The Christmas Cheshireman 30/11/2013

Just heard from an impeccable industry source that Shrews delay due to a SPAD. Just when you thought November couldn't get any worse.

 

my video from today!

 

Isn't GSMR supposed to stop the need for that ?.

 

Only Black Fives didn't. Number 9 had a Class 47 on back. WCRC use them to heat the trains as much as for 'operational reasons' this time of year.

 

GSMR is not yet active in Shrewsbury but signal posts have phones so not sure why a walk would be needed... And a mobile would do (though would not be recorded)

 

Well for what it's worth, I was on the train, and after a bit of a farce in the morning, which I'll elaborate on later, this is what I know of the return events:
- because of late arrival at Chester, we were retimed to leave at 5.30pm, so rescheduled about 50 down from the WTT
- on departing Chester, it sounded like we ran over a detonator after a few hundred yards (I don't know if it was, but it sounded like it.), and came to a sudden stop. After a short wait, we set off again.
- approaching Shrewsbury, we were brought to a stop about a mile outside the station, then after about 10 minutes we went into the platform
- we then sat for an hour, with no info, other than we were told at one point the driver was walking down to the signalbox to find out why we were being held. It was not pathing, as hardly any other services were scheduled.
- after an hour, the train manager came through and said there had been a disagreement between the driver and the signalman and the signalman was refusing to let the train proceed under the control of 70013's driver
- they took the diesel off the back, put it on the front, and eventually we were allowed to leave, now 2 1/2 hours down (but now not needing the two scheduled waterstops!) The reported departure time from Shrewsbury is wrong, it was about 8.15 or so.

That's pretty much all I can tell you to shed any light on the return happenings.

Once more, it was lucky there was a diesel on the back, or we'd probably still be in Shrewsbury.........

 

Not a good week

 

As far as I am aware it was nothing to do with a bang at Chester. 'Disagreement' sounds odd. More Operating Incident...

 

Thanks Henry. Four photos, 550 miles, and a 4.30am alarm call. Barmy!

 

In reply to "Brasso" (can't find quote button!); any phone call to a signalbox is recorded these days including those to the "outside line".

 

Video of Ollie at Cefn Viaduct and Waverton plus 44871 and 45407 departing Chester;

 

Been more than a week this has went on...........and on.........

 

Sorry,but what has?

 

My shot of 70013 after the water stop at Chirk:


70013 Oliver Cromwell by Teenage Steam Photography, on Flickr

Thanks,
Lewis

 

Talk of a CAT A spad at Shrewsbury on another forum along with signalbox communication issues (wrong box?). Arrived back at BTM at 23.20.

 

Very nice Lewis
Henry

 

Very nice indeed Sir.

 

See my post 10.00pm last night also.

 

I'm sure the TOC and NR will deal with all alleged issues appropriately.