The Cathedrals Express - Saturday 4th June

Word on the train was that NR insisted on the 37 on the back due to fire risk. No diesel no trip. Disappointing but entirely understandable. 4492 was never worked particularly hard, which was the idea I suppose, but it was a good day out and she looked magnificent.

 

Packed train, so Steam Dreams would be happy. Box certainly shoving hard on station restarts.

 

If this true and I have no reason to doubt it, how come 5043 was allowed to work to York and indeed beyond to Scarborough with no diesel on the back.

 

What about the route (or part of) & destination? Which might be similar. I think the A4 & 5043 were yesterday.

 

Passed 4492 south of Donny at a standstill about 6.10pm on a southbound 225 . The conductor explaining that we would be 10 mins late into peterborough because of Thomas the Tank engine !!!Don,t think he was a steam fan !!!
Was there any reason for the late running ?

 

I was lucky to film her in four locations along the route for the northbound run.

-Welwyn Viaduct at 09:03
-North of Sandy at 09:35
-North of Holme at 10:35
-North of Newark around 11:50

And once more on the southbound run at Little Bythem for good measure. She looked pretty good, but the fact that I managed to beat her so many times makes me wonder what must have happened to delay her so much. Could anybody elaborate the issues from the run?

 

Between Welwyn and Sandy there was a stop to pick up at Stevenage, between Sandy and north of Holme there was a water stop at Holme and between north of Holme and north of Newark there was a booked stop at Peterborough so that's why you managed to beat her so many times. Add to that a rather relaxed schedule and there's your answer.

 

It ssems we were held at Joan Croft Jnc because a Nodding Donkey was in front. From the number of poor buggers on it as we passed it at Doncaster, I'm not surprised.

 

A couple of shots from York Station.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/16582147@N07/sets/72157626888920032/

Was surprised to see so many people on the platform trying to forget the front foot rule by overstepping the white line.

 

What?!

 

The train was held at Shaftholme Junction (next one south of Joan Croft) due to level crossing misuse. One of the occupation crossings to the south of the junction had a user which crossed with a vehicle, but failed to contact Doncaster PSB when they were clear, so 4492 was cautioned to check that the crossing was clear (not sure which crossing it was, i'm afraid). The 225 was held at the signal straight behind 4492 at Joan Croft, so once 4492 got to Doncaster, the 225 got the chance to pass it.

 

Thanks for that much fuller and more accurate account