The Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express 2015.

Thanks very much for that. Did you get the overall time Carnforth to Carlisle? RTT shows around 68 minutes. On 7th Feb we did it in 69 mins 51 secs. 39.5 Grayrigg, 71 Tebay, 37.1 Shap and 78.8 before Penrith, so looks like you gained the time to Grayrigg. The southbound time to Ais Gill was OK and slower than 7th Feb but faster than 31st Jan. The summit board is actually at MP 259.75 and the top of the 1 in 100 is at MP 260. Agree with Al about drivers finding the middle way between producing a good run and not thrashing the engines. 46233 can time these trains easily without any need to cause stress to the owners. David Blair is good at that but I suspect that GH would have worked the engine harder. See the next issue of Heritage Railway for my assessment of southbound runs over Ais Gill this year and in 1983/84 when 46229 was turning in some incredible performances

Don

 

I don't think that is the case now

Don

 

What is interesting from the last few runs without an electric loco involved is the fact that the train CAN be timed with diesel traction. Yesterday was actually the most punctual I have ever been on. A 57 was involved I think on the return. About four early into Carlisle and one of the few times the full time two hours could be enjoyed which means a different drinking hole other than Wetherspoons could be used.

 

Yes thats me Ralph,I lost the job shortly after but my workmates had a whip-round for me lol






FC likes this

 

Yep that's him Ralph, a proper Doris, weather too miserable for him to get out of bed yesterday-I wonder why!!!!!!

 

He's usually at the other end of the whip Ralph!

 

I've read his memoirs!

 

Returning to more prosaic matters, which steam loco is most likely to take the next WCME? It's advertised as 46115 but the rumour is 45690 will stand in for it on the CCE a week on Saturday, preceding the next WCME.

 

Well it can't be 45690 since that's booked for VT's S&C - Shap trip the same day. I'd like to think it's been offered to PRCLT, though that would depend on them having a support crew available for 46233. This year's schedule needs a beefy, 75-mph loco, though I guess it could be adjusted for a pair of Black Fives if necessary.

 

Hasn't it already been said that saturday's run with 46233 was timed at a 60mph max due to some o/s issues with the locomotive ?

 

Well Sutherland is more powerful though A move back to Butterly has not been posted on uksteam though.

 

I understand from elsewhere, you had a 100mph diesel on the front for the outward portion...
Indeed 1st time ones left Euston on a Railtour, apparently... Class 68.

 

Mike, 46233 returned to Butterley on Saturday night after the WCME......
http://www.uksteam.info/tours/t15/t0228a.htm
scroll down.

 

good for them. As has been indicated Sutherland needs some maintenece prior to her next tours.

Well shall have to see what does the next CME. I hope the Scot shall be ready. Maybe that is what Carnforth has been putting their focus on so that 46115 can be in great shape for SHAP.
by having 44871/ 45407 +Leander on this weeks Hadrian and Leander on the Cumbrian Coast Express on the 14th. I think that gives them the time they need to prepare Guardsmen for her first mainline outing for this year. I would imagine that they have been prepping her while 46233 was around as well.

 

68003 ASTUTE. First I've seen.

 

Not my photo : https://www.flickr.com/photos/simonatkinson/16669719861/

 

Bloody ugly looking all the same !