LMS 45699 Galatea The Pennine Limited 3/03/18.

Not seen a thread for this . Short clip of 45699 at Bolton Le Sands .

 

Good stuff Steve as ever.
Anyone able to say whether steam leg includes Copy Pit? Sometimes switches to diesel traction at Milford Jcn on this sort of routing.

 

I think so.......
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55028/2018/03/03/advanced

 

Given that a Class 47 at 128 tons is worth a 3.5 coaches the full load of 12 coach equivalent is a good load for a Jubilee; whilst the 47 is primarily used for heating purposes its secondary value as an "assisting loco" tends to be the basis for the (false) assumption that its presence in the train consist has no weight.

 

Taking no chances, I suspect, with Miles Platting, Hope Valley and Copy Pit amongst the challenges as well as ETH reliability preferred. Right call but a shame it needs to be so, and not explicitly advertised as such when it was probably planned from the outset is not good practice either.

 

It's going via Moorthorpe and Wakefield Kirkgate, not Milford.

 

I think we should be grateful NR let either trip operate today with all the other issues they have not worry about currently, not what or may not be assisting

 

So it does, my mistake, brain fade. Looks like a changeover at Blackburn perhaps.

 

I've just noticed two things

Moorthorpe 1302 Ollie ; 1306 Galatea.

This train is the first one over Copy Pit today!

 

Totally agree although I do think the assisting loco will have been in the operational plan from the outset, correctly so.

 

Managed to make it far as the station to see this go through, 20 minutes down by Sheffield, cue a dozen enthusiasts running half way down the platform, slow down as realisation dawned, then a collective "oh bugger" as they realised it wasn't stopping after all!

 

Actually, diesel was only decided yesterday, primarily for heat but also performance (and cutting w-stop at Romiley), given the weather; 9 would have been ok in other circumstances.

And, yes, I was observing at Hathersage as, thanks to Northern, I couldn’t join it elsewhere!

JS

 

Interesting at Brighouse. It was allowed in ahead of the Leeds-Rochdale unit. I was expecting it to be held before Mirfield. It will now have to run early all the way to Blackburn.

 

Monopodmans video of it. Performing superbly this morning, not just as good on the return but still great to see.

 

Climbing to Copy Pit


https://www.flickr.com/photos/48546196@N06/26723659998/in/datetaken/

 

Footage of 45699 storming up the last few yards to Copy Pit summit this afternoon.

 

We keep reading about "assisting loco" being there for heat. However, unless I'm mistaken, aren't the WCRC steam tour coaching rakes dual heated? Which means the steam loco is capable of providing heat itself.
It's happened in the past on rare occasions. Having to drag over 100 tons of 16 cylinder Sulzer for the purpose is a bit over the top.

 

Probably due to 'uncertain' weather conditions, as insurance.

 

With the exception of a few of us mad enthusiasts, (and after an unheated Salisbury-Yeovil and back before Xmas I may no longer be in that category) heat is VERY important to all the passengers. Not a day to rely on steam heat I would suggest.