RTC 2023

The sloping throatplate locos are easily recognised by the boiler/firebox join is over the centre of the middle driving axle and there are six rather than five washout plugs on the firebox. At one time they could be distinguished by the number, long firebox engines were from 5655 but several of the earlier engines had the frames modified to take either type of boiler, as with the Black 5s, they were not interchangeable.

 

It's a bit more than that as both the Patriots and reboilered Claughtons were also 5XP. In fact the 5XP classification was caused by fitting larger boilers to the Claughtons, as they then had to be squeezed between the existing 5P Claughtons and the 6P Royal Scots.

 

Almost glad I innocently 'engineered' an interesting discussion. Definitely going to take a serious look at 45596's boiler and firebox on the West Somerset Express in a fortnight. Still lament the lack of Halls, Castles, and a King on proper steam hauled trains. Hard to believe that from 15th April 1990 to the 17th March 2012 we travelled with 6024 on 122 raitours. I never thought I'd be sitting here in August 2023 still waiting for it to return to the mainline....

 

Purely for trivia - anyone noticed that Leander has the power classification on the drivers cab side as 6P above the number and 5XP below on the fireman's side.

 

5XP and 6P are both correct for Leander which was painted Mixed Traffic black in April 1949 and green in November 1952, while the classification changed from 5XP to 6P at the beginning of 1951. Information from the RCTS Jubilee book.

 

The current livery is not quite correct for this particular engine, it was only ever black with BRITISH RAILWAYS lettering on the tender. Others did have the totem as on 5690

 

Notice Bahamas is stuck at a red signal at Queen's Park. Anyone got any info?

 

Was just going to ask same question but appears on the move now 36 late

 

Couple of pictures from East Anglia this morning, very bright and sunny Santon Downham between Thetford and Brandon, then overcast again at Shepreth Branch Junction just south of Cambridge.

 

I do like the Santon Downham shot. Lovely lighting. Only ever done eastbound around there. Where were you exactly out of interest?

 

Heading through Wraysbury, marking new territory:

 

The Windsor Flyer, 45596 Bahamas, 2nd September 2023.
Filmed at Wraysbury:

 

That’s me on the other platform.

 

Another significant delay in the Willesden area this morning - it seems to be a jinxed place for steam!

 

Next to the fence roughly here to the West of the level crossing. I scouted it out on an earlier walk around the forest there, about the one spot I could find a clear view of that curve between the vegetation.

 

45596 on yesterdays Windsor Flyer seen at Ashwell & Morden and Wraysbury

I don’t think it’s really been talked about to a great extent or at all how this was the first time an LMS Jubilee has ever worked along the Cambridge-Hitchin route (and possibly even Norwich) and the Windsor branch, it seemed very underrated compared to what we’ve seen with LMS designs on new routes or revisiting old routes in a long time during this year alone, just a thought!

 

Good scouting and a great capture.

 

Wraysbury must of been the place to go yesterday!! Due to train strikes I drove to football yesterday (Brighton vs Newcastle), so took the opportunity to follow Bahamas down on the way, video from Ashwell & Morden, Hadley Wood and Wraysbury - the other angle from the videos above!

 

Think we spoke briefly yesterday!

 

Photos...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/alts1985/53162087189/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/alts1985/53161877031/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/alts1985/53162306840/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/alts1985/53162087589/in/dateposted-public/