46233 - Derby - Bham New Street - London Euston - 22/11/14

https://www.flickr.com/photos/124047467@N05/15853052881/in/photostream/

22 minutes late at Derby tonight

 

Thanks Geoff!

 

I cannot believe I couldn't fit in some steam yesterday especially as I attended the Warley Model Railway Exhibition at the NEC. Just got up too late before setting off from Berkshire. That said, when stuck in extraordinarily heavy traffic on the M42 queuing to go exit for the NEC, I noticed a cloud of smoke just ahead of me and was able to see the Duchess curving away towards Coventry in the gloom. I adore my OO models, but there is nothing like the real thing and this made my day. Ignoring the diesel on the back, this could be a scene from a misty, murky day in the early 1960's!

 

Highlights for me was a 'Big Lizzie' into Euston, meeting and wandering around London with some friends on the trip, the climb of Camden Bank (a few slips into the bargain) and passing 60019 for a second time north of Rugby (it was running early) in the dark. I felt sorry for the passengers on that train as there were hardly any lights in the first four carriages. However, by the time I got to Sheffield, I was in zombie mode with a bad throat and an onward drive to York to look forward to. All in all a good day, and I doubt the specatcle of two steam specials at that point on the WCML will be repeated that often.

 

Nor 4 steam movements at Euston in one day.

 

A mammoth day of steam, my video features night shots of 46233 on return leg.

 

My first time filming at Euston
Enjoy

 

Inoperable lights(and heating) are not at all unusual on WCRC-owned stock,as is lack of PA system. It is also rare to travel in a coach that does not have at least one"flat". One can only hope that more attention is paid to the really important bits like brakes and couplings etc.!

 

We had a flat after Park Lane Junction, near Water Orton. However, it mysteriously disappeared after Buton on Trent. Anyway, here's a few of mine; sorry about the blur but I don't like using the flash if I can help it, especially on railway property. 1. Reversing at Derby; 2 and 3. 'Bittern' at Rugby; 4. 46233 in the dock at Derby.

 

A short clip from Hampton-in-Arden of yesterday's run.

 

How far away is Birmingham International from the NEC. Please don't tell me it's just up the road - eeeeek!

 

Evening All,

I have now uploaded some pictures of 46233 at Southall onto Flickr. This is the first one in the Photostream :

RD10549. 46233 and an HST at Southall. by Ron Fisher, on Flickr

I'm sure you know how to access the others!

Now to edit a few from Euston in the evening...

 

That's interesting....normally that platform is closed off and gates locked.

 

Maybe they forgot to after the SRM the other week.......... it happens.......

 

I got on there for the last time the Duchess was down there - something to do with an engineering possession on the up and down slow lines.

 

My video from yesterday of 46233 storming through Coventry at 75mph and rounding the curve at Long Buckby:



James