If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

The Tin Bath - 6/11/16

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by 61994, Oct 22, 2016.

  1. 34098

    34098 Member Account Suspended

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2010
    Messages:
    587
    Likes Received:
    138
    Occupation:
    ,
    Location:
    82G
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Perhaps, maybe they could only spare enough crew for two locos, without a diesel as well,
    Who knows, best not to try second guess the reasons,
     
    Big Al likes this.
  2. Waterbuck

    Waterbuck Member

    Joined:
    Apr 26, 2009
    Messages:
    851
    Likes Received:
    567
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    West Yorkshire
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    We did wonder about the return timings from Wigan but in the end it didnt look like we were put to the back of the queue as we passed 2 waiting trains outside Preston, so just 55 minutes late.
    I thought it was yet another unique tour that is the Tin Bath and was a wonderful day out, great efforts from people and Locos.
    Back in Preston 'mobile' photo attached here =
    20161106_201656 NAT PRES.jpg
     
  3. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2007
    Messages:
    35,121
    Likes Received:
    20,773
    Occupation:
    Training moles
    Location:
    The back of beyond
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer

    On that basis you may as well not leave the depot just in case. Well done to Riley's, WCRC and RTC for putting together a box free run. Obviously they have more faith in their locos than you do.
     
  4. 34098

    34098 Member Account Suspended

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2010
    Messages:
    587
    Likes Received:
    138
    Occupation:
    ,
    Location:
    82G
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Diesel you mean or is it okay to call them two kettles ?

    Where have I said I don't have faith in the locos ?

    Only thing I don't have faith in hasn't been out in a long time and hopefully the Spamcan in question is being sorted out, so people have more faith in it,
     
  5. jonathonag

    jonathonag Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 11, 2006
    Messages:
    1,589
    Likes Received:
    3,009
    Occupation:
    Railway Engineer
    Location:
    Cowdenbeath
    One point that hasn't been raised is that there were two locomotives. The majority of railtours involve a Diesel on rear have involved single headed locomotives. Should issue arise with one locomotive on the Tin Bath, there is a second that can be utilised in some form to move the railtour to a location where it isn't congesting the mainline (Be that slogging the tour up a gradient solo to the next junction, or running round and hauling train back wrong line to a more suitable point etc).

    The railtour also operated on a Sunday. While in recent years the level of traffic has increased on Sundays, there's still more space on the Network compared to the remainder of the week. Perhaps that, alongside engine reliability and the ability to have either steam loco work as rescue was enough in the risk assessment to not require a diesel?
     
  6. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2005
    Messages:
    35,446
    Likes Received:
    9,144
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired-ish, Part time rail tour steward.
    Location:
    Northwich
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Did either of these locos run faultlessly during this 'tough' six months?
     
  7. Ian Riley

    Ian Riley Part of the furniture Loco Owner

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2005
    Messages:
    2,422
    Likes Received:
    470
    Repairs and maintenance are required on our locomotives as well as other in the FW 'pool', but these are always managed to ensure 100% steam availability this season, the diesel did not venture out on Steam advertised Jacobites at all this season, oh yee of little faith!..;)
     
  8. 26D_M

    26D_M Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2009
    Messages:
    4,416
    Likes Received:
    1,681
    I am not party to the daily availability records but all the evidence suggests YES. No unfulfilled or uncompleted turns - mudslides notwithstanding.
    As I said the facts speak for themselves in terms of reliability performance.
     
  9. John Stewart

    John Stewart Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2011
    Messages:
    4,206
    Likes Received:
    2,072
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Hilton, Derby
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    We should remember that failed FTR exams usually involve something minor that would have been fixed quickly in the days of fully-equipped steam sheds.
     
  10. 26D_M

    26D_M Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2009
    Messages:
    4,416
    Likes Received:
    1,681
    Why should we remember that? Its irrelevant to today. The absence of fully equipped sheds only serves to emphasise the remarkable reliability of certain locos.
     
  11. John Stewart

    John Stewart Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2011
    Messages:
    4,206
    Likes Received:
    2,072
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Hilton, Derby
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Quite so. In full-time steam days minor faults would have been dealt with in two ways. (1) Send out spare loco and say nowt. (2) Quick fix the fault and say nowt. Today any late fault found becomes public knowledge so the fact that we have so few shows how well prepared the locomotives are.
     
    26D_M likes this.
  12. Shoddy127

    Shoddy127 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 1, 2005
    Messages:
    1,905
    Likes Received:
    330
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Portsmouth
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
  13. Oswald T Wistle

    Oswald T Wistle Well-Known Member Friend

    Joined:
    Jul 16, 2013
    Messages:
    1,332
    Likes Received:
    5,380
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    ESI Eng Manager (Retd)
    Location:
    NE Lancs
    The Tin Bath 06 November 2016 – 44871 & 45407 hauling 9+2POBs

    The weather for last year’s train was like the last day of summer; this year it was decidedly chilly as Mrs W and I arrived at Preston just in time to see 44871, having run tender first with ECS from Blackburn, run south through platform 4 and stop alongside 45407 at the head of the ECS in platform 5; a great sight. 45407 eased the stock back a few yards to make room for 44871 at the head of the train. We took our seats in coach F, 4½ coach lengths from the business end.

