If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

The Cambrian Coast Express - 5th & 8th June

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by David likes trains, May 27, 2016.

  1. staffordian

    staffordian Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2012
    Messages:
    1,501
    Likes Received:
    2,134
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    The Potteries
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    To me, it's difficult to think of a reason for such a marked difference in approach within the same trip.

    46115 was apparently allowed to do its job, yet Scotsman wasn't. Surely the NRM aren't insisting it's pushed around to reduce wear and tear, are they? Or is there a problem with it we don't know about? Or is it perhaps down to individual crew's confidence or ability?

    It would be interesting to know the real reason.
     
    mike1522 likes this.
  2. LMarsh1987

    LMarsh1987 Part of the furniture Friend

    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2013
    Messages:
    2,882
    Likes Received:
    3,590
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    TBC
    Location:
    Birmingham & Arley
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Mike, WCR could operate a triple headed class 8 train and still the 47 would get on the rear ! Standard practice at the moment.
     
  3. mrKnowwun

    mrKnowwun Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2011
    Messages:
    4,333
    Likes Received:
    2,758
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    West Byfleet
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Iver, in the heat of the night, and I was ready for its appearance on the up ML this time.

     
    springers likes this.
  4. LMarsh1987

    LMarsh1987 Part of the furniture Friend

    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2013
    Messages:
    2,882
    Likes Received:
    3,590
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    TBC
    Location:
    Birmingham & Arley
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    I don't buy that either, but I think the big issue at present is the trespassing and all these station restrictions, which clearly will dent timings, I think that's causing the need for the heavy assistance. The last decent run from Scotsman, was it's first offical mainline run on the WCME, since then there's been nothing that stands out !
     
  5. steamvideosnet

    steamvideosnet Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 12, 2011
    Messages:
    1,968
    Likes Received:
    2,476
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Southampton, UK
    Being pushed through Swindon... the original photo was rather washed out, so a bit of editing was required. Not the shot I was after, but hey ho... always next time?!

    60103 Swindon.001.jpg

    James
     
  6. mike1522

    mike1522 Long Time Member Friend

    Joined:
    Oct 9, 2010
    Messages:
    1,992
    Likes Received:
    232
    Location:
    Fort Worth, Texas
    Mucho problemo
     
  7. banburysaint

    banburysaint Member

    Joined:
    Jan 12, 2008
    Messages:
    310
    Likes Received:
    368
    Regarding the use of a diesel on Sunday. The pathing over the Chilterns was exceptionally tight with service trains times being altered to give a close to doable path. Despite this a Chiltern service still failed ppm as a result of time lost in running by the special.
     
    staffordian likes this.
  8. GWR4707

    GWR4707 Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    May 12, 2006
    Messages:
    18,046
    Likes Received:
    15,736
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Cumbria
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    46115 sets things alight and is banned until sorted - not a huge problem as can be replaced on subsequent trains?
    60103 sets things alight and is banned until sorted - huge problem as is usp for many trains coming and lots is riding on it for tour companies and NRM, plus negative pr could be dreadful.

    FWIW many of the viewers at Swindon were suitability amused that the pride of the LNER fleet needed assistance through the station.....
     
  9. black5

    black5 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 1, 2006
    Messages:
    1,911
    Likes Received:
    2,468
    Occupation:
    Theatre
    Location:
    Merseyside>Bury
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
  10. mrKnowwun

    mrKnowwun Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2011
    Messages:
    4,333
    Likes Received:
    2,758
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    West Byfleet
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Even so, it is running, the pride of the GWR is still in bits.......... Still at least the copper bit is being kept shiny.
     
    alanfrombangor likes this.
  11. jsm8b

    jsm8b Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Dec 3, 2014
    Messages:
    2,895
    Likes Received:
    6,172
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Escapee from the corporate bear-pit
    Location:
    Shropshire
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Here's the Scot at Mostyn yesterday, thankfully not making much exhaust. The early timing from Holyhead meaning the sun angle was on the front for this shot by some of the dwindling number of semaphores on the NW coast.
    DSC_5646 46115 Mostyn 080616.JPG

    Yes after Chester there was a lot of exhaust on the climb to Beeston and Tarporley.

    DSC_5654 46115 Waverton 080616.JPG

    And for the main event very little from Scotsman at Steel Heath

    DSC_5661 60103 Steel Heath 080616.JPG

    When I arrived here there were only two people present, that grew to about 40 by the time the train came mostly locals and most of whom knew when the train was due, so much for the secrecy. Nobody hereabouts strayed onto the track as far as I could see.

