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RTC: Tynesider - 4/7/26

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by Big Al, Jun 27, 2026 at 8:41 AM.

  1. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Times are now up for this interesting trip.

    https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U86864/2026-07-04/detailed
    https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U86871/2026-07-04/detailed

    It looks like a nice day out from York but a marathon from Kings Cross even with Les Ross out of London. Half an hour earlier than provisional times leaving KGX and 45 minutes later arriving back. Screws up the day for anyone down south not living in the metropolis but, hey, that's what our crowded network does to charters.

    So the return timings from Morpeth seem to suggest there is no water stop for the three-hour run. Don't tell me that this is not steam or that the diesel hauls us back.

    No doubt all will be revealed when the tickets are issued.
     
    Big Al, Jun 27, 2026 at 8:41 AM
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  2. 30567

    30567 Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    30567, Jun 27, 2026 at 12:40 PM
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  3. torgormaig

    torgormaig Part of the furniture Friend

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    In simple terms a steam loco is prohibited from using a cross-over between platforms at a station. Therefore you cannot gain direct access to the Blythe and Tyne from the down main at Morpeth. So after unloading passengers onto Platform 2 the train draws forward to Morpeth North Junction, then reverses to the Hepscott Junction area for servicing. It then reverses back to Morpeth North Junction where it again reverses , this time on the up line, to Platform 1 at Morpeth station. From here it can depart direct onto the B&T to head home.

    Peter
     
    torgormaig, Jun 27, 2026 at 2:11 PM
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  4. Gunslinger1948

    Gunslinger1948 New Member

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    To satisfy my curiosity, what is the reason for that?
     
    Gunslinger1948, Jun 27, 2026 at 2:15 PM
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  5. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    All to do with the 'throw' of a loco when traversing a crossover and how close it may or may not get to the platform.
     
    Big Al, Jun 27, 2026 at 2:23 PM
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  6. torgormaig

    torgormaig Part of the furniture Friend

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    The concern that the overthrow of the front end of a loco going through the cross-over may cause the cylinders to catch the platform edge.

    Peter
     
    torgormaig, Jun 27, 2026 at 2:31 PM
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  7. 30567

    30567 Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    thanks Peter. Presumably it parks for a couple of hours on the N to E chord out of the way. I think my reading is that if the loco is facing north on arrival at Morpeth, it is still facing north on departure.
     
    30567, Jun 27, 2026 at 2:38 PM
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  8. Bulleid Pacific

    Bulleid Pacific Part of the furniture

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    As there is now a prohibit, I guess I can thank my lucky stars that The Wansbeck on 29 March 2014 did Platform 2 onto the B&T. Presumably the locomotives in use, 61264 and 62005, had no clearance issues. Also remember booking on it the following year, as Lynemouth was in the itinerary, but somewhat ironically considering the motive power this weekend the Wootton Bassett incident led to it's cancellation.
     
    Bulleid Pacific, Jun 29, 2026 at 1:53 PM
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  9. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Tangmere on Saturday it seems. Having tried to avoid it for quite a while because of the little work it seems to do, I can only hope that it will at least manage something on the flat.
     
    Big Al, Jun 29, 2026 at 6:13 PM
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  10. 5944

    5944 Resident of Nat Pres

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    RTC sent an email earlier offering £30 off per person in standard and first class.
     
    5944, Jun 29, 2026 at 8:29 PM
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  11. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Looks like a load of 11 including POB so I guess they are hoping to fill that number of vehicles rather than running with one less. And on about 100 miles from Morpeth to York via Blyth, that feels a bit tight for water to me so I hold little hope of getting much other than the occasional drifting smoke out of Tangmere.

    The things you do for new track....
     
    Big Al, Jun 29, 2026 at 11:14 PM
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