    Our departure was delayed for 5 mins by a late running Pendolino but at 9.14, Mick Kelly (44871) and Mick Rawlins (45407) got us away. By Euxton Balshaw Lane we were up to 60 and speed was held in the mid to high 50s on the climb through Coppull. We made a slow approach to Wigan NW (5L and dep 6L). Unlike last year we were going via Bolton which includes 4½ miles of mainly 1/94. The locos were working hard, Hindley (39), Crow Nest Jn (37) and Westhoughton (27); good sound! Very few passengers joined in Bolton so a 1 min stop meant we were only 3½L. Slow through Clifton (clearance issues?) and the inevitable slow approach to Man Vic (3½L).

    We departed RT (to the second) and “the girls” tore into Miles Platting Bank, after a ¼ mile 20 mph, ¾ (23.5) but then we stopped abruptly. (Information circulating after the Sheffield stop suggested that the brakes had come on after the (a?) driver had failed to acknowledge a cab alert (in time?) – if this was true it proved that everything works). We needed to drop back a few yards for a re-start which was unsuccessful then another couple of yards and we were away with some slipping all minor and all rapidly corrected. The weather was rapidly worsening, early sun had given way to rain as we eased through east Manchester, a blast up through Gorton (36) and to our water stop at Romiley (3½E).

    Now for the scenic bit, away from Romiley 3E, with a bit of slipping; it was raining on and off and plenty of leaves about. After a mile we were doing 33 but slowed through Marple station (6 mph) then accelerated and through Strines (31). We slowed through New Mills (2E) and were checked at the junction for a service train. Once away we accelerated through Chinley (1L & 33) up to and Chinley E Jn (RT & 35) – proper sounds from the front. We entered Cowburn Tunnel at 37 and emerged at 39. The stop at Hathersage was missed and we ran through at 55 (4E). We were 8E at Dore W Jn and held for 5 and held for a further 4 at Dore Station and passed the Jn (3L). We looked good for a RT arrival at Sheffield but were held for 8 and stopped in pl 1 (10L).

    Despite the rain, Ian Riley’s young men got stuck in; watering, dragging coal forward etc and pouring lots of sand into the sandboxes – they really are a credit to themselves and to Rileys. We were almost 4L when the same drivers got us underway. Within 2 miles we were up to 46 and then we went through Wincobank Jn (planned 12 mins stop) at 31. Elsecar was passed (15E & 51), Wombwell (15E & 52) and we peaked a shade under 60 just before the M1 crossing. Alas, too much too soon and we were stopped about ½ mile before Barnsley for 10 mins and needed a small setback to restart. Blasted through Barnsley at 19 (2E) and up to 25 at the junction and giving it plenty. The 1/50 and tight curves dropped us back to 11 but the girls were up for it we crossed the M1 at 27, Dodsworth (1E & 27) and Silkstone Common (2E & 34). We were scheduled a passing stop at Penistone but went through at 17 now 17E. The next passing stop at Stocksmoor was also missed and by Lockwood we were 59E. Could we slip through Huddersfield an hour early? No. The late running services that had given us our clear run now prevented us getting through Huddersfield. We waited at Springwood Jn for 14 min before entering the station 43E and after the briefest of stops we were away before being held at Bradley Wood Jn for 7 mins and then onto Brighouse (34E) for our final water stop and crew change. Could an earlier path be found? Control said no. In fading light and intermittent rain we waited and waited, finally (4E) we were on our last leg.

    From Brighouse it is an almost continuous 17 mile climb to the summit at Summit. By now it was now completely dark. We accelerated to the mid 30s but were checked for Milner Royd Jn, then Sowerby Bridge (RT & 36), Mytholmroyd (RT & 41). We then made an unscheduled stop (2½ mins) at Hebden Bridge where the driver change took place; Ron Smith on 44871 and Ian Riley on 45407. Once again at Hall Royd Jn we kept to the left instead of bending to the right and over Copy Pit . . . one day (maybe). We were through Todmorden (5L & 42), by Walsden the lateness had been slightly reduced and the speed crept up to 43. There then followed some sustained fast downhill running with a max of 63 south of Rochdale. The deficit was reduced to 3½L at Rochdale to 1½L at Moston and looked good for a RT arrival at Man Vic – alas it was not to be. An announcement informed us that there had been an incident (subsequently confirmed as a fatality) between Wigan and Preston which was having a knock on effect at Man Vic. We were held outside the station for 14 mins finally entering 15L.

    We left 16L. It is a rising gradient from Windsor Bridge Jn to Bolton (about 8 miles). We passed Kearsley (18L & 44) and Farnworth (18L and 43) arriving and departing Bolton 20L. As water might become an issue (it was already a long section 69 miles and there may be long delays around Wigan/Preston), one of the stewards said that we had requested a path via Chorley. I don’t know if this happened but we were informed that we would make our way to Wigan and wait in the queue; things were improving but a delay of up to an hour was likely.

