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4464 Bittern to do 90mph on ECML - 29 June & 27 July 2013

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by buseng, Apr 24, 2013.

  1. osprey

    osprey Resident of Nat Pres

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    White gloves?.......
     
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  2. No.7

    No.7 Well-Known Member

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    I suspect this run will create debate about the time 66 m 56 s or 66 m 19 s; the train started away from Newcastle and then almost stopped or did stop depending on your point of view. I was in the camp that felt the train didn’t quiet stop so kept my watch running and clocked 66 m 56 s but I understand a number did re-set. I wonder if position in the train was significant? I know with buckeye couplers there is very little slack but I was right at the back and I wonder if we just kept moving while those at the front felt the momentary stop. Anyway really doesn’t matter as both times are superb and I think it is right that both should be recorded for posterity.
     
  3. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    Need one say more? I bet the great man is having a smile from the great design office in the sky.
     
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  4. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    Probably black grasping a mic and dead cat by a doorway.
     
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  5. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Yes, I was keeping a speed log continuously at set time intervals to try and even out random events. But in the same way that some would say the Mallard 126 was transitory, I'll settle for a momentary 95 that took place just before the short level stretch through Darlington, after which we dropped back a bit on the two mile falling grade to Croft Spa which is just as well for the reason given earlier. The most amusing bit was onboard announcement of us hitting 90 for the first time when we actually hadn't. But that was just a case of "premature anticipation" and in some cases rather suspect phone 'apps', possibly.

    Let's remember to thank SLS for their doubtless meticulous preparation of Bittern...... including appropriate attention to motion, cotter pins (oops, sorry!).....and with the hope that dawn has not revealed anything that got too warm or that might need urgent remedial attention before Saturday.
     
  6. pjhliners

    pjhliners Member Friend

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    50, 90 and more on the Tyne Tees Streak 5 December 2013

    At last the day had come when a Gresley A4 would swoosh across the North East of England at over 90 mph. Or had it? After two postponements in the summer due to fire risk, surely nothing else could go wrong? Leaf fall over, a bit early for snow ... but we reckoned without one of the worst gales in years.

    So it was a wild wet windy morning at York as we gathered and waited for news. No 4464 Bittern was in steam on the NRM and our train (from Bristol) had arrived. But then in the wildest part of the gale, all the signals north of York went out, and our driver was trapped in a unit in the middle of it.

    When we did get going, nearly an hour late, it was confirmed that there was a precautionary 50 mph speed limit, so there was nothing more than the pure pleasure of steam haulage to report about the northbound run, apart from a stop where a tree branch had settled on the overhead wire. At Newcastle I had only a few seconds for photos before the A4 pulled its stock away to Heaton.

    Just before our due time for return, Bittern brought in our train and it was confirmed that the speed limit had been lifted and we could do what we had all come to do. The screengrabs from my iPad's MemoryMap program recall some of the highlights - look for the faint captions above the figures to see what they mean.

    We got away smartly and were still in suburban Gateshead wen we reached 60, well before Tyne Yard and the Angel of the North. We then took it steady for a bit, only reaching 70 just before Durham. Then we let rip down to the Wear Bridge, although our 90-authorised stretch had not yet begun. Past Ferryhill in the high 70s, from Aycliffe they could really let her run. She was up to 88 at Brafferton and 90 on the outskirts of Darlington, and still she pressed on past the station on the fast line, giving onlookers a fine show as she briefly touched 94 mph.

    On we ran in the high eighties across the Vale of York, slowing briefly for a bridge at Northallerton but reaching 90 again before Thirsk and maintaining this right through to Tollerton, where we started to slow just a little. We carried on briskly through the outskirts of York, to come to a stand in Platform 11 just 66 minutes and 20 seconds after we had left, a start to stop average of over 72 mph.

    It was not surprising that hundreds of ecstatic punters gathered round the loco to applaud this splendid achievement, and to express their appreciation to all those who worked so hard to make it possible. Definitely the best steam run of my life - thank you all, you know who you are.

    A few photos and MemoryMap screengrabs are at http://pjhtransportpix.zenfolio.com/p779589209

    Peter, on a grey but still Manchester morning
    http://pjhtransportpix.zenfolio.com
     
  7. No.7

    No.7 Well-Known Member

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    Agreed, I has 88 at the time.
     
