70000 - Cumbrian Fells Express - 30/05/2015

I see a lot of worst-case scenarios here.

A tweaking of the schedule to allow for an additional water stop is all that is needed and is not insurmountably difficult to arrange.

 

Water at Penrith?

 

It did occur to me that would be possible, but it is already a very early start from / return to Bristol so it doesn't want to be too big a tweak. I guess it'll come out of the Appleby stop, though that isn't much time off the train for passengers.

 

If the additional water stop is timetabled for, say, Upperby where the train will be crawling around the chord to London Rd anyway it's not going to put more than 15 minutes or so into the schedule.

 

I did wonder about that, but wasn't sure whether it was possible to water a locomotive there these days. It would have to be some kind of tanker needing road access presumably?

 

Not an issue, it's common to coal and service locos there when they are being turned at Carlisle.

 

I had booked on this mainly for the sake of a ride up Shap behind Tornado, so I have now cancelled. 50% credit note is not generous, but better than nothing. I have likewise cancelled my hotel booking for the night before in Wolverhampton.

 

Of course, I should have thought of that,

 

The Pathfinder page that describes the tour has lost the 13 coach reference. It says Using the popular chocolate and cream liveried carriages (that form the ‘Torbay Express’ in the summer months). The rake is normally 10 with an eleventh carriage as a back up so guessing 12 maximum. The water is bound to be an issue on the northbound leg. I wonder if they've got long enough hoses to top her up alongside Upperby Yard ? It took a while to get through the yard and around the curve when we did it with the Duchess last year.

 

Apologies rule55. My page hadn't refreshed.

 

It still refers to a thirteen coach train here... http://www.pathfindertours.co.uk/index.php/event-list.html?day=20150530 ...as well as stating the steam loco is working on its own from Crewe.

I certainly hope this is still going to be the case (the solo working, not the train length) as a longish run behind a hard working steam loco was the reason we booked this trip.

 

It's at times like these that I wish 71000 Duke of Gloucester was around. No pun intended. Grateful that Brittania is taking the tour.

 

Class 8P 35028 as another 'swansong' tour would be nice, doesn't appear on any listings that day that I can see.

 

I'm sure the day will come, and probably before 6100 and 6023 appear on the main line,

 

Have been looking at the schedule for this, compared with the CMEs in March 2015 with 46115 on load 12

Whilst it is a slightly faster schedule, most of the gain is at the start by virtue of the non-stop run through Carnforth compared with a start from the loop.

If the water stop at Barton loop could be reduced from 26 mins to 18 mins, we could be through Lancaster at 11.24, ahead of the 11.28 Lanc- Carlisle (via the coast) and give enough time for a quick top up at Upperby Jn. Note that a coal train is due to immediately follow the Brit down the S&C. No doubt the experts will be thinking of all this and more!



P.S. I would be happy with any steam loco unassisted, and Clan Line would indeed be rather special!

Sean

 

Heard from a reliable source that it will be 70000 + 11 from Crewe, definitely no diesel.

 

My sentiments exactly.

I see UK Steam has Britannia moving from Bristol to Crewe this Sunday so it looks like things are falling into place.

Fingers crossed the Network Rail strike doesn't impact on this tour, and if the current weather continues, that's another potential problem we can cross off the list

 

Now updated:
http://www.pathfindertours.co.uk/in...reader/events/the-cumbrian-fells-express.html

 

Excellent news,