RTC 2024

Any suggestions then? Yes it would nice to be able to switch off smaller sections of overheads, but you'd probably still need to shut Paddington in case the poor chap fell. He climbed up the girders above a train and the overhead wires. You can't leave the power on when someone is up there threatening to jump. Ideally you'd want the station partially evacuated so if he did jump, no one got to see what happens.

Lines aren't routinely shut for hours on end any more if there's no suggestion of foul play. It's in everyone's interest to get trains running again as quickly as possible. If someone has been pushed or it's suspicious the line will stay shut, but generally once the body has been recovered the line is opened again. A lot of the time is spent collecting the remains and clearing up. You also need a replacement driver and often the train needs to be checked to make sure it's safe to move back to the depot. A 100kg body being hit at 100mph makes a hell of a mess and can do a lot of damage. I've seen impact damage underneath a train three coaches back before.

 

We really are losing a sense of perspective here. Behind every 'inconvenience' is a story of some poor person who feels they have no alternative but to end it all - the bigger question is why this happening so often. We have a mental health epidemic in this country which is truly shocking.

 

All true, but... There is also a question of the nature of the response to incidents, which has shifted in balance over recent decades. The willingness (not just rail-related) of authorities to maintain closures has increased, and the willingness to get the show on the road has correspondingly declined.

 

With a consequent increase in anxiety, frustration, disappointment etc. which, although might be thought trivial by some, will nonetheless increase mental health stresses for many.

 

Anyone know why the Coast to Coast isn't steam hauled all the way from Liverpool to Scarborough anymore?
E brochure says it is but website and realtime trains saying reversal at Guide Bridge - a bit disappointed losing the climb out of Lime Street and Miles Platting

 

Looks like it could be pathing but not sure. Does seem a strange one I admit,

 

I'm guessing that it is something to do with the derailment at Audenshaw on Friday 6 Sept which is still blocking the normal line between Man Vic and Denton, meaning a reversal somewhere. Works following landslip at Hague Bar are still ongoing so can't go that way to the Hope Valley Line either.

 

Thanks for that clarification. Hadn't heard about that

 

Continuing my aerial trip around the city of York , here's one from the suburbs as 44871 shortly after leaving York station threads it's way past Grosvenor Terrace on the way to Scarborough with the Liverpool to York "Coast to Coast" railtour.
Clifton Methodist church poking out top right.


"The Coast to Coast", 21/09/24.

 

44871 on today's Cumbrian Coast Express at Nethertown and Seascale...


44871 at Nethertown


44871 at Seascale

 

Ian Riley's Class five No. 44871 works the 'Cumbrian Coast Express' 1Z87 away from Lindal Tunnel towards Carnforth and eventually back to London Euston with Steve Chipperfield driving, Fraser Birrell on the shovel and Matt Miller Guard

 

Late running 44871 seen passing Scout Green followed by the delayed main charter with 86259 Les Ross creeping past Scout Green due to the back log then later on 44871 with the return after leaving Dalton Tunnel near Lindal in Furness.

 

Here in the North West, the last couple of weeks have presented plenty of problems for mainline steam; Tornado was a no-show (again) for the Ribblehead Rambler (Oswald and Mrs W were booked to travel), Tangmere had a "serious" failure (let's hope she will be back in action asap) and the last Dalesman of the season was cancelled. If you add on that Oswald and Mrs W had a few days away in North Yorkshire where a ride on NYMR from Pickering to Whitby (ret) was diesel hauled save for Grosmont-Whitby (ret). Oswald was in need of some mainline steam. I don't often watch the Cumbrian Coast trains but it was a lovely day (for October) and I did need a steam "fix".

I ran through all the nearer (to Wistle Towers) possible locations and finally decide on Plumpton Junction, or rather where it used to be. I have never been there before but from a combination of maps, Google Earth and a sun position app it looked worth a try. Mrs W and Oswald Jnr had both gone out, Diego had arrived first thing, ate three breakfasts then "pinched" my armchair for a sleep and left just before lunch. The M6 was quite busy with traffic heading towards Blackpool but after that was relatively quiet. I arrived at my chosen spot around 16.00, the train was due at 16.48. The sun was shining, the location, an over bridge on a very minor road, looked fine and all was well with the world.

There was no-one else about so I decided to get ready and wait on the bridge. A couple of minutes later a young couple with a Dalmatian dog strolled up and joined me on the bridge, I tried to strike up a conversation but to no avail. After a bit of coming and going they were joined by another young man in a 4x4 who brought some bottles of beer to pass round (but not to Oswald!). By this time some thin hazy cloud had filled the sky, the full bright sunshine had become paler and weaker but thankfully it was still there.

Eventually RTT showed the train to be 6L leaving Barrow-in-Furness, then nothing on RTT until it passed Ulverston 4L. Not long after this 44871 could be heard in the distance, followed by silence?, then she rounded the distant curve. She drifted towards us, this was not in the plan, then the driver opened the regulator and she made those wonderful sounds that only a Black Five can. The watery sunshine did its best to light the scene, 44871 was sounding on song as she sped under the bridge and away. The chimney music continued for at least 3 minutes after she had disappeared from view, it was just a pity that the local farmer had chosen this time to drive his tractor around the perimeter of an adjacent field trimming the hedgerows. 15C, 7L & 47mph

The three locals continued to chat as they drank their beer, Oswald packed up and headed off to find a quiet spot to eat the picnic that he'd brought along (pork pie, mini scotch eggs, cold new potatoes and cherry tomatoes) - a cup of tea and piece of homemade sponge cake awaited back at Wistle Towers. A very enjoyable afternoon, but don't mention the football. As I drove back down the M6 there was a long queue of traffic on the opposite carriageway heading to Blackpool (Illuminations).

 

Very nice Ian,that area seemed to get the sun for second weekend running.

 

Cheers Henry, yes, quite soft light yesterday, but still not bad.

 

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/se...0/0200-0159?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt&toc=WR

Times are up for RTC's Pembroke Coast Express on the 20th, going via the Vale of Glamorgan line (Barry) both ways.. will be nice to see!

 

Nothing for Saturday's Hadrian yet.

 

Outward (steam from Hellifield to Carlisle): https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U29457/2024-10-12/detailed
Return: (steam from Carlisle to Milford loop): https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U29460/2024-10-12/detailed