34067, now 45231 - The Cheshireman - 12/09/2015

Hmm - nice way to treat your volunteers! Little wonder WCRC often finds itself with few friends!

 

I counted 9 coaches on the stock move earlier. With the inclusion of the support coach, the load is now 10 for tomorrow. Is there any indication if the diesel is going along ?

 

Would love to see a "5" leave Abergavenny with 10 on unaided


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I wish they should have given these passengers Galatea. This was not there best alternative in my opinion. Also given the fact that Leander has also been assigned cme this weekend and Galatea record as of late has been Stellar.

 

Black Fives are in-gauge for the route. It's a long time since a Jubilee went that way, and I think we all have a view on how long it takes NR to check new locos...

 

It would appear SD cancelled the trip as there was no chance of steam on Thursday to Cardiff when the Duchess failed gauging and diesel was just not a fair option to SDs passengers, as stated in the letter to those who had booked. Interesting they knew more than 34067's own support crew however as the loco has clearly been stopped as suggested by SD for this tour.

 

Better put in the request now to give 5593(not a typo)a chance before is out of ticket....

 

Yes, 45593 will probably have come and gone by the time NR decide a Jube is fit for the route... As for the 'musical locomotives' regarding both tours, I reserve all comment.

 

Just gone past me at Ashley Hill. 45231 with load 10 and diesel 47 764 shoving at rear. Not doing much, but clearly assisting.

 

2 mins behind at Pilning.

 

5596 on 14th October 1972?

 

Thanks for the early post Shaun. Was just about to set off for Llanvihangel Summit Bridge but won't bother now. It's a disgrace having a box on the back if it's only load 10.

 

I saw the train just after it had departed from Bristol Abbey Wood. 45231 was working flat out but the diesel was just idling.

A very smart set of maroon Mk.1 coaches in tow today.

It must have cost a fortune to bring the Black 5 all the way from Carnforth to Bristol for just one charter.

I've looked at RTT and it appears that the loco returns to Carnforth tomorrow lunchtime. <BJ>

 

Any idea who is driving 45231??


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Brother in law went out to view this whilst in the area. He says diesel making more noise than 45231 & not worth going even to listen, let alone book to travel. Very sad.

 

From what I read here I get that impression that with some notable exceptions this is happening more and more. And has been for some time.

Yet the trains keep running and I suspect mostly, but maybe not always, with an economic loading.

So who is losing out?

Yes, a few on the train who went to time or listen to pure steam.

And a vociferous number here some of whom rarely buy a ticket. Maybe a majority who rarely ever buy a ticket, I just don't know.

So to me it seems the majority buying tickets accept the situation. Loco and route changes, diesel on the back etc. Maybe I'll be proved wrong and we will find those promoting main line steam will reduce in numbers as the market shrinks. I hope not of course.

I accepted the reality of the situation years ago: 4 to be exact. That my minority interest cannot be catered for with 100% certainty ever. Or even with a vestige of doubt, not as often as I would want to get my stop watch out and start travelling again where I want to and behind what I want to.

Nothing stays the same for ever. Which is why I take a neutral sort of view on the issues now. Life moves on. And as I still want to "get a life" I fill my time with other things, mainly Owls and the book I am writing on them.

PS. I have stopped using the term "box" for diesels. There was nothing ever particularly derogatory in that term when I used it. It was what I grew up with diesels being called from over 50 years ago. No more than that. But as some of our main line steam crews earn a living driving them, and even post on here, (Wayne at least), I felt that as some do see it as a derogatory term I would change to using "diesel". Just my way of getting through the day.

 

I'm surprised that the diesel tagged along today. After the 5Z40 ECS
arrived at Bristol TM this morning there was an 0Z40 light diesel working
from the platform to the station siding. See below. <BJ>
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U50568/2015/09/12/advanced

 

From SWRG. <BJ>

''Mr Churchill in charge 45231 departs Bristol TM at 0732. 47746 idling on rear of all maroon set''.

 

The diesel might be need to assist out of Abergavenny


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It would not be too much of a surprise to see 5593 advertised for a tour, it only needs about 3 years of work and £0.5 million.

Incidentally please note "Bulleid Pacific" that the engine was built as 5593, has spent the greatest proportion of its life with that number on the side of the cab, and indeed continues to be 5593. Whilst the correction of this rather silly practice of referring to loco's by numbers that they do not currently carry may seem trivial, it does have a rather serious downside in that it occasionally rubs off onto people within Network Rail who in the past have used such incorrect painted numbers (as they are known) on official documents such as special notices and timings. This led on at least one occasion to a relief signaller refusing to let an engine out at Tyseley because it did not have the correct number, and it took several minutes to educate the gent on BR's 1948 re-numbering before the charter was released - LATE.
I cannot foresee a time when 0ur 5X ever runs again with a number beginning with 4, very much as those who continue to somehow believe that continuing to use (4)6201 is somehow going to magically bring about its return to green livery are destined to fail. It ain't gonna happen chaps.

Regards
Bob