    Further south however around Ludlow every vantage point was taken and roadside parking along the A49 was at a premium, I looked briefly at the crossing at Ashford Bowdler village where the small crowd had strayed onto the trackside by the crossing, not dangerous then but illegal and who knows what they would have done as the train came, so I left but while I was there the barriers were lowered and raised again, was this an attempt to attract peoples attention ?.
    I settled for the bridge at Wooferton eventually but even there, there were strange happenings as the southbound starter was lowered and raised several times, interlocking perhaps to activate the Ashford Bowdler barriers ?.

    While that was the only trespass issue I saw the general public interest is evidently still very high, we can only hope that it eventually subsides before there is a serious incident. As for the loco working, by the time Scotsman worked south of Crewe, the temperatures across Shropshire, where it has been largely hot and dry for well over a week, were into the upper 20s so I wasn't surprised the loco didn't appear hard worked.
     
    cjbarnes5294 likes this.
  12. mrKnowwun

    mrKnowwun Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2011
    Messages:
    4,333
    Likes Received:
    2,758
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    West Byfleet
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    H'mmm, not that many weeks ago while standing in the pouring rain, my trousers wicking water up from the puddle that surround me, alternately watching the FS crawling along or being pushed by a tartily dressed 47, I seem to recall the one thing that didn't cross my mind was "fire risk"
     
    Shed9C likes this.
  13. peckett

    peckett Member

    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2006
    Messages:
    726
    Likes Received:
    549
    The way it came up the 1 in 125 out of Kettering last sat', toped at about 25 mph ,and taking 16mins for the 8 miles to Corby and loosing a lot of time to York on a easy schedule,yes I'm beginning to think confidence and ability theory .In single chimney days in the 1980s I,ve seen it down to little more than walking pace on the S and C more than once due to poor steaming ,this was with drivers and fireman who had probably worked on the class in steam days ,but on the conversion back to double chimney, this seemed to be cured. There was no black smoke what always seem to come with poor steaming on Sat. Drivers that only work over a route now and again must have some affect ,there are only a couple of steam runs over the Midland each year.
     
  14. mrKnowwun

    mrKnowwun Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2011
    Messages:
    4,333
    Likes Received:
    2,758
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    West Byfleet
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Have to say, 47580 is certainly earning its corn, racking up the miles with little sign of fuss, drama or issues.
     
    Martin Perry likes this.
  15. Rich and Louise

    Rich and Louise Member

    Joined:
    Oct 15, 2013
    Messages:
    207
    Likes Received:
    92
    Gender:
    Male
    Don't forget also that 60103 would be in a different NR zone (I assume) once it got onto ex GWR metals, who are possibly more concerned about fire risk.
     
  16. cjbarnes5294

    cjbarnes5294 New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 17, 2015
    Messages:
    30
    Likes Received:
    28
    Gender:
    Male
    The mooing scotsman? The bovine fraternity sounded very pleased at Scotsman's arrival. :D Either that or reminding the humans to stay out of their field. :Saywhat:

    Kind regards,
    Chris
     
  17. GWR4707

    GWR4707 Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    May 12, 2006
    Messages:
    18,046
    Likes Received:
    15,736
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Cumbria
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Possibly although I have no evidence to support my idea and no idea what the weather has been like in the area of the GWR main line? However (although I do say so myself) makes more sense that the idea that WCRC are just doing it to raise more money (which would actually go to the owners of the Class 47 - but then again I don't have a problem with WCRC)
     
  18. GWR4707

    GWR4707 Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    May 12, 2006
    Messages:
    18,046
    Likes Received:
    15,736
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Cumbria
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Some video in and around Swindon if you can bear the music!

     
  19. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2005
    Messages:
    35,446
    Likes Received:
    9,144
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired-ish, Part time rail tour steward.
    Location:
    Northwich
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    That is a terrible slur on the abilities of the crews who if they read it will likely be extremely offended by it. Do you think anyone will bother with a reply after that comment?
     
  20. GWR4707

    GWR4707 Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    May 12, 2006
    Messages:
    18,046
    Likes Received:
    15,736
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Cumbria
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    But to be fair they work for WCRC and slurring of WCRC is apparently entirely acceptable on here based on numerous previous threads!
     

Share This Page