Bittern to Lincoln 5/9/13

Thanks,just curious but if they have been given to SD is it NR who download them onto the database?

 

Spoke too soon! Now on:
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U53290/2013/09/05/advanced

 

Outward run - http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U53290/2013/09/05/advanced
Return run - http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U53293/2013/09/05/advanced
Just found them today.

 

Alastair. Sorry for repeat of info .

 

What on earth is the reason for all the messing about round Willesden and Wembley? 70 minutes from Mitre Bridge to Kensal Rise, apparently including a reversal. Coming back via Camden tunnel necessitates a reversal in order to get to Olympia, but on the way out the train could go straight from the West London Line to the North London Line as other steam specials have done. Or will the steam be at the back until it gets to Wembley?

 

The automatic upload from TPS (Train Planning System) to TSDB happens overnight. The NR planners would send the traffic notice to the customer as soon as it was validated and flagged for upload. The schedules can be extracted from TPS into word for further editing and adding special working instructions etc.

As for all the "scratching about" in the Willesden area, I suspect (I haven't seen the STN or looked at the schedules) that the train is diesel hauled between Guildford and South West Sidings or Wembley Yard. 60163 and its PO Brake would need to be attached and it then depends on there the DL will be attached to the consist. Leading, behind 60163 or on the rear - whichever, there is an opportunity for a considerable amount of shunting. South West Sidings is not an easy place to run round or make attachments or detachments as most movements will need to go up to Acton Wells Jn or onto the WCML Wembley relief lines.

Cheers, Neil

 

Yes of course! I'd forgotten about the steam only starting at (somewhere around) Willesden. Reboot brain and try again!

 

All in all, a complete mess, with a ridiculously long day, a start too early for many people to get to their preferred start point, and a finish with the problem in reverse (Shalford at 2335!?). The whole point or the trip of steam round Surrey has been lost for reasons which have still not been clarified - if steam was considered too slow to travel through the suburbs, why was this not thought about all those months ago when it was planned? Another dent in the charter market's appeal I'm afraid.

 

2 reports on a gen site of a 67 on top of Tornado north of London.... Broken or anti firestarter move?

 

67019 on the front as pilot at Welwyn North dead on time having arrived south of the viaduct 11 min early. What fire risk? grass is a healthy green, not tinder dry!

 

Would suspect fire conditions as the Eastern area of NR has been particularly strict on steam operation; this may also have influenced the working of the train BEFORE the loco changes at Willesden.

 

But the train has to work further north - through Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire, Rutland and Lincolnshire where conditions are possibly more susceptible to fire-risk.

 

Yes indeed Fred. I suspect the rain of almost two weeks ago was patchy in the East, leaving some areas still very dry indeed. Here in mid Kent where things were very bad indeed, no decent rain for many weeks, then that rain circled round a couple of times and gave us and some other, but not all SE locations a very welcome drenching!

 

Does this have a diesel on the front then? I shan't bother dashing for Peterborough if it has.

Nick

 

On the move again. Maybe 60163 is shoving the box!

 

Diesel up front at Spalding. Don't know why they bothered to hook Tornado up at all for this trip.

 

Does anyone know if they are keeping the same arrangement coming back? I see the train's already on it's way...

 

That is terrible, just like a few years ago when 30777 was pulled around all day. Like then it 60163 was a token ornament.
Might as well done a Mallard, remove the connecting rods & leave it dead all day whilst being towed.
Was it really worth Tornado leaving the MHR for that?
If I wanted a day out behind a 67 I would use one of the service trains they haul at a far less cost without the steam subsidy.

 

Through hitchin at 19:18. Whistle happy from the 67 when passing under the footbridge. Only sign of knowing tornado was there was looking out the window and seeing a faint mist of exhaust from her. Such a shame