LMS 45699 Galatea The Pennine Limited 3/03/18.

This is not a good example to question the diesel policy really, is it?
The generality seems to remain a matter of some opacity but the best anyone can hope for is that each train taken on its merits and good judgement applied, but oh for some of the rational clarity the likes of @derby2 brings to such discussions elsewhere.

 

I'm certainly no fan of diesel's on the back, but with such freak low temperatures, heating is a must and you cannot gamble on whether all carriages will receive heat. I bet you 90% of people on board would prefer guaranteed heat over a pure steam run in a freezing cold coach. Just imagine if there were first time customers on board in dining and there was no heat, safe to say you wouldn't see them again.

 

Link to my video of a noisy 45699 returning to an almost deserted Lancaster Castle, The train was running 80mins early

 

Seemed a strange tour yesterday as no lay over for the passengers at Sheffield just a quick turn about .

 

The original plan had been for a layover in Sheffield, but there wasn't space for the train so it was moved to a layover at Blackburn. We were advised that we would only stay for 20 minutes at Blackburn as the decision had been to go early so people could get back home with the weather being what it was. Hence arriving back at Carnforth over an hour early.

 

That worked well then to be honest.

 

'The Pennine Limited' hauled by LMS 5XP No.45699 'Galatea' seen at Lydgate Viaduct whilst climbing towards Copy Pit summit.

Video Available Here

 

Excellent Simon definitely not a day for shots in the landscape

 

I am no lover of diesels on the back. I have watched with joy the Winter CMEs with Galatea operating this year without assistance. Knocks the ETH argument out of the ground.

BUT with this tour we had some exceptional circumstances - well certainly in this era of the Snowflake. Whilst much of West Lancashire was little affected, East Lancashire and over't border faired less well. I was encouraged by James Shuttleworth's post that indicated that the addition of a diesel was a last minute decision. In those circumstances even I accept the need for some insurance, for that is what it appeared to be. Until the weather became a factor, the tour would have run with pure steam and the steam heat was deemed appropriate and sufficient.

Given the weather, the most remarkable feature is that the tour ran.