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West Highlander Steam Express (3/9 - Day 1)

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by 42626, Sep 2, 2010.

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  1. Guest

    Guest Part of the furniture Account Suspended

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    Farce or not, I have no objection to spending a day in Oban - sun, seafood from the "Green Shed" with Calmac ferries (and free wi-fi) next door and then a top n tail run to Crianlarich. 61994 is apparently too heavy for a bridge here and there on the Oban road - so they are coupling her on the back.

    Good job we are 09.53 away tomorrow - I've had quite enough of this 05.30 nonsense.

    Looks like a storm is blowing up from the west though!

    Yes - I do think there will be a careful analysis of this tour - commercial sales cannot override physics, and I have never seen a loco simply stop with no trace of a slip at that point against full boiler pressure. Immovable object - resistible force
     
    Guest, Sep 5, 2010
    #21
  2. middy

    middy New Member

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    Any news about train leaving Oban??? Stood waiting at Glencruiten crossing
     
    middy, Sep 5, 2010
    #22
  3. dalrypaul

    dalrypaul Guest

    dalrypaul, Sep 5, 2010
    #23
  4. Dan Cross

    Dan Cross New Member

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    Just had a text from a friend aboard. He says that they are now in Crainanlarich after Great Marquess rescue 6hours late and should take then to Glasgow but have now run out of coal!
    Looks like being a late night!
     
    Dan Cross, Sep 5, 2010
    #24
  5. Dan Cross

    Dan Cross New Member

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    Diesel now taking them onto Glasgow after some intensive shunting to get the stock back in right formation.
     
    Dan Cross, Sep 5, 2010
    #25
  6. DUKE71000

    DUKE71000 Member

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    Left oban at 20.41, 6hr 23mins down & off crianlarich at 23.39 7hr 2min down.
     
    DUKE71000, Sep 5, 2010
    #26
  7. 5944

    5944 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Stalled on climb up to Glen Douglas as well, but managed to get going again. According to Alberta, "one of the single most brilliant performances ever"! Last text received at 01.52 this morning and they still weren't in Glasgow!
     
    5944, Sep 6, 2010
    #27
  8. Mike30A

    Mike30A Well-Known Member

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    Feel very sorry for all involved. Can't wait to read TBirdFrank's observations on all this !!
     
    Mike30A, Sep 6, 2010
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  9. Oli15

    Oli15 Member

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    Just to let all know, we arrived back at queen street at 03:12. What a day, one we will all remember for highs and lows. Fantastic driving by Pete Walker and for john Cameron and team on K4 for for pulling out all the stops to get us home.

    Well done to all, and for making history on gettng first gresley engine to oban.
     
    Oli15, Sep 6, 2010
    #29
  10. arizonagcs

    arizonagcs New Member Account Suspended

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    Leander gave us a spirided run through the Nith Valley in the stunning Autumn sunlight. But boy are we paying for it now! 3 1/2 hrs on 'Kingmoor Loop with only dubiuse sandwiches to eat. !!!!!!!
     
    arizonagcs, Sep 6, 2010
    #30
  11. FlyingScotsman4472

    FlyingScotsman4472 Member

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    Leander alongside the River Clyde near Abington this afternoon.

    Oh very nice just love steam in the landscape shots and this is a cracker Sir.Well done.
     
    FlyingScotsman4472, Sep 6, 2010
    #31
  12. 782sirbrian

    782sirbrian Member

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    3 1/2 hours surely there's a path earlier than waiting all that time ?

    Brian
     
    782sirbrian, Sep 6, 2010
    #32
  13. arizonagcs

    arizonagcs New Member Account Suspended

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    We are out on time just leaving published time. 15:37
     
    arizonagcs, Sep 6, 2010
    #33
  14. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    It was Peter Walker who did what he could. The weight of the train just defeated him.
     
    Big Al, Sep 6, 2010
    #34
  15. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

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    And I believe the double check rails just near Glencruitten summit did not help.
     
    RalphW, Sep 6, 2010
    #35
  16. arizonagcs

    arizonagcs New Member Account Suspended

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    Leander racing through the Pennines Wonderful!
     
    arizonagcs, Sep 6, 2010
    #36
  17. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Yes, you are right but the main issue was that a Class 5 just cannot lift 255 tons tare = 280 gross out of Oban, check rail or not. I have to say that someone should have prevented seven coaches - two of them 39 tons - going down there in the first place. I bet NR didn't know or they would have put a stop to it. That said, the stall out of Tyndrum on the way to Oban was because we were not given a tablet pass to the next loop. Therefore we had to stop at Tyndrum and the restart needed plenty of wellie to get round the curve near the summit second time . Sad to say this was a case of not enough people in charge with the knowledge.

    I'm not blaming RTC as they tried hard to minimise the difficulties but, standing at Crainlarich in the morning, talking to the crew of the '5', I could see that the Oban start was going to be interesting....and in ideal weather conditions as well.
     
    Big Al, Sep 6, 2010
    #37
  18. Sidmouth

    Sidmouth Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Moderator

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    If those two coaches were passenger carrying then how should they be removed ? You can't have people standing , nor leave some behind

    I also struggle with the assumption that Network Rail did not know . Given the activity at Fort William and the loads taken day in day out in all weathers the capabilities of the engines are well known .

    Full marks to RTC and WCRC for having the courage to try to run such a tour in 2010 . I'm sure that once everyone involved has had time to consider what went on the experience will be put to good use next time
     
    Sidmouth, Sep 6, 2010
    #38
  19. 242A1

    242A1 Well-Known Member

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    I don't think that it was being suggested that 2 coaches should have been removed, but one might well have been a good idea. Lots of folk stand during the more interesting steam sections so something might have been arranged. The K4 took 8 out to FW so some condensing may have taken place for day 3. Perhaps the train should have been a top and tail working from the outset for the run to Oban and return.

    Regardless of the problems, it sounds like it was a most interesting tour. I wonder if the Marquess would have been defeated by the start from Oban? Doubt it some how.
     
    242A1, Sep 6, 2010
    #39
  20. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    My guess is that the Marquess may well have been ok out of Oban - more power, third cylinder and smaller wheels - but it's banned from the route because of its power classification/weight. No, I wasn't implying that two coaches should have been removed. The RTC probably worked hard to get a steam train down to Oban. What was missing was the technical bit about what was possible. On the train it was pretty obvious that the physics of the situation were just not going to work. I think Peter Walker et al were brilliant in trying to coax all they could out of the Class 5. Next time - if NR allow it, you'll need two locos.
     
    Big Al, Sep 6, 2010
    #40
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