The Great Britain XI - 2018

Is it going to replace no. 9 ?

 

Now its just a matter of getting them both in the same place at the same time So with 60009 now not being available I guess we now have to see whats coming down to Cardiff might be 34046 if its available,

 

Gricerdon, if 18 can swop duties with 45212 and power the Crewe to Cardiff leg, it will be in the right place to substitute for number 9, assuming she's been gauged and there is support crew available .

 

It is also quite possible that 45212 will replace 60009 for the last two days. There is currently no other path shown for it to leave Cardiff.

 

every Southern gricer is now vigorously rubbing their rabbits foot, or any lucky charm in the hope that 35018 does replace 60009, but for the present, lets hope for a good show from her today, on an iconic route for steam,

 

You are more in the know than most of us, David, but much as I, like many others would love to see 35018 return to its home patch, keeping 45212 on for the last two days struck me as the most likely scenario. Its 60mph limitation is unlikely to affect much of the Cardiff-Swanage leg and it is also not likely to cause any problems between St Denys and Netley, which is a bit tight in one of two places, so I believe

 

Imagine if on the morning of the Cardiff to Yeovil run, the passengers see a 33 and Southern mogul backing down,

 

For what it’s worth Merchants were always banned from the Netley route in BR days as far as I know due to weight restrictions on Bursledon bridge and maybe the Bitterne one too.
John

 

Didn't Clan line go that route on a recent run that went via the Portsmouth direct ?

 

Yes it’s odd that what was once banned is now sometimes permitted and what was once ok is no longer so. For the record I recall Arthurs and Nelsons were also banned but at least two MNs sneaked through during main line diversions in 1965 ish.
John

 

If you are thinking of the Waterloo Sunset from last year, it went from Eastleigh through Hedge End (and then went up the through Petersfield so didn't get to Portsmouth

 

well back to GBX1, Now at York on RTT, so hopefully everything's ok for the changeover

 

It kicked off yesterday in perfect weather, too perfect, at 25C there is no exhaust! For nostalgic reasons I went to the fens to catch it at March and after a bit of determined driving at Deeping St Nicholas. I can remember seeing my first A3 from the very spot where I took yesterday's picture. We were staying with my mother's relatives, I was 10 years old and one Sunday my cousin took me to see the ECML diversions so got my first LNER Pacifics.




View attachment 35447

 

No leak at Colton! Looked fantastic in the sun!

 

When was the last time that a Merchant Navy did the S&C (and in fact Shap as she is coming back light over Shap later?)

Actually continuing the theme the GB has 4 different steam locomotives on it in one day, that has to be pretty rare as well?

 

when I say the Portdmouth direct, I mean the route, via the triangle at Fratton, not Portsmouth its self,

 

I assume that you mean the triangle near Cosham as there isn't a triangle at Fratton?

 

Got just the tool for a question like that

https://settlecarlislesteam.co.uk/locomotive-class/57

31st May 1999 - Canadian Pacific.