Cathedrals Express 19 & 22/05/18 - 60103

Well today round a cloudy Fife, the tailgunner was certainly on the rear and from observation:

First circuit- Dalgety Bay, idling. North Queensferry, powering.

Second circuit - Burntisland, powering (quite heavily). Lumphinnans, idling. North Queensferry, powering.

Please note these are just observations, don't reflect my own personal views on if needed etc....

No shots from myself today sadly. With a dull forecast, it's been quite pleasant to instead just observe proceedings naturally. Most stations and lineside locations have had numerous enthusiasts and general public alike to watch go by, but I do believe there has been heavier monitoring of several stations by TOC staff.

 

A totally reasonable precaution / operational contingency but I hope it has nothing whatsoever to the Tornado incident, nor an NR edict, because it should simply be a risk assesssment by the TOC that determines the planning requirements.

 

That would be an unfair and complacent assumption because it is a reasonable bet that many folks have bought tickets for "the peoples engine" hauling their train, not being helped around the tour by a diesel. If it is simply SD "selling" an extra coach that then exceeds the A3s known limit it would be a tad cynical in the marketing stakes.

 

This tour had passed me by, so it was a bit of a surprise when I saw 60103 from the 22 bus on the western approach road at lunchtime.
I managed to see it on the return at craiglockhart at half 4. A decent crowd on the canal towpath, but a fair bit of shoving from the 47.

 

An amazingly large police presence about today

 

Footie now finished Henry...

 

Sorry David but its good to see that some photters from the West are prepared to travel east, Good to see you and Karl.And a crackin shot

 

Sorry Richard but good to see you again

 

A couple of nasty slips at Lochgelly on the first run Jonny

 

Any names of the plod lol

 

It would be good to hear from Steam Dreams on this. Not sure if Marcus follows Nat Pres. Whatever the reason it's disappointing especially as I have given them a plug in my column in the next Steam Dreams

 

No Steve lol and the nat pres namedropper definitely wouldn't venture over there

 

There was some slipping on the exit from North Queensferry Tunnel on the Up Line, which confirms a theory that there seems to be some contamination or slight dampness newly experienced this week, as I've experienced wheelslip while powering away from North Queensferry on the Down Line (downhill) in that spot.

 

I agree and it could be the train needed a chaperone irrespective of load, which actually enables the additional coach. The main point being, tired refrain as it may be, transparency at the point of sale. Marcus acknowledged very recently that "shoveage" causes adverse customer feeedback so we can assume on this occasion it was out of the promoter's control.

 

Marcus and the wider SD team doesn't/don't follow NatPres and with good reason - if I were a tour promoter/TOC I'd hate to constantly read the criticism/negativity that is often posted on here.

 

Doesn't follow or chooses not to engage with Nat Pres? Not sure which of these it is.

 

Any criticisms or negativity where SD has been mentioned is purely related to the vexed topic of "shoveage". Mr Robertson has recently publicly acknowledged this as a valid conern for customers and gained considerable plaudits on NP over recent months for excellent diesel-free trains with 45212 as well as for the stated commitment to doing so.

 

You are entitled to your opinion. I merely explained why I disagree with it.