  8. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

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    Peter can you produce a speed profile for the journey? That would show what was sustained and for how long.
     
  9. Duty Druid

    Duty Druid Resident of Nat Pres

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    Thank you for posting that, bought a tingle down my spine just reading it! :)

    Am I jealous? In a word YES!!! :(
     
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  10. alanfrombangor

    alanfrombangor New Member

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    I'm glad that persistence was rewarded. I was booked on the August trip but couldn't make the second rearranged date but reading this thread yesterday and today was exciting in itself.
     
  11. KentYeti

    KentYeti Guest

    Wonderful reports above from several who were on board.

    Many thanks indeed.
     
  12. No.7

    No.7 Well-Known Member

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    A touch of background: on 12th June 2004 60009, with a heavy 13 coaches, matched the time of 60019 to Aycliffe which was the start of the 90 mph section. Of course from that point onwards 19 wins and 9 had a slight signal check at Darlington, but that shows the consistent quality of A4 locomotives.

    Looking at the speed restriction through Northallerton: we were doing 88 before (around Danby Wiske) and got back to 88.5 around MP 26, if 28 seconds is subtracted you get an average of 88.4 over the section meaning the Net time is around 65 min 51 sec (best case) an average of 73 mph.
     
  13. iswise

    iswise Member

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    Having "lived the trip" via this forum yesterday it feels a privilege just to be able to read the reports from those actually on board - thank you for sharing and making me ultra jealous. Love the note about what could have been achieved crossing Croft viaduct - a spot I know well - maybe next time :eek: Needless to say - thanks to all who made it possible too. A record run for steam in 2013 , who'd have thought it :)
     
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  14. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    I'm hoping for similar fireworks on Saturday's run. If I get a chance to do sound recording then I'll be concentrating on that but if not, I'll endeavour to send progress reports.
     
  15. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    And I hope you get something similar as well. It's one I'll miss and the children are pleased I didn't choose to 'blow' their inheritance on the full package of three! Yesterday, as an inter city dash in every sense of the word, was probably unique though and that's because of my aversion to any schedule with a loop in it, necessary though that may be.
     
  16. green five

    green five Resident of Nat Pres

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    I'll second that. Brilliant day for Steam on the ML in a difficult year.
     
  17. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    In retrospect I think I would have preferred yesterday to Saturday but I started my spotting career at Arlesey and the chance to dash through there at high speed behind an A4 will be a poignant moment for me.
     
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  18. 83B

    83B Member

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    What's all the fuss, No. 9 did 99.8 down Wellington Bank a few years back and I was on it.

    This is terrific too, don't get me wrong, but the fact is that the fastest speed by an A4 in mainline preservation was Union of South Africa. What is more, no one could see this coming!

    The element of surprise was magnificent.

    Mind you that could be scuppered because the latest edition of Steam Railway is talking of 100mph for steam in 2014.
     
  19. pete12000

    pete12000 Member

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    An unexpected extra passenger experienced the run, there were two seats 'spare' at our table for four northbound between York and Newcastle.
    As we rejoined the train at Newcastle a man entered the coach and asked "any of these seats free", I answered "yes, there were two empty on the way up".
    "Bit unusual having a steam train he says", "special charter aren't you booked on it," I asked?
    "Really, bloke at the barrier said it's the train for Bristol", our new passenger had delivered a car that day from Bristol to Washington and had a normal train ticket to get him home to Bristol, no ticket inspection between Newcastle and York, where he left to see if he could find a train to take him on to Bristol, arriving earlier than 23.45.
    He did say he'd enjoyed his trip.
    You couldn't make it up could you!!
     
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  20. rule55

    rule55 Member

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    And there is no doubt that Bittern could go much faster too - should she be allowed. The big difference between previous high speed runs and this year's trips with Bittern is that the recent runs have official sanction and, with modern media, OTMR and the like, no driver will get away with excessive speed in the modern age - certainly none that work for DB Schenker anyway. That's something that's not going to change and any future high speed runs will have to be done with the full approval of NR and the operating companies involved. And I think that's why these three runs need to pass without any problems. So far, so good, here's hoping for tomorrow to make it three out of three.
     
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