    So off we went to Wigan NW with no particular urgency. We arrived in pl 1 (19L) where it was announced that we had to wait for 3 Pedolinos to pass. After 29 mins and seeing nothing head north we left (40L). There followed a stop start journey up the WCML; a brief sprint with a max of 61 near Charnock Richard and held for 7 mins at Euxton Jn. We arrived at Preston (57L).

    Ian Riley’s men quickly had the hoses out of the support vehicle only to put them away again as a few minutes later the ECS left heading for Carnforth – what water concerns? By the time they were on shed they would have covered 97+ miles.

    Thanks to all who organised and operated a very enjoyable tour; not without additional challenges this time. My admiration to the drivers who showed a mastery of their craft on what at times must have been difficult rail conditions, on severe gradients made no easier, especially at starts, by there being 2 locomotives. I think that the firemen showed no little skill; with the Riley Fives there never seems to be wasted steam but always a feather at the safety valves – well done lads! Ian Riley reported on “The Works” that by Wigan it was obvious that they would need more sand so he arranged for 1000kg to be taken in their own transport to Sheffield. This is an apt demonstration of the professionalism of Riley’s philosophy. Like the old army adage, Perfect Planning Prevents *iss Poor Performance.

    Finally, “Tw*t of the Day” goes to the supercilious man who whilst waiting at Wigan NW made a phone call, to inform his listener (and all of us in an otherwise silent carriage) of how he was being inconvenienced by someone having “topped themselves” and was now having to wait for 3 “bananas” to go past. Nice man! As Mrs W said, “How did he know it was not a child playing near the line?”

    This was my last trip of a busy and eventful year and Mrs W’s last Tin Bath (she says!).

    This was an RTC Pure Steam Production brought to you in association with Riley’s Black Fives. The part of A Passenger was played by Oswald T Wistle and that of A Passenger’s Wife by Mrs Penny Wistle.
     
  14. steam man

    steam man New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 12, 2014
    Messages:
    38
    Likes Received:
    32
    Gender:
    Male
    What a brilliant report, look forward to your witty observations, as for the loud mouth on the train, we can only hope it wasn't any of his relatives !!
     
    andalfi1 likes this.
  15. sycamore

    sycamore Member

    Joined:
    Aug 17, 2009
    Messages:
    570
    Likes Received:
    202
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Guard & Signalman (E&BAR) / Driver (HVMR)
    Location:
    Embsay or Bolton Abbey, sometimes in between...
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Lets not forget about all the additional electronic gubbins that adorn steam locomotives since BR days! I suspect a lot of FTR failures are more electrical than mechanical???!!!
     
  16. andalfi1

    andalfi1 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 5, 2008
    Messages:
    1,006
    Likes Received:
    466
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Semi Retired.
    Location:
    Haworth
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    I too look forward to your reports Mr.Whistle and you being a genteel Lancastrian gentleman, I can almost hear you uttering that phrase with an 'i' inserted instead of the *, whereas I wouldn't...;)
     
  17. AndyY

    AndyY Member

    Joined:
    Feb 23, 2013
    Messages:
    433
    Likes Received:
    480
    Ah, it hadn't occurred to me that the vowel might be an 'i' ...........................

    Andy
     
    andalfi1 likes this.
  18. Oswald T Wistle

    Oswald T Wistle Well-Known Member Friend

    Joined:
    Jul 16, 2013
    Messages:
    1,332
    Likes Received:
    5,380
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    ESI Eng Manager (Retd)
    Location:
    NE Lancs
    Thanks for your kind comments, I believe that hobbies should be fun; unfortunately many posts make the same negative points again and again and . . . On a serious note the local press named the deceased as a 58 year old Chorley man and that there were no suspicious circumstances.
     
  19. Oswald T Wistle

    Oswald T Wistle Well-Known Member Friend

    Joined:
    Jul 16, 2013
    Messages:
    1,332
    Likes Received:
    5,380
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    ESI Eng Manager (Retd)
    Location:
    NE Lancs
    I don't think I've ever been referred to as genteel before - so thanks! The word "tw*t" became much more common in these parts a few years ago, shortly after Steve Kean was appointed manager of Blackburn Rovers FC, it was usually preceded by the words useless or clueless. Good luck with your Panniers this weekend.
     
    andalfi1 likes this.
  20. Waterbuck

    Waterbuck Member

    Joined:
    Apr 26, 2009
    Messages:
    851
    Likes Received:
    567
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    West Yorkshire
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Thank you very for the reports you write, they gave me a good memory of another enjoyable day out with the 'twins'. (Im told 'he' was sat not too far from me, the tw*t in question !)
    Anyway please enjoy some memories I have here - https://www.flickr.com/photos/goldsteam/albums/72157674803698122
     
    46223 likes this.

Share This Page