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The Great Britain XII - April/May 2019

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by steamvideosnet, Aug 31, 2018.

  1. David likes trains

    David likes trains Member

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    Am working my way through the photos I took during my chase of the GB this year, first time I have done so and though a little exhausting I'm glad I took the opportunity to do so.

    Day 1
    Sydney Gardens
    [​IMG]

    Day 2
    Teignmouth
    [​IMG]

    Racing alongside the M5 on the approach to Whiteball at Appledore.
    [​IMG]

    Coasting at Claverton in the Avon valley.
    [​IMG]

    Just to the East of Castle Carey, near Wyke Champflower.
    [​IMG]

    Climbing up to Crowcombe on the WSR.
    [​IMG]
     
  2. D1002

    D1002 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Filmed at Tackley:

     
  3. Sidmouth

    Sidmouth Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Moderator

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    come on , they are just writing tomorrows headlines about the mass trespass
     
  4. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    And your point is?
     
  5. Sidmouth

    Sidmouth Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Moderator

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    the press don't care , double bite of the same story , give the pre publicity and then report the ensuing chaos
     
  6. Johnb

    Johnb Nat Pres stalwart

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    I’m up in the Highlands on Friday for the run over the Highland mainline to Inverness so let’s hope the Scottish media can be persuaded to keep their collective gob shut
     
  7. D1002

    D1002 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Never made it to Paddington. Passengers were disembarked at Reading and a Class 37 + FS + ECS headed straight to Southall.
    Sad finale to what appeared to be an excellent tour.
     
  8. Paul42

    Paul42 Part of the furniture

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    Part 2

    Day 4

    Up and ready in good time, like everyone else? Since it appeared the whole hotel wanted breakfast at the same time!
    Arrived at the station in plenty of time, on a sunny morning and our train was already in the station, we left on time and dismissed the Northern Fells with ease (Grayrigg 57mph & Shap 52.2 mph) so we arrived in Carlisle 6 early. While the locos went to be watered, I went to 301 miles on platform to be refuelled. Nr 9 and 44871 returning after being watered: -
    IMG_3989 edit 3 LR.jpg

    We left 12L and headed for the Southern Uplands and headed Beattock summit a 10-mile climb which is varies in gradient between 1/69 and 1/88 and topped the summit at 47.1mph. We missed out the pathing stop at the summit and entered the loop at Abington instead. That was the end the excitement for day as we headed to Edinburgh. After checking in to the hotel and a brisk walk around the Old Town I headed to the Guildford Arms, which I have visited on my last 3 trips by steam to Edinburgh. While the selection of ales was poor, only 2 on, I headed for the mezzanine dining area without a booking, and for the fourth time running they managed to fit me in. I only had my table for 50 minutes, for 2 courses, before the table was required, but as always, the food and the service were excellent. I headed for the Halfway House the smallest pun in Edinburgh, which has plenty of railway memorabilia, which brought an end to what had been an excellent day.
     
  9. The Black Hat

    The Black Hat Member

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    Checked and must have been a Wildcat - I wondered about Lynx as knew they were decomissioned and said so to someone who was there - but it looked to follow the train. Would have been in prime location and timing for Birkett Common and that was the shot I was aiming for but ran out of time.

    Never mind...
     
  10. JDTTRAINS

    JDTTRAINS Member

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  11. Fulwood Flyer

    Fulwood Flyer New Member

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    I was at Birkett and as you say, it did follow the train from Kirkby S, but veered away before it reached me
     
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  12. garth manor

    garth manor Well-Known Member

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    Returns south on the sunday to prepare for the circular the following week, leaving the tour to another.
     
  13. gricerdon

    gricerdon Well-Known Member

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    2750 Legend of a Locomtive
     
  14. DOH46229

    DOH46229 New Member

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  15. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Yes, I agree. But given the people who were out and about to witness the passing of Flying Scotsman - and we are talking about thousands here, just in the main problem areas from Chesterfield through to Tamworth where there was very little local control of the public - you can't easily argue against the popularity of the locomotive. That said, the advance publicity from a week back by, for example, the Derby Telegraph, left no doubt as to what was going to happen. I quote:

    "The first place to spot the engine is at Chesterfield South at 12.43pm. It will then be at Clay Cross North by 12.48pm, Ambergate at 1.04pm, St Mary's South Junction at 1.13pm before it makes its way through Derby at 1.16pm.
    London North Western, Derby, is the next location at 1.18pm, Stenson at 1.23pm and North Stafford at 1.24pm before it goes to Burton.
    It is set to head through the Clay Mills junction at 1.27pm and into Burton at 1.30pm, according to Real Time Trains.
    It is set to pass through Wyncor (sic) at 1.36pm before continuing on to Tamworth."

    Most of the damage was done by the irresponsible detail given by media outlets like this, who then, as @Sidmouth rightly says, were able to report on the ensuing chaos. Yes, it was only a minority who chose to be in the wrong places where the railway was easy to access but when train crews see one person in the wrong place, everything stops in the UK. It reminded me of the East Suffolk line in that respect.

    But the real story of GBXII, that obviously has less appeal to the masses, was all the other stuff and the day to day tireless work of those who were involved plus the 'near misses' of operating steam. Here are a few from when I was with the tour in Scotland onwards.

    1. The concerns over the firebox of the A4 that nevertheless allowed the loco to do its stuff to Aberdeen with sensible management of the compromise arrangements for the shunt diesel.
    2. The tour de force of the Stranraer trip where at the harbour there were scenes reminiscent of the public/railway/steam interface that was commonplace 50+ years ago. A risky place for free movement of folk but it happened.
    3. The attempt to break into the train in Falkland Yard that on board West Coast staff foiled.
    4. The 'Coast to Coast' that was Day 7 with double-headed delight over the G&SW plus an effortless S&C run with BIL.
    5. The sterling work of the Thompson B1 Trust with 61264 and running repairs, plus its follow up on the NYMR on Day 8.
    6. The on board staff and organisation of the whole trip. (On what other trip does someone think to clean carriage windows for a better view?)
    7. The fact that, overall, this GB actually 'did what it said on the tin' and it did it with style.

    Very many thanks to all those who made it possible. This is what the West Coast/RTC partnership does best and long may the arrangement continue even if it always has its 'moments'!
     
  16. steamingyorkshire

    steamingyorkshire Well-Known Member

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    'The Great Britain XII' on its final day travelling from Scarborough to London hauled by LNER A3 No.60103 'Flying Scotsman', seen approaching Brumber Bridge and Gascoigne Woods - 5th May 2019.

    Video Available Here

    [​IMG]
     
  17. Sidmouth

    Sidmouth Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Moderator

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    Jerr Grey likes this.
  18. Victor

    Victor Nat Pres stalwart Friend

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    I think we can all agree on that bit. However, I don't agree with restricting advance publicity
     
  19. Bodorganboy

    Bodorganboy Member

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    The helicopter flew over Aisgill well before the train and continued south following the railway
     
  20. 5944

    5944 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Just to drag this back up...

    https://flic.kr/p/2epJPha

    Wildcat ZZ384
     
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