLT as far as possible, especially after the Duchess made way for FS last week.

 

Pity it can't be revised to Crewe-Carlisle and return over Shap both ways. Should be able to fit that in close to the original timings. Much more fun that the dire crawl around the Coast.

 

I would suspect that was something to do with the very tight clearances north of Aspatria (or Spatri as they say up there), that was also over 30 years ago and the network seems to be shrinking all the time (NR need to be more careful what they wash it in!) so I would be surprised if she fitted now. Plus won't there be stewarding issues if they take mk 1's round there as don't all windows need to be manned - unless they can substitute some mk2's at short notice?

 

To be fair its beautifully scenic, albeit a little pedestrian at times?

 

All the better to enjoy the beautiful scenery

 

NR permitted TWO steam specials in close succession to take on Shap not long ago... Besides, how does a slow steam special differ from a heavy freight?

Of cause, two way over Shap and you could just stick the electric loco on the back!!! Where you service the train at Carlisle could be a different matter however...

 

Bloody hell I feel sorry for the staff at Carlisle station, they have already had weeks of rail replacement buses and disgruntled passengers going north and east, now the Tyne Valley line is fixed and immediately replaced with the S&C being shut, they must have had dogs work the last month or so.