Vintage Trains 2024

About ten minutes later at Millmeece

 

Thought about going there myself. But with not such a good weather forecast I thought station would do. Weather turned out better than I expected and having seen the shots above wish I had. Rain set in now at lunchtime though.

 

Wasn't hopeful when I left home and it wasn't my first choice but the (potential) sun angle and wind direction were in sync. Quite pleased that sun was out but the shadow was more evident on the second of the two shots. I do hope those nearer the bridge were successful.

 

The day dawned wet but by 9am it was dry but dull. The forecast was for a continuing improvement which was just as well as Mrs W was making a rare outing. Diego had already had his breakfast before he arrived; a drink, a sit on my knee, a mini snack and it was time to head upstairs for a nap - oh, to be a cat! At around 10.45 Mrs W and I set off for Euxton Balshaw Lane. (Wanting somewhere close to home at platform level, it was here or Leyland, and Leyland was likely to be much busier). We allowed an hour for a 30 minute journey, and it took exactly 30mins.

We parked on the station car park and Mrs W made the phone payment of 50p for up to 2hrs - a tariff with train watchers in mind. As she was sorting the payment a chum and his partner turned up. It was his first time at the station but he had seen a couple of my videos taken from the location and decided to try it for himself. I explained the layout, not the easiest to appreciated from the car park. We all made our way up the ramp, across the road bridge and down the ramp to platform 1. We both set up for approach and going away shots at the north end of the platform and Brian added a third camera at the south end. By this time the train was just south of Wigan and running around 7L.

It was a typical autumn day, dull but barely a hint of a breeze. A few minutes before the train was due (11.57) the cloud thinned and for a couple of minutes there was some pale watery sunshine - it didn't last! Bahamas was now powering up Boars Head Bank and towards Coppull; with trains on the WCML progress can be monitored section by section and 1Z92 was now approaching Balshaw Lane Jn. It was booked on the "Slow", any change and we were sunk for there are no platforms on the "Fast lines." Whew, Traksy showed it on the "Slow", it would be here in seconds - and it was! Bahamas came into view with white exhaust streaming from her much-famed double chimney, but within seconds the regulator had been closed leaving grey smoke trailing in her wake - ah well! She was moving quickly towards the station, excited children shrieked with delight, a blast on the hooter, she sped past, off to the north and off to Blackpool. 10C, 7L & 63mph.

I hope everyone on board has an enjoyable afternoon in Blackpool with it's fabled "fresh air and fun", the weather looks to be good (for November).

 

Footage of 45596 heading north this morning, accelerating away from Stafford past Doxey Marsh then flying through Wigan North Western 90 minutes later.

 

Here's my footage of 45596 Bahamas roaring along the WCML to Blackpool. I filmed the locomotive at Mill meece and Winsford along the Shropshire Union Canal. I hope you enjoy it.

 

45596 approaching Winwick Junction.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/90397953@N02/54144416549/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/90397953@N02/54143234332/

 

A quick phone shot of Bahamas during its station stop at Stafford.

 

A barnstorming run through Lichfield Trent Valley last night, as the Jubilee made the most of its short stretch on the fast line. By the time it had reached Tamworth it was eased back due to adverse signals.

 

45596 Bahamas running through Preston station with the Vintage tour returning from Blackpool on 16/11/2024

 

In an ambitious/desperate effort to capture something of Bahamas trip on 16/11/24 I tried a shot south of Preston in the (very) dark:

 

Vintage trains Christmas White Rose times now out for 28th November
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/se...7/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt&toc=TY
Any ideas which Castle it will be, thanks

 

Good to see that someone is planning to use the turntable again at York. There has recently been too many steam jobs to York that have had the diesel drag the train back as far as Gasgoine Wood to effect the turn.

Peter

 

Access has been an issue I understand Peter. Been struggling to path stuff round. Particularly at the weekend just gone with the extra engineering trains.

 

Partially true Harry, particularly with the summer Sunday Waverley jobs. But I get the feel that it is as much to do with operator convenience now, which is fair enough. I'm just pleased to see VT making use of the facility here.

Peter

 

So does this mean that Standard is guaranteed to be at the front at least one way?
If so I may just have to go for this one (doable from home in a day, albeit a long one!)

What do VT normally do with the POB and water carrier in this case, do they get shunted around or left on the back?

 

I would say that the answer to your first question is yes. I think that the GUV (water carrier) doubles up as the support coach and of necessity stays behind the loco.

Peter

 

Here's my compilation video of Two of Tyseley's finest assets, 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbve and 7029 Clun Castle doubleheading on tours from last year to this year. Full credit goes of course to the ever impressive Vintage Trains team for making my dream a reality. Keep it up lads and I hope you enjoy it.