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LE movements, ECS and test runs 2024

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by mike1522, Dec 30, 2023.

  1. peckett

    peckett Member

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    Looks like 44871 went main line from Rugby to Roade today due to flooding at Northampton, Glad I didn't go to Long Buckby this morning to see it.
     
  2. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Hey ho. One day we will actually get a charter that way. Something I will book on - diesel on the back or not!
     
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  3. peckett

    peckett Member

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    Northampton has a population of 250.000 and strong RCTS membership, tour operators would be foolish not to go that way. You might have a long time to wait.
     
  4. Will RL

    Will RL Member

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    Working on it…
     
  5. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Or be lucky and be on one when some other train fails on the loop.
     
  6. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    True enough but all these pickups with steam going north adds to the time and brings forward the need for water.

    Each route is around 80 miles but Euston to Rugby direct with a pickup at just Milton Keynes makes for a quicker journey to water in the Rugby area. No reason why people from Watford and Northampton can't travel to the train.

    London folk now seem to be stuck with either a silly o'clock departure or all stations to where we want to go. How many people live in London? :confused:
     
  7. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Your comment about Watford and Northampton is of course what happens on a CME. Did not London Midland as it was then have to upgrade the 350's for greater speed to allow them to go direct? I guess a 75 or even 60mph path for steam is almost non existent, other than a Euston departure around 05:15
     
  8. peckett

    peckett Member

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    Connecting trains are acceptable ( not ideal for me)if the trains run to time . I myself like to get on the main train and know what ever happens l will get there and back with not to much hassle.There is nothing worse than a late running train and missing connections on a cold winters night and having a long wait.Once on a SLOA trip I even had to use a rail replacement bus , getting back to Rugby 4 hrs late.The last train from Crewe to London before the shutdown,( what most of the tour participants were put on), didn't stop at Rugby ,B R refused to put a stop order on for Rugby although there were a number of passengers needing there and Northampton. What do you call silly o clock,last Saturdays train to Chester left Euston ten to seven.?
     
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  9. Rander

    Rander Member

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    45407 currently en route Carnforth - Edinburgh Joppa with 47802 and 47826 and the Polar Express ECS.
     
  10. Rover

    Rover New Member

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    I guess the main reason that charters are sent via the loop is to keep the main line free for scheduled trains. Dont forget, Northampton did not want the railway initially. Thats why it was built via Blisworth, to avoid Northampton, until they realised the folly of that decision.
     
  11. Shep Woolley

    Shep Woolley Well-Known Member Friend

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    Joppa 5 1 NP.jpg

    T'was a shade nippy out today as Ian Riley's class 5 works the ECS 5Z49 over Docker Viaduct towards Grayrigg and onwards to Edinburgh Joppa (diesel removed in PS) with Mick Kelly driving and Cameron Overend on the shovel
     
    Last edited: Nov 28, 2024
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  12. nige757

    nige757 Member

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    47802 + 45407 The Lancashire Fusilier tnt 47826 seen from just below Shap Summit.

     
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  13. Will RL

    Will RL Member

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    To a degree, true. Under the very high frequency timetable pre-Covid, you saw about 9 trains per hour (tph) between Hanslope Jn and Hilmorton Jn timed at 125mph. Now you see 8-10 tph timed at 110mph - 125mph. Now try pathing steam timed at 60 - 75mph along that route.

    I believe I’ve found a path, and have requested it as part of a specification. But it’s now down to the TOC and NR to confirm, and more importantly be willing to approve. If we present ourselves late, there isn’t space for another hour…
     
  14. Waterbuck

    Waterbuck Member

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    Thank you for sharing Nige757, good to watch.
    I did notice one of the newly acquired carriages ? - next to back which hopefully we can get on next years GB.

    Also I didn't realise what a big multi timetabled event that is at 3 locations in the UK by the PNP event company.
     
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  15. 5944

    5944 Resident of Nat Pres

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    That's just the mainline ones - if you include all the preserved lines then it's 14 locations! London, Birmingham and Edinburgh as mainline operations, plus South Devon, Spa Valley, Swanage, Mid Norfolk, Embsay, Wensleydale, Seaton(!), Churnet Valley, Caledonian, Telford and VoR.
     
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  16. MellishR

    MellishR Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    With stopping services calling at Northampton and Long Buckby, and pretty well all freight going that way, pathing a railtour that way must be much easier, even one with diesel or electric traction allowed 90 or 100 mph.
     
  17. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

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    Now if we had a purpose built high speed link available to ease the congestion on either the WCML or ECML. :rolleyes:
     
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  18. 3ABescot

    3ABescot Member

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    Better still, if the Great Central mainline and the Derby - Manchester line had remained and been extended with shortish links to each other and to Birmingham...
     
  19. jsm8b

    jsm8b Part of the furniture

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  20. 2857Harry

    2857Harry Member

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    I have a feeling it’s 46100’s last outing.

    I believe diesel on the ECS legs with steam inside.
     
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