LE movements, ECS and test runs 2024

Aaaand here is 70000 running rather late, breasting the climb at Weston Rhyn:




Cheerz,

Alan

 

Loco failed at Coton Hill, some of the left hand motion has been removed according to posts on Facebook.

 

If thats twice in succession the motion has failed its perhaps a symptom of something else - worth looking at some of the historical bugbears ? ( a shifted wheel , a slidebar with excessive play...etc)

 

Not good news, suspected something was amiss.

105 mins late crossing the viaduct at Chirk

 

Didn’t sound right in this video.

 

Today’s move for 44871 and ECS from 10A to York now showing cancelled on RTT.

 

Luckily I spotted the cancellation before setting off.

 

This has happened before with a different loco. On that occasion a much later path appeared on RTT. Here's hoping for those who have booked on the Edinburgh Flyer tomorrow.

 

As predicted, new path on RTT 15.30 ex 10A.

 

Departure time off Carnforth is 1709
Hellifield Goods loop. 1758 to 1939

 

I'm struggling to understand the return ECS working from York on Sunday, which includes a reversal at Gascoigne Wood: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U02240/2024-05-19/detailed. This manoeuvre is normally used when there is insufficient time to turn a loco on an out and back excursion at York, but 44871 will return to York tomorrow evening already facing south. The reversal at Gascoigne Wood implies top-and-tailing, so is the plan to drag 44871 at the rear all the way from there to Carnforth?

 

I have seen drags before on this route and from memory some were tender first. Alternatively the York turntable could be used to give chimney first from Gascoigne Wood with 44871 on the front from there. The various manoeuvrings look to give sufficient time for this at first glance, or is that just WIBN?

 

Well yes, it could, but why? That would be two unnecessary moves when the loco is already facing the right way for chimney-first running from York.

 

If at first ........ ?
In RTT today :-
Crewe to/from Coton Hill on wed 22/5

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:C11388/2024-05-22/detailed

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:C11389/2024-05-22/detailed

& then on Friday (60mph) to Southall https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U11890/2024-05-24/detailed

 

Isn't diesel hauled ECS better for operational reasons ?

 

It may well be. But in that case, why not put both locos on the front with the diesel leading and go direct from Church Fenton to Micklefield, rather than have 44871 leading out of York and reverse at Gascoigne Wood? Anyway, from Railcam and RTT, that is what has happened, so 44871 trails all the way to Carnforth.

 

The simple reason is that Holgate and the Leeds lines through Church Fenton have an engineers possession on them today. This was deemed the most expedient way round this.

Peter.

 

Thanks. I wondered if it might have something to do with a possession but the service trains seemed to be running as normal.

 

Did 44871 go back to Carnforth today? There's a move from York NRM to Toton tomorrow.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/se...azgWQ5UMbFmcAQNKS2P1nE6uctx7UFmR2-v5guIvzftLj