LE movements, ECS and test runs 2024

Confirm 5Z38 Fort William - Carnforth has two 37s and a single coach. No Black 5. Passed Thankerton railcam 1733. Apols for duff gen. AN

 

Indian Summer?

 

Well not really with the good forecast not materialising...unheard of up here... and Fort William being over 100miles south of where I was going. Sadly.

 

37.706 0Z63 12:35 Carnforth Steamtown to York N.R.M.
<https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:90932/2024-07-17/detailed>

37.706 + 'Flying Scotsman' 5Z63 10:36 York N.R.M. to Shildon (18/7/24)
<https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U19502/2024-07-18/detailed>

37.706 0Z64 15:03 Shildon to Carnforth Steamtown (18/7/24)
<https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U19503/2024-07-18/detailed>

Thanks to Covshire1 for the info. <BJ>
..

 

44871 passing Brock with 5V42 1120 Carnforth Steamtown to Southall Wcr 17/07/24.

 

44871 heads back to Southall

 

Black 5 44871 rolls alongside the old parcel platform at Stafford for its pathing stop and then 30 mins later seen just south of Stafford at Queensville Curve heading for Southall.

 

I dont blame Mr Smith standing firm against these faceless bureaucrats. Central locking has not been required on Mark 1 coaches for nearly 70 years, so why is it suddenly needed now? I've travelled on them for 60 odd years and never fallen out, and like most sensible people am quite capable of opening a door myself, and don't require a steward to do it for me!

 

That’s not quite correct is it. There has been a requirement for it for a number of years, but can have an exemption granted. The ORR have chosen not to renew that exemption, and all the evidence for that was provided.

I don’t wish to start the whole debate up again but just consider the below….

- When the requirement for TPWS was put in place, it was acted on by the relevant operators/loco owners.
- When the requirement for the OTMR/Black Box was put in place, it was acted on.
- Running with a High Intensity lamp was acted on.
- Toilet retention tanks was acted on (Admittedly the funding for this was in place)

All the above are features that the ORR and other bodies have deemed necessary to allow steam to run, and have been acted on. Indeed LSL have acted on the CDL, Vintage/Belmond I believe are acting on it/or have plans afoot to act….So essentially if 3/4 operators comply, are the ORR really going to back down to 1?

 

It's amazing how the thousands of people who visit heritage railways every weekend (far more than travel on charters) seem to work out how to get on and off the train! Admittedly, some do struggle a bit when faced with a leather strap on some of the older coaches.

 

5M50 Carnforth Steamtown to Hellifield GL activated for today. Tangmere?

 

Yes

 

Thanks, Steve.

 

In downtown Darwen the day dawned dull and dreary with just a hint of drizzle. Following some mid-season maintenance/repairs Tangmere was deemed in need of a run to Hellifield and back over the "Little North Western". Was it sufficiently tempting to lure Oswald from his lair? Not really, but for a man recently starved of steam it looked, if not like a feast certainly a tasty morsel. I was otherwise engaged in the morning but available for the return.

Mrs W chose not to join me as I headed towards Giggleswick. Traffic was generally light, as I approached Gisburn an animal transporter drew out of the entrance to the livestock market. Its registration raised a smile, ??24 COW - lovely stuff! I usually head to the station but decided to go further up the bank towards the summit, the road bridge at Paley Green Lane. I arrived with around 40 minutes to spare and with little else to do wandered along to the bridge. The line approaches on a LH curve and leaves curving to the right. It was dull, no wind and no sun, a typical summer's day. I got myself ready and waited, after repeated checks on RTT with nothing happening, suddenly Tangmere was shown as having left Hellifield and thro' Settle Jn (the joys of manual data entry?!).

Tangmere's approach was heralded by a distant whistle, Giggleswick station crossing? The clouds darkened and a breeze sprang up from nowhere - typical! Another couple of whistles, this time much closer and shortly afterwards Tangmere came into view, tender first with a single coach in tow. Ah well, think of the positives, unassisted steam on the main line and hopefully Tangmere back in business for the next round of trains. 17C & around 3 or 4L. Oswald headed back to the car his "good" knee cracking like a "dressage trainer's whip" (off for a X-ray tomorrow - what fun!). Apparently Diego came in at lunchtime and headed upstairs for a nap and has just woken (18.30).

[There is/was a going away shot but with a short train and a short field of view by the time the exhaust had cleared the train was just disappearing from view.]

 

Thanks for sharing David. What I find interesting is the replacement rail laid-out in the 4-foot, it certainly looks like bullhead rail. This line is one of the few with regular steam and an era-authentic clickety-clack from the jointed rails, long may it continue.....

Cheerz,

Alan

 

According to WNXX:

"45118 has shut down at Goytre with an auxiliary voltage regulator failure. The driver is unable to contact Abergavenny box using onboard systems and thus is using a mobile telephone. 47810 is being resourced from Crewe and will likely work tomorrow's charter as the fault is unlikely to be fixable without returning to Crewe."

Looking at Realtime Trains there are considerable delays...

Not only steam that can be temperamental at times...

 

Railway Herald reported 45 on the move with 47 at rear at 13.00. Arrived Bristol 195 late. No report as to whether the Peak is fit to work tomorrow.

 

31st July 2024 44871 Engine Move (youtube.com)

44871 nears Galgate