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Saphos: Blue Peter to Carlisle - 12/02/26; Sir Nigel Gresley - 11/03/26; Britannia - 8/04/26

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by dmr, Dec 15, 2025.

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  1. 1020 Shireman

    1020 Shireman Part of the furniture Friend

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    Morning.

    Worn fingers out inputting the timings and speeds. Set of pdfs here for the outward; Full Outward and splits Crewe to Barton; Barton Loop to Grayrigg Loop; Grayrigg Loop to Carlisle Citadel.
    Full outward is 'warts and all' showing how difficult it is on some sections to sight the posts; then to identify which mile some belong to.
    Didn't bother with many of the posts after Shap Summit.
    Having a bit of trouble with the Carlisle to Shap Summit as the internal GPS output is a bit baffling. Think we guessed some wrong locations in the dark, including where milepost 38, the Climbing Summit was.
    Will post best attempt later today probably.
    I'll also make up a comparison with the Shap Attack of 29th November 1997 when drivers were drivers and firemen firemen - all Ex-BR. The load 60532 took on that day was 13 for 520 tons and the running was extraordinary compared with 2026 when Mr Hosking stated their aim is to look after the locomotives in their care and not drive them hard.
    Owner groups looked after their locomotives well in the 1980s, 1990s, and early noughties but drove them in a completely different way to get the best out of their charges with friendly rivalry over every route between crews. Performance was something else.
     

    Attached Files:

    1020 Shireman, Feb 18, 2026
    #61
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  2. 1020 Shireman

    1020 Shireman Part of the furniture Friend

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    Best I can do with the data to compare 2026 with 1997
    Edit:
    Deleted it as it lost formatting when posted.
     
    Last edited: Feb 18, 2026
    1020 Shireman, Feb 18, 2026
    #62
  3. 1020 Shireman

    1020 Shireman Part of the furniture Friend

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    Can't find a way to put a table into this thread so have attached a pdf comparing 1997 with 2026.
     

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    1020 Shireman, Feb 18, 2026
    #63
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  4. Optom1

    Optom1 New Member

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    Grahams memory as good as ever.The shap attack started from Cardiff at4.05am!!!Whilst graham is still rummaging ,the main events were,with load13 Wigan75-M.P.11.5 64:Max 80 to Preston:80 through Carnforth:M.P.9.25 67:Oxenholme 64:Grayrigg summit 48:Max60 in the Lune Valley:Sustained 29 overShap(?40 pwsMP34.50?)On the return journey sestained 52 on the 1/125 up to Shap.Nice slippy start out of Lancaster,loco came off at Preston
     
    Optom1, Feb 18, 2026
    #64
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  5. acorb

    acorb Part of the furniture

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    Thanks for finding the details of the 1997 run, really appreciated.
     
    acorb, Feb 18, 2026
    #65
  6. No.7

    No.7 Well-Known Member

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    I went with
    9/321.5/344

    The generator car had a plate on it saying 39.5 tons.
     
    No.7, Feb 19, 2026
    #66
  7. Oswald T Wistle

    Oswald T Wistle Well-Known Member Friend

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    Probably a bit of a forlorn hope but if anyone has a spare ticket for 60007's run I'd be extremely grateful. I only need one, either class, but am more than willing to pay for a pair. Thanks
     
    Oswald T Wistle, Feb 19, 2026
    #67
  8. 2857Harry

    2857Harry Well-Known Member

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    2857Harry, Feb 25, 2026 at 10:50 AM
    #68
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  9. 2857Harry

    2857Harry Well-Known Member

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    2857Harry, Feb 25, 2026 at 11:23 AM
    #69
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  10. Alex Productions

    Alex Productions Member

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    Brilliant news. I wonder at this point if the rest of the LSL fleet will get a chance to do the same thing. Only 5029, 34046 & 61306 which haven't done a Cumbrian Mountaineer yet or scheduled to pull one.
     
    Alex Productions, Feb 25, 2026 at 3:06 PM
    #70
  11. 1020 Shireman

    1020 Shireman Part of the furniture Friend

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    apologies for not putting 60532's Carlisle to Crewe Timings up.

    I've put it together now - mostly - based on the GPS so I've added the Elevation Field.

    The GPS didn't always record at the right distances so left both there fyi.
     

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    1020 Shireman, Mar 2, 2026 at 10:34 AM
    #71
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  12. neildimmer

    neildimmer Resident of Nat Pres

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    70000 Britannia one doesn't seem to be selling as quick as the others, 1st class price been increased by £10 to £149
     
    neildimmer, Mar 2, 2026 at 12:37 PM
    #72
  13. neildimmer

    neildimmer Resident of Nat Pres

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    Ticket arrived for 60007 trip, got the same coach and seat number as the Blue Peter trip
     
    neildimmer, Mar 2, 2026 at 4:08 PM
    #73
  14. 1020 Shireman

    1020 Shireman Part of the furniture Friend

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    Think it might be a good idea to rename the thread Saphos: Cumbrian Mountaineers in the hope there will be more....
     
    1020 Shireman, Mar 2, 2026 at 4:15 PM
    #74
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  15. LMarsh1987

    LMarsh1987 Part of the furniture Friend

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    Well, that won't help much.
     
    LMarsh1987, Mar 2, 2026 at 6:01 PM
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  16. 46245col

    46245col New Member

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    Based on the formation for Blue Peter’s run on 12 February, can anyone tell me where First Class coach E was situated and which side seats 27-30 are. Thanks Chris.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
    46245col, Mar 3, 2026 at 3:04 PM
    #76
  17. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    They changed the formation between DoG and BP so the same may happen with SNG.
     
    Big Al, Mar 3, 2026 at 3:14 PM
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  18. LittleRedTrain

    LittleRedTrain Member

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    Coach E was the last but one coach in the formation on the Blue Peter trip.
    Assuming 27-30 is a table for 4, I think these were on the east side of the train heading out and west side heading back.
     
    LittleRedTrain, Mar 3, 2026 at 3:41 PM
    #78
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  19. neildimmer

    neildimmer Resident of Nat Pres

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    isnt it going to be the same formation as the DOG run last year?
     
    neildimmer, Mar 3, 2026 at 3:46 PM
    #79
  20. Spotter

    Spotter New Member

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    The Blue Peter trip didn't have the ticket & seat problems that the Duke Trip had, but no tour booklet was given out and belatedly a timing sheet was issued if you asked, in standard. Does 1st class have the same problem, not a very good show Saphos !.
     
    Spotter, Mar 3, 2026 at 6:00 PM
    #80
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