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The Aberdonian - 2019

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by Steamage, Mar 4, 2019.

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  1. Steamage

    Steamage Part of the furniture

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    I thought this tour deserved a thread of it's own. Quite a significant one, I think, being the first return trip to Aberdeen with a steam loco for quite some time, as well as Tornado's 2nd mainline trip since last year's failure. I hope the reinstated TT at Ferryhill is ready for action :)
     
    Steamage, Mar 4, 2019
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  2. Bulleid Pacific

    Bulleid Pacific Part of the furniture

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    So do I. Its a stretch of line I've yet to do. Hopefully the details will emerge over the next few days.
     
    Bulleid Pacific, Mar 5, 2019
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  3. 1020 Shireman

    1020 Shireman Part of the furniture Friend

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    A Scottish friend told me on Saturday that they're sure the turntable has been weight tested and is therefore ready to go. These on the Ferryhill Railway Heritage Trust website showing the rotation of the turntable in Jan 19 and also the tamping operations of the newly laid rails leading to the turntable in Dec last..

    http://www.frht.org.uk/images/video's/Turntable Manual Rotation Test.mp4
    http://www.frht.org.uk/images/video's/tamping 11-12 18.mp4

    This on their twitter site dated March 3rd. Getting there....but not many days to go. More piccs https://en-gb.facebook.com/FerryhillRHT/

    [​IMG]
     
    1020 Shireman, Mar 5, 2019
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  4. W.Williams

    W.Williams Well-Known Member

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    Screenshot 2019-03-05 at 17.30.22.png

    It's looking highly promising.

    No.9 due to make an appearance on may 1st and 5th also!
     
    Last edited: Mar 5, 2019
    W.Williams, Mar 5, 2019
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  5. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Quite a lot pivots (sorry about that) on the turntable being ready but as you say, it is looking good and that is excellent news for this trip and subsequent visits to Aberdeen. I am also quite interested in the first trip to Aberdeen, that'll be Tornado, as it will reveal:
    - the precise route that it will take
    - the path that is secured. (It's a busy line)
    - whether the train can be shunted at Aberdeen without the need for a diesel to be there (or with the train).

    Having said that, new steam routes are few and far between and this is potentially one.
     
    Big Al, Mar 5, 2019
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  6. AnthonyTrains2017

    AnthonyTrains2017 Well-Known Member

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    Wouldn’t Mind living in one of those house
     
    AnthonyTrains2017, Mar 5, 2019
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  7. W.Williams

    W.Williams Well-Known Member

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    It's pretty exciting, but there can't be many routes to choose from?

    It is a busy line and it doesn't have a lot of loops, plus that shunting question at the end, I think Id be surprised if there wasn't a diesel...
     
    W.Williams, Mar 5, 2019
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  8. Bulleid Pacific

    Bulleid Pacific Part of the furniture

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    The minor issue is whether it goes via Tay Bridge (as advertised) or Perth (my suspicion is that it'll end up going this way). Would prefer the former to get it done, and it would allow a bit of line-bashing with 60009 in May.
     
    Bulleid Pacific, Mar 5, 2019
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  9. jsm8b

    jsm8b Part of the furniture

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    Both 1st & 5th May (RTC / SRPS ) are advertised via Ladybank and Perth.
     
    jsm8b, Mar 5, 2019
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  10. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    Excuse my ignorance but which bit is a new steam route?
     
    Spamcan81, Mar 5, 2019
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  11. W.Williams

    W.Williams Well-Known Member

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    Is it not the case that the last loco to use Ferryhill Turntable was Blue Peter in 1992?

    I had head that. K3 or 4 had used it, or a B1, but that was unofficial? Anyone able to substantiate any of that?
     
    W.Williams, Mar 5, 2019
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  12. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    If a K3 used it after 1992, that'll be the best kept secret of the preservation era. :)
     
    Spamcan81, Mar 5, 2019
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  13. jsm8b

    jsm8b Part of the furniture

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    61264 on 30/9/00 probably on the Inverness to Aberdeen trip , I don't recall any return trips to Aberdeen with a single loco since then.
    60532 hauled the Aberdonian north and south 0n 21/8/94, can't recall if there were any between these two.

    Scott
     
    jsm8b, Mar 5, 2019
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  14. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Nice one.....:)As you know the route between Edinburgh and Aberdeen has only been possible in one direction as the full circuit would have to take in Inverness and over the Highland Main Line. Not certain that any paths exist now between Aberdeen and Inverness. So what the turntable at Aberdeen gives Scotland is an out and back route from Edinburgh to Aberdeen, or Perth to Aberdeen for that matter.

    By 'new route' I mean something you can do in a day from the centre of population to a destination. Perhaps I am overstating its importance but I think it is a significant development.
     
    Big Al, Mar 5, 2019
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  15. KRM47827

    KRM47827 New Member

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    Charters are very hard to path via Elgin but Sundays are fairly easy if you pick the right times of day. Monday to Saturday is ok for diesel but still very tight. Will see if capacity improvements on the southerly end aid this in any way as Inverurie to Aberdeen is blocked for a few months from May. If the service increases as is suggested though the paths for charters may go again.

    Steam would be harder whatever day you picked although I'd say ok on a Sunday. It'd be a Landcruise no doubt though as can't see anyone organising a day tour along there given the lengthy ECS runs required and steam moves on top.
     
    KRM47827, Mar 5, 2019
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  16. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    Ah, you're talking recently then. As I did Edinburgh - Aberdeen and back in '73 with 4498.
     
    Spamcan81, Mar 5, 2019
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  17. Bulleid Pacific

    Bulleid Pacific Part of the furniture

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    As suspected, new edition of Tornado Telegraph states that Tay Bridge a no go due to weight restriction. Aberdonian going via Perth.
     
    Bulleid Pacific, Mar 7, 2019
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  18. Kylchap

    Kylchap Member

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    All the Tornado "Aberdonian" tours will be operated under the WCRC umbrella. The tectonic plates are moving.
     
    Kylchap, Mar 7, 2019
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  19. KRM47827

    KRM47827 New Member

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    Diesel charters have mostly only been permitted top and tailed over the Tay Bridge ever since I can recall. Sadly that does mean not all bigger steam locos will be ok to cross even if gauging is ok. Losing that on the route is a big blow for the marketing of any train usually but imagine steam return trips to Aberdeen are so rare it'll not put too many off on this occasion. Were it a diesel job then it'd be a bigger issue.
     
    KRM47827, Mar 7, 2019
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  20. Bulleid Pacific

    Bulleid Pacific Part of the furniture

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    46115 did it in 2012 with a 37 on the back on the way to Inverness. Unfortunately we decided to stay in Perth as it proved impossible to get from Edinburgh to Glenrothes in time for the departure, and I wasn't driving. Sadly, I think it'll be another gap like Talerddig on the steam map, but having said that, you never know what's around the corner with these things.
     
    Bulleid Pacific, Mar 8, 2019
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