Lizzie on Camden Bank, The Doric Olympian, 06/03/10

Chris you are clearly showing off......now my turn. Got a fairly standard shot of Lizzy about to entre Watford Tunnels at Hunton Bridge at Lunch time and was fixed to join William (you must be local and we should meet) on Hempstead road, but the wife wanted to do some shopping at Watford Harlequin slightly earlier and whilst going round the car park to get put I spotted the attached view point at Sunset and instructed her to stay put......Enjoy, though she was shut off and cautioned between Bushey and the Junction. Next will be the A1 in May, though she will be likly up the bank early.

 

Spent my time in London at Clapham to see 35028 and 6201 together. Here is a gallery on my wesbite for the event. http://campainr.webs.com/apps/photos/album?albumid=8386412.

My video compilation of the return run has also been uploaded to youtube and is at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWrJ2kURzhc (the video is still processing, the quality will improve soon...apparently! hwell

 

Sheff, any idea what the fleet of police cars was doing just up the road from where you took the shot at Grendon? Seemed to be at least 6 there. Hopefully it wasn't the BTP trying to stop everyone taking espionage photos.

 

Is Camden sort some of bank then ?, apart from the slip at the bottom she just strolled away, even on such a load 6201 never seemed to be working excessively hard, thanks to VT and the 6201 groups for a good tour, pity there wasn't more high speed running but i suppose just being able to run on the WCML in 2010 is an achievement in itself, also special mention for the steward in coach F for dealing with the 'pillock' around Tamworth and being a good laugh, was much appreciated, good to see a few familiar faces too (you know who you are) and a thoroughly enjoyable day.

I'll add a few pics once i've finished sorting from 30 odd plus the SVR today, not as good as those linesiding but hopefully show a few things not otherwise seen.

 

No idea mate - two flew passed us as we stood at the road edge, festooned in cameras, so I doubt it. Could see the lights in the distance. Good spot for the location b-t-w! Conversely, plenty of folk on Nunny station for the return, and no staff or police in sight. Everyone seemed to behave themselves too - just the way it should be. 6201 flew through platform 2 - my shots were just a blur - no flash of course. Very quiet - could have been Tornado

 

Eh up all !

Great day out yesterday, not bad "that London" ! Even managed to get a round of 5 pints of handpulled for 12 quid, thats not too steep at all !
Good to meet some new faces aswell
Lizzie performed beautifully a real joy to listen to.

Heres my video of the assault on Camden bank, good old climb eh ! Its Euston to Willesden, pretty much uncut. The slip as she crossed over seemed to soften her a bit, but from then on she grabbed the bull the horns and accelerated like a good un'.
Thanks all for a thoroughly enjoyable day.

[youtube]Nv2SvmNYIdA[/youtube]

 

As we flew past on the train, I saw loads of police cars and blue lights as well. From where I was it looked as though a silver mini cooper had gone down the bank, and was resting in the field. But then I was high on "WCML steam", so it was probably just a hallucination!

47773 was definitely pushing from the rear away from the platform, although there were always bankers on heavy expresses out of Euston anyway. Also it was vital that we didn't cause any hold ups at such a sensitive part of the network.

 

I dont think you are far wrong campainr as we flew by on the train and commented in coach on what all the fuss was about. An embarrasing incident to somehow end up with a car at bottom of bank in a field, but hopefully nobody was seriously injured.

 

Thats because the cl 47 started to push immediately after the slip. The cl 47 also assisted away from the Bletchley water stop on the return journey following another slip when "Lizzie" was trying to get away out of the goods loop. There was no assistance whatsoever on the outward journey.

 

Northampton in the dark:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGp_Ezl3ZjM

 

Good pics and vids all,epic trip yesterday,both the locos performance and the laughter on board!

Good to put faces to a couple of names on the forum.

My fots are now up at:

http://mark-walker.fotopic.net/c1822570.html

Will post a vid in a bit

Cheers,
Mark

 

The Princess on the slow train to London 6 March 2010

One component of Vintage Trains' ambitious Spring 2010 main line steam charter programme was the chance to travel behind LMS Pacific power over the West Coast main line from Crewe to London and return. After the train had picked up passengers in the West Midlands, the Stanier 4-6-2 backed onto the train (12 coaches plus a Class 47) at Crewe for the four and a half hour ride to London. The schedule was leisurely by today's Pendolino standards, but there was some lively running between Rugeley and Hademore. After the water stops at Atherstone and Bletchley, there was another spell of over-70 mph running between Berkhamsted and Hemel Hempstead, before we left the main line at Willesden to terminate at Kensington Olympia.
The stock then proceeded to Clapham Yard after turning at Battersea: then back to Willesden where the diesel led the train into Euston for its historic departure. The climb of Camden bank was lively, regrettably with a degree of diesel assistance. Again we ambled along for much of the journey, but we were in the 70s again between Roade and Northampton. After we left the second water stop at Tamworth eight minutes down, we had the best running of the day - a maximum of 77 mph down Madeley bank saw us early into Crewe at the end of an excellent day.

See 12 pictures at http://pjhrailpics.fotopic.net

Peter, on a clear, cold starlit Manchester night
http://pjhrailpics.fotopic.net

 

Where we get Slow train from i have no idea......

What do you expect on the WCML,90mph with steam??

must admit though,the diesel certainly seemed to kick in after the slip,but it seemed to be pushing,to a lesser degree right off the blocks.

 

A good day out with "Lizzie". The timings were slack, but there was short bursts of some sparkling running. When she got the chance to run, she did. The final homeward leg - Tamworth - Crewe - 46 miles or so to the stop outside in 45 mins or thereabouts was pretty good. I enjoyed it. My effort is up now - still processing, it would seem, anyway, thanks to all for a very enjoyable day out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTpyZ4mBzzg

AK.

 

Any idea who the crews were chaps?

 

I overheard Andy Taylor driving & Bob Meanley firing leaving Crewe but coulden't confirm myself, i think Alastair was on the shovel on the return at some point judging by the state of him too.

 

Really enjoyed it, an excellent trip to kick off my 2010 season. Good to see Neil, Matt and Ralph, and enjoyed the jar or two in Crewe after the trip. I think I owe Ralph and Neil a couple of beers! Outstanding running as far as I was concerned, marred only by the jammed point at Bletchley goods loop on the southward journey; it had added nearly 22 mins to the schedule. Well done to the crew for cutting that down to 14 mins at Kenny! The run on the fast through Stafford on the return was quite breathtaking...