Saturday 21st March - a busy day for mainline steam - 6 locos operating

Just noticed what an amazingly busy day this is for steam.

We have:

RTC - CME with 46115 Carnforth/Carlisle/Farington JN

RTC - Wensleydale & Durham with 61994 & 61264 York/Redmire/Sunderland/York

Vintage - with 45690 Helllifield/Carlisle/Carnforth

SD - with 61306 Horsted Keynes/Ely and return.

The above are all WCRC ,who are also running a Statesman diesel tour Didcot/Aviemore that day.

There is also the DBS operated regular Belmond BP Surrey Hills with 35028.


So thats 5 trains with 6 mainline locomotives operating this day. Taking the associated empty stock moves into account I can only imagine the number of crews WCRC will be rostering!

Lets hope that all goes to plan and in particular, diesel assistance is not required on any of them. Well,we can hope!

 

Make that 6 trains and at least 7 locos - NYMR operating Whitby to Battersby that day as well - loco TBA (and is likely to have a "box" on the back due to pathing/timetabling requirements)

Steven

 

Thanks,I missed that one!

 

I would imagine the participants of the Statesman Rail tour would disagree. It's a long way to pull a train yourself otherwise...

 

All this and Brian Simpson OBE, new Chairman of the HRA is not a big fan of main line steam, but I don't think he'll be turning his nose at the revenue this lot will generate!

 

We are booked on the Cumbrian Jubilee, despite this being a 20 hour day. There is an LE path Hellifield to Carnforth so hopefully 45690 will be alone and VT are usually very good with this anyway. How are WC going to find all those train crews ?

Don

 

Interesting that 50% of these (or more if you count the NYMR one) are with steam departure points North of Manchester.

 

And none operated by a Riley 5 .............yet!

 

We have no plans at the present time to take the 47 with us to Carlisle. I show it coming off at Hellified and LE to Carnforth to await our return.

I assume you are including your travel time to and from Tyseley in the 20 hours! I make 06:16 > 21:24 a tad over 15 hours....you scared me for a minute!

 

In that article, he came across as just another person who wants to put his influence about a bit before being fully appraised of the facts. Whilst it is good to have friends in high places, ideally they should know when to keep their counsel, especially as mainline steam is slightly beyond the HRA's full jurisdiction. All I can say, it was a pretty bad start for the new chap, and I doubt anyone can really say he was quoted out of context... As for the issue raised above, bear in mind that WCRC probably have dedicated diesel-only drivers, which means that steam operations might not affect crew provision to the extent one would think.

 

Thanks Ben

Home in Locks Heath depart 0430 to Watford Jct for the 0620 to Crewe 0753 to pick up the spl at 0815. Back at Crewe at 1937 for the 2001 to Watford Jct 2234 and home about 0030=20 hours. Could drive to Tyseley but that adds an hour to the day as we would have to leave around 0330. No wonder my wife thinks I am mad.

Don

 

Simple response to that: "I can't be that mad 'cos look who I married".

 

Very good!!

Don

 

Is this the official thread for, Saturday's, two tours over the s&c. ??

 

Blimey, quite a marathon, and with pretty tight timings as well. Hope that 0620 from WJ doesn't let you down,

 

Decided that we can't risk the morning train from Watford so a 0330 start and drive to Tyseley. Wife now threatened divorce! It's going to cost me.

Don

 

At least the roads will be quiet, so you can put your foot down !

 

Well I wish you all the best with that one, but it'd be horrendous if you missed the special. Hope you manage to stay awake for the best bits. Maybe grab a few "power naps" during the diesel legs ?