The Hadrian 7th March

There have been more than a few comments that Galatea hasn't been quite right since it's return, maybe West Coast are still working on this? When she worked the Scottish Lowlander this was her first run after a few modifications to aid steaming, perhaps further adjustments are being made? These trips are organised months in advance, loco allocations are made in good faith but often change subject to maintenance - it's the joys of running vintage locomotives.

 

Precisely! it may take a few years with 45699 but I for one am willing to wait that long to see it at its very best. And I must say, when I went to see it on the Scottish Lowlander, it was the best it had looked and sounded since its return in 2013.

 

How can it look better than it did before when its the same engine paint job wise and as for sounding better you will not get better than this !

 

I did mean from the performances I had seen, which had just got better and better from When I first got a shot of it in July 2013; I'm not disputing that it sounded excellent in that video though...

 

No not really? Nothing to do with jumping to conclusions, just stating the facts. I completely understand locomotives are 80 years plus, and 45699 was a metal frame scrap heap before 2 years ago, so I completely understand of course it's going to take a while to find its feet. But the locomotive is now a complete locomotive, not a scrap heap- and WCR are a business, so they need to do the job properly, and they have had 5 months now to do so with no result seemingly in sight.

 

The fact the is 'no result seemingly in sight' is precisely because they are a business. They are trying to get 35018 into working order to provide them with much-needed Class 8 power to bolster their fleet. Furthermore, they have a diesel fleet to maintain, the spot-hire business being where the real money is for WCRC. 45699 will get its chance, but it will be done to WCRC's timetable and not anyone else's.

 

If this is the move for 45407 to Carnforth on realtime the steam looks to be coming on at Carnforth and not Manchester Victoria as stated .
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U50617/2015/03/07/advanced

 

I suspect 45690 will still be at the front from the beginning, but there will be assistance from a diesel from Man Vic to Carnforth where needed. If Summit is too much for a single-handed Jubilee, then it will probably tag along on the back all day.

 

I stand corrected as I must admit I did not think about 45690 starting from Man vic .

 

Look at RTT. As it shows the max speed of the train at origin, not en route, that's a pretty good clue as to the traction on the front. In this case, it says 95mph. So not only is it not two Jubilees throughout, it's not even steam throughout any more!

 

And? Still no reason for the all the 'outrage' surrounding this tour. If none of the locomotives at Carnforth are available for that weekend, the so be it. These things happen- its not as though you can whistle-up another Jubilee at the moment, in any case.

If I were in the steam market and experienced some of the bile and guff that has been posted whenever things don't go according to plan, I'd say stuff it and move over to multi-day land cruises by diesel. You might not please the gricers, but at least you stand a better chance of getting a clientele that appreciates the overall experience rather than pick holes because a train doesn't traverse the third side of such and such a triangle, or a particular locomotive was unavailable. There really needs to be a sense of perspective, sometimes.

 

That was the impression I got Ralph with like you say 45407 going to Carnforth and not Man Vic .

 

we are on at Preston anyway (as usual)

 

I would suspect 5690 train engine, 5407 pilot, to allow it to leave the train at Brighouse for Castleton, possibly a diesel on the back, if so it will be on all day.

 

The current RTC advert says “…..Carnforth, where we stop for our locomotives to take on water” which implies the [steam] locos have used water before reaching Carnforth.
However, based on the timings / moves it would be fair to assume steam from Carnforth only.

 

Putting the pieces together from RTT, it looks to me like this:

• Carnforth - Manchester, ECS, DL leading, Jubilee on rear;
• Manchester - Carnforth, Jubilee leading, DL on rear assisting at re-starts and steep gradients;
• Carnforth - Carlisle - Brighouse, Black 5 + Jubilee leading, DL on rear probably not assisting;
• Brighouse - Manchester, Jubilee leading, DL on rear assisting at re-starts and steep gradients;

As we know, RTC adverts are written well in advance of the operational plan and are seldom revised as the plan takes shape. Also, RTT isn't perfect (there may be other LE moves not in the NR systems yet), and even if this is the current plan, there may be subsequent changes...

 

The "outrage" is understandable when RTC are still advertising a pair of Jubilees from Manchester Victoria to Carlisle and back, when for a couple of weeks it's been known it won't be a pair of Jubilees, and now the steam mileage has been reduced.

Anyway, it doesn't bother me, I'm not booked on it.

 

Why involve a shunt at both Carnforth and Brighouse to get the Jub on the front ? doesn't make any sense !