ELR AUTUMN STEAM GALA 14/15 OCTOBER 2017

Visiting loco is 60009 USA as noted elsewhere in these forums, ELR site no longer lists 4270 from the G&WR
34092, 13065,12322 and MSC32 are the listed home loco's
Timetable available, but no loco's yet:
http://www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk/downloads/308/autumn-steam-gala-2017-timetable.ashx

 

Looking forward to it.

 

Timetable now has locos but there is a strange gap on the Saturday morning, with 60009 starting from Rawtenstall a at 9.30 with no indication of how it got there. Is there perhaps a photo event with 60009 before the start of public services?

Peter on a grey October morning in Manchester
http://pjhtransportpix.zenfolio.com/

 

It will work its train there as ecs I'd assume circa 8.20 ish off bury

 

Thank you. Do we know whether 60009 will be facing North or South?

Peter on a dark October evening in Manchester
http://pjhtransportpix.zenfolio.com/

 

The hope will be it faces north, but the deciding factor will be network rail.

 

Arrived last night and facing north along with the rest of the fleet

 

Timetable now online with locos.

http://www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk/downloads/308/autumn-steam-gala-2017-timetable.ashx

4270 not included, but showing Hunslet 2890 as a visitor. The tender version of the austerity.

Most trains not stopping at Burrs or Summerseat. This gives these stations, effectively, a 2-hourly service.

I'm looking forward to this one. Some super locos on offer.

 

The A4 bows out at the ELR 14 October 2017

Sadly John Cameron's magnificent Gresley A4 Pacific No 60009 is coming to the end of its ticket and it seems destined to become a museum piece. So I was not going to miss the opportunity to ride behind it when it was the star attraction at the East Lancashire Railway Autumn Gala.

So I went bright and early to Rawtenstall where No 9 was headed with empty stock to form the 9.30 southbound service. . . The sky was full of dark cloud which served to match the loco’s dirty and careworn appearance, although she sounded as sweet as a nut.

The run down to Bury was uneventful but then the fireworks began. She opened up so quickly on the climb to the Metrolink bridge that she was almost winded and the middle of the train crawled over the top of the ski jump. But she soon blasted off again, soon attaining linespeed before the motorway and maintaining it right to the top of the climb to Heywood. The chime whistle and chimney were only a few yards from me with only a door separating us – the noise and power was awesome!

The return to Bury was lively but less eventful, then we heard that No 34092 City of Wells had failed at Ramsbottom and the timetable started to go to pot. Time constraints meant I had no alternative to stay with 60009 right the way back to Rawtenstall, and more spirited running ensued.

It will be a sad day indeed when this stupendous engine last turns a wheel in steam, and today I chalked up a final memory to add to all the others.

12 photos are at http://www.zenfolio.com/pjhtransportpix/p165469803

Peter on a warm October evening in Manchester
http://www.zenfolio.com/pjhtransportpix

 

City of Wells apparently suffered hot box at Ramsbottom, but whilst some loco alterations were made I wouldn't say that the timetable went ' to pot' as no train was more than 20 late and all back on time by lunch time, albeit with locos on differing diagrams to those shown on the free tt's provided. Very busy trains all day.
60009 staying until the end of the month and has plenty steamings so worth a return visit on a quieter day.

 

Nice to see 60009 at work - an image from me from Saturday afternoon

 

Anyone know what the roster timetable is for tomorrow (Sunday) or have they fixed Wells and everything fine? ELR site still shows original T/T.

 

13065 replacing 34092 on 09:20, 2890 solo on 09:10.

 

http://preservedrailway.weebly.com/east-lanca…

 

City of Wells absence freed up the Crab for more full line working. A big bonus. What a great loco.

USA looked very tired. Would have thought it would have been turned out in pristine condition. Evidently ELR a bit shocked at the state of her.

 

That is wrong I don't know where you get your information from. The paintwork on No9 was looking a bit careworn when I saw it at Didcot, just like it would have done after a couple of years speeding up and down the ECML, it's realistic whats wrong with that? Just be grateful it's still active. I understand that it will not be cleaned after the gala so we will have an even more realistic A4 for the charter this week

 

Indeed! I've been laid low with a nasty bug all weekend, so pleased to see she has quite a few outings on the roster next week

 

Point out what is "wrong" in my factually accurate post???