WCME/CME 2024

No prizes?

 

Does anyone know if 34067 will be on tomorrow's CME?
TIA.

 

It's now today and yes predictably it's Tangmere - past me about half an hour ago at Sedgwick.

 

Just received a text from one of the stewards that Tangmere has failed. No idea where other than RTT has a passing time for Appleby.

 

Not good news but thanks for passing it on.

 

Latest text reads
Failed north of Crosby Garrett. Removed rods moved to Kirkby Stephen.

 

Class 47 and stock now back at Carlisle.

 

It is Currently hiding on RTT as RTT thinks it's cancelled between hellifield and Euston

 

Tour cancelled and passengers going home on Avanti service by the looks of it. ECS to Carnforth shortly. 47 has gone to Kirkby Stephen to pick up 34067. Rumours (nothing official funnily enough!) on various Facebook groups that Tangmere has put a piston rod through a cylinder cover. Would explain the rods being removed.

 

Thank the Lord for flaming Facebook!

 

Before it all went wrong... Froddle Crook, approaching Low House...


Tangmere at Froddle Crook

 

A lucky strike Ian...sunshine too!

 

1 min 14 shows the driver's side cylinder cover missing.

 

And ironically the Avanti was 30 late when I looked a few minutes back as well.

 

So that just leaves the black 5, unless West coast have fitted some of its fleet with air brakes, does whats left of 34073 still have its cylinders ? looks like the spares donor, is going to be donating more bits, any news about the cause? normally its water carry over, or drain cocks

 

Suspect that after the end of the afternoon Jacobite season on Friday 27th Sept (5 days from now), a Black 5 will be moved down from Fort William to aid in covering the shortages created by the Tangmere cylinder issue. While never a good thing, the timing of yesterday's incident at least has happened close to when Carnforth may be able to receive an additional stablemate that the effect on running services may be felt less than if it occurred a month or two ago.

 

Depends how much maintenance it'll require. The Jacobite is usually operated by 3 locos, not 2 working pretty much every single day.

 

Ian has already added another black 5 to his stable, but its going to be a couple of years before that ones ready, I would not be surprised if next year, the main stays will be the three black 5's and 34028 on the Southern England routes, along with 34007, once that ones overhaul is completed, along with Clan line, in between its pullman duties, with none of carnforths stud being used, I hope I'm wrong, but on the face of it, so far, theres no sight of them fitting air brakes to any of their fleet

 

Indeed, but as has been seen this year, WCRC are willing to operate on the bare minimum up at the Fort to ensure operations are covered around the country. This has lead to numerous stints where the afternoon train has been diesel hauled this season, due to wash-outs or 45212's trip for tyre turning during the summer.

If the calendar in October requires two engines in England, I can see them drop to one Black 5 at the Fort to do so. May well be that the current second 5 at Fort William will remain for an extra week to allow for a boiler washout of the other, before returning South, if the need isn't pressing.

A quick look on Railway Herald, 12th October seems to be the pinch point date where two Carnforth locomotives are both due out, indeed there's no date before then that suggests long locomotive movements for 44871 on consecutive days, so the situation should be manageable with engines in their current locations until then.

 

There is The Mancunian and The Lune Rivers Trust Saturday next weekend which both require a steam loco.