LE movements, ECS and test runs 2025

Nunney is heading for Preston again, must have enjoyed yesterday’s run.

 

5029 Nunney Castle crossing the Ribble with the return to Crewe on 19/6/2025

David

 

Hauled by 37.521. Unfortunately, no sign of Nunney Castle. <BJ>

 

I'd assume that the railtour tomorrow will be diesel hauled then? Or Braunton might be allowed to pull it, heavily assisted.

 

UPDATE: A report on uk-rail suggests 37.521 hauling Nunney Castle and support coach

 

Phew what a relief! Booked train tickets to come down to Dawlish to see Nunney Castle. Would have been such a bummer if it had ran Diesel Hauled.

 

Nunney Castle sandwiched between support coach and diesel passing through Temple Meads a short while ago:

 

That probably gives us an indication as to how tomorrow's tour will operate as well, since weather conditions will be about the same.

 

I would expect steam on the front for the tour tomorrow as it's just a question of adding it to the front at Taunton. Much easier than sandwiching it between a diesel and the train.

Totally pointless exercise if you ask me anyway. In the current conditions pure diesel haulage makes far more sense. Steam locos were built to work, not look pretty on the front of diesel trains.

 

Some people who have paid to travel might disagree, I certainly would. They might expect extra effort for the train to look the part on their special day out than for the stock movement.
Would putting the castle on the front materially increase the fire risk?

 

Possibly, but Nunney has the support coach too. They can't have that in front of the diesel, that will need to go behind. It may be easier at Taunton for the diesel that brings the train from London to uncouple and head off to the yard all day. The whole consist from the photo above, still intact, then just reverses onto the train to take it onwards to Kingswear. We'll have to wait and see!

 

The steam loco on the Kingswear runs does not bring a support coach with it. It just travels light engine from Bishops Lydeard and backs onto the front of the train. This may be to save having to propel a support coach or it may be that as there are no water stops en-route they feel they don't need one. Interesting to note however that when the train arrives it always includes two brake vehicles, one of which may act as a temporary support coach. I saw a video earlier of the stock coming down from Crewe to Southall and this was indeed the case. 12 coaches including 2 brakes with a Class 57 on each end.

 

I bet the scaffolder on that project thought all his Christmases had come at once!

Tom

 

It's been so long I've forgotten what the roof actually looks like at Temple Meads!