ScotRail Steam

Well, it appears the news is out..

http://www.a1steam.com/index.php?op...-bound-in-june&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=123

 

Good news for the a1 people but the continued failure of ns to make the connection between beattock and 46233 continues to amaze lol.

As for the far north line-an a1 is going to get to brora is it, hmm.

 

Well, as far as I'm aware, even initially when it was expected that WCRC were to operate these trains on behalf of Scotrail, it was a Jubilee that was pencilled in. There have been recent opportunities to travel behind 46233 over Beattock and these Scotrail trips are, I'm sure, aimed at a wider market. For that reason alone there can be no better candidate than 60163, can there?

 

I was amazed when they suggested the jubilee since having done a jubilee twice recently over beattock i have come to the conclusion that they are simply not up to it lol.
oppertunities are very rare to travel over beattock by steam at all. giving the constant (admittedly unjustified-usually) wailing in the press that the days of steam over the wcml hills is coming to an end, one would expect more enthusiasm to put the ultimate wc pacific over its raison d'existance than is shown by all promoters especially pmr themselves. the duchess meets beattock very rarely, roughly once a year for the past four years(nothing booked this year). I dont really understand the final point vis no better candidate than tornado for wide appeal, but in lieu of the two stanier 8ps and the duke i would suggest 46115.

aside from that is a n a1 really capable of getting to brora. would be interesting to see

 

DBS have been contracted to work next month's ScotRail trains. Therefore 46233 is not one of the locos available since currently she is only accepted by WCRC - we established this in the various WCRC-suspension threads. The choice at the moment, I think, is the LSL fleet and Tornado. (Clan Line is fully committed until her ticket expires at the end of June (much as I'd love to see her running over Beattock, Drummochter and Slochd!!!), while 60009 is still under overhaul.) Tornado will be a good choice, and will get Scot Rail a lot more publicity than 48151 or even a Jubilee could manage.

As for the Far North line... Tornado is actually quite gauge-friendly, and can get through the bridge-holes and past the platforms of Kent. The only question is the axle-load, but IIRC DBS diesels regularly go to Lairg, so maybe that's not a problem?

 

Class 66's go to Georgemas jnc, so can't foresee any issues.

 

You haven't checked route availability have you?

Class 66 RA7

Tornado RA 9.....

 

Far North Line RA5. Although several classes of Diesel are allowed up there, there are many restrictions in place, particularly at certain bridges along the route.

 

Perhaps A B1 might have to be borrowed for that particular day ?
A Clan might have come in handy...

 

DBS would suddenly remember they are allergic to vac brakes where it comes to 61306 or 61264, unless they still have Riley's 5's on their books, they would be waiting a long time for an air braked RA5 steamer, I'm not sure DBS have any RA5 loco's at all themselves these days, usually looking to DRS when an RA5 jobbie comes up.

 

Apologies, i thought 61306 was also airbraked
.... Clearly a gap in the roster.
On the subject of Scotland Whats the RA on the Jacobite... could a wc/bb get to Mallaig ?

 

Even if it was OK weight wise, a Pacific on the West Highland makes about as much sense as a a single wheeler on load 13.

 

The Whole West Highland is RA5 with similar sort of restrictions on Diesel locos as the Far North.

 

Thanks for pointing out the bleedin obvious Dave. Unfortunately Pacifics passed for mainline running is something we have lots of...powerful short wheelbase non pacifics precious few of

 

There seem to be many 4-6-0's to me at the moment. Black fives, the 2 b1's, 2 jubilees, Scots Guardsman, 4965 and 5043, 6023(please).

A few in the wing
45596, 4079, 46100, 7029, 6024

 

And a Scot or King on the Far North line is a more sensible proposition?

 

One suspects that the high steppers aren't suitable,
Of the types available (but not mainline certified) the perfect loco. is probably an S160

 

And Black 5's are RA7!

 

45407, 44871 and 45212 are registered as RA5